The dust increasing as the day goes on is bizarre. That would imply daily cleaning of a sensor and that can't be right.

I have no idea if this is possible, but could the sensor somehow have gained a charge that is permanent? Could it be permanently switched on even when the camera is off?

Otherwise, does a lens have something inside it that is fragmenting and scattering dust? Perhaps some rouge manufacturing debris?

I think it needs looking at by a professional repair house.

I understand it's the same optically but has a simplified construction. Plastic mount, no hood and no Quick Shift feature all help to reduce the cost.

I haven't really found dust to be much of a problem to be honest. Certainly nothing compared to the dust that could end up on negatives....

flossie, where is all this dust coming from? Maybe lens changing in a very dusty environment?

I'm not sure a "better built body" is the answer to dust though. The K-x seems well built enough to me, but are you meaning dust and weather sealed perhaps. K20D or K7 could be the answer to that, but I'm still concerned that you seem to be finding so much dust.

Is this just something you can induce with extreme use or is it a problem?

Under what circumstances would it occur in normal use?

The 18-55mm and 50-200mm WR zooms are excellent and are also light and compact.

Just a reminder that Nathan's competition is running till midnight tonight because of his holidays.

Next week will be back to a Sunday finish, so will be a short run.

I think I might be inclined to remove the hood and fit a 49mm filter plus a standard lenshood.

Pentax lenses always have been, and still are, amongst the best, regardless of price.

That's a fine technical point Algi....well done for thinking about it.

As a general point, as we're so familiar with the slick design of Pentax cameras, some of the alternatives from the 1960s - 1980s might well seem a bit crude by comparison.

Please remember this is a Classified Ad - chat about second hand prices in the appropriate forums please.