Are you sure the film went through the camera? I've managed to think I've shot a roll before now, only it hadn't taken up properly.

See http://lightzoneproject.org/

Maybe there's some confusion as to what was expected.

Current Pentax lenses behave just the same as the older ones that had both the A setting and manual aperture settings, providing the older lenses are on the A setting. Take them off the A setting and they behave like an old K or M lens when they'll need green button stop down metering. The aperture setting in the viewfinder will show '--' as the lens is no longer communicating with the camera. I believe this to be the issue the OP was experiencing.

So put the old lens on 'A' and set the aperture with the camera controls (not the lens's) and it will behave just the same as the current lens line up.

If the lens purchased is set to 'A' and it isn't showing an aperture reading then there is something wrong, be it the lens or a dirty contact. But physically set the lens to say, f5.6, it will not show that in the viewfinder.

Custom menu 4 - item 27 'Using aperture Ring':
Set this to 2 (enable)

Are there any uses for a FLU card if you haven't got a smartphone?
Would it work with a Kindle fire?
The Ricoh product page gives next to zero info about it.

Don't rule out local camera clubs. 100th at f8 is the same, no matter what brand of camera people are using. There'll be Sony users no doubt, Leica/Panasonic etc etc. It really won't be an issue - if it is you know what to do! At one time Pentax would have been the most popular brand but that didn't stop other brand users from going along.

The odd casual half day as you suggest would get you nowhere.

Yes, did you not read my post just before yours?

I have to say it does seem to get linked to from the official site so ought to be OK then. Their web design team just need to up their game!

Something doesn't look right about that site. I don't believe it is an official site, just a spoof made to look like it.

Note the url is: http://shop-uk.ricoh-imaging.eu so it is 'shop-uk' whoever they are. There's no contact address etc. so be careful if considering using it.

I tried different batteries but it made no difference. I suspect it's something to do with the band width or signal quality from the cheap remotes not being precise enough.