my K10D fits in my hand as if the Pentax man had measured me and built it to my exact size.

What's wierd is so does my *istDL2, even though it's half the size of the K10. That's just genious.

I only visit other shops because SRS only sell Cameras.

The K20D uses the same battery as the K10D, they are Lithium Ion type and as such hold charge extremely well when not in use. I just keep mine charged and I've never yet left one long enough to notice any self discharge at all.

Good luck with your choice, it's a hard one, but ultimately you'll find you can't really go wrong.

If you are still a little confused by the more advanced settings it might be wise to go for either the K200 or K-m, as they have more comprehensive "beginner" modes. The K20D is aimed at experienced amateurs and pros, so doesn't feature things like scene modes or auto-picture.

Warehouse Express are everything you should expect from an internet dealer. They have a large selection, generally low prices and provided the item is in stock their delivery is pretty snappy.

Chris and the SRS crew are just better is all (personal opinion gained from an ever mounting number of succesful transactions, YMMV, but I sinceerly doubt it).

what size are they? (having never had the guts to try dismantling a lens with electrical contacts, I've not seen one!)

At that price Chris, I suspect you can sell just as many as they can give you!

I agree with Hefty, if the lens is worth peanuts then you have nothing to loose and a lot to gain.

I would add though that not all lenses are created equal. Pentax and other Japanese lens makers tend to build complex lenses with many interlocking tiny pieces, not really intended to be taken apart and put back together again.

East German and Russian designs tend to be simpler and built more with the idea in mind that they may need to be taken apart, fixed and re-assembled.

I took the aperture off my Zeiss Jena Flektogon, cleaned it up and put the lens back together with relative ease. I looked into doing the same for an old Takumar 135 which has the same problem and concluded that I didn't stand an earthly.

So if you're going to buy a lens as a project, maybe a Russian or East German one would be a good place to start.

I have taken my K10D and *istDL2 out in all weathers. I wouldn't recommend others to take a non-weather sealed body out in the levels of rain and snow in which I have used my DL2, but it has suffered no ill effects to date.

It is nice to not have to worry too much about the K10D though.

I second this, very handy app.

In fact the whole Portable Apps suite is very handy if you're out and about a lot.

it sounds very much as if you have the same one I had Gwyn, so just be a little wary of its resiliance. As I said the HDD on mine was held in with a piece of foam