I state facts and into them you read your own dissatisfaction with life. A shame that you choose to parade your ignorance here. Really I should stop feeding trolls like yourself, next to whom we must all feel self-satisfied.

Why do you ask? Do only Pentax dealers and fanboys know how to use manual mode?

If you knew how to use the web you could find out lots about me, enough to sate your curiosity I am sure.

Pentax chooses not to throw away millions on ad campaigns. Since this does not affect their superior products, I don't care.

I have little idea what you are talking about when you say "their lens choices have been poorly conceived" since Pentax has been consistently replicating their old film lenses with new digital designs for the APS-C format. We have the choice of an excellent ultra-wide zoom, several great lenses in the walkaround zoom category, several weather-sealed lenses and better primes than any other manufacturer. These include a cheap fast 50, unbeatable 200mm and 300mm teles and the incredible Limited line-up... that no-one else can touch on build quality.

Yes, we are missing a 24mm or 28mm f/2, but that is one of the few gaps. Nikon and Canon are missing much more, like stabilised primes (or even modern primes designed for digital) over much of the range.

I filled this gap with two inexpensive Vivitar manual focus primes. That's something easy to do in the k-mount world. Canon and Nikon users who have seen what I can do with my K100DS have had their jaws drop open in awe. And that's before I have told them what a bargain it is.

Maybe you don't know how to use it. If you want, you can set the camera on manual and use an older lens, say the FA43. Now it's exactly like a K1000 from film days, except it has about 50 bonus features you can use or not as you see fit. If that's too complex, you just haven't learned photography.

Or you can buy a system that works better for you. Spend three times as much and get a plastic camera with crappy viewfinder, no shake reduction, a poor range of primes, over-priced zooms and the comfort of knowing you are one with the herd.

Maybe that's what you are looking for?

When out of facts you resort to cheap personal insults. How juvenile.

Let's see what the facts say, shall we?

According to the Pentax UK site the K200D is 95 x 133 x 74mm, which is 934 cm3 and weighs 630g without battery and memory card. Likewise the K-m is 91.5 x 122.5 x 67.5mm or 757 cm3. It weighs 525g.

This equates to a 18% decrease in volume and 16% decrease in weight. I had guessed 20% which is not too inaccurate.

Also, the K-m does indeed have Shake Reduction. Improvements include the AF system, shadow compensation, frame rate and the help button. You may not like the camera, but others certainly do. In any case, please do not spread false information.

As for "undercutting the competition", Pentax offers significantly better value for the price, with a stabilised metal chassis camera that captures exemplary images. If you prefer a different brand for some reason, fair enough. I'd say you are getting ripped off, but I won't stop you from going elsewhere to post your comments.

Everyone's hands are different I suppose. My left hand finds a nice purchase around the lens as though I was going to adjust the ring or manually focus (which I often do anyway). This provides a nice solid grip. I am not sure where you would suggest a hand should go? Keep it clean, though.

New models always cost more initially. This is the way the market always works for tech items; why are people still surprised by this? I am buying a K20D now, at one-third the price it was released at not so many months ago.

It's about 20% smaller I believe.

That is not physically possible, because of the registration distance.

Very, very nice -- and from my old hometown too! I remember days like these. Used to live on Talbot and would walk through Victoria Park most days.

A Km plus 40mm Limited lens might convince you to leave everything else behind. Can't get smaller than that!

The pound being what it is, I just bit the bullet on a K20D kit. Including delivery charge, but less the rebate, it will cost me under €500. Assuming I can get a reasonable price for selling the brand new Mk II kit lens (very good by all accounts but superfluous to me) I hope to get close to a body price of €425.

An amazing deal!