I don't dislike the images as such, they are sharp, but I do dislike the OTT background colours. The two do go together. It's got nothing whatsoever to do with the K-5 or anything else, it's just about the images.

The second one looks unnaturately sharp and much like a SEM image would look. That's neither a like or dislike, just an observation.

They leave me a bit neutral to be honest.

Interesting pictures, but horrible backgrounds. The second looks fmore like a SEM image than a photograph.

It is what it is, but it reminds me of old-fashioned camera club "filler" nights where members would come along and show what was in their camera bags. Couldn't get away with it these days!

We can define the circle of confusion and make it a more demanding standard for larger prints and other critical requirements.

It's like a lot of things - the more we know the more there is to know.

Focusing one third of the way into a scene is a "rule of thumb" that will in most cases secure the maximum DOF without recourse to tables or scales.

This is useful in practice.

You focus one third of the way in by deciding where your closest focusing point should be and where the furthest should be. One thirdof the way along the distance involved gives an approximation of the "hyperfocal point" the point which will give maximum DOF.

Of course in reality the point of focus is the only plane absolutely in focus, but there are areas in front of and behind that are acceptably sharp. This is the DOF.

As GlynM points out you can preview DOF, although I have always found the focusing screen to be too small to accurately judge what is and isn't sharp.

Sorry, that isn't possible, so vote carefully!

I would presume any existing contracts continue to run and the new company very keenly starts to pursue new business deals with Pentax and anybody else.

When you focus, either with AF or MF, you are looking through the lens at full aperture. Especially at close distances this means very little depth of field. This aids the focusing process.

When you take the picture, the lens stops down to the selected aperture. Thus you will then have more DOF. Use a small aperture, focus one third of the way into a scene and you will get the maximum possible DOF. For critical work close up, where there is very little DOF at best, focus very carefully on the critical point.

Other essentials are a solid tripod and using the 2 second delay, which also switches off SR. By using the delay any vibration from operating the shutter release will have dampened down by the time the picture is exposed.

Both buyer and seller were satisfied, so that equates to a good deal.

Yes, very nice purchase and the wallet is still squealing.

I will let you know how it's going as soon as I can!