There's history here. Many years ago, before camera phones took over the world, lots of people were asking Pentax to produce a digital version of the Auto 110, a very small, pocketable, interchangeable lens film camera. They did. It was called the Pentax Q. And when it hit the market it was heavily criticized - sensor only 'compact camera' quality, no viewfinder, overpriced etc. etc.. Sales were not very good, except possibly in Japan. Development stopped after a few years, it wasn't a commercial success (although there are still people, me included, who like it a lot in spite of its limitations). Was it a profitable venture? Probably not. Money for product development is even tighter now than then. Spending it on something which would essentially be a pared-down, less functional version of something that most people already have in their pocket sounds like a loss-making, commercial flop to me and no doubt would to Ricoh/Pentax.

Same with my grandkids. But when my young grandson did take some photos with my K3iii (under close supervision!) he was amazed at how good they were compared with phone pictures. Does that mean he then thought that a DSLR was the way to go? Nope. Convenience always wins in the end.

Steve

It's not over until the tree is down and that won't happen at Lubby Mansions until next weekend . After all the time and effort involved in putting it up and making it look just like last year's tree (and the year before's and the year before that and...), it's staying until the last ounce of visual value has been extracted from it. And then I'll try to avoid doing what I did last year i.e. getting the vacuum cleaner's tubes blocked by pine needles. A right pain in the you-know-where .

Leftovers here were all either eaten or frozen by Saturday. Or so I thought. Then yesterday evening some soggy sprouts emerged from the back of the fridge...

Not much beer drunk here over Christmas. However, enough wine was consumed to give Lubbyman a pleasantly relaxed attitude to life for a couple of days. Then reality kicked in as its effect wore off . 'Beer in the New Year' sounds like a good motto .

Steve

Easy for me. It's because I don't have a iPhone. And the cheap Android phone that I do have has a camera which matches the phone's cheapness.

Anyway, a 'proper' camera is much more fun and that's what a hobby is all about.

Steve

Loose bottles for me, plenty of variety both in flavour and alcohol content. Buy them in unit of X bottles, where X is their "X bottles for £Y" deal. No cardboard, but a pain to carry loose bottles in a carrier bag. A 4-pack of cans of baked beans came in cardboard, though.

A good trip to the market today. Not many shoppers and managed to get white Stilton for Mrs L so I'm definitely in her good books now.

Steve

Beer in bottles from Tesco a couple of days ago, no cardboard. And cans of Irn Bru .

Final trip to the market for 2025 this morning. Not so much for the shopping, but the dog must meet his fan club for the last time this year.

Steve

Time and opportunity to use the photo items I already have !! Not sure that Santa can provide that...

Steve

Sadly, you're right. But Christmas and the New Year are coming...

Steve

The contents of my recycling bin tell me that the world is made of cardboard

Steve

Oh yes, yes, YES!!!

Steve

Try SRSMicrosystems. Their website says "We carry the largest range of cameras, lenses and accessories in the UK and also exclusively offer a rental service for Pentax equipment.".

There's also the Pentax 645Z if you can fit a medium format camera on your astro thingies. That seems to have a Sony sensor. Can be rented from Wexphotovideo.

Apparently, Canon manufacture their own sensors, unlike other camera manufacturers.

Steve