Hi all, just to add fuel to the fire I have used this self same process with my K-r and have seen nothing like this.
ie Download to windows from camera> Open in faststone> edit with external ie lightroom > export to file and then view in lightroom. I export as DNG and convert to Jpeg if necessary, (but very infrequently)
I did do a shoot when I first got the K5 with DNG and Jpegs. The jpegs are absolutely fine.
Weather was appalling today so no chance to experiment further. I am looking at all the settings in Faststone because, as others have said, it is a very handy piece of software.
I intend to uninstall Faststone for my next batch so as to be sure there is no influence there, and then open in SilkyPics. I also I intend shooting a batch of native Pentax raw (and Jpegs.)

Yes Lennybloke, Malvern is my home- great place but no sea


Many thanks again for all your contributions and interest, which II am working my way through and looking at the suggestions and advice.
I will post again when i have some more results
Regards, Rob.

Mmm!!! I just watched it disappear before mine very eyes. It is magic, I tell you, witchcraft.
In windows file > open with Silky Pi> choose a file from the strip > open it to be confronted with the strangeness > move the exposure slider the smallest amount to the right and there it was, gone.
I is off to church now to give thanks to the Gods on the Pentax Forum.
Seriously Guys, I am so very grateful, and I promise never to post my appalling photographs again.
I am off to test it some more and then change my workflow.

Regards to you all,
Rob

Oh, and as postscipt, Steve, Life is most definitely as Mr. lennon says.

Ok- thanks Greg- I had just imported straight into Silkypics from file and got the same results. I then came and read your bit, and went back and followed your process and it was still there. Looked at some other shots, picked one, bought up the exposure and could not see what I knew was there before a few seconds before. Dropped the exposure down again and could see nothing there.. Went back to the shot (landscape) that I had posted here and nothing. My process usually has been to open in faststone then import individually into lightroom, edit, then export back to file and view in faststone. It would appear too be faststones rendering, but I am away to check again that what I have just posted is true.
Thanks again, back in a while.
Rob.

Hi folks- just trying to catch up with you. I'm looking at the process they have been through. They were DNG's originally. They were converted to jpeg in faststone for posting purposes. The effect shows in faststone as well as lightroom and in the Pentax/ SillyPics utility. The church (they do it big in Malvern), has never been in light room. I'm thinking it may be faststone's rendering, looking at what you wonderguys have posted. Maybe faststone does not handle DNG so well. I will have a look and confirm the process. Back in a tad
Many thanks again
Rob.

Hi again- firmware is 1.11, so out of date. There were no digital filters etc activated but I have reset to factory. I will have another go. As a thought could it be the memory card ?? Thanks bettyswolloks- just sussed it.
Thanks for the input.
Rob.

Hi Gamka and dougf8 and thanks for the reply. Yes, the camera is new to me Upgrade from a K-r) Not that I know of and nothing is indicated in the Pentax utility exif. I will scurry of and have another look and reset to factory. As regards the firmware I was tying to find out what version I had, but without success. Back in a bit
Cheers, Rob

I bought the K5 last week, but to day, after some sunny weather noticed the effect in the top right hand of the 1st photograph and all across the 2nd. I was just playing with the settings. I thought it was the lens so I looked back at the first ones I had taken last week and the same effect was there. I have dropped the highlights on the photo to make it more visible. In some shape or form this is visible in many of the shots taken.
Many thanks in advance, Rob.