I think £38 is the correct value for your gift. See here https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty

Lovely weather here again today, and as my K1 is in for repair I got my old MX out of retirement to take a few pictures on b+w down at Newark Priory on the River Wey.

It is fun using film again, really makes you stop and think about every shot.

The top display on the K1 is very small compared to the K10d i had before and I was a bit disappointed at first, but have got used to using the LCD screen and never bother with the top display now, would not miss it if it was dropped on a later model. The articulated screen is a very useful tool especially for low tripod shots.

I find manual focus with the K1 a breeze. the big bright viewfinder makes focussing by eye easy. If really critical focus is required the best approach is LV zoomed to 100%. Focus confirmation with the beep/green hexagon works fine for me too when using a manual lens.

Not really looked in detail at the KP but what does it not offer that the K3 or successor does/will ?

The second one and spinners are very very good in my book. Thanks for posting

If you are:
getting a red focus confirmation on the bench and not the berries
not releasing the shutter half-press once focus is attained
not in AF-C mode
and not moving when you recompose

then perhaps the lens is at fault.

Further to the suggestions earlier in the thread about the camera not recognising the lens, have you tried doing a AF/FA using the "Apply All" setting when this lens is mounted ? This method of AF/FA does not require the camera to know the lens. it will mean that any lens will have that adjustment applied when mounted on the camera and the menu is set to Apply All. This latter point is important as the menu setting of Apply one or Apply all is not just for setting an adjustment but is also used to apply that setting when using the camera. At least this is how it works on the K-1. So use Apply All to set a AF/FA with your troublesome lens, then making sure you are in Apply All setting on the camera do some real world tests.
Remember to switch back to Apply one when you mount your other lens which has an Apply One setting.

To add to what JAK (John) said, and the reason I asked if you used single point, is that if you use one of the auto focus point settings you are allowing the camera to choose out of a number of points where it will focus. If it thinks it finds more contrast in the branches/berries, that is where it will focus.

You will see which focus points it is using when AF lock is attained, they flash red in the viewfinder. When focus is critical as in short camera to subject distance it is vital that you observe this as you take your shots.

Using single point AF for this ?

....and you can use the 150mm filter system on all your lenses not just the wide angle ones. i really don't see the point of your complaint. if you don't want to buy a filter system for your camera then don't.

To use 150*100 filters with the 15-30 you need to buy a lens-specific adapter ring for it. Costs about £100. You would have to do the same for most UWA lenses whatever the brand of lens you buy or camera you own.

You do sound as if you are always ranting on, yes.