Lens advice please

I've just recently been able to get a DA 55-300mm thanks to a member here. I'm also toying with getting the DA version of the 18-55mm.

Are my kit lenses now obsolete? Or do the 50-300mm DAL or the 18-55mm have something the others don't?

Your advice is appreciated.

If you have DAL version of the kit-18-55 I really wouldn't bother with a DA version (unless it's the WR-version but I don't know your gear...)

If you really want to add to your line-up maybe a DA35-2.4 prime lens...

Thanks. I was only thinking of the 18-55 WR as a future proof lens. I assume they are almost identical apart from the WR. It would mean i could get a body only camera and not worry about my current lens.

Is the 50-200 redundant compared to the 55-300mm?

If you get a sealed body in the future, buying a bundled kit lens is probably the cheapest way of upgrading, then you can sell the old one.

Did you mean DA in your OP or DA-WR?

I have the DA18-55-kit (without WR) AND the WR version of the 50-200mm (although I don't have a WR-body) and it's my longest lens...

'They' say the 55-300 has better IQ (image quality) than the 50-200...

I rarely shoot long and the 50-200 suits me fine (I believe after much discussion that I'm in possession of a good copy) as my 'long when I need long' lens... but for the most part it either stays in my bag or gets left in the cupboard...

Redundant is a difficult word for me as different lenses have different characteristics... EG: I have an F35-70 which is covered by the range of other lenses I own... However the colour it produces is drastically different from those other lenses... Not a lens I often use but one I'm reluctant to part with...

As for my kit-18-55... It's been in the cupboard since I upgraded to Tamron-17-50-2.8 (really a much better lens...)
And I got an FA28 this week and can't envisage the Tamron being attached to the K-x for the foreseeable future...

My aim is to develop an all AF prime kit for the K-x (K5 later) that can also be used on Pentax 35mm-film SLRs (drooling over MZ-S, but can't afford)such as my ME and MZ-6/7 which I hope to own soon...

There are two advantages to the DA/DA WR version over the DA-L version.
The DA has
quickshift focus
distance scale on the focus ring which is useful to set hyperfocal distance

Having said that, when you want to sell your current camera to somebody beginning with a dSLR, he/she might want a lens as well.

I would NOT upgrade unless there is a version which has DC motor

Thank you all for the advice. I guess my kit 18-55mm is safe for now.

Still not sure if the 50-200mm will get any use though. The 55-300mm covers the same range plus more.

Might be a good opportunity to trade in and get a macro. You know for all of life's "little things".