Actually, another quick question:

The image I'm working with is currently 17000 pixels wide and 3000 pixels high.

Should I convert it to JPG at that size and just let them take care of the sizing, or should I resize it somehow?

Edit: might have answered my own question here. They say up to 25 MB, so I guess as big as possible consistent with that?

I have this pano that I'm going to re-edit and then get printed up at 40 inches wide (Photobox have an offer on just for today - a 40x30 print for a fiver).

Please could someone advise how much USM is appropriate for something this big?

Normally for a 1000px image I'd use about Amount = 40, Radius 1 pixel, Threshold 0, and I'm aware that for larger images it should be more.

So...

- how should I view the image on the screen
- what would be a good rough place to start with the USM settings.

Many thanks!

PS - the offer code is 1POSTER, and it's available for one print only, up to midnight tonight.

The trouble is, it really isn't. I can't afford two systems, I love nearly everything about Pentax, except the AF for aviation shots, which is my favourite type of photography. So my choices are to wait for improved AF... or go insane with frustration trying to take sharp images of fast jets... or sell up and change to C or N, both of which, having tried recently, I dislike quite strongly in terms of ergonomics.
I think the point about multiple small focus points is that they help the AF track (and predict) the position of the subject as they pass across them.

Also, the central Pentax focus point is notoriously large, and it doesn't follow that the tiny thing at the very centre of the viewfinder is what will be in focus.

I think you are. The point he's making is that the K5, a modern camera, has only 11 focus points.

As has the D90, which is an old camera.

I think the point is that the Pentax's flagship camera has not moved forward much in terms of AF - it's still a long way behind the competition when it comes to action shots.

And the K5-2 still has only 11 points.

Old news though. If you want to be a sports tog, Pentax probably isn't the brand to have.

Personally, I tend to agree, and I think if the Pentax community was a lot less accepting of the Pentax deficiencies, it would be better for the brand.

However, in fairness, which brand is right for you depends on what you want to do with the camera, not on some notional comparison of features between brands.

Nicely done, but a bit twee for my taste

Somehow it seems to me that a little more space below would balance the composition better. I realise that you've included the space taken by the starburst in the positioning, but I still reckon it's sitting too close to the bottom of the frame.

Sorry, don't understand... more upmarket if it's SDM???

Based on the 18-135, I thought DC was superior to SDM.

Sadly not - SDM unless the specs are fibbing.

I *so* hope that difference between SAFOX IX and X is more than the extra 2EV at the dark end.

I shall be awaiting the reviews with great interest - if the AF improvement is substantial, and in particular better at predictive focusing on fast-moving objects, I'll be considering an upgrade.

K3 or bust then.