Pentax K5 back in Conns Cameras -Great Camera, competative price...

As a long time Pentax user (ME Super SLR from 1984) I have enough invested in lenses etc. that will tend to stay loyal to Pentax DSLRs even though they may be lower performing/more expensive. I value their relatively affordable lenses and their smallish designs match my preferences. In 2004 I invested in my fir DSLR a Pentax *ist DS and while affordable , compact and capable of great pics the autofocus was much poorer than the competing Nikon or Canon cameras. The K7 seemed good but the autofocus while improved, was still not at the level of the competition. Moreover the K7 high sensitivity mode was noisier than the best of the rest. So imagine my delight when the K5 was announced and tested right up there with the Nikon D7000 and Canon D550.
Even better, I learned that after a few years hiatus Conns Cameras had taken on a Pentax DSLR dealership are were stocking the K5 again. I wanted the more expensive 18-135mm Kit zoom (very mixed on-line reviews but in my opinion great contrast, colour and center sharpness up to my venerable SMC PENTAX M50 f/1.7). This kit is available in all the main UK dealers for about £1400 PLUS €20-30 shipping and I seriously considered buying that way. So I dropped into Conns (I am an occasional customer over the years, but have found them helpful and ready to "do a deal") explained the price available to me in the UK (about €1,700 landed), bearing in mind Irish VAT adds 1.5% and they got to within a few percent of that. Allowing for the convenience of buying complex tech locally and Conns consistently good after sales service (in my experience), I think that is a good deal, and would commend them to other would be Pentax K5 buyers.

I am really enjoying my K5 and can say that having a speedy autofocus in low light is a wonderful thing Though the artifical horizon is miss adjusted a few degrees (must bring back into Conns for adjustment...)

PS I have no connection of any kind with Conns.

Mark