ppi, not dpi. Images are measured in ppi (pixels per inch) but, yes, pixel dimensions will have to be satisfactory.

ppi has a very real effect on the image. If you print a 72ppi image straight from a 16MP camera it will be an enormous print, printed at a very poor 72 pixels per inch. On an A3 piece of paper you would also only print part of the image.

If you change the figures to say 300ppi the picture dimensions will shrink to about A3, so now your whole picture will be printed at the correct resolution.

Now the printer lays down dots of ink per inch (dpi) so the more dpi the printer uses the more detail will be printed. But whatever dpi the printer uses it will be trying to print a 300ppi image.

That's fine, should make perfectly good prints up to A3.

In terms of camera design it was, in the sense that it was a totally new design. However, in terms of performance it still gave similar results to the K20D. The AF was faster though, but every model brought some incremental improvement.

The K10D (10.2MP CCD)to K20D (14.6MP CMOS) brought a more significant jump IMHO. I felt it necessary to buy the K10D and then K20D, but it wasn't till the K-5 that I felt the need again.

I will feel nothing at all really, except keen interest to see what ot's all about. The questions intimates regrets, but that's not something I'm prone to. Some people agonise with indecision before buying and agonise again afterwards, some people keep checking prices and feel devastated if the price goes down after they have paid.

However, it's a waste of energy IMHO. After the die is cast, we start making images and certainly don't fret about the decision.

Incidentally, I wouldn't assume that everyone actually wants a full frame DSLR. Never say never, but it's not a given by any means.

That is indeed my current plan, except that the waiting game is something that could go on for ever so I won't be waiting for anything just to see what that might be like. Thinking like that I could still be waiting for a K-5.....to see if the price dropped any more.

No, when the time is right we just do it. And then don't fret about it.

Sea Change indicates a major step forwards of some kind, something that's more than just an incremental step.

The detail is in all the reviews, but in essence the K20D to K-5 saw a step up in resolution from 14.6MP to 16.2MP, the move from Samsung to Sony sensors, a vast improvement in focusing especially in lower light and an industry-beating efficiency in reducing noise.

The K-3 sees a major step up in resolution to a point that exceeds most full frame sensors and almost equals medium format, a very innovative switchable alternative to the AA filter, another step forwards in low light focusing and speed of focusing, an even bigger higher resolution rear screen and also viewfinder image, the ability to use Flu Cards, twin card sockets......a Sea Change in my book. The noise issue isn't really much of an issue, as new owners are finding. JPEG processing deals with it almost as effectively as in the K-5 series, coupled with a crisper image anyway. With RAW capture it's easily dealt with in post processing. There's very little pain for the gain.

Hope that answers the question.

Sounds like a bargain that you couldn't turn down. It will be interesting to see how you get on with both film and digital.

In my view Chris, the jump from *istD to K10D was significant. The jump from K10D to K20D was also significant. After that, I skipped the K-7 as that was only a minor improvement and the jump was straight to the K-5, which was a sea change in various ways, including noise control.

From the K-5 the jumps were small but if buying new or replacing I would have gone straight for the K-5 IIs. The jump to the K-3 is another sea change, again in several ways.

The only difference now is that the K-5 is good enough for most purposes and although the K-3 is much better I am going to have to be patient as buying two is not financially sensible just at this moment. When this changes, I will buy.

You should not try to screw anything into the battery. On contact with air, the contents of the cells themselves may ignite or explode. Never dismantle or damage a battery.

If it can't be easily resolved then a repair job I think.

I did the reviews for EPZ and when I upgrade from my current K-5 I will be buying the K-3, with no doubts at all. The difference in resolution is significant, there's not a trace of moire in any normal use and the noise level is not that much different from the K-5/K-5 II/K-5 IIs. Yes, there is more noise, but the detail is also crisper. I've always said I prefer a sharp noisy/grainy image to a softer noise free one, so there's no contest.

I don't see a problem, apart from finding the cash, and when I can I'll be putting my money where my mouth is, to coin a phrase.