It depends on your screen Algi, all I can tell you is that all the brightness values of the reds are less than 255. Therefore, you can assume it's an example that I'm happy with.

In my experience the retailers are fine provided nothing goes wrong. Their after sales service could be OK or could be, as I found, absolutely disgraceful. They trashed Sue's new laptop and eventually grudgingly refunded the total cost. When it came back it had loose bits rattling about inside, the screen looked as though it had been attacked by sandpaper and the casing had been jammed back together without being aligned properly. And it still didn't work.

So these days I use my local independent computer sales/repair shop and get a good deal and good advice. And things work. It may not be the cheapest option, but it's not at all bad.

Hope that helps!

As long as the red value doesn't exceed something just under 255 then it won't look washed out, all that happens is that colours outside the gamut can't be shown.

The key is probably correct metering. If this was the full frame, then the background isn't excessively bright, but the flower is brighter so overall the exposure just might benefit from -0.3 to -0.7 EV adjustment, assuming the use of centre-weighted metering. This would hold back the red from being over-exposed.

Spot metering would be an alternative, but only for those who really understand it, as its use with auto exposure modes can lead to some erratic metering results.

I always avoid matrix matering patterns as we have to double-guess what the camera algorithms are designed to do, so applying some intelligent adjustment to that becomes more difficult.

Doing that will not alter the overall exposure, it will stay the same. So any over-exposure will also stay the same. You need to deviate from the indicated exposure, so that means using minus amounts of exposure compensation if in an auto mode. If in manual, it means under exposing compared to the indicated zero point.

I'd suggest a repairer of vintage equipment would be able to deal with your lens, backed up with the right knowledge and equipment. I wouldn't personally be messing with it as it might do more harm than good.

The lighting is also a major consideration. For flower shots I prefer bright overcast to sun as it reduces the contrast and avoids blocked up shadows.

Yes, red can be tricky, but the light can work against us as well.

I agree. Pentax is delivering exactly what I need and has been for some time. The choice has widened and I counted 36 Pentax lenses on offer in a full page advert in the new issue of AP. Plus quite a few bodies still available.

Whatever the market share might be is interesting, but it doesn't affect my photography.

Thanks Chris, that makes more sense!

That's an amazing total of eight batteries, and I'm wondering why you need eight batteries? For each camera we really only need two Pentax batteries, although I use three as total overkill when shooting weddings and other all day events. In practice a battery will last a full day's shoot, just maybe having to move late afternoon to the second one. The batteries are rotated to ensure equal use.

Are you routinely using Live View? Maybe that would be a reason for needing more batteries?

Yes, I think the crop works better, although it's your image and in the end where you crop is where it pleases you most.

The hotspot is unfortunate, but I know what you mean about the sunny weather being what it was. We are only in these places for a very short time and sometimes we just have to shoot what we can. It might be different if we could go back at different times of the year when the light was kinder.