As I set the topic we were just coming out of that mini-heatwave. I can't be blamed for the change in the weather! Although to be honest there have been many hot and sunny spells over the last week.

Fascinating read Don, what a blast from the past, especially the adverts! Somehow I get the impression you have absorbed this publication into your DNA.

And I had to check out the small ads.... Meteor fragment, 1 oz - only $3.50! (p187).

It does sound like there's not enough light on the model for the AF to lock on, but the bright background is fooling the camera into thinking the AF light isn't needed. Have you tried throwing more light onto the model to assist focussing? Have you checked for front/back focussing on your lenses and adjuested accordingly? I know live view focussing is a bit cumbersome for this type of photography, but as a last resort, you can at least rely on contrast-detect AF to be 100% reliable.

Unfortunately the Q needs to halve its price RIGHT NOW if it is to be competitive on the mass market place!

I just don't think Pentax are going for the mass market, the people who buy EPL1s. There's nothing wrong with selling fewer units of a niche product at a higher mark up. If there's a surprise demand, great, but I do struggle to how that could happen.

Nevertheless its a nice little camera that I'm sure a lot of people will have great fun with. I don't feel the need to keep sticking the boot in just because it's not for me.

It's as expensive as any of the DA ltds, if not MORE expensive!

Or they realise it's going to be a limited market, niche item, and have priced for low volume/high margin.

... Why? That's what they effectively are, plastic-made toys for fun effects. You wouldn't want them to be held to the same standard as normal lenses. Toy lenses and cameras are already an established albeit niche market link. Expected them to be a little cheaper, $80 was the rumoured price. Oh well!

There's no question of Amazon not refunding him in full, they just won't replace the item with the same model. I think the vendor is entitled to offer a refund rather than replacement?

The K5 QC issues must be causing sellers considerable inconvenience, as well as buyers. Every time they replace the unit for a buyer they have the admin and postage costs to cover.

I like the flower shots, but I love 'interloper'! The d.o.f. makes the fly pop out really well.

I presume you can add the effect with the in-camera RAW conversion. So you have a backup image which isn't.... ruined by a starburst filter!