Help me choose

I wouldn't pay too much attention to the aerial reflector John. It's picking up reflections off the clouds which are changing, so it will be different.

I've just done the test again with a Pentax_A 50mm f/1.4 and that was worse. I even had to refocus manually on the top right hand corner of the viewfinder, because of the field curvature of the f/1.4. The final result was worse than the f/1.7 which I expected.

I'll have to find a decent lattice railway bridge to check the Kit lens out a bit better.

This thread has headed in an unexpected direction.

I have decided that I would really benefit from the extra range of a 17-70 lens. Therefore I may plump for the Pentax 17-70 f4 but am also considering the Sigma equivalent. (anyone looking to sell either could PM me).

Another couple of weeks before I have the funds.

thankyou all for sharing your views

Sensible choices, whichever of those two you go for would be great I'm sure.

Well if Algi ever sells his kit lens, at least we know he had a good copy

I am now the proud owner of a Pentax DA 17-70 f4.

Purchased from Mattmatic- thanks for a very smooth purchase Matt!

It is perfect for my needs. Great IQ and good range.

Excellent outcome, have fun!

After reading through this am I right in gleaning that older M primes are not going to give as good results as newer DA primes with a digital camera, in my case K10D?

I am looking at the very well priced smc Pentax-DA 35mm F2.4 AL lens.
Would this give better results than the manual primes I have?

It probably would.

Whilst I dont have the M primes you mention I do have the 35mm, it takes great pictures and it is a light as feather and focus is ver rapid- the plastic mount is a bonus to me because it saves weight. You cant go wrong at the price. It is a perfect walkaround general purpose lens for me.

My experience of the DA 35mm is that it's as good as the best of the old primes (sharp is sharp, it doesn't matter whether it was made in 1975 or 2011) but has the major advantages of AF and being able to use all metering/exposure modes on the DSLRs.

It's relatively tiny, light, and very sharp. Perfect standard lens.

I imagine it depends on the particular primes but the 35 f2.4 will be up there with the best of them. I imagine it would be similar to the 35 f2 which is probably it's ancestor, but be better than the f2.8.

Erphoto have done some good reviews of new and old primes in the 35mm / 50mm range. Lenses like the 50 f1.7 still hold their own.

Interesting, thanks.

http://erphotoreview.com/wordpress/?cat=30

John