It's well established that the SLR design does not have to have a pentaprism, eben if these days it typically has. The difference between the SLR and the CSC (Compact System Camera) is that the CSC does not have an optical viewfinding system at all. We use the rear screen or maybe an auxiliary EVF (Electronic Viewfinder) that usually clips into the accessory shoe. This enables the more compact design to be used, but it's not as fast to use by any means.

Algi is correct, but TLRs did have accessory pentaprisms available, although using one did not change it into a single lens reflex. It was still a twin lens reflex, with or without the pentaprism.

The reflex refers to reflecting methinks, and that means a mirror. Early SLRs used waist level viewfinders - no pentaprism as standard, but still that mirror was there. The Pentax of 1957 was the first major use of the pentaprism, although there were earlier examples from Contax.

There is absolutely no advantage, and many disadvantages as you have found, to taking the aperture ring off the "A" setting.

If you want to use a particular aperture, set the mode dial to Av, set the aperture using the camera dials and the camera will set an appropriate shutter speed.

The Packington design is similar to the Hadley, but it is far larger. Themain advantage is speed of access plus the thinner profile means the bag can be held snugly against the side of the body and remains fairlyt compact to carry. It seems far less bulky than a standard design.

Perhaps a visit to a larger dealer where you could see one would be appropriate. Possibly the larger Jessops or one of the professional dealers.

Excellent news - it looks as though the original one took a battering somewhere in transit.

I would avoid taking a tripod on a trip unless it was absolutely necessary. Travel light and you'll have the energy left to travel further. I susupect the tripod will be left wherever you are staying much of the time.

Alternatives are a travel tripod, of the Leica type preferably, maybe only 6" high when folded out. A bean bag with tripod screw from Jessops, see our Leads to Deals section. Just using whatever available support when necessary - tops of walls, pressing camera against walls and trees, and so on.

SR will deal with most problems, plus higher ISO as required.

Pentax would probably say that a 50m fall was not normal use, with or without a fiance attached, so no warranty I suspect....

I go back a little further. I had a chance to use Pentax, Nikon and Konica cameras early on and when I could afford one I went for the Pentax as I thought its design was more elegant and the ergonomics were better. I never liked Canon, thought they were too clunky.

Loved the Spotmatic, moved on to the ME Super and MX, never liked the Z series much but felt the MZ series recaptured the Pentax feel.

When digital arrived we started with bridge cameras (Fuji) but soon found the *istDS hit the spot. That had the same Pentax feel that we liked and the cameras have stayed true to that since then.

I've used and tested as well all sorts of other things, but haven't found anything that is better suited than Pentax.

As the entire steel mount has been ripped out of the body, I'm not really surprised that lenses won't stay on. Something very dratic has happened and I'd guess it would take something like a serious impact with a very heavy lens on the camera.

It's actually semi-transparent, and there is a precedent with the Canon Pellix. This used the same idea in a film camera and there was no doubt it was still an SLR. It's just that the mirror doesn't move.

As for EVIL Mike, of course the abbreviation exists, but magazines and manufacturers alike are settling on CSC.

Of course, as long as we all know what we're talking about it may not matter much, but those new to the field may well find it rather confusing. Especially when we have a newcomer to digital who has just bought a Panasonic CSC and thinks he won't be able to learn with that because all the magazines teach using Canon and Nikon. I was talking to him about this last night and he really was going to buy another camera.