First find out how long they will go before they take any action. Some states go 2 to 3 years before they go to auction.

Put a little extra aside to play catch up in two thirds of the time they take.

A little each month is not easily noticed.

Buy the camera.

Downside she finds out and uses the cameta to beat you. 😁

Problem for Topaz plugin users is that they seem to be moving to Studio as the engine that drives all the plugins. Studio will be the plugin engine. It does install for use all the plugins you own. However.....

All future updates will come via part of studio.

If you are like me I am at the minimum required on the video end. It once worked, now after a WIN10 update it will no longer load the presets. Future updates to Studio may or may not fix my problem. Interesting from version to version it works, then breaks, works ...... you get the idea......

When it worked it was great. Problem is I am not going to buy a new computer to use with a plugin provider. I will have to live with versions that now work and skip Studio until they figure out a way to make it work at the system requirements they list.

In the end all the free presets will keep many happy and the add on to the 'pro' features will probably not be enough to keep them growing a paying base.

Plus my life time of upgrades is now screwed. Without a working copy of Studio I will left out.

You are not alone....... the issue with some issues is being generated from the beta releases. It is too bad it was not done sooner and not so close to the promised release date.

I voted my confidence with the pre order and release date. Now I am not a happy camper with being their bank and the issues report. If it was not ready for prime time then don't do preorders!!

Upgrade to business class or first. Bag limits change and they are to be a lot more willing to be helpful.

A Pentax 10-17 .... love the lens .... no problems.

Well since I forgot... welcome. It is nice to see fellow Pentax folks here.

Let us know what direction you go on the lens question.

See if you have a local camera shop that you might be able to rent lenses from to give them a field test and then make your decision.

It all comes down to this..... good glass is the answer but it is an answer that is not cheap.

The K3 will do the job and it comes down to finding the lens to fit your situation. I have used the Sigma 50-500 (it was a loaner, I do not own it), and it did a fine job.

I use my Pentax 60-250 for the long shots but found I do not like hauling the tripod. It made a difference in my shots vs handheld.

I have heard the same question about Pentax for years. I was told the first time I went to a local camera club to dump my Pentax gear and go with Canon or Nikon the only real cameras on the market and that Pentax was about to fold. (That was over 20 years ago). Instead of dumping Pentax I dumped being part of that local club.

I cut my teeth with Pentax. moved over into digital with Pentax and have heard the doom and gloom. Well all I can say is I have had the K100d, the K20, K10, K7, K5 and the K3. Sold the K10 and K7 to fund a new lens or two. Use the K100d as a tool when folks want to see if photography is their new thing and make it a loaner.

The K20, 5 are great backup rigs. The K3 is still going strong. Now if Pentax disappears it means taking the best of my Pentax lenses and finding an adapter that will fit on a new line.

Do I see that as happening. Nope. In 5 years the landscape will be what it is. I figure all three cameras will last long enough that I don't have to worry about it. If all of a sudden it appears they will disappear I will pick up a K1 and be happy.

They make some great lenses and to be honest I have found that in most cases based on what one shoots it is not the camera but the person behind the camera. Hell you can get great shots with one time use cameras if you know how to shoot. Oh wait they are slowly disappearing.... drat......

Being retired and now using my Pentax gear as a way to cash in on the hobby they perform well and help keep the bank account in the black.

The only problem in using electronic type gear in Europe was one simple thing> having enough adapters changing from the standard US plug type to the European.

Moved to Rome 3 years ago and have not had a problem with any of the chargers for the camera batteries, ipad, tablets and laptops. The adapters are cheap and can be found all over the EU for 1 euro in most cases.

Takes practice and a bit of study and some shooting.

Loved the Pentax 1000. First camera and one I used while working at a local newspaper.

Had two and they lasted forver but were replaced with digital Pentax models. Would still shoot film but the othet half says the bathroom is not to be a darkroom in this day and age. Go figure.

There is one downside to a fake media pass at many venues. Once discovered you could be arrested for fraud, trespass or theft of services. I have seen it happen a few times in the past couple of years where someone with a made up pass got past security and then was discovered. They existed with a police escort. Now with increased security at events you are really opening yourself up for some serious grief. And over just wanting to take a few pictures.

First of all it is dishonest. If you really want to carry a valid pass get attached to a publication or news organization and find out what it takes to obtain one legally.

Many of us that do carry credentials do not look favorably on fakes. Being discovered might just come to light taking a spot of one with a valid pass trying to get a shot.

Many venues and events have their own procedures on issuing passes and even with proper credentials you still have to make an application to obtain a pass to a one event type of affair.

Many events also have strict rules on photo use and as a freelancer you might catch some added problems placing photos for publication that were taken on an unapproved pass.

A letter from a community newspaper in the USA will not carry a lot of weight in a foreign country.

If you are coming to Italy there is little or no chance in securing a pass. The Italian press association (Federazione Nationale della Stampa Italiana - FNSI) is the only union of Italian journalists and has functioned since 1948 in accordance with Article 39 of the Italian constitution as the national council of the Italian press, in other words as a kind of guild for journalists. Only journalists registered with the FNSI receive a press pass.

Only full time journalist are given a pass, part time or freelance journalist do not qualify.

Only journalists who are members of the guild can receive a press pass. These passes have a uniform design and are recognised by the police and task forces. However, foreign press representatives with press passes from other national associations also manage to get by, even in Italy or in the United Kingdom. The freedom of journalistic expression is also a matter of course in these countries and thus a German photo reporter with a German press pass can do his job in Italy or the United Kingdom just as easily as an English journalist in England.

One final note you can toss the USA DOJ letter of guidance for photographers once outside the country. Your rights will be governed by the government of the country you are shooting in.

In Italy right now the military is on station at many of the historic sites, train, metro, various government buildings and bus terminals. They will stop you if they noticed you taking their pictures and request the shot be erased. You can refuse but you then should plan on spending a good amount of time being detained and in the end your camera and memory card(s) may very well be held.

Before you travel spend a little time in learning what your rights are for the countries you plan on visiting.

I have used Paintshop Pro X9 and it does well. Have used it since version 1. While not photoshop it does as advertised.

Can be purchased for under your budget. Look around they do discount it.

Like all pp software it has a learning curve. They do have tutorials worth watching.

Look at the Pentax 10-17mm .

I picked up one about a year ago and find it perfect with my K3.

Very sharp optics, as has been described in plenty of reviews on Pentax forms. Superb - typical Pentax, class act - build quality.

It is a keeper in my book.

I live in Rome .... a 10-17mm is a lens you need in your bag.

I have used it on several of my Pentax bodies (K20-K3)......

Focus is fast, it is light and it will give you a good range. HOWEVER.....

it will not the sharpest... seems sharpest in the mid zoom range and f8 seems to be it's sweet spot. At 200mm it will get a tad soft.

Overall for the price it can be a good lens once you get to know it over time......