Tony, I don't think the issues you are having are anything to do with the processing power / RAM needed to run this software. I have it installed on 4 PC's, two of which are low powered laptops with slow Celeron processors and low powered integrated graphics, the other two are desktops, one is a Pentium D 3GHz, the other an old Pentium 4. None of them has as much RAM as your machine. 3 run Windows XP, 1 runs Vista. The software runs fast and with no crashing issues on all 4 PC's. If I were you I would try giving your PC a good clear out and run a registry cleaner. If all else fails reformat your PC and re-install from scratch. Once you get it stable I'm sure you will soon learn how to use it and what all the tools do.

Regards
David

I think you're pushing it asking people to go out in dark woods near Barnsley! Did you get any takers?

Regards
David

Welcome to the site Simon, your pics on Flickr are great. Please upload some to the PU Gallery so we can all have a look.

Best wishes
David

Sorry to hear about your K-x woes, but I wouldn't dismiss it as being badly built as I don't think it is. It clearly is not a semi pro body like the K10/K20 but I don't think there's anything wrong with the build on this camera.

I think perhaps you've been unlucky with your experience and if you like the IQ why not try another? I picked one up with less than 5,000 shutter actuations, complete in box with 18-55 lens and all in box items in mint condition for £230.

Regards
David

I think the second one has potential, though I agree with the comments on the distracting houses at the left. I can understand you wanting to try low light photography but I think the results would have been much better with a sturdy tripod employed. Perhaps this would have spoiled the essence of what you were trying to achieve, but when looking for front to back sharpness in low light landscapes, I'm not sure there is any other option.

Regards
David

A fantastic set of pictures Mat, not often you see bird shots like these in BW, but they work so well! Congratulations on the fine results you have achieved.

Regards
David

Debug mode is not necessarily about 'debugging'. It is a menu that lets you get deeper into some of the settings available on the camera. I've used it on the K-x for setting autofocus compensation (not available in the 'normal menu') this has enabled me to turn the camera into an outstanding performer.

Regards
David

I think there is room on this forum and the PU Gallery for all styles of photography, whether representing digital art, the art of taking a stupendous photograph in the first place, the non-art of simple snapping and everything in between. If we try to analyse too much what we are doing we will lose the thrill and excitement of doing it. For me, I'm just interested in taking the best pictures I can, which may not be as good as some others and may be better than some. If they are seen as 'art' then great, if not it doesn't matter. I don't get hung up on whether they have a lot of PP or none at all, but I am honest about what PP has been done. Let's not get too deep here and just get on with taking and showing our pictures!

For the Pro's, the viewpoint may be different but surely we all just enjoy doing what we do?

Regards
David

Hi Tim, it's great to have a play with Photomatix. I would try the default 'Fusion' option as a starting point for your pics - it is a much more subtle setting than some of the others. Tone mapping can look great on BW pictures, but tends to make colour ones a little too unreal. I suppose it all depends on what you are trying to achieve but I find that with a subtle fusion effect you can enhance the tonal range without making the picture look like a HDR shot.

Regards
David

Looking forward to seeing some pictures from all of you new Pentaxians on the PU Gallery! We want to see you using you new tools!

Regards
David