Thanks for the quick reply, John. The choice of AdobeRGB is not mine, but my client's. Using only one editing app is good advice and I have not used PDCU4 until recently, using CS4 -- my wife came by this and pointed out the difference, but your point does not address the issue. The difference is VERY dramatic, especially with PEF images. I highly recommend you try it yourself and see. Industry standard or not, I am inclined to go with what looks best, but need to know why it looks so much better.

"If you want to use AdobeRGB then set camera and Photoshop to that, but be aware that your prints may look lighter and may lose impact. The extra gamut will be laregely wasted." - I have to disagree. Since when does more colour data get wasted? My clients want the highest quality possible, not to mention my need to produce the highest quality prints possible for exhibition, sales and competition. Using sRGB for web applications makes sense, but that is my least concern.

The same image file on the same monitor in the same size appears differently using two utilities and I need to determine why and which to trust. Pentax Digital Camera Utility 4 displays PEF and JPGs better (more contrast, more color) than Adobe CS4. TIFF files, however, appear slightly better on CS4 (color better) than the Pentax software. This applies to all images, regardless of camera, and is particularly a software matter.

Using a PC, displaying images on a new HP ZR22w monitor in it's native resolution of 1920x1080, recently calibrated. Pentax Utility is set on Color Space -> Image File Setting (which is usually Adobe RGB in PEF or DNG); Bridge sets all color space for the Creative Suite Color Setting -> North American Prepress 2.

I have searched this forum as well as others regarding this issue and have seen no related postings. These differences were pointed out to me by my wife, who is a visual artist (painter) and we agree on the differences noted above. I am awaiting advice from Pentax Support and would greatly appreciate any aid regarding the matter from any of you who have seen a similar issue.

Calibrate the monitor. Very common problem, usually resolved with calibration.