As an afterthought I wouldn't mind betting that Pentax users are the biggest users of Tamron Adaptall lenses, which are after all available to everyone.

Well thank you for your answers which I have found most enlightening, especially from a sociological point of view. It seems as much as a certain type of person wants to stand out as a follower of what is "in" there are others (Pentax users?)who feel the need to buck that trend and think independently but still hopefully make a decision that is best for us as an individual.I suppose the answers are somewhat predictable but I feel vindicated by the number and nature of responses that John's nervousness was unfounded and that he may happily terminate this now if he so wishes.
Dave

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Splendid - and I have an HTC phone. Not sure how old you are but I did have an Oric computer and not a Spectrum! There is a pattern emerging here I think.

This isn't meant to be controversial because I am just wondering. I had K-mount lenses in a bygone era and was naturally attracted to Pentax when setting out with digital SLR. I also like doing things on a value for money basis and don't tend to go with the flow when "image" is important. I am a Skoda (recent!) man rather than BMW. In body SR was a big thing at the outset because I could use cheap, sometimes older manual telephoto lenses with SR.
I have been very happy with my K-m, K-x and now K-r and probably will be with my K-5 or K-30 when I get it.
I tend to be very loyal and always find myself defending Pentax.
BUT, I have never used any other DSLR and let's face it, for whatever reason, the majority of others choose Canon or Nikon.
So based on my above pre-requisites was my choice really valid?
Probably a stupid question on a Pentax forum but would be interested on views from those that have used other makes in this lower price range.

This may be of use to some wondering about the K-30 in the real world.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/pentaxk30/

Now a lot of different pics in the gallery shot with different lenses.Lots of exif available. Some of the individuals photostream have also done some high Iso tests and others have the K-5 as well and make comparisons.

Seems a lot heavier than some other bridge cameras although the excellent Panasonic DMC-FZ series have been gradually getting heavier with each incarnation. It is hard to see how it can compete against the highly rated Panasonics with their Leica lenses although it may be cheaper than the new DMC-FZ200. To be a market leader in this large field it will have to have better high iso and overall IQ than its established rivals. Panasonic have dropped the MP to 12 help this and most competitors have higher zooms.
A DP review group test will be required to sort this out I expect.

I can't see any noise at all. If that image is noisy I need to get my money back on my K-r!

despite the majority of pre-emptive reviews I've read curiously stacking it up against the K5?
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Why pre-emptive and curiously? Real reviews out there and it's very, very similar in so many ways. Some advantages , some disadvantages depending on what you want. It may not quite be the K-5 but makes absolute sense to stack it against something so similar.

What do you put in for focal length with say a 1.5x converter? DO you add the additional 50%. Also any changes for extension tubes?

A good thing to test in my opinion Mike. Two thoughts though - presumably handheld and I would have thought the human error of hand shake would be difficult to be constant between shots. The other is wouldn't it be more interesting at the marginal shutter speeds around 1/100th sec?
Dave