Originally posted by marubex i just can't deal with camera being sent for repairs as i am leaving in two weeks for a two month trip with camera
You make it sound as if there are lots of K-r's leaving the factory with defects that are so obvious that they would warrant immediate repair. That clearly isn't happening. The design of the product is sound and Pentax quality control is very good.
Quite frankly, if I were you, and this was to be my first DSLR, I wouldn't be scanning every forum in the world asking people to tell you about their problems - real or perceived - with the camera. At this stage you've already got the camera on your shopping list, so if you are leaving in two weeks for a long holiday, and this is your first DSLR, now would be a great time to do the following:
(a) read the K-r Manual and start studying it to learn all of the many features of the camera and how to use it. It's about 300 pages so there is a lot of information to absorb, and it will take some time to do so:
http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/man-pdf/k-r.pdf
(b) study up on some photography basics, like exposure, depth of field, focal length, autofocus, composition etc, to help you learn how to use your new tool and all its features once it arrives. The articles here are a great start:
Digital Photography Tutorials
They way you are going at the moment you will leave on your holiday all anxious about your camera and un-skilled in its use, and then will probably blame the camera for every basic photographic error you make. Be more confident!