We bought the S5i because the consensus seemed to be that it offered better picture quality. I can confirm that is is indeed very good, capable of making satisfactory A3 prints.

If I was looking for an even longer zoom, I wouldn't be expecting to find it in this type of camera. Something somewhat bigger, I think.

All normal portable and studio flash units should be fine, but if your Minolta is dedicated to that marque all the enhanced functions will be lost. I would use either a non-deicated or a Pentax-dedicated flash unit, or studio flash. Just a matter of convenience and compatibility.

To use studio flash or off camera flash a Hot Shoe Adapter F will be needed, and I'm just about to order one myself!

I have been using the *istDS with studio flash with no problems, and also with various non-dedicated small flashguns as well. Why not phone the service dept at pentax to make sure if you're at all doubtful.

If you buy the Pentax lens you can be sure of an accurate match of tolerances with the camera body, the focusing ring and aperture ring (where there is one) will always rotate the same way and avoid confusion, the colour balance of the lenses will match, and probably the image quality will be better as well.

I'm a great fan of Pentax lenses for their clean, crisp image quality and freedom from flare. I've tried other lenses, and with only a couple of exceptions they have been an expensive way to learn that I prefer Pentax!

Just a note about new autofocus lenses on the MEF, which was the original question. These will of course work on the MEF in manual focus mode, and I suppose the in-focus indicators will work as well. But they won't autofocus.

As regards the DSLRs, I'm sure you are on the right lines to choose between the Nikon and Pentax, but you might consider the Fuji S2 Pro as well. Try to handle them all, check out how they feel in your hands. Personally, I'm delighted with the Pentax *istDS, but I would happily use either of the other two.

I haven't loaded the software, because I still think it's much easier to use a card reader and open all the files in Photoshop 7. This does of course mean that I don't use RAW files, but then I never have felt the need to.

I have heard some grumblings from others regarding Windows XP and Service pack 2, so maybe that is something that could be looked into?

Sorry, you are using the USA designation and I was using the UK one. It's the same camera!

An external flash away from the lens axis will give better modelling on faces and also avoid "red eye". If you do need built in flash, then maybe one of the other Pentax bodies would be more suitable?

The question about plastic doesn't seem to have as much relevance as it did. Photographers used to solid metal engineering might think of plastic cameras as toys, but in fact the proper plastics in the proper places can be as good as or better than metal.

Metal adds weight though, and a slightly heavier camera may well be easier to hand hold at slow shutter speeds. The proper weight also feels better. The new *istDS is very nice in this respect - reassuringly weighted at just the right level.

The MZ-M is fine - I could happily use one for all my film photography. Why don't I? I prefer the better viewfinder of a glass pentaprism, I think the MZ-M uses mirrors instead of solid glass. Also, there are more metering options on the other bodies. I also like a shutter speed dial (although I am re-thinking this) so I ended up with MZ5 and MZ3 bodies.

If the MZ-M has no flash that only matters if you like the harsh effect of on-camera flash. Personally, I hardly ever use flash and much prefer natural light. I don't think I have ever used the inbuilt flash on my cameras.

It's very inexpensive, but does just about what the ME Super or similar cameras used to do at higher prices. Lots of plastic, but with a Pentax lens on the front it will produce superb quality images.

I nearly wrote "it will take great phtots", but it's the photographer that does that!

I'd go along with that, good advice from George. Super-As are mid 1980s? If you want something newer, the P30T will maybe do the trick, complete with DOF preview.