If a shop in the UK sells a product which was originally intended for the US market, and they got it from somewhere other than the official distributor in the UK it is Grey.

The distributor/manufacturer knows this from teh serial number on the item.

Sigma (and others) also regard as grey lenses you have purchased personally outside the EU and have not declared to customs, either on return from holiday, or when you import the item when you move to the EU.

If you purchase something outside the EU then the EU consumer protection laws, and guarantees do not apply. It is up to the importer/manufacturer in the EU to decide whether to honour a guarantee or not.

I use an HP all in one, with Vivera inks and a grey cartridge for B/W. I am very happy with it both as an all round printer and as a photo printer.

I don't print that many photos at home though - I'd rather send them off and have them done. Cheaper, and maybe they'll last longer. Although the Vivera ink is very good and seems colourfast so far.

Sorry, that doesn't answer your question though does it?

If you are planning on doing a lot of printing then the price of ink is an important consideration imho.

I agree with Kris about the photo.

And I for one think it is barely Pentax under the circumstances.
There are forums galore for Canon users, so why post here on the grounds it is a Pentax fit lens?
Sorry I know John has already said in another post that it is OK, but I don't like it.

I very much doubt any K-5 features will be added to the K-7. The idea is to flog the K-5 after all.


The K-7 is being phased out in some areas but kept in the line-up in others. I suspect firmware updates will be few and far between now, just as they were for the K20D once the K-7 was released.

I see the first prices for them in the Netherlands - just €60 under the price Pentax were quoting in Cologne.

Body only €1399. No price for it with the 18-135 though.

Good grief Stefan! Let them get the boring black version out first .

Not recommended for those with vertigo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dae7DdfJ1ts&feature=player_embedded

Love the video Oggy


Why do American use the Italian and we the French for that most awful of vegetables anyway?

Same with coriander and cilantro, rocket and arugula. And where the heck do they get egg plant from?

I bought my first Pentax (pre digital) in Albuquerque in the US. In fact I bought two, one for my son too. The guarantee was converted by Pentax USA to one for the Europe. The shop I bought it from organised this, and I received the guarantee details in California before we left for home.
I didn't declare them at customs.

Nowadays though I would. The rules on grey imports are stricter, and many companies want to see proof of the item having been legally imported into the EU, before they will honour any guarantee on the item.
I'm not too sure how the customs officials would react, they are so used to everyone going through green, but I would declare any purchase.

In all honesty, whilst I might buy a lens in the US and declare it on return, I don't think I would buy a camera body there, simply because if it did go wrong it is very difficult to do anything about it once in Europe. I'm not sure Pentax would be so willing to convert the guarantee any more, or whether I'd have the time to wait while they did so.

I love bears. It is always a thrill to see one in the wild. Probably not if it's in your backyard, but as a visitor I love to see them.

If I ever win a big prize on the lottery I am going to try and see Polar Bears, while they are still around to see.

I hope the courgette hating bear survived - Montana is not exactly fond of it's bears, especially when they get too close to humans. Other states catch them and release them elsewhere, using dogs to scare them away, but Montana tends to shoot first and ask questions later.