talking of manual focus, I note that the K10D has interchangable screens but that neither of the option screens available from Pentax has any sort of manual focus aid

Does anyone know if you can get a split screen focus aid screen from any 3rd party? also when they say the screens can be changed, do they mean by a normal person, or is it a case of having a service shop do it?

that's because I nicked them

So if we go to the moon we can get free cameras?

To the rocket ship!

that may possibly be the understatement of the year

sounds like mine is identical to Matts. The metal ring is maybe as much as 1/2mm above the glass surface, both are above the printed writing. I haven't subjected mine to a macro lens to see how smooth it is (not keen on touching it, I'm paranoid about my front elements!)

scandalous!

I must admit I found it odd that you go from new member to vet in one go at 30 posts. Doesn't bother me much (though I am a low post count person so why should it?) just seems odd.

Watch out for Hama lens caps.

I used to have a bunch of these (7dayshop sell them very cheaply) for my various lenses. I have no stopped using them after an incident.

My Dad's 28mm SMC-M was in his camera bag with UV filter and lens cap on (both Hama brand). He is not aware of having thumped the bag and both of us are always pretty careful with our gear, but it must have taken a knock somewhere. The UV filter was shattered in line with the catch on the cap.

This can happen with these off brand caps because they sit too deeply in the filter ring and so rest on the glass rather than on the filter ring as they should.

For the most part this would only happen if there is a filter on the lens since most front elements are recessed into the body of the lens, but if not, or even if the lens had been wearing a polariser rather than a cheap UV, it could have been a very expencive experience.

'cause they have to put up with Canon glassware

I had that problem with my ex-GF's father. He has a Canon FD mount SLR so I assumed he'd have a good working knowledge of "proper" cameras, gave him my *istDL2 to take a few couply shots of my (then)GF and I and he started waving it about at arms length. It took some considerable explaining to get him to realise that the screen didn't work like that and it's just like a film SLR in terms of use. The pictures weren't very good either, should have used a tripod and my IR release!