I use OVFs and EVFs with no problem from either, or from switching between one and the other. Each has it's pros and cons.

Not really a lead to a deal (especially after Brexit) but wasn't sure where else to put it. I got a mail from an official Pentax online store in Spain to say until the end of October they have a €200 discount on the K3 III when trading in any other camera regardless. Presumably that means any crappy old P&S, which could be picked up for a tenner.

I haven't seen anything similar for the UK but given that the major criticism of the K3 III is the price, it's a good sign that some form of discount is appearing.

Link for any Spanish speakers on the forum: https://www.tiendapentaxeros.com/pentax-k-3-mark-iii.html#renove

I would certainly prefer a 40mm as 28mm is too wide for a general-use walk-around. 40mm is a far better focal length if you're only going to have one. Just as images can be cropped for a more telephoto field of view, several images can be stitched for a wider one, and resolution is gained rather than lost.

It'd be good to see why many are sticking to DSLR instead of rushing over to mirrorless.

I saw this pop up in a FB add the other day and I was surprised to see no-one seems to have noted it here, nor is it on DPR, but it is now on the Ricoh global website.

In summary the GR IIIx is the same (I imagine) as the standard GR but with a 26mm (roughly 40mm equivalent) f/2.8 lens instead of the 28mm equivalent on the standard model.

For small size I'm served very well with my Fujifilm X gear but it's nice to see a large-sensor compact camera with a lens at a focal length that would actually interest me. In fact I'd prefer a 40mm over the 35mm on the Fujifilm X100 series, though they have an extra stop going for them.

Link to the GR III/x page: http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/products/gr-3/

I haven't tried the HD, but the SMC version is my favourite lens ever. It's excellent at portraits.

I bought a Minolta Hi-matic 9 rangefinder, which was the peak of Minolta's compact RFs (in my opinion). I've already changed the light seals but I need to dismantle the lens and free up the shutter which is stuck shut, a common problem caused by dried oil on the blades. Other than that it's in great shape and the rangefinder itself looks like it doesn't need any calibration, which is quite rare in my experience.

I've never heard of that particular problem but if the rain was as heavy as you say and the lens was not WR then I'd say your camera is highly likely to have shot it's last. It sounds like conditions I wouldn't even trust a WR camera and lens combo to be safe in.

Welcome to the forum. I too started with a K200D, which I still have, though haven't used for some time.

Welcome to the forum!