I applaud not taking apart a working camera for parts and instead looking out for one which is already dead. Same thing we do with people after all

I think more than anything this goes to show that no camera system is perfect, at least in the vast majority of cases. All we can do is try to use systems where it's weaknesses are things we're prepared to live with.

My small & light camera option is a Fujifilm X-T20, usually with a 35mm f/1.4. It's biggest weakness is a lack of IBIS but the sharp-when-wide-open lens partially makes up for that, I knew it would be there going in, have learned to accept it and enjoy using that combo.

As a user of an L-mount camera I have read quite a bit about the S9. The Sigmas have their fans but are known for being very quirky.

The image quality from the S9 is excellent, should be exactly the same as the S5 II, which is the same (or maybe a little worse due to the phase detect AF points) as that of my original S5. I find the S5's menus and button configuration to be very sensible and well laid-out, and the S9 will be very similar. The problems are the items that Panasonic left out in order to reduce size and cost - mechanical shutter, viewfinder, hotshoe, weather resistance and any form of grip. I regard a mechanical shutter and a viewfinder as essentials unless it's on a camera I'm going to be using very little, so I'd say it depends what you're going to use it for. A third-party add-on grip is pretty much essential.

Beyond that, if you're looking for something very compact then the problem is the lenses. There are no true pancake lenses for the L-mount unless you consider the Viltrox 28mm f/4.5 with it's fixed aperture and no manual focus ring or the Lumix 26mm f/8, again fixed aperture but also manual focus only. There's also a 7Artisans 18mm f/5.6, fixed aperture and manual focus but pretty decent. As you see, there's nothing for general use. The smallest lenses with AF and changeable apertures are the Lumix and TTArtisans 40mm f/2s. Obviously the Lumix is much more expensive, apparently optically a little better and without an aperture ring. I have the TTA and am perfectly happy with it's performance for the €179 I paid for it, and it does make for a fairly small setup (on an S9 smaller still of course).

Aside from that I have to say that all the L-mount lenses I've tried are nothing short of superb but none of them are compact. I love Sigma's I-series lenses, which are metal, solidly-built primes with aperture rings, silky-smooth manual focus and superb optics though with moderate max apertures, but then you'd be looking at something approaching a K-1 and fast prime in size and weight.

Very glad to read this. I hope you mean the new HD 16-50/2.8 and not the older SDM one.

The KP's cable that connects the camera to the moving screen is prone to breaking with time and use so not the best bet if you're going to be making a lot of use of that feature, though it can be replaced cheaply with a third-party one but that will impact weather resistance.

On the aperture block failure, the low shutter count may not indicate that you're safe for long as I've seen some comments on failure with very low shutter counts, I think it's more a question of time. Still, it's user-repairable I think and if not then I see a banner advertising the repair every time I come to this forum, though it's doubtless more expensive than a DIY job. I don't know if it's possible to check on the solenoid type based on the serial number but might be worth looking into. If you don't want to be caught out then you could get it done at the outset before it fails.

Yeah, I am of the opinion that Pentax missed an opportunity with the change from SMC to HD DA Limiteds - they should have added WR and in-lens focus motors to bring these lenses into the modern photographic world.

The only WR DA Limited is the 20-40mm, none of the primes are seled at all.

Wow, that's terrible, some very nice gear to lose in that way.

Do you have the serial numbers and have you reported the theft? I believe there are online services which can track camera usage by detecting the serial numbers in EXIF data of uploaded images, it might be worth a look into. You might also try Gumtree (just had a look there - didn't see anything) or look into pawn shops in the area.

#1

#2 the vignette is far too heavy and a vignette on this type of photo I think is unlikley to work anyway
#3 a sunset without colour seems very odd indeed and leaves just a photo of some rocks

Not meaning to take this off topic but the alternative portrait length Pentax lens for APS-C is the DA 70mm Limited. It's an excellent lens and doesn't have SDM to fail, it uses the old screw-drive AF method.