The problem with expansion by acquisition is that you have to change the culture of the people who work in the stores you acquire, and this can be difficult, and it will always take time.

When you expand as rapidly as Jessops did, the process of assimilation may not be given the attention it deserves.

This is why Jessops stores are such a mixed bag. Some have staff from way back when, who are photo-enthusiasts, and some have staff who are just ignorant box-pushers.

I am sure Jessops will survive, and no doubt they will realise that in order to compete with the Internet they have got to offer something the Internet can't - knowledgeable, enthusiastic staff.

G

Howdy.

It's useful to know where people are, and this can be done by editing your profile. After all, there's no point in advising somebody in Ulan Bator to try Jessops in Piddletrenthide.

G

The batteries are always the first thing to try.

Remove them from the camera, then insert a fresh set.

If that doesn't work, you're probably going to have to take it back to your dealer.

G

Craig, you need to sit down quietly in a dark room and ask yourself how a manual-focus lens can magically transform itself into an auto-focus lens.

To save you time, let me tell you that it can't.

What it can do, is to use most of the automated exposure modes provided by modern cameras. But it won't give you auto-focus, and whoever told you that it would needs a kick in the derriere.

Always use it with the aperture ring set to A, and yes, it does give you an angle of view equivalent to that of a 75mm lens.

Don't bother with the "Use aperture ring" option, because you won't be.

G

If part of the light is going straight through the mirror instead of being reflected through to the eyepiece then you are bound to get a dimmer image.

G

Well, if Pentax is not going to be using the same sensor as Nikon or Sony, my guess is that it won't be a Sony-made sensor.

It is presumably not going to be a Canon product, so who does that leave?

Kodak are one possibility, but more probable is Samsung. They already make sensors (mainly CMOS), and it would seem a logical step to make the sensors for "their" DSLRs.

If correct, this shows a commitment by Samsung to the DSLR range, which in turn is good news for Pentax.

G

Don saw trouble looming, and adroitly steered the ship into calmer waters.

G

Roasted, with a stuffing of butter, garlic, and tarragon. A pound of each.

G

Well, if DPReview can read a manual, surely our Pete can too?

And Pete, nobody in their right mind wants Pentax to have the strongest possible sharpening. There is no good reason to have any in-camera sharpening at all.

I won't address this subject again. It really is too boring. Pete, you were doing so well - intelligible posts, sensible questions - where did it all go wrong?

G

Enough said.

G

PS: If you look in the manual, it'll tell you how to increase the sharpness. I believe it's quite easy.