Agreed. It's got a classic camera look about it, without being chintzy about it.

Ah they released it, the DF? Looks quite nice. It's a similar idea to the K7/K5 series bodies though isn't it? A 'compact' high end camera? But of course the DF is full frame.

Pentax struck a better balance with the K7/5 cameras though, retaining a front and rear edial rather than shutter speeds via a dial on the top plate (awkward ergonomically). The physical ISO and EV dials don't look great to use either.

It seems a nice camera if you want to catapult yourself back into the 1970s, and slow your shooting right down, which might make for a rewarding photographic experience. But is it a convenient photographic experience, for those times when pottering around thoughtfully isn't an option? I want these controls at my fingertips in a normal shooting position, without having to move my eye from the viewfinder.

I bought a K7 because it made me smile - superb construction, a sort of classic 'look' especially with a lovely K lens attached, small size but powerful features etc. But after a while I got annoyed with it's quirks. I ended up buying a boring old K10D, which didn't make me smile initially, but as I found it was actually a lot nicer to use, and actually offered slightly better image quality IMHO, a more long lasting smile found its way to my face. It was a camera that just worked for me.

Be a little bit cautious about cameras that bring a smile to your face initially, but which might not ultimately offer what you need for what you want to shoot.

For things like the MX1 and the Q, fine, go for it if they make you grin - they aren't exorbitantly expensive and are geared up for photographic fun. I'm talking more about you main camera though, your workhorse.

Much worse image quality, because of the diddly little sensors those cameras use. I don't like these all in one lenses very much, as they tend to be optically compromised, but a superzoom on your K30 will provide vastly better quality than a bridge camera, albeit in a bulkier package.

This time, Pentax... this time... please make it a surprise in a good way. Let's hope the new announcement isn't, as has so often been the case, surprising only in it's underwhelmingness.

My money's on a teleconverter... for the Pentax Theta.

A rangefinder APSC would require a new lens system to have much of a size advantage (remember the K-01?) If it used the K mount it would certainly be much bigger than the Fuji x-series.

How about the NEX cameras? NEX-6 has a good EVF and is pretty compact with the 16-50 pancake zoom.

The MX-1 looks a fantastic camera if you can forego DSLR quality (images I've seen look amazing viewed on the computer screen though!) It's a gorgeous little camera to hold. I've been playing with an RX100, which doesn't have the same appeal as the MX-1 for some reason (perhaps it's just too small, and I miss the flippy screen) but it does have tremendous near-DSLR quality, and pretty good controls/customisability.

Maybe the RX100 mkII would fit the bill - it has the flippy screen and takes an external viewfinder (for extra $$$)

OK now we've established everyone's a little bit gay for Chris from TCS, I can admit I think there's just something aboot his accent too...

I can't see much to complain about in your gallery shots. It could be that your NEX was set up to produce punchy vibrant jpegs. You can do the same on the K5, but the default setting might be more muted. As suggested try some of the Custom Image settings e.g. 'vibrant' and see what happens. You can also adjust these settings yourself, in camera, adjusting colour contrast and sharpness to taste.

Replacing the Tamron 70-300? Think about the Pentax DA55-300. Or for less range but even better results, the DA50-135mm.