diff --git a/TODO b/TODO
index 87554027..edc4b583 100644
--- a/TODO
+++ b/TODO
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 
 - python:
 
-	- this is very annoying:
+	- try
 
-		 real = im.complexget(Vips.OperationComplexget.REAL)
+		python test_arithmetic.py -v TestArithmetic.test_histfind
 
-	  define im.real() and im.imag()
+	  segv
 
 	- could import like this:
 
diff --git a/libvips/arithmetic/getpoint.c b/libvips/arithmetic/getpoint.c
index b3a55303..4604cb40 100644
--- a/libvips/arithmetic/getpoint.c
+++ b/libvips/arithmetic/getpoint.c
@@ -151,17 +151,17 @@ vips_getpoint_class_init( VipsGetpointClass *class )
 
 	VIPS_ARG_INT( class, "x", 5, 
 		_( "x" ), 
-		_( "Getpoint to read from" ),
+		_( "Point to read" ),
 		VIPS_ARGUMENT_REQUIRED_INPUT,
 		G_STRUCT_OFFSET( VipsGetpoint, x ),
-		1, RANGE, 1 );
+		0, RANGE, 0 );
 
 	VIPS_ARG_INT( class, "y", 6, 
 		_( "y" ), 
-		_( "Getpoint to read from" ),
+		_( "Point to read" ),
 		VIPS_ARGUMENT_REQUIRED_INPUT,
 		G_STRUCT_OFFSET( VipsGetpoint, y ),
-		1, RANGE, 1 );
+		0, RANGE, 0 );
 
 }
 
diff --git a/python/test_arithmetic.py b/python/test_arithmetic.py
index 258c2439..4d561f4f 100755
--- a/python/test_arithmetic.py
+++ b/python/test_arithmetic.py
@@ -268,43 +268,52 @@ class TestArithmetic(unittest.TestCase):
         im = Vips.Image.black(50, 100)
         test = im.insert(im + 100, 50, 0, expand = True)
 
-        test.write_to_file("x.v")
-
         for fmt in all_formats:
             self.assertAlmostEqual(test.cast(fmt).avg(), 50)
 
+    def test_deviate(self):
+        im = Vips.Image.black(50, 100)
+        test = im.insert(im + 100, 50, 0, expand = True)
+
+        for fmt in noncomplex_formats:
+            self.assertAlmostEqual(test.cast(fmt).deviate(), 50, places = 2)
+
     def test_polar(self):
         im = Vips.Image.black(100, 100) + 100
         im = im.complexform(im)
 
-        im = im.complex(Vips.OperationComplex.POLAR)
+        im = im.polar()
 
-        real = im.complexget(Vips.OperationComplexget.REAL)
-        self.assertAlmostEqual(real.avg(), 100 * 2 ** 0.5)
-        imag = im.complexget(Vips.OperationComplexget.IMAG)
-        self.assertAlmostEqual(imag.avg(), 45)
+        self.assertAlmostEqual(im.real().avg(), 100 * 2 ** 0.5)
+        self.assertAlmostEqual(im.imag().avg(), 45)
 
     def test_rect(self):
         im = Vips.Image.black(100, 100)
         im = (im + 100 * 2 ** 0.5).complexform(im + 45)
 
-        im = im.complex(Vips.OperationComplex.RECT)
+        im = im.rect()
 
-        real = im.complexget(Vips.OperationComplexget.REAL)
-        self.assertAlmostEqual(real.avg(), 100)
-        imag = im.complexget(Vips.OperationComplexget.IMAG)
-        self.assertAlmostEqual(imag.avg(), 100)
+        self.assertAlmostEqual(im.real().avg(), 100)
+        self.assertAlmostEqual(im.imag().avg(), 100)
 
     def test_conjugate(self):
         im = Vips.Image.black(100, 100) + 100
         im = im.complexform(im)
 
-        im = im.complex(Vips.OperationComplex.CONJ)
+        im = im.conj()
 
-        real = im.complexget(Vips.OperationComplexget.REAL)
-        self.assertAlmostEqual(real.avg(), 100)
-        imag = im.complexget(Vips.OperationComplexget.IMAG)
-        self.assertAlmostEqual(imag.avg(), -100)
+        self.assertAlmostEqual(im.real().avg(), 100)
+        self.assertAlmostEqual(im.imag().avg(), -100)
+
+    def test_histfind(self):
+        im = Vips.Image.black(50, 100)
+        test = im.insert(im + 100, 50, 0, expand = True)
+
+        for fmt in all_formats:
+            hist = test.cast(fmt).hist_find()
+            self.assertAlmostEqualObjects(hist.getpoint(0,0), [5000])
+            self.assertAlmostEqualObjects(hist.getpoint(100,0), [5000])
+            self.assertAlmostEqualObjects(hist.getpoint(12,0), [0])
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest.main()
diff --git a/python/vips8/vips.py b/python/vips8/vips.py
index b64dc297..b1b8de4e 100644
--- a/python/vips8/vips.py
+++ b/python/vips8/vips.py
@@ -255,10 +255,6 @@ def vips_image_new_from_array(cls, array, scale = 1, offset = 0):
 
     return image
 
-# this is a class method
-def vips_black(cls, width, height, **kwargs):
-    return _call_base("black", [width, height], kwargs)
-
 def vips_image_getattr(self, name):
     logging.debug('Image.__getattr__ %s' % name)
 
@@ -403,6 +399,21 @@ def vips_abs(self):
 def vips_invert(self):
     return self ^ -1
 
+def vips_real(self):
+        return self.complexget(Vips.OperationComplexget.REAL)
+
+def vips_imag(self):
+        return self.complexget(Vips.OperationComplexget.IMAG)
+
+def vips_polar(self):
+        return self.complex(Vips.OperationComplex.POLAR)
+
+def vips_rect(self):
+        return self.complex(Vips.OperationComplex.RECT)
+
+def vips_conj(self):
+        return self.complex(Vips.OperationComplex.CONJ)
+
 # paste our methods into Vips.Image
 
 # class methods
@@ -410,9 +421,6 @@ setattr(Vips.Image, 'new_from_file', classmethod(vips_image_new_from_file))
 setattr(Vips.Image, 'new_from_buffer', classmethod(vips_image_new_from_buffer))
 setattr(Vips.Image, 'new_from_array', classmethod(vips_image_new_from_array))
 
-# yuk, we should run these via a metaclass somehow
-#setattr(Vips.Image, 'black', classmethod(vips_black))
-
 # Search for all VipsOperation which don't have an input image object ... these
 # become class methods
 
@@ -459,6 +467,11 @@ Vips.Image.write_to_buffer = vips_image_write_to_buffer
 # a few useful things
 Vips.Image.floor = vips_floor
 Vips.Image.bandsplit = vips_bandsplit
+Vips.Image.real = vips_real
+Vips.Image.imag = vips_imag
+Vips.Image.polar = vips_polar
+Vips.Image.rect = vips_rect
+Vips.Image.conj = vips_conj
 
 # operator overloads
 Vips.Image.__getattr__ = vips_image_getattr