I shall have to answer that lest silence be taken as knowledge I don't have. The LX from the 1980s is that to which I was referring.

It's a means to an end. If I set the aperture and the camera indicates 1/250sec then there's no advantage to me setting that manually.

Av plus judicious use of exposure compensation will deliver any desired result. But then so will Tv if you wish.

You mean the camera with modes such as "Ansel Adams" and "Helmut Newton" included, plus the new Auto Composition feature.....

But if we go back to the 1980s and read articles in magazines speculating on what the future holds the amazing thing is that it's pretty much all happened. It's happened in a much better way as well.

In the happy days of childhood when I was reading books and comics with space walking in them, my parents said, "It's ridiculous of course, it will never happen."

Never say never.

Yes, a positive decision to retain full control from the outset. Starting with P isn't a positive decision in the same way as you start with whatever the camera offers.

So, what do you think about the Pentax LX - aperture priority and manual exposure only, no modes at all. In fact, less in terms of features than the K500.

And yet the LX is a Pro system camera of the highest calibre.

Corrected title.

Not all cameras have all options, so Av is pretty universal across all the cameras I use.

Let me ask the reverse question - if Av does all that's needed with all the cameras I use, why change it for something else on just a few of them?

Prices have already tumbled, so that's a good sign that something is happening. Sometimes we just have to jump in and it's a matter of judgement.

There's something I call the "trigger price" by which I mean the price at which you just buy regardless. The MX-1 hit my trigger price the other day and I just bought it. It's coupled with need of course. Currently the K-5 has no trigger price for me, or a ludicrously low one, as I already have one. If I saw a new K-01 for £99 then I just might have to buy that, whether I need it or not.

It makes no difference what mode you use, just use the one that suits.

However we dress it up, there are only three variables: aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Which one you choose to make the main variable that you take control of is up to you.

I use Av as the depth of field is critical to the final look of the image. It the shutter speed becomes too low I increase the ISO to compensate.

Very interesting. Did you notice the £50 offer on the 50mmm f/1.8 lens as well?