Trixie, the K-x will definitely take 16gb cards (use one in mine all the time) and I've also tested it with 32gb - no problems. Do you want to swap your K-x with mine for a week or two and see if mine behaves itself with your cards?

BTW, I always format cards in the camera and have never had a problem (apart from cards splitting apart which is nothing to do with the camera!)

Regards
David

Matty, I have just bought the 16-45 second hand from a forum member and I can tell you from personal experience it is an absolutely belting lens for the money. It is very, very sharp (my copy is anyway) and the colour / contrast rendition is nothing short of stunning. It is far better than the 18-55 kit lens (which is very good in its own right BTW). Please see link below for an example photo taken by me on the K-5 with this lens - there are many more on my Gallery portfolio.

link

It is maybe a little short of reach on focal length but that is of no consequence to me as I bought it for landscapes. For this task it performs brilliantly.

I also own a K-x and a K-m. The image quality is progressively better through K-m to K-x and K-5, most noticeably in terms of image noise which is streets ahead on the K-5 and lags far behind on the K-m. The K-5 is also noticeably better than the K-x in terms of colour depth - there is something indefinable about the K-5 images that just makes them 'shine'. However, it is not miles ahead of the images that the K-x produces, so I doubt if it will be the deciding factor in whether you go for K-r or K-5.

Hope this is helpful, please do not let reviews put you off a DA 16-45; you need to try one for yourself if you are interested.

Regards
David

I would second what Darkskies says about the 55-300mm. I have the DA L 55-300mm and it is very light for what it is and can be used with very little effort for extended periods. It is not poorly made however, only the lack of 'quick shift' focus is any detriment when compared with the DA version. The plastic mount is not an issue at all and in fact helps keep the weight down. If you can afford one I would not hesitate.

Regards
David

Hi Trixie, I think you already know that mine is perfectly OK with all of the cards I've tried it with. I have the latest firmware, so this may make a difference. If not, and your camera is still in guarantee I would be tempted to have it repaired under warranty. If you do this I would be happy to lend you one of my cameras until yours is returned!

Best wishes
David

I'm not sure Peter, it depends how much use it will get, how heavy your kit is etc. You could give one a try for a tenner, but if this is for long-term use you will have to buy something of better quality.

Regards
David

Yes, monopod is a good idea and is excellent for wildlife shots as it allows more flexible positioning.

Regards
David

Aleks, beware, most of the DA lenses are not WR. You have to buy special WR versions to get weather resistance. If it does not say 'WR' in the lens description it is not weather resistant.

On this basis, if cost is the primary concern, DA L may be better for you.

Regards
David

Goldcrest is fabulous. We get these on a large spruce in our back garden - I really must make an effort to try and photograph them, but I only have 300mm of reach which I don't think is enough.

Regards
David

Why not just buy a few cheap manual lenses (either fully manual or with the mechanical aperture linkage) and have some fun with extension tubes? It really is not that difficult to use the older lenses with tubes and I don't find it any disadvantage. I suspect most will want to shoot in manual anyway for this type of photography? Many of the old primes produce fabulous image quality on macro tubes.

Regards
David

Lots of questions in one forum post! The answers depend to a great extent on your own preferences / budget but I will have a go! I'm sure others more knowledgeable than me can give better advice.

- The 'A' lenses would be preferable if you can afford to stretch to them - they are also more saleable if you ever want to sell them on

- Have you considered the more modern Pentax DA L lenses (plastic mount)? These are very reasonable second hand and optically are identical to their DA counterparts. More modern lenses = better colour, contrast and sharpness, especially for zooms

- Manual focus depends on how good your eyesight / dioptre adjustment is. I have no problems focussing on my K-x or K-5 without a split screen as long as light is reasonable

- Don't buy lenses with fungus unless you are prepared to strip them down and re-assemble (if so, be prepared to ruin a few)

- Some of the M42's are great - I particularly love the SMC Takumars, but they don't get as much use as my more modern lenses as they are not as flexible

Hope this helps.

Regards
David