SRS haven't fixed their price yet. So they may offer it for 998GBP .

I too like the third/scraperboard versions. But I don't like the composition - too much stalk in most of them for me. The first is my favourite - in all three versions.

If I had got on better with the K20D I wouldn't be changing. Wouldn't even consider it. But I didn't like it, and I do feel comfortable with the K-5 so I am changing. Even though I'll pay full whack for it because I need a camera.

I probably won't use half of what is on offer with the K-5 but it has my name written all over it.

That should put you all off buying it

You could throw Bibble 5 in to the mix too. Lightning fast and good, but it takes some getting used to. Again you can download a trial version.

http://bibblelabs.com/b5/

Not a chance of that I fear Kris - they will always find something wrong with it, or declare it still not fast enough.

Careful there - this is getting a point again.

It was a lovely day today - sunny and 23C. Of course I was on a train or in an exhibition hall all the time - just my luck. Normal service resumed tomorrow - wet, wet and more wet.

Well I have a nice chocolate brown K-x key ring now

I should have paid more attention to EWA marine today at Photokina.
They had a good stand there too.

There were just so many underwater housings on show there though.

Chris has my twenty quid in his hot little hand. I ordered it yesterday .

You'd think they'd sell SD cards there - just so you can bung them in passing cameras and try them out.

I left home at 6.15 this morning and got to Cologne, after a 40 minute delay due to a power outage at about 10.15.
I joined the huge queue to get in, which thankfully moved really fast.
I then made a Bee line for Pentax.

Is the K-5 worth the wait? Yes! I have found my camera , I am in love .

I got my mucky paws on one and had a good play. Sadly I lost my SD card between home and Cologne so no piccies with it. Sorry.

It is fast. Someone else asked if it was only fast with the new 18-135 - and he was allowed to change lenses. He was impressed with the speed - still not super fast with the 60-250, but markedly faster. With the new lens it is amazing.
I liked the new lens. It felt good with the camera- well balanced, and sturdy.

Pentax only had a fairly small stand but it was popular I am pleased to say.

They also had a 645D to play with - but the men had cornered the market in that toy so I didn't get to try it.

I tried the K-r and the new Optios too.
I liked the RZ10 very much, and the RS1000 has some seriously silly skins available .

Canon had nearly an entire hall to themselves huge , but they did seem a bit more reluctant to let people play from what I could see. Nikon and Sony also had big stands.

I saw all I wanted, and loved the photo exhibitions around the halls. I also got the OpTech sling adapter to convert my neck-strap into a sling (€10).

I had a look at BlackRapid too - they are introducing QR plates to their range, starting with Manfrotto, then Gitzo and finally Arca Swiss.

The future looks to be 3D and Chinese - I would say half the exhibitors were from China.

Another delayed train journey home, but I made it.

Your exhausted Photokina reporter Gwyn.

Sorry about the piccies guys. Nowhere there to buy a replacement card either