Manual is where you'll get the most control. You'll get the exposure right after a few test shots and you'll save yourself a whole load of cash by buying an older flash.

Look out for a used Pentax AF500FTZ. it's a very versatile and powerful flash. Add a radio trigger and you have a very cheap and powerful wireless solution. P-TTL is not all its cracked up to be.

Straighten the tree line and lose some of the foreground.

Sigma and Metz are about your only choice, but neither are what I would call 'cheap'. Which camera model do you have? Maybe an older flash coupled with a cheap radio trigger would suffice. It'll be wireless, but not P-TTL + wireless, you'll have to go manual so you might need Matt's e-book flash guide from www.mattmatic.co.uk .

If you bought the camera from a Pentax Pro centre, at 18 months old, it's still within its 2 years warranty.

That's a curious (read inaccurate) answer from Pentax and the inclusion of "should work" probably means that the person who replied to you, actually doesn't know.

The K10D has a 10+Mp CCD sensor, the K20D has a 14+Mp CMOS Sensor.

The DNG/PEF RAW files are almost certainly different.

The K20D was not supported on it's release by Picasa or Lightroom, an update was needed for both.

It may well be true that the Pentax supplied software for the K10D will read K20D files (although I doubt it to be honest), but I know of very few people who actually use the Pentax supplied software.

May I ask why you will not post?

I'm looking forward to this. I took some shots of the 3 Kings parade in Totana last night. All taken with flash and no consistency between many of them due to . . . the number of reflective jackets in the shot.

All done with P-TTL. I'll use manual next time . . . when Matt's taught me how .

Note to Matt: When you've sold a couple hundred thousand copies, come and live in the sunshine.

Unfortunately I can't be there, but I have a suggestion.

If five or so of you could walk into a Jessops store with your cameras round your necks, Pentax strap logo in full view of course, and just browse for a few minutes.

If asked "Can I help you?", whilst looking at the lack of Pentax gear in their store, simply reply "It doesn't look like it."

Another Pentax owner should be strategically placed to record the various expressions of the staff.

Of course it could be that they will be in 'administration' by then

The Sigma 70-300mm lenses (there have been several models) are pretty good as an all-rounder medium to long'ish zoom. Some (if not all) also have a reasonable macro capability, but not 1:1, about 1:2 or 2.5 I think. Useful nevertheless.

This is a K version.

And this is your version.

That's not to say they will sell at those prices.