Check the EXIF data with PhotoMe and see if the SR had stabilised. It looks to me as if the SR may not have been stabilised and the banding is not quite as you say.

EG: Have a look at the top left edge of the triangular shaped stone in the bottom of the pic that shows the problem magnified. It's as if maybe the sensor was still moving when the shot was taken.

And if the next firmware upgrade never arrives? You really should upgrade to 1.01, especially if you use the 2 second timer much.

It is most unlikely that the actual sensor was damaged. It's much more likely that if there was in fact any damage, it was to the glass filter in front of the sensor that, amongst other functions, protects the sensor.

If it was the filter that was damaged, it's easily replaced by Pentax or other competent repair facility. Some *istD owners have had the original filter replaced by plain glass to improve it's IR capabilities. Destroys it for normal pics I think. I'm thinking of subjecting my *istD to this mod as it's worth about tuppence three farthings nowadays.

Good points, well presented. I concede.

I think if this topic goes on much longer, Chris will have to leave SRS, he'll not get his head through the door.

Which is why I posed this question some time ago. An FAQ section would perhaps reduce the number of times that we have to revisit the same old questions.

I've lost count of the number of times that we've answered questions similar to "What lens goes with which camera?".

Log burners are very popular here in Spain with plenty of old olive trees to burn.

I was taking some pics in a shopping mall in Murcia some time ago and was similarly pounced on by security. Plenty of others were using P&S and phone cameras without interruption.

I didn't think about asking for a pass though. Thanks for the tip, maybe next time.

Maybe K20D firmware version 1.02 will analyse the dust particles and tell us what they're made of.

A lens hood affords good protection to the front element without the image degradation imposed by some, even expensive, filters. £25 isn't that bad a price.