The white balance is I think a little on the warm side, but I rather like the effect. She really is pretty close to that colour in tungsten light though.

I think the light is flattering her gray, she's getting old

flickr

Do they supply ones with Helium balloon attachments?
I'd take two.

Inflatable biceps would do at a pinch

Re: batteries on the K200 I have good success with the Recycko batteries (same chemistry and design to the Eneloop ones - no idea if they are better or worse, I doubt it) which are more than enough for several days worth of heavy shooting and if I really need the lifespan dropping in one use lithium ones should give you in the ball park of a thousand shots.

I wouldn't use standard NiMh/NiCd batteries in it if you leave the camera with the batteries in (not from any risk of leaking though there is that) but just for it always being good to pick up and go shoot with.

Welcome from NW6. I really should have a wander with the camera and see what's beautiful with some cropping
There's a large cemetery near me and they seem surprisingly popular as compositions.

Thanks Jon
There is the Aluminium model http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/2232/Joby-Gorillapod-Focus-Tripod.html but this is
a) quite a bit bigger
b) a lot more £££

Hmmm - Anyone here used the Focus model?

There's no point me going for a 'proper' tripod to start with, it has to be extremely portable and quick to use or I just won't bother.

Tel:
It's actually not too bad, the main idea of it being "Our" camera and letting her be heavily involved in picking it was to get her to buy into the idea of using it. Once she's addicted then her desire to use it will hopefully mean I can upgrade and get another one

Interestingly when on holiday (the primary reason for the investment) just having the one camera works just fine since I normally carry it (in a Tamrac Velocity 6 with the other lens) and we swap over every so often.
She likely wouldn't want to carry it all the time due to the weight.

I think she might appreciate the FA 50 too due to the smaller size and weight...

Got a K200D, a Tamron 17-50 F2.8 instead of Kit and a Pentax 75-300 zoom.
[edit: typo - it's not a 55-300]

Having fun, first DSLR - sharing it with the gf (she's primary reason for picking it, she tried a few in the shop and liked that one)

In-camera IS is great for my shaky hands too

I confess I have an ulterior motive for joining here, according to https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/Ordering-from-SRS-Microsystems-7886 you get free delivery from srs if you subscribe here.
Not planning on being cheeky about it, happy to post here long term but being up front about it

What I am planning on buying (in order of importance)

Pentax smc FA 50mm f1.4 Lens Pentax 50mm F1.4 Lens £159.00
Hoya 67mm Circular Polarising Lens Filter £60.00
Joby Gorillapod SLR Tripod £34.99

Any thoughts on this. I wanted a fast prime for portraiture mainly (also the small size) since I found the tamron was nice during xmas for pics but was a we bit too big and I was distracting them when I wanted unstaged shots.

The FA 77 looks wonderful (I had a play in the shop) but this is waaaay too much for me right now.

The CPL is for snowy scenes primarily (about to go out to the Alps) and wanted to try it, they aren't cheap sadly (so I'm only getting one for the Tamron which I think I am most likely to use for the landscape shots)

The gorillapod is likely for holidays - gets shots of me and the GF at the same time or just use it to avoid my horrible shakes (did I mention that already). I figure that one should take the K200 + tamron.