Thanks Algi.

Yes, the copier does crop, but for the majority of the slides I want to copy they seem to have been taken on cameras which had 80-85% viewfinders anyway, so losing what's round the edges is not a problem at all.

Do you shoot straight into the light source, of diffuse it?

In the interim, my wife has pointed out that we have a number of 'daylight' bulbs so I'll give those a try first as a source.

I bought a slide copier - the tube type that fits on a camera body like a lens - and a quick play suggests that this will deliver what I want, but...

The but is that the exposure results are mixed, so I'm assuming I need a consistent light source of some sort - window light is too variable.

Any recommendations please?

As you know, it's really only a 'fishy' at 10mm. Elsewhere in its range its a good wa.

Just watch the warranty period, and maybe send it in to Johnson's during a quiet moment?

If you bought from a Pentax pro dealer you have 2 years warranty, else 1 year, but if purchased in the UK then regardless of warrantee you have strong protection under Consumer law, (but not as easy to enforce, if at all, if you bought from Amazon et al with non-UK registered addresses)

You may not be into flowers and stuff, but places like the RHS (Harlow Carr's near you I think) run 1 day photo workshops with some top commercial photographers for around £100. I attend them to (a) get away from the family, with (b) some 'me' time, (c) surrounded by people who are only interested in photography.

Makes for a good day out, sharing with others with a similar interest, learning from a professional, and recharging your own photography batteries in the process.

I'm sure there's something your wife has been hankering after for a long time?

Dust is something that happens. Don't not change your lenses in fear of dust, just change the way you do it. DSLRs are designed for lens changing.

If you don't change lenses you're not getting the best from your DSLR(s)- sell them and buy a good 'bridge' camera.

I always make sure I'm in an environment where there's no 'active' dust, (as dust free as possible, no wind, no loose surfaces), then point the camera down as I release the lens, and keep it facing down as I fit the next lens.

I have a K20D and a K5II, and can't say dust has ever been an issue and I change lenses all the time wherever I am.

I'd start with a reset to factory settings just in case you've inadvertently disabled the display somehow (although I can't think how).

Were they longer than normal exposures? Could you post any shots associated with the odd behaviour? (It's the exif data they contain that's of interest; not the subjects so much).

Amazed no-ones gone for the 10-17.

It certainly introduces an element of 'weird' into photography and they seem to hold their price well, so worth a punt for a bit of fun.

Got one, else I'd have bought it.