I don't understand your response here. What is unfair?. All I have suggested is that in my view it is important to ensure the images are processed with all variables equalised (as in my K5ii / s tests). How can Kr Raw conversions be an 'equalised' process to Jpegs from the K100d?

Without the software used and methodologies explained it is impossible for any for us to assess if this is the case.

I assume you're looking at JPEGs from the cameras, is that right? Either camera generated embedded jpegs on the LCD screen or camera created & edited JPEGs on a computer screen?

Well, its difficult to be sure you're making a fair comparison unless you're sure you have equalized and eliminated any processing differences, at any stage of the process.

Pentaxophile's point above may not be the full story, but its very likely to be a significant factor.

In my testing of shots from the K5ii / s models it was clear from an early stage that there were different default sharpening algorithms applied to the embedded previews - so it seems likely that there would be considerably wider discrepancies between your two models with years of development and different technologies between them.

Really nice - great whites and a simple but effective composition!

Some tidying up to do I think if possible - I'd give the yellow bands near the top a bit of a saturation boost, and the 'converging vertical' effect along the left edge is intrusive. Do you have software to straighten this out and pull the door out and line it up? In PS Elements you could probably do this with 'Free Transform.

This work will probably also remove the extra bit at the top left at the edge of the yellow bands, and this would be neater I think.

Does anyone know of the best software for producing faked images of not-yet released cameras? I'm particularly interested in the 'lens droop / tilt' functions - or can you just do it all in Lightroom with one click

I can see what attracted you to the spot, as there's a beautiful mix of tones, and the sky is well handled as its the main metered zone. In total it doesn't quite work well for me - the composition gives it a cut off look (the bottom) - I find the chopped off tree a problem, and there's a strange glow to the lower autumnal leaves that doesn't seem to have any source.

I'm sure the place will reward you again, maybe with a big wide-angle view getting the trees up close but having some ground to anchor it?

Or the Theta iis !

For the same reason that ff is not 'better' for every photographer. Because some will not be able to realise the potential,both through shooting techniques and where the images will end up. Or its just not worth the cost. The 645 rules out most on this basis. I could appreciate and realise the potential I think, but could not yet justify ff on either cost or output criteria.

No 1 is a great image! Wonderful range of tones. Did you have a chance to get down to the ground level and shoot from there also?

We crossed there John, but I'm with you on that as you can see above!

But I don't understand how it could be better to have to activate the menu and change what the LCD is displaying just to select and confirm one of these options. The physical control is always there to glance at or use your tactile sense, and moving it doesn't interfere with your LCD screen - which might be showing an image with histogram or a digital preview while you check out WB or Custom Image settings. You get the status indicator as confirmation also on the LCD for AF mode, Metering mode and of course the AF point selections also.

And I do think having the controls there can act as a prompt to considering alternatives - eg: when using 'catch-in-focus' the AF switch selector provides the simplest means to switch rapidly between catch-in-focus and normal capture (AF-S for active & AF-C or M to de-activate). I'd hardly be encouraged to utilize this flexibility if I had to use the menus to do this.

Metering is exactly the same - the physical control under the mode dial, apart from being the easiest possible way to change this, acts as a visible reminder to think about the metering options and try them - we get instant exposure feedback in the LCD and histogram of our experiments. No Metering mode option buried in a menu is going to remind me to try something out.