I've just upgraded from ist Ds to a K-r. All going well so far. It feels very similar in hold and weight. I'm getting used to the differences slowly but its quite a jump spec wise!

The auto white balance is pretty accurate but if shooting jpegs use cloudy if it is overcast. My new Kr tends towards the cool side on auto.

Using Av is probably most useful. As said above you may need 1 stop or more exposure compensation as the camera thinks its very bright and will reduce the exposure. Be guided by your review and the histogram. Good luck, I hope you do better than I'm doing. It keeps clouding over and the scenes become very flat.

Best value I've found for the basic kit here is £580 so yes I agree.

I also can recommend the serif, it's almost always done at least as much as elements except for raw processing but that is covered now too. Check on ebay for photoplus X3

adobe is still riding on the reputation from its market development and lead days. But its a bit of a myth nowadays. I know people who bought photoshop CS5 for hundreds of pounds and are barely beginners;They just think they have to have it.

I agree. It's the selection that lets it down. Also to make it appear above the hand in a natural 3D way try putting a little show on it.

Well, I think 'ask the audience' has been very effective. thank you all. So I will get the 2 lens kit and sell my old sigma 70-300 with the x4 macro.
Gerry B

I'm upgrading my *ist Ds soon. I have the cheaper of the Sigma 70-300mm lens. I was wondering if I should get the kit with the Pentax 55-300 if this lens is better than my Sigma?

Anyone have an opinion on their relative virtues??
Thanks
Gerry

I have two different battery chargers for my AAs. I have several sets of batteries but when I put them in the camera I'm lucky if I get a display that indicates half charge. Sometimes none at all not even enough power to show the message "batteries depleted" If I do get a few shots off chances are that next morning they'll be dead.

Could this be my camera that is at fault. it is 5 years old now. If i put batteries in my canon S3 that seems to be fine.
Any comments or experience of this please?
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OK loon! I lived 10 years near Elgin so understand. anything top-right does it for me.

I hate to say this on the Pentax forum but compact wise I'm a canon fan too. I have an S3 at the moment which is a little chunky byut if the G9 is too expensive I'd go for a 720IS this has a 6 time zoom and a fairly full set of manual features. The main advaaantage of the small canons is that most have an optical viewfinder which is crucial for holding the camera steady and when continuous shooting. With an EVF you lose the image and cant follow your subject.