"Oh yes they will!"

I have just bought a mint K-01 ( Star Wars Storm trooper White) and checked for firmware updates and there's a v 1.04.

"Changes to V1.04
Optimized contrast AF when using HD PENTAX-DA Limited series lenses.
Improved stability for general performance."

I am charmed by this camera, silly low price, I already had a 40mm XS.....same or better images as my old K-5, but I find I am using it one handed like a compact or a smartphone.

I find it visually appealing. Whereas the silver and black models seem to be pretending to have classic camera looks, and the dayglo yellow and black was intended just to shock and get attention, I think the white hits the spot and I think I get what designer Marc Newson was aiming for with this.

Future classic!

Darn! I was too slow.........

I have sent you a PM.

Can't believe you're all so horrid to poor "American Ed" I need to watch him every day now or else I get withdrawal symptoms.

I'm finding this "Ed" chap addictive!

I am getting K-3 results that are "different" from my K-5 Classic.

I enjoy reading all the comments from you more technically savvy and more experienced members, a good learning resource.

So far I have only been 'messing around' with my various lenses and getting the clear impression that AF is generally faster and more accurate, I was initially disappointed that at 100% view on my monitor that there did not seem to be significantly more sharpness, but then I remembered that "100% view" was now about 50% larger than with the K-5 images, magnifying detail and edges and showing up any shortcomings in a most unforgiving way.

Also, unfairly I suppose I was enjoying playing around with my 31mm f1.8 and 50mm f1.2 at wide open apertures, for harsh testing of AF accuracy, in low daylight, tungsten and fluorescent light....(the AF passed!)

BUT....I have also "got real" and viewed images on my (approx) A3 size monitor and printed in A4 and been very happy with the results with far more detail in the A4 prints than my 58 year old eyes can see.

I understand from others that, in essence, the K-3 has gone for general improvements in almost everything, including resolution, at the expense of high ISO performance?

Suits me then.

If 24 megapixels is too much, how about selecting a lower setting on your K-3...............


..........and then start to wonder why you bought it!

Bit like having a performance car and never exceeding 40mph.

My silver K-3 and grip combo was £1399. Subtract the £199 cost of a grip, £1200, then £125 off for trading in an old Pentax ME amounts to £1,075.

Just for once I can afford it, and that seems a fair price for one of the best Pentax cameras ever.

It looks really good in Silver...like the old days, so far I am mostly just admiring it and its soft smart brown leather strap.

Seems a shame to have to take photos with it...........

BINGO!
Parcelforce knocking on the door Monday 10 am with my package from SRS Microsystems.

Unfortunately I had meetings all morning so the unboxing was delayed until after lunch.

A big box too with the whole package of silver K-3 and silver battery grip in the same Ricoh/Pentax silver box. All neatly wrapped in plastic bags inside bubblewrap bags.

The silver finish is better than I expected: another member said he felt it looked "cheap" but that's not my impression at all, (mind you I grew up in the era of silver and black cameras and have never bought into the alleged mystique or 'pro' appearance of all black cameras.)I think it looks good, a nice change from standard black DSLRs.

Comparing it with my K-5 classic (not v 11 or 11s) it looks almost identical in size and shape, but the deeper grip is noticeable by feel, and though the K-3 is heavier, I cannot FEEL a difference in weight.

Happily it takes the same size battery as the K-5 series, and here's one I charged earlier....FLIP, literally, the camera is ON and the display up noticeably faster than with the K-5 and the screen SEEMS lots bigger to my eye, and it is lightning fast switching between menu screens, with all the familiar K-5 stuff plus some fresh features, all fast, zippy and bright.

SD card in, formatted in camera, (that's a slower process than the K-5) now what lens.....?

Screw focus Pentax 31mm f1.8 (silver)..WOW what a handsome pairing, I don't think I'll take any pictures, just sit here admiring the camera and lens combo.....but no, camera on and up to eye...WOW again, tested and checked against K-5 BUT the K-3 seems to focus TWICE as fast with the screw drive 31!.....and no noisier, in fact perhaps slightly quieter?

Focus speed with my Sigma 17-50 f2.8 is also definitely faster, though not as dramatic as with the screw drive, and the final lens today is my Pentax 50-135mm, noticeably and pleasingly faster than the K-5.

Images onto the PC and examined, and first glance seems to show focussing spot on with all three lenses.

That's all for now, camera set to AV, "Natural" setting, JPEG best quality, and out the door for school run and family duties, camera coming too, just in case!

(NB. no FLU card in the UK packs)

K10D, I heard a rumour that you good people in Australia also got the FLU cards as part of your Special Edition Silver K-3 bundles, is that so?

Graham (sat inside the front door by the letterbox)