Gone on ebay.

Many thanks John for such an informative reply. Can I ask what you think of the Sigma 18 - 125 that is the subject of this thread ?, do you think it will be as good as the 17 - 70 ?,if so it would be a serious contender for my next lens with that kind of reach.
SRS only got them yesterday and have not had time to test but kindly have offered to take it back if I am not happy, but surely if it was "optically flawed" it would show up in the photozone review.

Forgive me if in saying that I came across as being smart, but I read these reviews on Photozone and the mtf figures are what I judge a lens by.
I never read the barrel distortion and vignetting figures. Today however I was about to buy a Pentax 18 - 250 of a forum member but changed my mind after reading the full review,and seeing the barrel distortion and vignetting figures, was I wrong ?
I shoot landscape, mostly at wide angel but often see wildlife which is why I want a wideangle with a long reach. I missed a superb shot of a heron the other day because I only had a Sigma 17 - 70 on.

The Sigma 18 - 125 caught my eye when I saw it for sale at SRS but the 18 - 250 would cost the same, what would you do ?
I highly respect your posts on here by the way

But the Photozone review shows it having severe barrel distortion and vignetting at the 18mm end, worse than its Tamron counterpart in the Canon test ?

There is a Photozone review for it done with a Canon 50D which is very very good,
http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/407-sigma_18125_3856os_50d

obviously the K200D would resolve less, but if there were any glaring flaws they would show up. It is not the same lens as the earlier Sigma 18 - 125.

Phew, thank goodness,are you able to tell us how good it is ? does it match the 17 - 70 ?

Wow, it is available online in Pentax fit without OS, but your right,seems to be a non starter.

Just noticed this lens is now in stock at SRS.
http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/3120/Sigma-18-125mm-F3-8-5-6-DC-HSM-Lens---Pent...

It has a superb review on photozone under the Canon section and the 15mp area. Anyone used one ?, will it be as good as the 17 - 70 but with the bonus of extra reach ?

Would you recommend the 16 - 45 for doing landscape/coast shots at iso 100 on a K200D ? what else is there this wide otherwise ? selling my 10 - 20 as it is just too wide unless you have a strong foreground, 12 - 24 is way out of my league and then its 17 - 70, Sigma/Pentax, what do I go for ??

Pardon my ignorance here, but I do minimal PP, usually a run through Picasa, although I have Lightroom 1.4. I shoot jpeg, so is CA easily corrected, or can it only be done for raw.