With respect, this is a forum for debate on photographic subjects and not politics, so, with apologies to any of our regular contributers who may have been incidentally edited out in the process, I have deleted the sections I felt were inappropriate.

Don't forget that most insurance policies exclude loss or damage from acts of terrorism, so there could be a weasel-like way for the companies to wriggle out of paying up anyway.

Put cameras in the hold? I don't think so...So I may well not be flying anywhere.

Ironically, some direct experience of this has been thrust upon me as my PC has just become very sick. Whilst that is being repaired, I am using our Toshiba laptop with its diamond screen, and also the iiyama CRT at the same time. The difference is astounding, and despite the laptop screen being much sharper, the CRT beats its in every way for Photoshop use. The CRT has better colours, has no problem with viewing angle and has the correct degree of brightness and contrast.

No contest in our IT Dept.

I think the biggest problem is screen quality - none are anywhere near as useable as a high quality CRT. Not that I've seen anyway, and also the brightness can vary depending on the viewing angle, which makes image adjustment very hit and miss.

I was surprised by the comment on batteries. The reviewer did not seem aware that rechargeable NiMH were an inexpensive and viable option. Many would say the best option. Instead he wittered on about the expense of rechargeable lithiums. An amazing level of ignorance?

I think they found it hard to criticise, but they did their best...

Yes, I saw that, and you have the honour ( : ) of being my first e-mail notification!

Now that is a useful feature that's welcome back.

I wasn't sure for a moment! I had just arrived from my son's website, where the forum is blue, and found myself here, also blue.....

However, you will be glad to know I am now orientated again and back into Pentax Mode.

This would probably be sacriledge elsewhere, but I have examined the Contax Zeiss lenses very closely and I found the focusing very stiff, with none of the silky smoothness of Pentax. I didn't think the finish was up to Pentax standards either.

The Contax bodies are one of the few I have never used, so I can't offer any comment on those.

I have just bought a "job lot" of old cameras that includes offerings from Olympus, Minolta, Yashica and others, all dating from the 1970s and 1980s.

The one thing that is very striking is how crude the design of these is compared to the Pentax cameras of the period. There are exposed workings on lenses, little levers and catches everywhere, buttons galore on some of them. Really, very 1950s design work and wihtout any of the simplicity and elegance of the Pentax designs. They are also far too bulky and heavy.

One curiosity is a Sigma autofocus zoom (50-200mm) that takes 3 AAA batteries. Very curious.

I think I shall be happy to stick with Pentax - far superior in design.