My first SLR was an ME Super SE with a 45° split screen which was a beautiful camera. I got it when my first son was born, in 1979 or soon thereafter and got to know it backwards and loved using it. A great, simple to use camera with excellent lenses. I think I had a 50mm/1.7 standard, a 135mm portrait and a 28mm wide angle if memory serves. Sadly it was stolen in a house break in many years ago. I missed that camera and only got back into photography with any enthusiasm when the Canon 300D arrived on the scene, as no other camera I purchased seemed to measure up to the ME Super. The Canon was good and the 90-300 telephoto for it is rather good but I came across an istDs with a Sigma 18-125 lense a year ago at the airport and couldn't resist it. Now that Pentax magic is in my hands again. Then the K100D comes out. The Pentax istDs was so good I sold it for almost as much as I paid for it. There is just something about a Pentax that I like. I don't think it is so much the features as the overall Pentax philosophy of making great cameras and lenses, generally of a really nice size, and usually at a good price. Although the Shake Reduction is a great innovation. I don't think I would ever buy a Nikon. Just don't like the look of them really. I might consider a Canon again but think they cost too much when you consider what you can get with a Pentax. I can't really see me trading the perfect size of the K100D, istDs format for the larger K10D. I guess the K100D gives me back that feel I once had with the ME super. I just want to get to know it as well as I did the ME Super. There's probably more sentiment in here than logic but I think other Pentax users will know what I am getting at.

It might be a quiet meeting around March 2007.

Oh my, that could be a problem, at least I could count the number of lenses on the Pentax Roadmap but if that is a possible scenario then the continuing purchase of photographic apparatus could be without end.

Thanks Gwyn but too late for the warning I think!

Just a newbie question. I see the term LBA used here and there and have little idea what it means. Could someone give tell me what it refers to please? My guess it might be something like Lens Buying Again but I could be way off.

Cheers

Hi everyone,

There's a new Pentax Lense Roadmap showing 2006/2007 releases here:

http://www.digital.pentax.co.jp/ja/lens/roadmap.pdf

Cheers

They come in pints?

These look like they will be expensive so I'm still getting a 50-200 sooner rather than later but it is great to see this development.

Why would they have the AF/MF switch on the lens when there is one on the camera body? Do some of the Pentax DSLR's lack such a switch?

Hi there,

I just came across this announcement from Pentax. Clipped from the Pentax Japan website:

Three interchangeable lenses designed for exclusive use with PENTAX digital SLR cameras

Wide-angle zoom lens
Model name ( tentative ) : smc PENTAX-DA* 16-50mm F2.8ED AL[IF]

Telephoto zoom lens
Model name ( tentative ) : smc PENTAX-DA* 50-135mm F2.8ED [IF]

Super-telephoto zoom lens
Model name ( tentative ) : smc PENTAX-DA* 60-250mm F4ED [IF]

All to be marketed in 2007

Other product information :
* These products are designed for exclusive use with PENTAX K- and *istD-series digital SLR cameras. They are being developed as the top-of-the-line star ( * ) lens to deliver exceptional performance and optimal image quality.
* These products will feature the PENTAX KAF2 mount, which incorporates additional electrical contacts to drive a built-in supersonic motor used in autofocusing operation.

http://www.pentax.co.jp/english/news/2006/200646.html

There is a large photo of the three new lenses.

Cheers

My Pentax DA 50-200 arrived today. What a great lens. Nice range of focal lengths and so compact. Crisp images and very fast focusing.

So I now have:
Pentax K100D
Sigma 18-125
Pentax DA 16-45
Pentax DA 50-200

I've sold my Pentax Super A and other Sigma zoom on eBay.

Thanks for the recommendations on this one too guys.

Hi Matt, With photos like that, nor would I be getting rid of that lens. Thanks for the links.