In deciding whether to insure something, I compare cost, risk, and my ability to pay if I incur a loss.

So I don't normally insure my cameras because the cost is high in relation to the normal risk, and if any one or two items are lost it won't totally break the bank to replace them. In the last twenty years I have only had a couple of breakages (both recently - getting clumsy), and the cost of that has been less than one year's premium.

However, thanks to Mr Blair's fondness for going to war in partnership with Mr Bush, we are now unable to carry cameras with us on aircraft, and have to put them in the hold. As a result, I reckon that the risk/cost-to-insure balance has now tipped in favour of insuring.

I know that insurance is offered on this site, but does anybody have any other suggestions. I don't wish to mix camera and household insurance, and I will want all-risks cover.

G

They're all so fast nowadays that things like screen quality and connections are the clinching arguments, at least for me.

G

I wouldn't pay too much attention to Ephotozine, or the person who wrote the review. His "Wild about Kent" website is ridiculous.

However, I would echo Mr Dent's view that the 12-24 would be a better bet for many people, given its quality, wider angle, and greater flexibility.

And if British prices are too high - import.

George

I don't wish to put a damper on things, but they reckon that the camera will hit the States some time in late October. On past form, the UK will be lucky to see it before Christmas.

However, given the likely price disparity, I reckon mine be imported.

G

I'm still getting the red design. Am I missing something?

G

If you're used to stopping down the lens (most of us have forgotten all that), then it's pretty easy to use the screw-mount lenses on digital, and they work in AE modes, too. You just have to remember to stop down the lens before pressing the shutter.

Quite so, Mac.

One word of warning. You are used to Spotmatics, the finest SLR bodies ever made, and wonderfully simple. The degree of (optional) automation and the number of available choices offered by the K10D will be quite a shock.

So I suggest buying a PZ1-P first, to wean yourself gently onto electronic camera control. This body has the advantage of offering the best compatibilty with various lenses of any Pentax ever made.

And they're now quite cheap.

With the money you will save by deferring the purchase of a PZ1-P until now, you can invest wisely in some 30 year-old malts.

So it's an irresistible proposition, ce n'est pas?

G

The best Pentax lenses were the screw Takumars. I still have a couple of 55mm 1.8s, and the finish and smoothness of action are still wonderful after all these years.

G

Irfanview will allow you to do this as a batch, very quickly, with considerable flexibility as regards final image size and quality.

Much faster and easier than Adobe. If there are any disadvantages, no doubt someone will point them out.

G

Although it would no doubt be possible to build a fully functional radio trigger for Pentax TTL, I don't think it has been done. Such a device would obviously need 5P connections at both ends.

My radio trigger definitely does no more than trigger.

Incidentally, I have tested the 5P set-up with my Super A and an AF400FTZ flash. There was no film in the camera, so I cannot give you a cast-iron assurance, but it seems to work. At full aperture, the flash recycled instantly; at f22 it took an age to do so, so the flash is obviously working to the camera's instructions.

G

You can pick up most of what you need from Ebay, if you are not in a hurry. I got all mine that way for not too much money.

You need an adapter F, a 5P cable, and a hotshoe adapter F or Fg. Plus a soldering iron and some telephone cable to extend the length of the 5P cable (these come in various flavours, max length three metres). If you use DIN plugs/sockets you can make up cables of various lengths.

Although the 5P system was designed for AF cameras, it will work with the Super A, according to Boz. But I'll try it later on and let you know.

G