Yes, I read your comments. But Ann said that you "have to" switch from auto to manual, a statement which seems to imply that the film cannot be loaded into the camera unless the camera is switched to manual.
Why screw around replacing and removing lens caps when changing film anyway? It just slows you down, can sometimes be cumbersome, and there's little chance that a cap will provide any real protection to the camera or lens in a fall. Cameras fall in random ways, and what might afford protection in one instance (assuming that in some instances a cap, or filter, might provide protection, in another situation those items may contribute to greater damage. Do you use lens hoods? Shel (a bit cranky tonight) "You meet the nicest people with a Pentax" > [Original Message] > From: frank theriault > As I said, Shel, the lenscap thing is a habit I picked up with manual > cameras. I now see that it's a bad habit (for me, at least)...

