There are a couple of Pentax cameras in Ashes to Ashes - Alex Drake uses an ME Super with a rather cheap-looking zoom (I'd have expected Gene to insist on a proper M 80-200mm!) to gather evidence on arms dealing, and the team raid a dodgy "glamour" photographer who's using a K1000 in another episode.

To be honest, if it's as sharp as my 28mm f3.5 I will be very happy with it. f1.7 may make for a nice bright viewfinder but does anyone really shoot at that aperture other than in low light?

I strongly suspect that this is a case of Pentax going back to their classic designs which placed sharpness above a large aperture. Remember that their old M 35mm was an f2.8 and nobody really seemed to mind that, it has a reputation as a steady, reliable performer.

The 18-55mm DA L definitely doesn't have one.

I foresee a cheap 3rd party copy of the clip on rectangular hood appearing shortly after the lens does, if the existing DA-L range is anything to go by.

I think it's more of a response to the CaNikSon cheap 50mm primes. I don't find 50mm hugely useful on APS-C, it's a bit too long for a general purpose walkabout lens which is why I'm always bemused by the mad rush for 50mm primes.

35mm will be a lot handier, considering that I currently use either a K 28mm or an F 35-70mm for the same purpose.

Interestingly while it's billed as a DA L on the site the photos show it marked "DA 35mm" without the L. Unless "AL" actually means Aspherical Light rather than Aspherical Lens?

As for the wear rates, look at it this way. If it lasts ten years then it has cost you £15-£18/yr. I suspect that it will have been replaced by a new desirable focal length for a different design of camera by then!

I've seen a few complaints about it being "slow". To be honest I'm not overly worried - remember how the 28mm f3.5s are a lot better than the f2.8 versions? As the saying goes, you can pick any two of fast, cheap, good. I'd rather have an f2.4 which is sharp wide open than an f1.8 which has to be stopped down to the same aperture to get decent results!

Well, after some negotiations...

My birthday is in late November. Guess what I'm having!

I am however torn between the black and silver versions. Assuming the silver finish is halfway decent could it look a bit like an FA Ltd, plus the black looks a bit uninspiring even though it'd match my K-m and fit with my usual attempt to make an unobtrusive camera which doesn't scream "steal me". Thoughts?

See here

I await reviews with interest, but if it's in the shops in time for Christmas I think I'll want one!

You can buy an AF240Z for around £25 tops, or something like an AF200T for less. Both will work in program mode on a DSLR, the AF200T also has manual power settings which may be useful. I doubt a repair would be cheaper, and the AF240Z with a £4 diffuser from ebay is a very handy piece of kit.

Nothing like as good as the 35-70mm though...

I think you must mean the F 35-70MM? The 35-80mm has no Macro mode and is nothing like as nice a lens!

I intend to take my 35-70mm out on Monday as I'll be out for the day. It's a very handy little walkabout lens on digital if you don't fancy either dealing with manual lenses or paying four times as much for a used 28mm or 35mm manual prime.