Advice please: K7 + lenses

hi all

i'm upgrading from my pentax k-m. it's served me well, but its performance beyond ISO 400 is what's forcing the change up.

i've tried some research but i'm sure you people can tell me much better.

can you tell me what kinds of costs i'm looking at to purchase:

k7 body
50mm autofocus (f1.8 is ok)
a reasonable wide angle
a flash good enough for indoor events. must be detachable
a reasonable zoom lens (can be manual)

i already have the 18-55mm kit lens and a 50mm manual focus f1.7. i want a digital one so that it doesn't crop/zoom on the digital sensor.

i'm tempted by the nikon d90 as lenses seem so much cheaper. i'm sure mentioning a rival brand will fire up responses!

all guidance much appreciated. i do the odd paid job, so i don't need the best kit, but i like working in natural light and really want good performance in low light. my budget is max £1,5000. this may mean i can't get all of the above just yet?

thanks in advance...

forgot to add: i'd really love to have a macro lens too. ambitious budget i know!

The focal length of a lens is as quoted, nothings going to alter that, The crop you refer to comes from the size of the sensor in the camera. Pentax dslr's all have a crop factor of 1.5.

I'd go for the K20D over the K7, then you'd have a lot more flexibility with your budget. You would lose faster focusing, but the image quality is just as good.

Re. wide - I personally wouldn't look beyond a DA12-24 (or the Samsung one). Although it's not fast at f4, I've always been amazed at how well it performs in low light. They're very expensive at the new price - though you might pick up a Samsung for around £500. (If I was getting a D90 the Tokina 12-24 - basically the same lens, re-badged - would be one of my first purchases).

For zoom - the DA55-300 is an excellent lens for the money, though I'm not sure that this is the type of lens you're after.

I have to agree with Dr Munhi, I love my K7 to bits but if buying on a budget then the K20 will do magnificently and give you much more to spend on higher spec lenses. You can always get a K7 when the price drops and keep the K20 as a backup.

Best Regards - Pete

For the K-7 cost, see the SRS Microsystems website. Yes, also consider a K20D.

I guess you mean you want a prime lens for digital that provides the equivalent of 50mm on film. That would be 33mm. 28m is close enough (in fact nicely a bit wider) and there are lots of those at reasonable prices on eBay for second-hand ones. I recommend a Pentax-A or Pentax-F 28mm f2.8. Pentax-FA 30mm f2 would be another option if you could afford it.

For wide angle, the 18-55mm you have already is the decent low-budget option. For ultra-wide, consider a Sigma 10-20mm or Pentax 12-24mm.

If you want macro and a standard lens, the DA 35mm Ltd will do both very nicely thank you, but at a price...

K.

I trump your DA 35 with a Samsung 35mm f2 at £230 which is a total steal.

I think you'll be fine with that budget