yes price around that seem to be quite normal and I didn't got any wind of the price going up, did you Gwyn?

Sigma did went up the beginning of this year Pentax also slightly but not much.
Let's hope they wouldn't level the price with the UK, we are on the good side now for once.

The K-7 is also cheaper here from the prices that are known.
Maybe if England except the euro that your prices will be the same as the rest of the EU

Andy I shot them all except the first one at f/8 1/60 seconds and the formula 3 cars since they are faster at 1/100 sec.

The trick is to "pan" follow the subject while you take the photo.
You should really try it Andy it's great fun

Well a bit, I really don't need and want a zoom and like said the DA*60-250 overlaps the DA*50-135 too much in my view.
Just wanted to view other options and what people thought but everyone is convinced that the DA*60-250 is better while no one really compared the two I believe.
Lance came the closes in doing that but I'm simply not interested in the DA*60-250.

The Sigma 180 macro looks great but disagree a bit with Peter that if a Macro lens is good at macro that it will also be good at normal distance.
Besides that point I do believe it's a good lens the Sigma, only too bad that it doesn't have HSM
If it would have that it would be a serious contender but now, also with the same price tag it's questionable. The macro isn't needed so 200/2.8 vs 180/3.5 and Pentax vs Sigma... then Pentax wins for me.

I've also looked at the Sigma 100-300mm F4 but that one is too close to the price of the Pentax DA*60-250 so will get that one if the DA*200 is not worth it.

I really haven't heard something positive about the DA*200 from here yet so that makes you think more about the lens
I really should go to the shop and test one but shop condition are different then real life so that makes testing them hard.

Was waiting for that to and I'm still waiting, they have said that they will come at a later date so lets wait.

Don't seem like it and I don't hear any news about price raises on the Dutch forum.
here is an selection of shops link
And these priceses haven't changed since 3 months ago when I bought my DA*50-135 from SRS

Here are some of my sport shots link

The thing is not to focus, they are moving too fast so pre-focus on the spot were you want to make a photo. Aim ahead of that point and track the subject and when they are in the focus spot *click* and you should have it.

Glad you like it Bob, It's a wonderful lens so let us see some photos now

ps. Lance you have a different version I see, the DA*50-125 f2.8

€719 (£605) new

The Sigma macro is also very interesting, don't think I need the macro though but surely can be fun.

Yes you're quite right, sorry

Thank you Lance.

I take every review with a pint of salt surely those on photozone, don't know why but they are never happy with a pentax lens.

I see your point wiht the FA*80-200 but that is a more expensive lens then the DA*200 and I really don't need the zoom i simply need a lens around 200mm nothing more nothing less.
I also love primes so lens switch is not an minus for me, I would be able to use it lovely besides the DA40, DFA100 and when doing portrait with the DA*50-135 I can see how it might be nice to have a 200mm f/2.8 for the really tight shots and I would want to have the f/2.8 there for the bokeh but f/4 would be neough as well.

Why do you need to stop down the DA*200, looks more then good enough wide open to me?
link link

And yes the bokeh looks good but the DA*60-250 is also very good at that so far as I've seen so that only makes the choice harder.

The range I'm mostly in is now covered with the DA*50-135 so I don't need a zoom for anything longer.

So is it worth to buy the 60-250 and only use that around the range of 200mm???
The price difference here is €300 (£250) for something that would probable not be better besides the zoom I don't need.

No that's only a part of it, we got more VAT (19%) on the lenses here and still they are cheaper then in the UK.

DA*50-135
€713 = £600 link
SRS sells it for £919

Time to buy some where else in the EU or not?

Only in the UK by the looks of it, there is no price raise in the rest of the EU I believe.
So prices on ebay won't be too much effected.