Would this now officially qualify as a "refurbished" thread?

Sorry....

PS my K100DS was refurb (from Cameraworld) and has been utterly reliable so far. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one but would prefer to see it first (some refurbs look newer than others!)

Haven't read the article yet,but I suspect the answer to Stefan's point may be that there is a world of difference between tbe functionality of an decent dSLR (even one a few years old) and the average MF digital camera- the latter,aside from image quality, being somewhat prehistoric. In my view this is the neat trick that Pentax appear to have pulled off - marrying the IQ of Medium Format with the speed and usability of dSLR (and in a body designed for outdoors rather than studio use). It is currently unique, and they need to get some more lenses out PDQ to encourage as many people as possible to buy into what may well be a system that changes the rules a lot more than people might have thought.

My Sunday rant now over....

Jon

My experience is that in reasonable light, high ISOs with the K-7 are perfectly usable - especially if you shoot RAW. In low light, shadow noise can become a problem but if you keep to ISO1600 or below, it's usually fine - especially at normal viewing and print sizes.

People spend too much time obsessing about 100% pixel-level quality when that is of little consequence if what you need is an A4 print, or to look at a photograph on a computer monitor.

Very rarely have to do it with my K-7 but micro 4/3 needs sensor cleaning more often as the thing is so exposed when you change lenses.

With my dSLRs, I have never needed to do anything beyond using a rocket blower, which has blasted off every bit of dust I've ever had, and is a cinch to use.

With the GF1, there has been one occasion when this was not good enough, and "green clean" sensor swabs sorted that out quickly and brilliantly.

Jon

The lens has arrived in fine shape - thanks for an easy transaction Matt.

Jon

OK here's another suggestion!

Take your 16-50.
Buy either the DA 70 Ltd or FA 77 Ltd
Rent a 200mm DA* from SRS!

Well I reckon you would miss the 50-135 as it is a stunning lens which can do things the cheaper lenses cannot - especially if you like shooting wide open in order to minimise depth of field.

I'd take the 50-135 and a decent wide angle zoom to complement it (in my case it would be the 16-45, but there are a number of other good/better options).

An alternative suggestion - a very good versatile option if you're not massively bothered about telephoto would be either the Sigma or Pentax 17-70 offerings. These would be easy to sell on if you decided that you didn't want to keep them.

Used to work in Bromley/Orpington and it's been a bit of a desert for camera shops for a long time. The places in SE London that are still trading are Mr Cad in Croydon (although as I've said before, some of their stuff looks like it has fallen off the back of a lorry and then run over by an overcrowded double decker bus) and Ivor Howell in West Norwood.

Different lenses for different purposes I think. Recently bought a Sigma 30/1.4 and I am very impressed with it - especially close to wide open. Brilliant when used close to wide open. But I think the Pentax 35's may be a better general purpose lens because of better border sharpness. Best get both....

None - I replaced a Powershot G with Panasonic GF1 and 20/1.7 pancake lens. Delighted and would not go back to tiny sensor again. I love the control over depth of field with larger sensor. And with a cheap adapter I am able to use old MF Pentax primes with ease. It's clearly not as portable as a proper compact but the image quality is in a different league - and that pancake lens is a real goody.