I just didn't appreciate what an advantage it was with Pentax using .DNG files directly. I have a friend who has a Canon 700D who has been getting more serious about his photography. I gave him an old copy of PSE 7 and told him about Irfan View. Now he wants to try using raw. None of the software can be used unless it is as recent a version as the camera! Or you can use a converter (which doesn't seem to work very well) and then load those files . What a paraphernalia! What on earth are Canon thinking of with all of these different formats for each camera and why don't they get negative reviews for it?

You are lucky - well at least from a photographic point of view. I love the snow and we have not even had a flake in the air for 22 months which is pretty much a record here for East Essex. Back in the 60's - 80's we were the snow centre of England almost.
Dave

That's funny - seems to be fading for me

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Yes it occurred to me Trying to figure out how to break it to him
Thanks for the suggestions which I agree with.

I saw a picture in a magazine along these lines and tried to figure out how to do it with my limited lighting equipment which was basically one lamp which was at the far end. Due to the fact that it was just before dinner and the grandchildren wouldn't sit around for long I had about 5 mins to take a few shots. I thought I would use my 50mm f1.7 SMC-A lens, don't know why but I just like it and never use it. I am completely out of my comfort zone with portraiture (being a bit of a wildlife specialist) so I would very much welcome useful comments on how to get it right. It is K3, F16, 1 sec exposure.
My main thoughts were.
1. Lighting better on front two.
2. Perspective problems with furthest much smaller than front person. (Should the adults be in front as children would be expected to look smaller)
3. The rather stark profile of my son-in-law at the end would better be at the front against another person to minimse the different profile of the nose.
All advice welcome.

Well I have seen it and held it at SRS and thought it was great. It is really small and light - wasn't that one of Pentax's advantages in the early days? Bearing in mind it is inexpensive and will become more so - what a great way to have a small light spare body with most of the good Pentax features which presumably most on here like?

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Nearly two months now...... the clock is ticking!

How many Soccer mom photographers do you know personally?

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Not sure - what is one?

If you did wildlife mainly I'd think carefully. The image quality will be outstanding but focusing speed will be seriously behind the opposition especially with moving targets and difficult backgrounds. Also the SDM lenses seem to be unreliable and are expensive to repair. In all other respects can't see how it can be beaten.

Fine except for massive amount of white round the sides. I do have sensitive eyes and won't be able to look at this for long. Pale sepia like my tablet screen for Kindle would be nice. Gallery is excellent - even my pics look good now!
Dave