Hi I'm new here, though I recognise some faces from other places (RFF anyone?).

There is a reassuring but cryptic article in a recent AP about Pentax's plans. Seems there is lot in the pipeline. It should be a good year for Pentax.

If you are going to the US soon, the DL body is $459 (about £270)at B&H.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&...

I have gravitated back to SLRs/digital from rangefinders, which have taught me to travel light (and use available light as much as possible).

My kits are now:

Film: MX body, Pentax SMC-M lenses 28/2.0, 35/2.8 and 50/1.7, 1.5x DOI converter.

Digital: 24/2.8AF Sigma, 50/1.7F Pentax, Kenko 1.5x AF converter.

I tend to shoot indoors, environmental portraits, and close, so longer lenses tend not to be a requirement, though I do have the usual range of zooms from 18mm to 300mm.

You can use a hotshoe mounted viewfinder, originally intended for rangefinders with interchangeable lenses. They are £5-£10 on ebay and have 35/85/135 framelines, which should be ok for estimating framing.