I bought one as well. It is unbelievable value. I've got a basic Redsnapper Pan and tilt which is ok and a Gimbal type which is excellent but heavy, bulky and mine won't do portrait. This takes my K3 and DA* 300 a treat and is really versatile allowing pointing vertical down and up.
Heavy duty metal, adjustable rotating degree scale and friction adjustment and spirit level. The locking plate is excellent Swiss Arca style although different dimensions unfortunately although I tried it and it would clamp in a temporary emergency.

Don't know about Alistair but it scared the **** out of me! I think I'll stick to being the amateur in the background that comes up with the cute shots the Pro doesn't have time to get!
Plus I've yet to have a bird, insect or animal criticise any of my shots

I have used the 1.7x (briefly)and the new 1.4x on my K3 + 300DA*. All I can say is that from an AF point of view you don't know you have the TC on with the 1.4 but you do with the 1.7. Can't comment on relative image quality but almost no degradation with the 1.4x.

I must admit all this "nothing happening" stuff baffles me. If there are "leads to deals" there is something new, if there aren't there won't be. People put pics in the gallery and elsewhere and people comment. People have a technical problem they ask a question. They try out a new lens - they post about it, and so on. Always seems to be something of interest when I pop in every few days. For me it doesn't need to be like some hyper active twitter account with stuff flying about and loads of instant replies. Lets face it, Pentax itself isn't exactly a hive of constant activity. So there will be peaks and troughs. The leisurely pace suits me.
Dave
P.S. - just noticed a new firmware update for my K3 - saw it here first!

How I missed all this I don't know! Probably don't look into General Photographic as much as specifics. I have to say I've been pretty happy with what the Forum has done for me since I joined a few years ago. I've never really been "moderated" other than maybe posting in the wrong place once (and I was rather firmly told off )but I was shocked to read this because I didn't even know all this "heavy" stuff was going on. The problem is these things can never be all things to all people. That's why a broad and mutual tolerance is required or things deteriorate, which I am told they are apparently, although I was oblivious to it. I belong to another Newsgroup which is completely unmoderated. If you are thick skinned it is wonderful because anything goes and you can ignore or killfile people you don't like. The problem is that a few dominant members argue with each other, bring in politics, insult each other and then others can't help themselves from taking one side or another. Frankly that ruins it so you do need this moderation. I think it could be slightly more laissez faire - like if you mention Nikon has a particular feature or something but I agree that it should be, and threads should be , about Pentax. That's why I joined it. I can join plenty of others like Dpreview etc. if I want multi-faceted discussions. So I will stay here if it continues pretty much as before especially if it takes on board some of the sensible points made by the likes of David Storm and Alan.
Dave

I wished it was the same here. I remember all the fuss when we decimalise currency and everyone said "old" people wouldn't understand it. It was no big deal but people still trot out similar arguments about lbs and inches etc. It's just laziness really in my opinion.

Nice sharp image of a new bird for me.

NeilP was having trouble coming to grips with macro photography with his new K3.

I just don't know how you got these Alan! When I was there earlier I stood there watching my K3 and DA*300 hunting in and out Mind you I only had about 30 mins on that aspect so perhaps I would have got one in the end.

If it doesn't have a hood (and they don't as standard) I got a cloned one for mine for less than a fiver on Ebay.