A bit more info about the K100D in Englishese at:-
http://infoseek.amikai.com/amiweb/browser.jsp?langpair=2%2C1&url=http%3A%2F%...

This is a translation from www.gruppovip.com's Tr@anslation Plus V10.0 :-

After it doesn't give any digital mirror reflex camera with anti shake to system since the departure of Konica Minolta at the time on the market, Pentax with the new K100D announces exactly such a camera. The advantage of this technology lies that the picture stabilization doesn't have to exist in every lens, that considers her/it/them for itself in the Kamera-Body. So one can use also older lenses and nevertheless into the pleasure of sharp pictures can come.
Like a small miracle, it then feels to one that for example analogously at a reception with 600 mm, 400 mm, and a shutter time of" only” a 1/200stel the reception freely also without the bulky tripod possible is. No matter which Pentax-Objektiv with K-Bajonett is used, whether from the m series or a current there lens - one into the camera casing integrated and magnetically controlled sensor evens out movements of the camera reliably. The calculator integrated into the camera recognizes on that occasion which lens is used with which focal length, and gives a talking to the attitudes necessary for it to Reduction system for the shake.
With the older lenses, that are not yet recognized by the camera, this attitude can be performed manually. Since Pentax produced until dato approximately 23 million own lenses, this is presumably the single manufacturer world-wide, who can use this quantity verwacklungsfrei of lenses.
The K100D is based on a steel chassis with reinforced plastic coat and still distinguishes itself through many further details, that they already move Profi-Liga in direction quite near. So, she/it owns a monitor with Weitwinkelsicht, that makes also a side view possible on the display of up to 140 degrees, for example. With the so-called PreShot-Funktion, one can a" test shot so to speak” what means does, that one makes a reception, that doesn't become abgespreichert, for an unfavorable light or visibility at first however immediately on the monitor visible becomes.
The name the late mirror reflex of Pentax reminds at times, in which Germany became in the own country Fussball-Weltmeister and now becomes also again hopefully. Was called K 1000 the Topseller in the seventies at that time and was an unshakable tool of many pros and amateurs.

<Translation ends>

Looks to me like a step in the right direction. It remains to be seen how the noise issue is dealt with.

When searching for a PS (any flavour) book, you must bare in mind that Photoshop is much more than a tool for digital photographers. Adobe's own 'Classroom in a book' is very good but it does not focus specifically on the PS bits that are relevant to digital photographers.

Scott Kelby's book is excellent. Martin Evening's book 'Adobe Photoshop CS (CS2) for photographers' is also very good.

I now use CS2 but have the CS version of both books, The content is equally relevant.

Finished . . . there's only one . . . species that is, Gannet maybe . . . can't really tell with all that 'noise'

Excellent vista, thanks for sharing it.

Pixmania have had the AF540FGZ listed on their site for some time . . . but no physical stock even now. Beware buying Pentax at Pixmania. Their terms and conditions state that Pentax items do not ship with English manuals.

The following is an extract of their T's & C's

Quote - - -
Also please note that you should be aware that for all Canon, Epson and Pentax products instruction manuals do not come in English.
However you can download all the softwares and manuals in English from the respective internet sites of Canon, Epson and Pentax. Just click on the following manufacturer link to download your instruction manual :
- Canon
http://www.canon-asia.com/supports/techsupports.html
http://www.canon.ca/english/index-customersupport.asp
http://www.canonusa.com/html/conCprTSIndex.jsp?app=download
- Pentax
- Epson
- Panasonic
- Konica Minolta
Unquote - - -

You can read the whole thing, Section 5 - Product Information at http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/conditions.html#5

If the AF540FGZ is anything like as complicated as the AF360FGZ . . . I'd prefer an english manual.

Simonsteph, can I ask you a straight question ? That's not the question. This is an opportunity for you to give a straight answer, rather than a cryptic 'keep them guessing' one. I've posed the question in a previous post but now I'm asking it directly to you.

My question is, why have you conciously chosen to withhold the make and model of your new camera from this forum?

Once again, I have zero interest in what you have bought and I don't want to know. I am more curious about your apparent 'denial' of your new love. Of course, if you have got hold of an early release of a *istD2, then I do want to know.

I respect your choice to keep it from us, which I'm certain you will continue to do. . . I just don't understand it. Enlighten me, and perhaps some others here.

And really absolutely finally . . . The full frame (35mm) Contax N something or other (N1 I think) is a 6MP camera and only a very few short years ago cost something like £4500.00 for just the body. The sensor apparantly cost Contax £2500.00 or some such huge amount. I'm sure that if I were a pro, and had bought one of those a couple of years ago, I wouldn't allow any nonamecompanyoragency to dictate to me that they will not use my images, I'd resize them. If they really want a pic, they'll buy it, and it's not beyond the wit of man (as has been described earlier in this thread) to 'confuse the enemy' by resizing an image by a mere 15% or so. A parallel scenario might be to walk into a camera shop having the intention of buying Pentax, and the salesperson trying to sell some of his enormous stock of CanoNikon kit. If its a 'really' professional shop, they might try and convince the purchaser that stock agency's don't take images from 6MP cameras any more

Have a great weekend each 'n all.

In my opinion, Pentax made a big mistake ceasing production of the *istD as early as they did. It still stands up well against other pro and semi-pro spec'd gear with its pro like functions 'n features. Instead, they decided to embark on a course of replacement, rather than suppliment. Istill believe that, had they continued production of the 'D', they'd still be selling them. It would be fair enough introduce the DS alongside it, then the DL alongside that (and their various MkII derivatives.

Numbers of sales for each model would be down of course, but I think overall, they'd be making a lot more money by selling a lot more cameras to a wider purchasing audience and its not that difficult to gear your production to expected sales. At least then, Joe Public would have at least three DSLR models to chose from. I'm pretty certain that if, for arguments sake, the DL was the first ever DSLR from Pentax, many of you would still be using film or would have switched makes to CanoNikon.

I'm still half expecting to get a version 2.0 firmware release for the D when the D2 comes out that will address some of the annoyances that we have in the current firmware. They did it for the DS so why not the D? Our irritations are so well documented that they ought to pay some attention. Then again, D2 sales might suffer . . . so maybe they won't.

I for one will be very keen to 'test drive' the D2 (or maybe K1000D or even Dot-matic , nah, maybe not) as soon as its available here, and I'm not really expecting to be able to much before 1st qtr 2007, if not later. AF540FGZ production/delivery delay is my justification for these thoughts.

Finally, from me anyway, I'm intrigued to know why the original poster has purposely withheld the make and model of his new purchase. I'm not interested in what it is, just why he hasn't told us. I find it odd, that someone is prepared to 'fight' for a particular corner, and yet not tell us who we are 'fighting', metaforically speaking.

If I were a pro or even semi-pro photographer I'd consider spending an appropriate amount on my equipment and write it off as a business expense. The fact that I'm neither, just a mere amateur who enjoys his hobby, means that I, for one, can't justify spending that kind of money on a camera body that I don't need when Pentax offers a product which exactly suits my requirements.

You're right, we don't miss what we haven't had, but then again, I don't yearn for something I don't need either. I would expect that all who enter here did their homework before spending out their hard earned money. I personally think you are perhaps one of many who has believed the cow poo that is often spouted in camera shops.

If you seriously believe what you have written as the title of your original post (yes I know it was a question), then you will one day soon be proven very wrong.

I'm done with this thread.

Simon,

perhaps it would have been cheaper for you to have asked a few questions here before spending £1000+ on your nonamesupplied DSLR. Of course, as Matt says, if you have to 'look' like a Pro then you have to have the 'C' or 'N' name on your DSLR body.

Hopefully you've gained a little more insight into the capabilities of Pentax DSLR's. One thing you are right about, unfortunately not all models are now easily available but they are available if you want to look.