We had a great time on the Isle of Skye a couple of years ago, so here's a few that I've just processed today.

Camera bags are a very personal thing really, so a large retailer with a good selection in stock might be the best option. Just because I (or anyone else) likes something doesn't mean it will suit the OP.

We have settled on Billingham bags, I noticed Ken was doing the same, and they wear well and protect equipment well. Access is fast and there is plenty of space within, depending on the model chosen.

When travelling I do like to travel light as encumbrance with excessive amounts of kit attracts attention and is exhausting as well.

I was happy to assist two delightful Chinese girls today in a branch of a well known retailer.

They were looking keenly at the K-01 and asking for it in yellow. "It's not available in yellow," declared the salesman. "Don't be such a stick-in-the-mud!" I told him, "It's available in yellow, black or silver..."

"I meant we may not stock it," he replied, and almost reluctantly went to check. They were still looking at it a little later, so I gave them a card and put SRS's details on it. Perhaps they have contacted Chris and ordered one.

Having said that, there was a splendid display of Pentax cameras and lenses, the best I have ever seen in this outlet.

I'm really tempted by that K-01...this happened the last time I showed anyone a camera and I ended up selling it to them and myself. That was the Q.

It's great to be excited about a new camera after working with cameras daily for many years. The magic is still there!

It makes interesting reading, but makes me wonder how many items are returned as faulty that are not faulty at all. We all pay for the cost of this, one way or another.

That's a remarkable claim Algi, are you suggesting that the 18-55mm is better than most prime lenses? I'm not sure you'll get many takers for that assertion.

The implication of the way your last sentence is phrased also suggests that in general zooms are superior to prime lenses, another very strange comment.

In any event, we are talking here about a problem with an example of the new DA 50mm f/1.8, a lens tested to have amazingly low chromatic aberration. Therefore, this one must be faulty, or something else in the chain must be faulty.

Just get it replaced, something is clearly amiss, unless there is some other factor at play that we are unaware of.

I was just thinking then as far as short telephoto primes go, we have:

40mm f/2.8 Limited
43mm f/1.9 Limited
50mm D-FA Macro f/2.8
50mm DA f/1.8
50mm FA f/1.4
55mm DA* f/1.4

That's six alternatives!

The *ist is a highly specified SLR, but beware that some parts are unavailable. Mine failed and despite it being in pristine condition had to be scrapped.

I would go for an MZ5/MZ3/MZ6 option instead.

There's an EPZ review of this and it looks very impressive, with outstanding optical results.

I have a feeling this lens sound more my taste than the FA 50mm f/1,4, which I find a bit too bland optically. The new lens looks as though it is more like the 43mm f/1.9, which is also an exceptional lens.