The thing that still concerns me about RAW is the lack of consistency and the possibility of poor future support for the files I archive. I am much more confident that I will be able to read JPEG and TIFF formats in 20 years time (if I care by then) than obsolete RAW formats.

Whether any of the files will be worth anything by then is, of course, a different issue!

The Golden Rule is, as you say, convert to TIFF. Never save anything as a JPEG unless it is for Web, and then it has to be JPEG and sRGB.

There isn't a HD in a camera, so the two will probably not be comparable. I can't think of any reason why high altitudes should have an effect, other than the lower temperatures.

No-one who has been to these places has reported a problem.

Unless someone knows differently.....

Why not phone Pentax and ask them directly?

There are temperature limits for all cameras - at very low temperatures batteries are not reliable and lubricants stiffen. However, I know people who have taken their digital cameras up at least to Base Camp on Everest with no problems whatsoever with cameras or batteries. I don't know how high that is...

How long without using? I'm guessing that you mean that the batteries will gradually lose their power whether used or not, and that is true, but I have had NiMH batteries in my *istDS for up to three weeks and they have still given a good day's shooting. The Li-ion in the K10D will probably be even better.

Facilities for recharging batteries should also be reasonably available, as are memory cards and film. You find these things in some amazingly remote places these days.

Left handed users might like Exakta cameras, which are left handed. Unfortunately these take film, are perhaps at least 40 years old and are not exactly user-friendly as we know it.

Since then, left handed users have not been catered for. There must be a few out there - indeed how does it affect you?

Kodachrome will indeed last the longest if kept cool and dark. However, it fades faster on projection, so if projected a lot then Ektachrome E-6 will last longer.

The question is, emultae which older film? They were all very different, just as they are today.

You can emulate Kodachrome by using Kodachrome, maybe Orwochrome by using Velvia 50, but as for the rest...

I think the easiest way will be to shoot digitally and then do the rest in Photoshop.

If you get a good example, the 50mm f2 is a very competent lens. It's not as sharp as the others at open aperture, but a stop or two down will give very good results.

The 50mm f1.7 is superb and much better wide open than the f2. However, best results will be obtained by stopping down, as with all lenses. The f2 and f1.7 lenses are better than the f1.4 or f1.2 when used close up with extension tubes or with the lens reversed. They have a flatter field than the faster lenses.

I reckon the best is the f1.7 as a general purpose lens that can be happily abused and still keep smiling, so to speak.

I know many photographers like the f1.4 lens, but it is geared more to low light and reportage and I find it has greater contrast at the expense of fine resolution.

The f1.2 lens has been designed to give superb results stopped down and is a little softer wide open, but has very good control of point light sources, which is in keeping with its low light role.

Any of the ME series camera will do that, but I would choose the ME Super for its more extensive facilities. If you only need aperture priority then you need look no further. The cameras are light, compact and a delight to use.

Be patient and wait for a good one to come along as they are getting old now and the electronics and light seals may be suspect on some of them. A mint ME Super would be very nice to have.

The Pentax MG was a reduced-spec version of the ME. The shutter speed range stopped at 1 second and there was no exposure compensation dial. To change the exposure you needed to alter the film speed. So there were a few cost cutting exercises.

However, it is a very compact, perfectly useable and nicely handling compact SLR. I sometimes use an MV quite happily, which is even simpler than the MG.