thanks for all the replies and advise there guys.
John I did think about that, but I would like something that I could stick on the MZ-5 as well, and during my recent tries, I can get what I want from the 43mm out of the 55mm macro, apart from AF and probably the colours but that's mostly resolvable by editing, so I thought I'd go for the 31mm.
Might just well try starting a thread in the classfields again!

It's my first ever visit to Birmingham, only decided to go there after viewing where I'll be living in from August onwards up in Telford, as it's on the way on the return leg and seems a bit more interesting than Telford.
Finally I'm feeling like I'm getting to grips with the 10-17mm fisheye, it's taken quite a while to get used to!
C&C welcome, I've not cropped any apart from the last shot.

I have the 18-250, and have owned the 16-45 before.
When I first started off I shot more or less exclusively at the wide end of 18-30mm, but as I went along I started to shoot more between 28-50mm. Nowadays on a mental count I tend to shoot between 30-40mm most, very rarely over 70 unless I take the 70-210 out.
And also when I'm not travelling the 18-250 gets used the least, I normally stick either the 28mm f3.5m 43mm or 55mm on the body, and take the 10-17mm fisheye along.
Hence now since I have the 55mm, I'm very inclined to swap for a 31mm, that'll most likely live on the body all the time.

I've read this thread and went for an experiment with my lenses, from what I own my 3 lens system would be:
10-17mm fisheye
FA43mm / Vivitar 55mm Macro
Adaptall SP 70-210 f3.5 (19AH)

Though, if I owned whatever I wanted, it'd probably be:
DA12-24mm
FA31mm
100mm macro/50-135 f2.8, or 85mm 1.4. If I know I need the reach then perhaps a 70-200 f2.8 or something even longer.

I might replace my 43mm with the 31mm, but at most times when I'm backpacking, I'm still on the one lens system of the 18-250mm. (purely for safety reasons)

I'm guessing this has been asked by people lots, but I don't seem to be able to find much of a direct comparison between the two.
I've recently acquired a 55mm vivitar macro, which I've also experimented using it as a walkabout prime and it's indeed done what I hoped for it to do, and probably a bit more!
So that's brought me to the idea of getting something slightly wider than the 43mm, as I can't really justify owning both the 31mm and 43mm, and the 55mm is also the same difference of 12mm from the 43.
I tend to shoot at a slightly wider end, and a 31mm will certainly be more suitable for my style of photography than the 43mm, as I would be able to do more landscapes or slightly wider shots than the 43mm, and what I'll miss from it, will probably be covered by the 55mm.

Would anyone who own them both be able to shed a bit of light on the differences between the 43 and 31mm? Also, would I be expecting to add on quite a lot if I'm swapping the 43 for a 31? (Guessing no one owning the 31 will be up for a swap+cash though :/ )

Thanks and sorry if I'm the logic isn't flowing :S

emmm, nope, don't have a flash setup either! I've just been going handheld and hoping to have enough natural light and go with catch in focus! (pathetic way, works sometimes though).
I might get a flash unit when I decide that I'll do some proper macro work.

I do fancy the versatality of a ball head, but knowing myself well enough I know I need something more substantial to hold on to adjust the tripod.
I guess a joystick like grip will be on order then.
I would like a good tripod, but the only thing light enough for me would be something made out of carbon fibre, and the size of the velbon maxi L is just so small I can fit it in most of my bags so no point in changing that, despite I'd like to (when I get paid properly in a few months time )

Thanks for the recommendation Matt,

I see there are two different ball heads, one does cost £20 more, I dont think I have stuff that'll weigh over 5kg so the smaller cheaper one would fit me, but is there anything different in the design?
I think if I have a big heavy lens my tripod itself won't stand so I'll need a sturdier tripod first (not like I'm getting a big tele zoom anyway).
As a carry around tripod I'd rather it be small and compact.

I did work that out to hold the camera not the head.
I think what mine is lacking is the friction control, once I loosen the screw it just flops one way or the other, which makes it a bit of a problem.

Not entirely sure where to stick this thread.
I've currently got a velbon Maxi L tripod and a QHD-41Q ball head, problem is it doesn't seem to be very steady when the K5 is on it, and manouvering is quite hard with the head being quite small and no obvious protruding bits to grab (or maybe I'm just rubbish at using tripods).
I've had a look around and found some joystick like heads, seem to be fairly convincing (by design), though I'm not sure how reliable they are as obviously I've not really heard of them before.
Or would anyone have some light to shed on that? I'm not a frequent tripod user but I'll most likely use it when I'm travelling, and probably more now as I'm starting do a bit more macro.

Cheers