The K10D is an excellent camera. I still have mine. Although I have the K-5 (and K20D and *istDS) I do find that the K10D excellent in certain circumstances, mainly landscapes. I must start using it more for this purpose, as the colour rendition, especially out of the camera, beats the K20D and in some ways the K-5 hands down. In fact, I will charge the battery and give it a good run with my new Limiteds this weekend (weather permitting)

Just read the news, very sad indeed. Jacobs is my favourite local store for just about all my accessories.

I hope the Administrators find a buyer soon, as the alternative (Jessops) is not an option!

My K-5 is an early one with staining. But do you know what? In real use it does not have an effect at all.
Two reasons I have not sent it back
1 - I use it all the time, so no time to to send it back
2 - It does not have an effect.

However I does succome to dust more than my K20D. But I have PS to sort that out.....LOL

The only other Pentax problem I have, is my 50-135 is a bit reluctant to AF if not used for a while (typical SDM), but I get around it - ie put it on the camera and coerce it to work, then it is fine.

Apart from those, NIL NADA etc. I Love the Pentax System.

Thanks Dave. I hope it was a one-off blip.
It does mean a reconsideration on what I take to Tallinn.
It might be a case of leaving the MZ-5n behind with the rolls of film, and take the K20D instead, purely from a piece of mind point of view

Thanks Chris.
It is indeed a great ergonomic camera. If the Grip is as it looks, it means it is nice to handle (something you can't say about the triple digit Canons)
I also like the dual dials, and the TAv mode too.
I might just get one as a backup to my K-5, meaning I will get rid of my K20D, and possibly my *istDS too.
Just a shame it is too early for me before my Estonian trip......

I have recently updated the firmware to 1.13 and now no beep for focus confirmation, and I cannot find the change in the menus.

Secondly, the LCD display did an odd thing when I reviewed a couple of test shots earlier, The display was like a very poor signal on a B+W television. Switched it off and back on again, and everything is fine, including the shots.
I am a tad worried as on Thursday I am off to Estonia, and don't want to take the K-5 if it is causing issues, or take the K20D as well, adding weight.

Thoughts?

Possibly, but again Possibly not. It all depends on where the value of the name is.
Obviously both Ricoh and Pentax have Point and shoot compacts. Some are classed as "throwaways" such as the Caplio R series and more basic Optios. When I mean "throwaway" I mean cheap cheerful, replace in the range every 6 months. If the users own one breaks, then they buy a new one.
However, above that then they have more specialist models.
WG series of weatherproof Pentax
CX series Ricohs.
Both these may stay as is.
GX and GXR Ricohs are unique and have a strong following, so may stay Ricoh.
DSLR - Pentax of course.
Mirrorless (excepting the aformentioned GXR) - Pentax

so it really comes down to the mainstream compacts.

If I was Ricoh/Pentax (which I am not) I would probably go for the following:-

Consumer Compacts - Keep the Optio Name, bring out the next CX as a Pentax, design them yourself (rather than rely on off the shelf third party like Sanyo) and give them a USP, like a viewfinder or RAW.
High End compacts - Keep Ricoh for the likes of the GX and GXR series, and keep develop them. Indeed use this brand for X100/X10/Sigma DP style cameras. Use it to compete with Panasonic LX (Lovely camera I have to say) Canon G, and Nikon P series.
Mirrorless - Keep the Q, and the K-01 style. Possibly add a sensor size in between, but keep them Pentax
DSLR - Pentax
MF - Again Pentax.

So Pentax would be the "basic" compacts and interchangeable lens cameras (apart from the quirky GXR) and Ricoh would provide the High performing compacts and GXR.

But thats me, and I am not Pentax/Ricoh.

Frog, why don't you explain to him the real value of the camera, and then make him an reasonable offer for it, explaining it is going to a good home and put a few rolls of Pan-F through it.

True, but when the K-5 first came out, it was listed at £1200.
Yes, the K30 will be ballpark £600-700 on release, but it will settle down to £450 ish in a few months, whereas the K-5 has probably seen its bottom price. In the meantime the K30 might hurt sales of the K-5 a bit (those who don't want the K-5 or want the newest) until the K-5 replacement is out a couple of months later.
Having said that, there is a place for both the K30 and K-5, IF they are at the right price, and the marketing puts the message across correctly (as Canon do with the aformentioned 600D and 7D)
Mind you, what we must remember is that the K-5 is, even now, is a bargain compared its proper rivals of the 7D and D300s. It is just that the K30 might just usurp that. Still, Nikon don't seem to be worried about the D3200 (24MP) and D7000 (16MP) hurting sales of the D300s (12MP) at the moment

Probably. It is indeed the usual way that Pentax introduce the mid-range camera. The did it with the K200D when the K10D was still around.

Still, the K-5 is a mighty camera, even now, and it will take something for the K30 to usurp it. But bear in mind, Canon (tish) have both the 600D and 7D, with both having the same sensor, yet the 7D is still the better camera.

Ultimately it would be nice for Pentax to have a multi model range
Beginner - A sort of K300, possibly with the 16MP sensor, yet with fewer features
Mid-range - K30. Same sensor, but better features and build.
Semi-Pro - K-5 (or replacement) as is, if with the same sensor (remember it still has the top ISO), or replacement
Pro - The usual FF request, or at least a larger APS-C body with bigger buffer bigger dynamic range AF etc etc. Think of it as a Nikon D300/D400 type