I really must remember to leave a space when typing 2.8 and then a closed bracket...

I just find myself thinking that the 16-50mm is a DA* lens while the 17-70mm isn't. By all means try the zooms, but in your position I'd rather go for the 21mm Ltd. It's different enough from the others to keep things interesting, and I'm a big fan of compact primes to make a camera less obtrusive. Given we're carrying several hundred pounds worth of camera gear about anything which reduces the "steal me" look is a good thing!

If you want a standard walkabout lens then something around the 28mm mark is ideal, the 21mm Ltd should fit the bill. If I had the money and needed something AF and wider than my 35mm I'd probably go that route, as it is my lens collection lacks a good quality fast telephoto first.

Given the 16-50mm is a DA* I can't see those zooms matching it. My only reason for buying 3rd party lenses is if Pentax don't make something in the range I want (in my case I'm aiming for a Tamron 70-200/2..

The obvious thing is to scout the location before they start the ceremony. Take both lenses and work out which gets the coverage you want from a respectful distance (not as if the 28-70mm weighs much if you don't use it!)

This claims to be for an ES II, I'm not sure though as the front looks like that of the later K1000 case?

One useful thing with the MX winder:

When you press the button in single shot mode it will trigger the shutter, but it won't wind on until you release the button. Can be useful if you're trying to be quiet.

I find the camera will sit on the winder with lenses up to about the M 135mm f3.5, any longer and it noses over!

If you go for the Tamron 70-200/2.8 it offers macro focussing. I'm not sure how close it will focus (suspect it's more of a close focus than a true macro) but it might bridge a gap while you save for the dedicated lens?

I'm planning to buy one as I want a fast AF telephoto zoom, the macro will be a bonus.

Yes you can cut it down, but I'm not sure how simple it will be. If it was me I'd compare it to a lens which does fit and then gently cut or grind the flange away until the part matched the working lens, using matte black paint on any resulting shiny metal. A Dremel-type tool with rotary cutting disks and a steady hand should make a neat job, maybe use a fine file to finish it off.

You could alternatively just leave that part out. It obviously makes little difference to the function of the lens and cutting it would reduce the originality of the lens should you ever wish to sell it on...

Batteries? We don't need no stinkin' batteries, just a KX, pile of Ilford HP5 and Sunny 16!

Seriously, I might suggest that DSLRs have already failed to grab the same market share that film SLRs did. If you look at things like the MV1 (and similarly specified competition from other brands) there was clearly a market for people who wanted something a bit better than a normal compact but equally didn't want to have to learn photography and spend the extra to get something like an MX. Nowadays they're either buying top spec digital compacts or bridge cameras.

My brother might be a case in point. He has a bridge camera that he's very happy with and sees no interest in buying a K-x or K-r. He likes the fact that the bridge camera is small, has a good length optical zoom, and takes perfectly acceptable pictures or video. He also doesn't have to carry extra lenses or worry about sensor dust.

I asked the same question about this time last year, then used the suggested settings and got decent results (only let down by the limitations of my old 100-300mm, which like most consumer telezooms isn't the sharpest thing ever).

This year I'm off to Goodwood FoS instead, so I need to learn how to pan for fast cars instead of jets!

I found that for airshows you want the highest shutter speed possible for fast jets, but equally you need to drop it a lot for propeller-driven aircraft to avoid frozen props (and even lower speeds for helicopters). I know I was shooting at ISO 100 and variable apertures at RIAT last year, the one and only time I've ever used shutter priority!