I had the flash contacts burn out on a MX some years ago-- I used Metz 45CT1 for local press photography and a Bowens 750W Special studio flash -- the ONLY time I've had flash contact trouble.

You're not the only one ! My 200mm f4 SMC Takumar is also so stiff I need two hands to wrench the focus ring round -- it's been like that for years. In the summer sometimes I leave it out in the hot sun -if there IS any to loosen the lubricant.

My 'first roll of film' was an ex-RAF war surplus one from Marston & Heards, Leytonstone, East London price 6d (2.5 Pence)and I cycled about 4 miles from Manor Park to buy it ! ( It left me with 2 shillings (10Pence) from my pocket money !) I took it in my Mum's Kodak Brownie Hawkeye box camera -- each of the 8 shots was exposed very carefully and I developed it in some home-made developer in the blacked-out bathroom in a dish my Mum used for tapioca pudding and I used for hatching Frog spawn in ( NOT at the same time ).

I use The Darkroom UK since dlab7.com stopped doing E6 cheaply and good-- prices are much higher than dlab7.com BUT darkroom supply pre-paid POSTAGE labels to send there, whereas with Peak and others YOU have to pay outgoing AND incoming huge post costs---- here are some E6 prices --
35mm Mounted £5.95,sleeved £4.50
120 sleeved £4-10
phone them on 01242 239031 tell thenm you are a 'new customer' recommended and they will send FREE post label to start you off or you can download one from their web-site ( supply your own sticky !)

I used to use BonusPrint ( BonusPhoto,TriplePrint, DoublePrint-all same firm)then they put up the postage costs to a ridiculous amount and found that The New Pharmacy in Brentwood High Street have a colour film service,not advertised well,and tried them and got back 38 shots perfectly processed,AND a replacement IN DATE Kodak film ( I always give them my outdated films first!) all for £3-99 !! The lab they use is 'Sigfoto'owned by Sigma Pharamaceuticals and they know their stuff .... the outdated films I have given them are Truprint(3M),Jessops(Agfa) and Konica and I give them one stop more exposure and they come out PERFECT, then I do my own RA4 16x12" Exhibition prints.

It is no use arriving LATE to a Club after the meeting has started as it is rude of members to talk to visitors when there is something going on , especially a visiting demonstrator. I have seen new faces arrive and look through the glass of the inner door and see the room in semi-darkness and they do not open the door to slide in quietly but just go away never to return, then people complain that Club members never talk to them -- it's their own fault for being late !
try Brentwood & District Photographic Club here : www.bdpc.co.uk

If you want 'Clean Glass' then why not just use the PENTAX Microfibre cloth on your lenses ,not change to NIKON as those lenses can get just as dirty--- try shooting floodlit football on a wet December afternoon in Billericay to see how lenses mist up !

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3440/3800207535_a2498266b6.jpg
My wife's white orchid near the kitchen window-- I saw the light effect and rushed to get my K10D,screwed on my 1970's 50mm f4 SMC Takumar,switched on 'anti-shake'and took the shot !

Why not get an ME Super then you will have FULL FRAME and one of the best Pentaxes ever made !!

Would love you to come down the road to BRENTWOOD ( I use the 'pensioners' BUS the 498 from Romford Station !)and show your Pentax Pics at the Brentwood & District Photographic Club; meets on Fridays, from 7.45pm in Friends' Meeting House, Hutton Road, Shenfield 200 yds from the Shenfield Station.