Then I think it would make sense for you to move brands. Loyalty to Pentax is one thing but if it gets in the way of making a living...

Pentax are unlikely (never say never) to be coming out with a FF model anytime soon. Despite there being only four players in that market (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Leica) it's such a small market that I can't imagine it would be viable in the forseeable future for Pentax to join the fray.

Pentax are very good at what they do (APS-C DSLRs and shortly MF DSLRs too) but they can't possibly offer everybody what they want - they're just not a big enough company for that.

That looks very much like the one I sold to someone in Liverpool on eBay a couple of months back - is the serial number 5793755 by any chance? If so the scratches came from the owner prior to me dropping it with a UV filter on and that's from the shards of glass. If it's any consolation I tested it before selling it and found the results perfectly good, but you may find some ghosting if you point it directly into the sun.

Even if it's not the same one (and it really does look it!) you'll probably have the same end result and that's still a good dealer price as Mike says.

I found it made my K10D a bit front heavy but then I don't use a grip - nice IQ though.

You could try Harrow Technical - they quote £56.50-£66.50 for zoom compact cameras on their website for repairs, but it would still depend on them being able to get hold of another assembly.

Good luck!

645D for the pros and APS-C for mortals. Maybe a mirrorless hybrid (like Micro 4/3) too, but I'd be very suprised if there was a FF model on the horizon. If Sony can't make money from that segment then Pentax would have no chance...

A wonderful set indeed, my favourite being number 5 (with the dome in the background) for the way the statue appears to be waving at the camera.

Why not buy the film there, then post it back to yourself before you leave to circumvent the machines entirely? It should arrive back a couple of days after you do.

If you don't need a zoom lens then consider the Ricoh GR-D (MkI, II or III). I've got the hotshoe mounted viewfinder for mine and it's one of the best finders I've ever used - bar none. Adds an extra £100+ onto the cost of the camera though unfortunately...

On my K10D, my LX and my GR-D I use Av 95% of the time simply because it's there (some things like panoramas require a manual exposure but they're few and far between for me - besides, I'm lazy at heart).

On my other cameras I use manual because they're mostly older than I am and they don't have the option of doing anything else. If I could use Av on my Rolleicord then I almost certainly would...

Knowing how to use a camera manually is something worthwhile because there'll be times when it gives you the best results, but using it all the time when there are other options available always seemed a bit hair shirt to me.

Paperclips
UK road signs
VW Beetle
Guinness toucan
Bibendum
Faberge eggs
Jaeger atmos clock
Coca Cola bottle

I'll stop there or I could go on all night...

I actually got this from a retiring wedding photographer (the same one who sold me his LX kit a couple of months back); I said when I bought the LX (which had been a small ad in the local paper) I'd probably be interested in the 645 if he decided to sell, and he emailed me a fortnight ago to say it was mine for £230 if I wanted it. We haggled and it eventually passed to me for £200 which I thought was too good an offer to pass up.

The thing is, for a long time now I've hankered after a 6x7, and although I can't fault the 645's performance it's still the really big Pentax that occupies my thoughts. So I think I'll probably be selling the 645 on sooner rather than later and sticking the money back in my 6x7 warchest...