OK - some advice before I spend yet more money

I plan to buy a 'general purpose' digital zoom for my *IST DS. I already have quite a collection of 35mm glass from 19-400 - fine if I have my backpack but not if I just want to cary the camera and one general purpose lens (my Cosina 19-35 ain't bad for the money but is too short for general purpose use even with a 1.5x magnification)

I've narrowed down to three

(i) the DA 18-55
This is attractive as it is nice and compact (and quite cheap) and has a 52mm filter thread so I don't need any new filters. But what is it like for construction and image quality?

(ii) the Sigma 18-125
very attractive for its telephoto reach but again what is the quality like?

(iii) the DA 16-45
Attractive for its wider angle but rather more bulky than even the Sigma (though about the same weight), rather limited 'long' end at 45mm, and a bit pricey - though I am aware of its good reputation for quality.

Camera Direct in Brighton used to import them...

http://www.camera-direct.com

They don't currently advertise them on their website

Tony Milner

You will need the front one to be a linear polariser. Circular polarisers 'unpolarise' the light after filtering.

My first SLR was an ME super which I had for several years. This I lost in Italy. I replaced it with a P30t and that served me well for many years - the progam mode never suited me really but having a DOF preview was useful. I began to think about going AF and this happened when I forgot my camera on a holiday - bought an MZ7. I later traded the P30T in towards a lens - which I regreted. Then I picked up a well used (but non sticky mirror) LX for a reasonable price. I also picked up a well used ME super for sentimental reasons and an SF7 which came as job lot which included a couple of lenses I wanted. The ME Super and the SF7 were both were sold to students of mine at rather knock down prices but I am always keen to encourage new photographers. Somewhere in among alll this I taded up the MZ7 for an MZ6, and picked up an MX with a 50/1.4 for about £80. I finaly went digital with the *ist DS. I also sold the LX. This (if you have been counting) leaves me with the MX, the MZ6 and the *istDS. (and quite a lot of glass BTW) (Oh and over 10,000 images lest someone think I'm only interested in the kit!)

So which is best? Well, if I was told I could only have one camera it would probably be the MZ6 - it is light and versatile and paired with the 28-105 3.2-4.5 an almost perfect travel companion - great if you like combining hill walking and photography.

Of the others I wouldn't give the SF7 house room. Its only virtue is its solid feel (could be tempted to try a Z1p one day..). The ME super is a lovely little thing but lack of DOF preview lets it down. The MX is almost perfect for a manual camera (mine has a fault - the shutter speed readout in the viewfinder does not work - no big issue). The LX is a beautiful piece of engineering but relatively heavy and the shutter/mirror is rather loud. The P30T was excellent, though not quite as rugged as the MX. Should never have sold it really. MZ7 is a nice camera but lacks DOF preview. MZ6 adds this, spot metering (of a sort), autobracketting and wireless flash at the expense of the (relatively useless) panoramic facility. The *ist DS is almost perfect as a digital camera - the only features I would like that are missing are continuous AF in manual exposure modes and wireless flash with one AF360FGZ (yes I know the D has these but at the time I bought it that was another £200). Oh and an 18-80 DFA lens which is about the same size and weight as my 28-105 FA (The 16-45 is a fine lens but quite bulky and a bit short at the long end - and can't really be used with the internal flash at wide angle)

I've had a couple of SF7s - part of ebay 'job lots' when looking for a lens. I ran films through them before selling them on, being an honest sort of guy. My main criticism would be the lack of any exposure compesation in any of the auto motes, lack of DOF preview, and also the lack of shutter speed display below 1/30 in the viewfinder. But they are good solid cameras, and I found them particularly good with longer telephotos. The MZ6 (which is my main film body) is a rather poor balance with a long lens. Got my eyes on a couple of Z1s on ebay...

I would say £70 with the 35-70 is a bit steep - I paid about the same for one with the 35-135 and the AF400FTZ flash

The 16-45 seems to improve significantly by the time it gets to 20mm so there would not be much point in getting a 20mm (and I have the M20/4 anyway). The 15 is a beast and rare and expensive secondhand. Tamron do (or did) a 17mm rectilinear lens - anyone any experience of that? Otherwise I guess there are the various ultrawide Sigma full frame zooms (bulky), or even the 14/2.8 (expensive but perhaps one day...)

But for the time being I guess it is the lens distortion correction fuction in PSP!

Next stop Rome - might take film...

Just taken some architectural photos with the 16-45. I'm a bit disapointed with the level of barrel distortion at 16mm I must admit - this is a landscape rather than architecture lens! Any bright ideas for an ultrawide with good drawing at a vaguley sensible price? Otherwise I will just have to resign myself to correcting in PSP or go back to film and my 28 3.5 shift!

According to PP it is also available at Wilkinson Cameras for 999 including the 18-35
(not mentioned on the website which does not list Pentax cameras at all )

Oh the temptation of it - especially as Wilkinson to a buy now pay later deal....
But I will be patient and wait to see if the 'budget' pentax dslr emerges...