As with all things internet related, if it looks to good to be true it invariably is...

That includes highly suspicious £700-800 Mkii's on Amazon that when you try to order them you can't get past the delivery stage as they 'cannot deliver to your location', and expecting 'everyone happily seeing eye to eye' during debates on a forum.

I always remember quotes (not verbatim) from 'pros' both on here and elsewhere - 'why all the fuss about FF? there's no magical promised land'

Personally:

1 : The cost of the Canikon systems is beyond me, even if I'd won the lottery I would be rather annoyed at having to shell out the prices they ask for. It is clear to me they have create a 2 team cabal and they believe photo geeks have nowhere else to go.

2 : There are ways to 'recreate' large sensor images when required (and if the conditions permit.) It may mean a little bit more processing time but vs the cost of a system change......

3 : Size and weight. Big bodies, and lenses that have the shake reduction built in makes them very large, very heavy, (and very costly so Canikon would have you believe.)

4 : Relevance? Particularly having been to a few exhibitions recently, I've noted the brand, sensor size or even lens is irrelevant to the quality/success of the photo.

Like all technologies, I've no doubt spend more money you'll get better quality. But the further up the scale the price performance becomes very much polarized, (unless your Roman Abramovich) you personal have to judge where the best place to sit on the scale is.

All'n'all I'm still of the belief large section of the photo user world put the 'tech' part first, but this only reflects the marketing of the companies trying to squeeze every penny out of them season after season. It is human nature that this 'storm' will play on peoples insecurities and coerce them into further more expensive purchases.

So yeah! Where the god damn FF Pentax!

Very accomplished set, no 1 is a bit special I think.

That is a f****ing disgrace IMO. I had the problem with the lens release, and then mysterious black specks on the sensor which Johnsons seemed/refused to recognize or even acknowledge. 8 weeks of back and forth repair time resulted in a very 'time to kick off' email to SRS. They in turn contacted Pentax UK, 2 weeks later I had a new K5 from Johnsons...
???

So 'kick off' would be my advice though I imagine you have already. I guess we just have to remember its only the negative you hear about, hell apparently Pentax have got the highest customer satisfaction rating but if your one of the minority you find it hard to believe...

Budget is too low.

IMO stick with the kit lens, and maybe try and keep the aperture up around F8-F11 as much as you can. Your not missing much vs the DA21mm for example, which is the perfect walkaround Prime IMO.

Plus it's light lens and you'll still have the versatility of a zoom.

Looks like the point has been made but I'll add another voice at least...

I like my DA21 and use it for landscape and long exposures, but if size and weight are not an issue, it simple does not offer the 'prime magic' you might expect, (and the amount of barrel distortion IS surprising).

IMO it's a holiday/street lens, giving you the compact walk-around option, so you don't need to buy a FUJI of Panasonic....

Yeah, long term forecast doesn't look promising so far, if so might be worth trying out some HDR shots with the static displays?

Wow really well done and congratulations! I'll defo be checking out the exhibition at some point (between shows/pubs)

All lovely work, very well done!

I have the Samsung version, and if the others had to go I would happily got back to using it with the 18-55 kit lens only. These to are fantastic quality and very light travel companions with a great range, the 50-200 was my favorite of the two.