Stefan, explain "dirty" shots further? I am looking for advice on how to test and what to look for. All my other lenses either came new with a camera or were bought secondhand.This is my first purchase of a new lens and I don't want to waste my money.
Alistair

Thanks, yes I have netbook I use for field use that I can take, and Jim re Clifton Cameras, I don't know what they stock as they never answer their phone, But Bristol cameras, have stock but only one , London Camera Exchange are also Pentax Pro dealers but I have not asked them what they hold in stock..
Alistair

Following the advice given in a previous thread that I started asking for assistance on wide angle choices for general and landscape use, I have narrowed my choices down to a 10- something zoom, and, having read whatever on line reviews I can, the lens I am going for is the Tamron 10-24. Quality, price and current rebate has helped and reading through this thread[ https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/tamron-10-24-ephotozine-review-by-pete-ba...] I note, with interest, the comment on going to SRS and testing out their lenses that one member posted, and that leads me to ask again for some advice as how to do this?
What should I be looking for?
Do I look for the sharpness on my K10's LCD or do I ask to review the shots on one of the shops screen.
Lastly, since I can't easy get to SRS from Bristol , if I use a local supplier [I am lucky there are several to chose from although they often don't stock Pentax fit],if they only have on in stock or offer to get one in for me when I test it how do I know if it is a good one or one not?
thanks
Alistair

Well after all of the fore going suggestions and considering the ever present budgetary constraints , I am going to risk a Tamron 10-24 as it seems to get better reviews http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/sigma_10-20_4-5p6_n15/page4.asp re resolution and distortion. It helps that it is cheaper then the Sigma 10-20 , best price I have found is £369 and its alocal dealer so no postage,and Tamron have 25 quid rebate on as well.
Thank you to every one for their input and suggestions.
Alistair

Simon thanks , your comments equate to why I don't want another albeit wider zoom, I will be interested in your results from the sigma as I was thinking on those lines,but I want a 16mm or under prime for mountains etc.
I think I will see what comes up on eb or for sale here.
Alistair

John,
thanks I have the dioptre set OK, done with the lens off and I have a Katz eye split that is crystal sharp and spot on if I focus on a subject, but what I find is the helix on the kit lens is so fine that at the infinity end of the scale there are tiny movements required to get from say 3 meters to 5 meters. on my 100mm and 50mm primes the focus helix is much coarser and the distances between marks much great and easier to set.
one other thing that confuses me is that 27mm seemed to be a popular focal length for 35mm use but for dslr this equates to a low power tele lens , hence me looking at lenses with focal length in the teens, have I got that wrong?
Alistair

Thank you every one for the replies I perhaps did not express my thought to well, so to clarify,I have a pentax 18-55 kit lens an old pentax 100mm prime M series / macro; a old pentax 80-200 a series zoom, a Sigma 28-300 zoom and a Auto Chinon manual 50mm prime [which I bought to put the dcr150 on and it works jolly well for that]
So I use the 18-55 for my attempts at landscape, The 18-55 is at its sharpest at about 35 mm and while it is usable at 18 or slightly more,
say 20/28 but what I find is to get my foreground sharp is often potluck despite measuring distances as I find the focus helix in the kit lens is to fine and it is difficult to set accurately.
What I don't want is a fish eye type effect and due to the crippling prices of pentax lenses I am quite content to look for a older fully manual lens with adecent focus throw that has resonable spaces beteen the distance marks and which does not have to be fast as I would mostly be using f8-f16 anyway on a tripod and often low down hence the interest in as great a depth of close up field as possible.
I hope this makes sense , I know what I want but not sure how to put it over.
Alistair

I have a few lenses, but no prime wide angle to use for landscapes.
I have tele and zooms all of which are fine, sharp at certain focal lengths and apertures but the only wide angle I have is the kit 18-55 mk2
which is at its best does a good job but due to the tiny focus movement is very hard to try to set to hyper-focal distances, so what is a alternative, any brand , M or A is fine to use on my K10d
Alistair

I think it depends who's buying
Alistair

Couldn't agree more.

And also re the aluminium cans in general - drinks in glass taste better across the board to me... [/quote]is it true that Fosters is not even sold in Aus?
Alistair