Most cameras come with RAW conversion software, but the facilities are very limited. Ideally you need a photo editor as well, such as Photoshop Elements.

Yes, there will be software with all Pentax cameras.

What do you use now? Why can't you buy a CD of Photoshop elements or something similar? Not quite sure why you can't download software?

In any event, the JPEG output from Pentax cameras is excellent.

I would check their opening times over the holiday and then phone them. IIRC they don't take the money until they have the goods.

According to the Screw Mount Guide the newer 7 element lens also has improved optical quality.

The 8 element lens should not be used on anything earlier than a Spotmatic because of the protuding rear element. There are some exceptions to this.

It's inevitably a problem when there is a mix of inexperienced and experienced photographers and new readers keep dropping in. It also seems it's the way to sell magazines, as all those that tried to do something better fell by the wayside.

My favourite was the original Photo Technique, as edited by Jack Schofield, and I still have all my copies. They knew how to cover subjects in depth, but were probably killed off by issues like the Magnum issue which was just all about the photographs. For some odd reason that doesn't seem to sell as well as lots of equipment chat. Having said that, when they did do equipment they excelled with complete issues all about wide angle and telephoto lenses respectively. By comparison, current magazine issues claiming to be all about lenses are barely crawling out of the nursery......

Happy New Year!

There's no 90mm option because Pentax have never made a 90mm lens. I would set to 85mm, which is close enough. It does matter as it guides the SR system into knowing how much camera shake compensation might be needed. This will vary with different focal lengths.

I'm not sure Ken Rockwell is the best place to go for Pentax advice.

Optical viewfinders like the Pentax pentaprism finders are ideal in very bright conditions, so I'm guessing that you're not pressing your eye right up to the viewfinder but are letting in extraneous light. Don't forget to set the dioptre correction for your eyesight. Point the camera at a blank wall or sky and adjust until the etched lines in the viewfinder are sharpest. This is best done with an unfocused, blank image, so you can see the lines clearly.

Moving from a bridge camera, and having enjoyed the universal, compact solution it offers, i'd just caution against ending up where you started, with a huge and heavy bag full of big cameras and lenses.

So, I would try to go for a Pentax K-50, K-S1 or K-S2. These are smaller and lighter than the K-3 and yet will offer you the versatility you need. (The K-S1 is very compact but not weather resistant like the other two)

The ideal lens to start with will be a kit lens, maybe the 18-55mm or 18-50mm as supplied with the camera kit. Add to that a modestly priced fast lens (50mm f/1.8 or 235mm f/2.4) with very little extra weight. Then add a telephoto zoom, ideally the 55-300mm, and you have a reasonable compactm weather resistant and light system that will cover everything that day to day photography will demand.

Other lenses will suggest themselves later as you find the need for them.

The new competition is up and running, didn't hear from the previous winner so we'll have to assume she's away.

You choose your best Pentax image from 2015, but not one previously entered for a monthly or weekly competition. That's it, dead simple, and thanks to drofmit for dropping me a line to suggest the theme.

I would go a step further and suggest if Windows 7 is running well, and it is generally very stable, don't bother running the risk of upgrading to Windows 10.

When i get a new computer I get the current operating system and stick with it.