Plus you got yours for less than they go second hand now, Mike!

I upgraded from a K200D so not only got better IQ, I got a 'pro' type body. So it kind of made sense. But with the same sensor under the hood, and similar levels of external controls, I would only go for a K7 in your shoes if the price was exceptional. Otherwise going straight to the K5 just makes vastly more sense, even if it means waiting for the prices to drop further.

You're right. Might be OK if you're only using it for up to 5 stops.

I suppose it's horses for courses, but I go well over 400ISO on my K7 regularly, and would only avoid going much over ISO1000. The only problem with going up to high ISOs is the already limited latitude for lightening shadows etc is further reduced. With decent exposure the image grain at ISO800+ is not really noticeable at all in prints at A4 and probably beyond, although of course you can see it clearly at 1:1. But that's like looking at part of a 4m wide print!

That said I look forward to getting a K5 when I will be able to achieve similar results at crazy high ISOs - it must be liberating to go over ISO2000 and not raise an eyebrow.
Let alone 8000....

That was snaffled up quickly! I'm glad, a minute longer and I'd have bought it.

This thread doesn't inspire much confidence: http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=311064

However luckily 7-Day shop have a liberal returns policy, so there's not much risk in trying one out. But on the results shown in that thread, I wouldn't bother.

Slides were always a drag. I only shot them because id been told they were best quality, but viewing them was such a pain. Slide protectors should be classed as instruments of torture.

Perhaps the hood gives the FA an edge Simon. I bet not many people with the DA bother with one. I know I don't, although I probably should.

Sounds like a result! Congratulations.

It's all cheating, if it involves the photographer using skill to improve an image beyond the bog-standard, eh Walkeja. Really we should all just put our cameras on auto and hit the shutter button at random to avoid the possibility of framing / exposing a shot artistically as well. Flash and studio lighting? Cheating. You are improving on what is actually there. Portraits should be shot in whatever light there happens to be at the time. Bah.

You can use tav mode and adjust iso by changing your shutter speed and aperture.