The gps is only on when the K1 is switched on.

I picked the cheapest f2.8 where there was a choice from each, I didn't want to complicate matters as my point was to show how favourably Pentax prices compare. If you add in the cost of a FF body from each then that would give a better idea of the cost of a full set-up rather than comparing bodies alone. Quality comparisons are another matter and I bet you would end up with one lens each from three different brands for the optimum set-up, but this thread is about lens costs hence my exercise.

Take recommended retail prices (£) of three most popular FF lenses with equivalents across all manufacturers: 15-30 f28, 24-70 f2.8, 70-200 f2.8.
Pentax: 1500+1149+1850=4499
Canon: 1790+2300+1540 (no IS on any)=5630
Nikon: 1670+1849+2650=6169 (only IS on 70-200)
Sony: 1729+1679+2799=6207
Sigma doesn't have the equivalent wide-angle zoom but the other sizes are 899+1539 so are cheaper options.
Where there is more than one option I have taken the cheapest.

All sounds good, thanks for advice. Cabstar I think you need to update your tag line!

Yes, Unlocker, my present desktop is 24" so don't want to go smaller. At the same time I am upgrading my AutoCad software for work and the pictograms are much smaller now so hopefully they will be better on a 27" screen.

16GB is + £180 and 32GB is + £540, double that for 64GB, so I think that settles it!

Thanks All, I have noticed Lightroom slowing when a background programme is running, for instance my day's workload saving to a cloud server. I can stop it but obviously reluctant to do so. I think the only place to get an upgraded RAM is from Apple Store online otherwise prices are the same everywhere although John Lewis give a 3 year warranty. Another plus for ordering from AS is the option to substitute the numeric keyboard for just £30 instead of paying £130 extra elsewhere. I was thinking 16GB or maybe 32GB if persuaded. Might though be like buying a Ferrari for doing the shopping!

PS I had thought there would be the old models at bargain prices but there is only about a £200 saving so not realistic.

I am about to replace my desktop and whilst set on the new iMac am wondering about the memory options. I am not too worried about data storage as I keep most on separate hard drives so 1TB will be fine. The standard RAM available is 8GB across the range but this can be upgraded if ordering direct from Apple in steps up to 64GB, at a cost of course!

My current machine runs at 4GB which is fine most of the time but when I tried stitching 5 images together in a panorama it really struggled; likewise when processing a pixel-shift image in Lightroom. This is because the RAW images from the K1 are around 42Mb each and a pixel-shift about 150 Mb. I would like the option of more multiple image stitching and maybe try focus stacking; I had wondered what a multiple pixel-shift image would be like but maybe that would be unrealistic and not something I would try more than a couple of times. So, my question to anyone who knows a bit more about computers is what RAM level would be appropriate - 8, 16, 32 or 64GB? I know for safety I should go for the highest but that comes at a cost and maybe implicates operational life and I am not editing the next Hollywood blockbuster, so any ideas?

Dale, you are right to start in auto mode and get to grips with the other camera functions. If you haven't already then get a decent book on photography basics, the manual can only tell you what the knobs do, if you like, but not how to use them. Next step I would suggest would be to experiment with TV (manually select shutter speed) and AV (manually select aperture) modes, which being semi-automatic will get an exposure generally right. Many pro photographers will just stick with one of these depending on their subject. Then try exposure compensation +/- to see what that does. If you are not sure about how the exposures are coming out try bracketing (it's in the manual!). After you have the hang of these try TAV mode where you can select both aperture speed and exposure but the camera selects the correct ISO to get the exposure right; just make sure in your settings you have not limited the ISO range too much.

When I first got my K50 I think it took me a year before I got to the end of the manual! The camera is like a computer programme, capable of a huge range of functions but you generally find that you just use those parts relevant to how you work, and the trick is learning how to use those to best effect.

On the other hand the stuff you have will keep its value better! If Ricoh are reviewing prices after their poor profit performance then I for one would rather see a flourishing quality business than one on a descent into cost-cutting.

Yes, that's barrel distortion not perspective, which you will get on any wide angle lens.