I notice on this and the K-3II manual the title page is different from earlier ones in that RICOH is now in large bold whereas previously it was PENTAX in bold with "A Ricoh Company" in smaller type below. This is subtle rebranding to change the status of Pentax from a separate company within the Ricoh group to just a brand name. Historically a good brand name has been the most valuable asset from an established company which is stripped out and the other assets disposed of, and has resulted in well respected titles being stuck on inferior imported goods - think Grundig, Bush, Slazenger, Dunlop etc.. Seeing as Ricoh keep targeting Pentax's historic customer base I hope they don't think this strategy would retain customers if the company itself disappeared.

Hurrah! Glad to see there is a proper printed one in the box.

K-1 has won it's first award already: the Technical Image Press Awards (TIPA) 2016 expert FF dslr.

Yeah, life stuff gets in the way too often. Every year I vow to take more time off but it doesn't seem to happen, maybe some nice weather will encourage me!

The Pentax sensor kit is quite sticky so will remove stuff that blowers and sensor shake won't. See what your manual says but the K50 manual advises against wiping the surface or using a brush as they could scratch. I don't understand why sensors aren't hermetically sealed behind a glass screen which would be much easier to clean or replace.

Ps I think some stuff sticks on by static which shaking won't shift. I had a real problem like that with tiny paint particles from a lens adaptor which even managed to get behind the focusing screen. And of course shaking doesn't get rid of the dust, just moves it around.

You have to be careful with rocket blowers as the sensor on it's moveable mount is quite sensitive. I took mine to a local London Camera Exchange who cleaned the sensor for about £20.00 if I recall. Since then I have bought the Pentax sensor cleaning kit which works fine: http://shop-uk.ricoh-imaging.eu/sensor-cleaning-kit-o-ick1.html
Better to use original than 3rd party products, and can be found cheaper if you shop around. This is a sticky pad on a stick which you gently touch the sensor with and then transfer the dust onto a sheet of which there is a pad in the pack, working your way over the surface. Because of the sensor mount you have to be quite light with your touch. I was a bit nervous to start but have done it a couple of times now and it works fine.

Oh dear, I hope it can be worked by simpler folk as well!

Looks to me that the site says from 30 April which is a bit open-ended.

If you have had the opportunity to handle the K-1 and the new lenses issued, and compared them with equivalent bodies from Canon and Nikon as I did at the Photography Show, then you would know that no such move is in on the cards. I did this with an open mind as buying the K-1 also realistically involves a large outlay at some time on new lenses so the time to change brands but the K-1 wins on handling and less reliance on screen menus for changing settings. And why do you think Nikon put the D810 on a special deal at the same price as the K-1? Don't need to spell that out.

[/quote]You didn't answer my question about the AE linked to AF choice .... [quote]

By the time I would have sorted that one out the subject would have long flown, gone to sleep or whatever...