The older zooms often seem to go cheap. I know I found an M 35-70mm (absolute cracker of a lens, fast, sharp, only minus is the weight of the thing) for £15 a while ago. Ok, it's a bit scruffy but the optics are mint and it works perfectly.

I think the MZ bodies were a mixed bag. AFAIK the MZ-10 has a full KAF2 mount (to use Av, turn the aperture ring), although mine needs a new focussing screen before I can give it some exercise as it has slightly too many marks for my liking.

The MZ30/50/60 all had the crippled mount so can set aperture from the body.

Looking at the design diagram on the K mount site I would suspect that the DA 40mm is indeed just an updated version of the old M series lens.

I have to say the DA 70mm would have to be absolutely incredible for me to want one. I have the DA* 50-135mm and I don't really see what you could buy anywhere which would be better optically!

The DA 70mm may well be a full frame lens. I know the DA 40mm f2.8 and DA 35mm f2.4 are. While it lacks an aperture ring, it'd be fully functional on something like an MZ6 which can control aperture from the body (it'd work on any body with the A contacts, but only in program or Tv mode).

Agreed.

Pentax also offered a few variants of this lens without SMC coating, but those all seem to have a red button on the aperture ring rather than a black one. Have a look at the K Mount Site under non-SMC zooms if interested - I think they were mechanically and optically identical aside from the coatings.

Depending on the size of the lens you may find that one of the various charity wristbands does the same job?

I've never had a problem with zoom creep. My old M 35-70mm and 75-150mm will move on their own given a chance, but none of my new lenses do.

It isn't quite as good as the K version at f3.5, but stop down to f8 or so and they're even. I generally just left it on f8 with focus set to infinity, pressed the button to stop down/meter, then took the photo. Thanks to the depth of field most subjects were in focus when you had a decent composition that way, and the lens hit a definite sweet spot for sharpness there too.

The lenses now turn out on my film SLRs when I want a wide angle - the K will be going to Goodwood FoS attached to a KX for the static displays, allowing me to leave the 50-135mm on the K-m for the action shots.

I thought I was bad enough with the K and M versions, let alone two M's!

There's never a Police car when the person in front who has held you up at 45mph carries on at exactly the same speed through a built-up area...

Hope you enjoy it - I tend to post links for BIN listings of this lens or the K version as they're incredible value for money. Sharp, compact, and well made. I don't really think you can beat them as a standard lens for your DSLR, short of spending a lot more money on a current AF prime or DA* zoom.

Obviously I won't post auctions as someone may be watching them and hoping nobody else notices!

There was, because I posted it! I would imagine it was removed as the item had sold (which normally happens).