Nadolig Llawen - gan gynnwys chi Smeggy (NHF)

2nd'd

It is faststone, I had exactly the same outcome when on holiday in Scotland and used my laptop to post some shots to flickr, the laptop has faststone on it only. Once I got home I processed the same shots with Lightroom and no banding appeared. I now only use fast stone as a quick raw viewer to delete the obvious dross (leaving myself wide open here) i.e. out of focus or blurred images.

example - with faststone



example - with LR

Look to get an i7 processor and at least 16GB RAM for processing your photos with something like Lightroom. The graphics doesn't have to up to gaming standard so an onboard device will be sufficient. If you want even more go for a 356GB SSD drive for you OS and a pair of 3TB HDDs (mirrored) for your photo storage. Once Windows is installed (presuming you will use windows) move your profile to the mirrored disks as soon as you can.
If you do opt for SSD you must turn off indexing and any form of defragging.

The 5 and the 5ii have the same sensor and the AA filter so the image will look the same.

The K-5 and the K-5ii have the same resolving capabilities as they both have the AA filter.

Smeggy please understand the difference between the K-5 and the K-5iis is remarkable. I have had the opportunity to use both cameras side by side in the field and to be quite honest what the "classic" produced left me decidedly underwhelmed to the point where I avoided using it if I could. The difference, like I said in a previous post, is akin to using poor glass and then popping on a nice DA*. That difference in these lenses is apparently worth the money so why on earth is the additional expense of the 5iis over the 5ii not worth it.
I'll say it again, until you have used the two side by side or moved from one to the other you simply cannot understand the difference.
The same goes for the K-3, it seems that everyone that has taken the plunge says it is worth every penny. What bothers me is you are advising people not to buy the K-3 because it doesn't (supposedly) do what you want it to do. They may not want the camera for the same reasons. So my message to you is, until you have first hand experience of both models (K-5iis or K-3) please don't put off other potential buyers of these models because the cameras do not fit you purposes and shooting style. However the 5iis definitely would because you would have you beloved high ISO levels and stunningly much sharper images. Fact.

I suppose it depends what you use the camera for, if you simply plant a tripod and shoot a scene that hasn't changed since the last ice age it ain't going to make a jot of difference, but on the other hand if you shoot moving targets the chances are you are going to see a step change. The capabilities of the K-3 are being lauded on other sites and in reviews all over the net but here, where it should matter the most, all we hear is negative comments from those that have not experienced the camera first hand. It seems that every single new user of the K-3 is extremely happy with it and those that don't own one or had the pleasure of handling one are putting it down. Go figure!
My advice to the OP, get the K-3 you will not regret it, however you will always doubt you bought the wrong camera if you buy the 5.

Most of these macro shots were taken with a 50mm and tubes but the big emerging dragon was taken with a 180mm on tubes.

Indeed the last one is very good. Newcastle has some great architecture