JonShick wrote:
And there is another precaution you can take:
Create a NON-Admin account for normal browsing.
If its non-admin, then no software should be able to be installed without the admin account approval.

I do think that the suggestion from Dangermouse about the burial in an anthill is a bit soft (typical of today's society ); I would like to take the scammers, spammers and virus writers and gently break their fingers (think 7-lb hammer and anvil) joint by joint. Then let them write some more code! Oh dear, that was not very PC.

Cono wrote
I have just seen a review of the MX6 (MX-L) which said it was a good choice for someone who had started on DSLRs - why not go the other way?
Go for the K200D (it is cheaper, after all) and start looking for more glass - remembering that AF lenses from the MX-6 will fit without even thinking about it (and overlap the digital Kit Lenses as well).
Geoff

So I started out to find the original article that I mentioned. What I did find was that there was a lot of confusion between the CS-205 switch as used on (e.g.) the K200D, the Cable Switch F, as used on (e.g.) the MZ-50 and MZ-M, and the Remote F for the IR control. Did not find the article (memo to self: look through the files of "old camera stuff").
Did find:
http://martybugs.net/photography/remote.cgi
which is a home-brewed CS-205 (fits a lot more than Pentax). Do note that you will need a 2.5mm coax plug with three wires to it (think cheapie stereo earphones for a music player).

http://www.photosig.com/articles/1088/article
which is a bit short on DIY detail, but illustrates the use of the sound-card connector (see aero's post above) but just calls it a "computer connector".

And if you are really adventuresome - there is some software around that will turn your PDA with IR into an IR Remote F. That one does get a bit "techie", and you need the .NET framework on the PDA, but it might be fun to try.

Aero wrote

.

Now you really have me intrigued. :
All my CD/DVD drives have a IDE connector (2x20 twin row). Do you mean the CD Drive to Sound Card connector? My first thought is that the MZ series pins are at about 2.3mm spacing, while the Sound Card connector pins are more like 2.7 centres. I don' have my Maplin catalogue handy - of course.
Geoff

The cable with a switch on one end and a 3-pin socket on the other is for the MZ series.
Two/three (or more) years ago, someone put the instructions on the 'net for making one using components from Maplin. This involved cutting down a 4-pin socket to three pin. OK, if you were handy with a soldering iron, a craft knife and a file, and it looked like it would work. There was no voltage problems as the wiring involved "making" the right pins in the right sequence to get the auto-focus followed by the shutter release. Do it the wrong way round and the results could be interesting.

Anyone want to try this on the K...D series bodies?

Geoff

This now has Hardgravity's name on it.

This is a Spotmatic SPII body -chrome top.
It has faults:
The mirror sticks up sometimes. :
The meter switch does not return when the shutter is released.
The mirror cushioning foam needs replacing.
Cosmetically it is not bad: the bottom plate is slightly (lightly) scuffed, there is an odd chip in the paint on the backplate and there is almost no paint left on the eyepiece. It comes with an original and slightly scruffy ERC, which might look OK with some polish.
My guesstimate of the value is that it is about the cost of sending it to Harrow Technical for a full service which would correct the faults.
Much as I would like to keep it, I have an SP to hang my M42 lenses on, and I do not need the extra features of the SPII.
It is offered for the cost of postage.
Alternatively, collection in West Wilts, or a drop-off in Swindon are both possible.
Geoff

PM sent

Geoff

OK, so this is a clunker - literally. It came in a box of assorted goodies.
Mirage 80-200mm zoom - markings suggest that it is a constant f3.5.
Has an extensive range of Macro settings (1:10 - 1:4).
It seems to be a touch loose in the middle: you can just feel it, you can just see it and you can hear it.
Rubber grip from the focus ring is missing, grip from the zoom ring is splitting, but hey, it has got a push-on front cap.
I rather doubt if it is worth the cost of second class postage - being big and heavy, but someone might feel inclined to play with it.
Collect from West Wilts, or can arrange drop-off in Swindon (regular visits to GWH). Offered here first, after that it's Freecycle, followed by the skip.

PM sent
Geoff