Where from?

Blurred, boring, badly composed - looks like some of my best work

I suspect it will, not least because it seems hunting is associated with aperture size, and the HD version of this lens is seemingly identical to the other variants other than the HD coating of course, so you'll still be at f5.8 wide-open at 300mm which AF systems don't really like too much.

I've read over on the other Forum that the K-3 has metering issues with m42 lenses, something it shares with the K-30 but not, it seems, with the K-5 series.

PM sent

PM sent re flash

And the converter?

Slightly old news, but...

http://www.pentaxforums.com/news/sensor-shift-in-action-increasing-field-of-view...

Unfortunately failure of the pop-up flash is far from being an unknown problem, but it's not restricted to the K-r nor Pentax.

What lens were you using? Apparently (and I don't know why) using a manual lens with the camera left in AF mode can cause this glitch, but if not try the usual's just in case (but don't hold your breath)- batteries, reset camera to default settings, latest firmware, but if all else fails buy an external flashgun and use it in the hot-shoe.

An external flash will invariably give better performance than the on-board, but is less convenient. Lots of people here go with Yongnuo as a cost effective brand, or Metz, and either will offer a range of products and prices.

But presumably with pre-production firmware, so it 'll be more form than function?

AF speed is important for many, but looks like we'll have to wait for production firmware before we'll really know how good it is?