UV filter or No UV filter?

No, the L versions are quite recent (appeared with the K-x I believe?). There have been Mk 1 and Mk 2 versions of the 18-55 lens, and then also a L version (which is the same optically as the Mk 2), and later a WR version.

I've heard but cannot confirm that the Mk 2 lens came out when the K20D and it's then class-leading 14.6 MP sensor was released, as allegedly the sensor would out-resolve the Mk 1 lens.

The L version lenses were released with the KM which was prior to the KX. The K20 was released with Version 2 and the K7 came out with the WR versions

As far as I know, in Aust, both the KM and KX kit lenses included the DA-L versions when released, You had the option to upgrade the package to include the retail DA (with hood and metal mount) versions if you so wished. Thats why you see so many DA-L lenses being sold seperately out here, no pentax packaging, just a brown cardboard box, these were removed from the kit package. Just have a look in Teds, he flogs them off at rudiculous prices.

I can and will only answer re the K-x

Mine was purchased in November last year - and bought with the kit 18-55 lens. This lens is the 18-55 DA L

Believe it or not , Hypocorism , some of us have only recently entered the world of DSLR and can only answer for our own gear . As far as I know over here if you bought the K-X with kit 18-55 and/or 50-200 then DA Ls were what you got . Some of us did not know enough to buy body only and then get the DA lens.

As Clarky says the K-m was the first to come with the DAL version, which has since been the standard kit lens for the K-x and the K-r.

The K20D with the type 2 version. K7 came with the WR version, as does the K5.

Just what i was thinking techno

And thanks to yourself, Clarky and thoughton for your informative responses that help fill in some of the enigmatic pieces at least.
Pentax websites haven't been much help at all.

Hehe, my own entry to DSLR was not unlike yours either, and as you'd see by now I'm still finding my way like you and others here. The mixed lolly-bag of lenses, old and new, made by Pentax and its cohorts over time sure doesn't make that easy.

Looks like I might never know the full gist, but it's not unfamiliar in this small market remote country to be fed different product than major population centres like the British isles and Europe or the US end usesr receive at retail level.

I do now recall though that a friend's Kit 18-55 definitely has a metal mount, and you can't mistake machined aluminium can you? It's not the plastic K mount that John R said is feature of an L type.

We also don't have a real Pentax presence here Btw; import and distribution for the brand is all handled by a local corp that does many other brands in the Optics Surveying Medical et al equipment fields, including Sigma as well as Pentax.

That's how they can bundle many camera Kits with non Pentax lenses for this market, something that doesn't seem to occur overseas, or so much anyway.

I have no clue what's in latest K-x Kits here, most likely all L I'd suspect by now.

Thanks again to all who contributed, over time to let this matter die now I reckon.

.R.

Interesting to see a new member living up to their site name so soon - I hope it doesn`t last !!

Tony

: Tony is a hypocorism, just as Aussie is.

In my OED it states that it is from the Greek - "to play the child" ....................the pet name is also mentioned as is "euphemistic" or "endearing" terms.

Not very endearing to TT - IMHO - sorry

Tony/Anthony/Tozza/Big T/Tone/Scouse

And so is Gwyn I do believe or is that just an abbreviation

I bought my Pentax 55-300 from Taiwan on E-Bay, it said that they came form KX Kits, and came in a cardboard box (new) with no lens hood. So it looks like sometimes the Kits are upgraded.

I went onto E-Bay to buy a lens hood. I wanted to by one with a slide lock mechanism rather than the screw on (harder to store).

I found a replacement for the Pentax Hood at a reasonalbe price.

I noticed it had a removable little piece, and was going to ask on the forum just what would you use that for.

Someone above answered that thank very much. CPL filters of course!

Any other reasons why you would use that removable tab?

This is going to sound dreadfully off-topic I'm afraid, but I would like to welcome Ross to the forum.

And commend him for his taste in 1980s American television, but I must respectfully point out that his user name is spelt wrong. At the very least, it's missing an 'L'.

But when it's spoken using an American drawl the "L" is silent