Click on the icon that has four rectangles inside a square box.

You can adjust saturation very easily. Just have a play.

G

I'm just going through the Beta. The biggest difference (so far) is that you can now copy selected parameters to other pictures, not the whole lot. That's a great improvement, and deals with the most significant shortcoming in version 2.

G

You certainly seem to be pretty happy with it, Matt, judging by all the smileys.

G

Matt,

I bought Silkypix (version 2) a few months ago, and have been using it exclusively. It simply gives better colour than C1LE, or any other RAW converter I have used.

It does lack some features of C1LE, but nothing too serious in practice, and it's the end result that counts.

I was also persuaded to go with Silkypix because it is Pentax's choice of RAW convertor, and one can be sure that Pentax PEFs will work well with it.

G

Manual here:

http://www.pentax-manuals.com/manuals/af/pentax_z1_manual.pdf

The site is run by somebody who used to be a frequent contributor on the forum, but who has been a little quiet lately. These are the best manuals on the net, and free.

The Z1 is an excellent camera, and sports the excellent hyper-program mode, which can also be found on the *ist D and the K10D.

Have fun.

G

The image quality of the Pentax will be significantly better than the Sigma.

Only you can decide whether the benefit of the greater flexibility and speed of the zoom is worth the cost in terms of significantly lower image quality.

Bear in mind that in anything other than bright light, the use of a t/c will make focussing difficult. Also bear in mind that a cheap t/c will ruin the results of a good lens.

I am afraid that there is no such thing as a cheap, good, long lens.

If you do go for the Pentax, you could supplement it with the SMC Pentax-F 1:4-5.6 70-210, which is excellent, inexpensive, and easy to find second-hand.

G

Pentax reportedly ditched AAs because there were a lot of problems with the various flavours available - especially when used in the grip.

The "expensive" new battery is in fact a commodity item which can be bought quite cheaply.

I always thought the grip was a complete waste of money, and certainly won't be buying one with the K10D. You can take around 1,000 pictures, or more, with a set of NiMHs, and it takes seconds to reload with a new set of batteries. I have been holding a camera at 90% to do portrait shots for many years, and don't need a grip to help me.

2GB SD cards are very cheap nowadays.

I doubt if I will spend as much as £100 on batteries/cards etc. when I buy the K10D.

Shame about the flash business, but I was thinking of another gun anyway, and having two will be a considerable improvement on one with the built-in unit.

G

Sorry - thought everybody knew it. Just shows the kind of circles I move in!

G

I would expect that Jessops online is the same company as Jessops bricks and mortar, so the local shop SHOULD deal with the problem. You presumably have a Jessops invoice to wave in their faces.

I have just been notified by Pentax that my *ist D has been repaired. It took just over two months, and the reason given was that they needed to get spares from Germany. I don't doubt that this was the case, but I don't see why it should take two months, even if the Germans had to requisition the parts from Japan or Taiwan.

Pentax is about to launch a series of professional-grade lenses, and has hinted that a K1D is in the works. If these products are to succeed, some professional-grade service is in order.

And Impotent Spider, Bettyswolloks is actually a misspelt (and rather coarse) Spoonerism, not an anagram.

G

PS: I second Steve's advice.

Pentax does have a spare parts problem. Not only do they not stock very many parts in the UK, but they don't have many in Germany either, which supplies the UK.

One of my bodies has been with Pentax in Slough for over six weeks (I took it there myself, so Jessops is blameless - on this occasion). It appears Germany is waiting for parts from Japan (or Taiwan, or wherever).

I'm fortunate to have two bodies. If I only had the one, I would be extremely frustrated by now. If anyone from Pentax reads this, I hope they will pass a curt message to the powers that be.

G