Late arrival DA* lenses causing a problem

I bought my K10D as a body only in the belief that the DA* lenses would arrive in March

I currently have nothing wider than an A-series 35-70 zoom and an M-series 28mm prime.

Should I purchase a Pentax 18-55 kit lens (currently very cheap) as an interim measure, knowing that it will never be used again once the DA* lenses arrive or just be patient and put up with the lack of any wide angle capability until Pentax get around to producing the DA* lenses :

Rumor has it that the lenses should be out by the end of May.
Of course rumor had it that they would be out April, and before that March. But I also heard rumors that the lenses may not actually make it here until September!!
OK, I'm not one to base my purchase totally on products that do not yet exist, but moving due dates back by six months? com'on!

I am truly disappointed in Pentax. They had some ground for real competition against other brands. By September I don't see any of the current features being competition for other brands.

Luckily I have a few lenses from my istD and from earlier Pentax cameras, but I do feel sorry for those who are new to Pentax and were planning/hoping to have a certain kit available based on marketing hype. (images of Dilbert cartoons and their marketing department pop into my mind...)

I would have to recommend you go with a cheap alternative for now. The 18-55 is not that bad. I have a hard time picking out the 16-45mm from the 18-55 except from an exact side by side comparison.

is there no one in your area, you can go for a coffee with, con into going on a photoshoot or two, who happens to own pentax equipment?
take out a loaner from the guy who's waiting for a new shipment of pentax lenses, knowing that you'll buy yours from him when he gets it?
have you tried mugging a tourist?

Surely there has got to be a way to get your fix between now and may..come on man THINK!!!!

I can supply an Ex-Demo (as new) 18-55 DA for £40 to anyone who is interested in something wide for the short term. You would probably get the majority of this back if you flogged it on Ebay when the other lens arrives....

Chirs

I am in the same situation minus the K10D, have been holding off for these lenses and don't want to get a stop gap. Admittedly we may need the stop gap as my partner also wants a K10D and we'd both use the 16-50 focal range more than anything else. This means two expensive identical lenses, or someone ends up with 'el cheapo'.

I can see her wanting the 50-200 as well because the 50-135 isn't really long enough. Or maybe even the 75-300 that is still available at SRS. Don't know which one has better glass though as both are similarly priced.

I am going to get the K10D, stick it out with an SMC-A 24-50mm and SMC-A 50mm.

When the first two DA*s arrive I hope to be ready. If they arrive soon and in short supply I'll be peeved off as I'm not likely to get one. I hope prices won't be too inflated over the US where they are going to be £450 and £500 equivalent. I'm hoping they are £550 and £600 over here, no higher.

They are already listed on the Pentax UK website so hopefully not long.

The offer of an as-new 18-55mm looks good to me. I sold one for £50 on eBay with no problem, so how can you lose?

I'd get the 50-200, it's a cracking piece of glass for the price. To drop a shameless plug in, I am currently selling one on ebay (actually it hasn't started yet, auction starts at 8 tonight for 5 days). Just under a year old but in very good condition.

Never used ebay and am worried that nobody would want to take payment from a noob user with no rating. Either way, I've got no camera just yet so not much point in getting lenses just yet. If I had an AF Pentax already there'd be no problem but I've got good old manuals, which have not seen use in some time. How much were you hoping to get for it?

I'm in a similar position,....trying to find some lenses and waiting to see if pentax will survive as a camera maker, or is it going to be the same scenario as i found myself in last year with Minolta 7D,...waiting for anouncement of new model which turned out to be anouncement of Minolta giving up to Sony..

There is a myth that there are lots of lenses for pentax however, in reality there are very few available either new or secondhand. I have been watching ebay since Christmas and twice a day for the last few weeks,..there are plenty of 50mm's and the odd 28mm but you can forget it for the wider focal lengths.

I don't know of any 24mm f2 anywhere.

In new pentax wides there is only the 14mm at huge cost.

The only new wides for pentax are the Sigma 28, 24, and 20 in f1.8 and they are massive in size,....equal to the medium size medium format lenses,..about 50% larger than the old Nikon 24mm f2.

Thanks everyone for the input.

I have decided to purchase a Pentax 18-55 from Chris @ SRS as a 'stop-gap' until the DA* lenses arrive.

Pentax did do an FA 24 f2 but they hardly ever turn up second hand (too good to part with I believe)

What about the 21mm f3.2 limited??

Sigma do fixed, fast, good 20, 24 and 28mm lenses

Tony,

The 24mm f2 is not only as rare as rocking horse manure, it also has some issues (or not) according to various revieewers and other sources, plus tacky silver paint job!

The 21mm f3.2 'limited' would be useful if it was'nt for the pathetic maximum aperture and the vastly inflated price...

I have had a good look at the Sigmas but although they are apparently nice lenses they are MASSIVE!!.....about 50% larger than the Nikon 24mmf2 However, I may still go the Sigma route as they are the only game in town!

the 21mm Limited is expensive but so are most wide angles. Some people are willing to fork out £400 for a good piece of glass. Others will be content with something a bit more 'basic'. It is the smallest and lightest 21mm you can get, so what do you expect? But as a stop gap waiting for some new zooms? Nobody's going to want one in that situation (unless they are also collecting primes).