I'm sure there will be an initial demand for a standalone version. But is has to be conceived as a kit lens because why would you buy the SMC kit lens and then upgrade it. Maybe it will sit alongside the cheaper version as a more expensive kit.

For me I'd settle for 11 focus points in exchange for -3EV. Howver, this is up against the Nikon D5300 for instance with 39 autofocus points. SRS list the key features of the D5300 as i) 24mp and ii) 39 AF points. I think there is a vast market of buyers preconditioned into Canikon who will look no further than that, I suspect many won't know what -3ev means.

I know, that was my point, they both look the real thing, The SMC is a kit lens not just computer generated . The HD would make a good kit lens for a higher end model, I don't see much advantage of having it standalone.

It seems to me that as a sweeping generalism that most people who buy entry or mid-level DSLRs do not really understand much about them. I wouldn't apply that to Pentax users who are more clued up, makes sense for the users of a minority brand who recognise more than reputation. There is in my view a widespread automatic assumption amongst the uninitiated that Canon and Nikon are the best. I also think that two of the headline features that are high on most people's lists are mp count and autofocus, most easily understood by the number of autofocus points. 20mp is fine. However, 11 af points I don't think are enough - that is entry level. My K5 has 11 which is fine more most situations but actually I'd want a few more - 15 would do me. I think the K-S2 won't be as competitive as it should be because of this, otherwise it looks fantastic.

Unlikely. It is being sold now for delivery in a couple of weeks. A kit lens on an as yet unannounced model is the only thing that makes sense to be. Maybe a K3 refresh.

The second one is definitely the kit lens on pre-order now. The first I guess is the kit lens for the ?

The DA wide zoom has been on the road map for rather a long time. The natural assumption is that it is the Pentax version of the Tokina 12-28 since the DA12-24 is essentially the Tokina 12-24, but the updated Tokina 12-28 was released in other mounts quite a while ago so it is strange that it has not yet come about.

It's not there, I should put it there I suppose.

I've got the lens if you've got the money.

It doesn't actually surprise me. I know how good the K5 is at low iso long exposures. I noted a comment from Mark Littlejohn a former user who rates the K5 better in certain ways than the Nikon D800 and Df for these kind of exposures.

Without the astrotracer then the only way of getting a top quality image like this is at high iso with one of the low pixel density sensor, such as Sony A7s or the aforementioned Df. However, given the right choice of foreground to allow the overlay without impinging on too much sky detail then the K5 could well top the lot.