And if it goes wrong? Saving a few quid on this sort of equipment doesn't compare to knowing there is a shop you can walk into.

My dad was no great photographer but owned a Bessamatic and was very proud of it. He rashly lent it to be for a six month trip to Norway in winter in my youth but it tended to freeze up. Just recently I found in the attic quite a few transparencies I managed to take and they were not bad. I wish I knew what happened to it.

Relevance? Oh yes, I used my K50 and 100mm macro lens to convert the slides to digital.

No-one makes a camera that is best at everything, and we have to accept that and if there is a particular field in which you want to concentrate then get the best you can for that. It's no good complaining that your Range Rover doesn't corner as well as a Jaguar if you want to drive on a Swiss mountain road! K-1 has been described as the best DSLR around for landscape due to its dynamic range, sharpness and quality of colour rendering as well as the WR. The 645Z was specifically developed for the wedding photo market. There are reasons however why pro sports and wildlife photographers go first to Canon and then Nikon, and it's not just the massive support these companies provide; their top end bodies and lenses are designed for the money-earning shot. Maybe Ricoh have identified the fields in which they can excel and compete, and are concentrating on being the best there.

I should add that there are superb examples of wildlife photos around by Pentax users including on this site, so it is always worth checking what kit was used.

I don't know if is just me but there seem to be more DSLRs around than a few years ago, especially at nature reserves. And walk around tourist spots where there are plenty of mirrorless bodies. But don't get me started on selfie sticks!

I don't think Currys is a reliable barometer for trends other than mass market consumer products. Top end hi-fi, tv, even posh fridges, have never featured.

Pleased and relieved you came out unscathed.

Hi Gwyn

There is a deal on Franzis Denoise Projects this month - see right. I have just downloaded it but not tried it yet and it looks - how can I put it - comprehensive! I find that Lightroom does a decent job for most applications but this promises a bit more.

Looks like Bellseal is gone from Amazon. Now Cava Angel!

Allotments? There are some real characters and quirky structures. A whole subculture.

Oh for goodness sake who are these people with pointless lives?