I like 3 best, lovely clarity and colours.

I will do a proper comparison in due course taking the same shots with both lenses. Not one of those chart thingies but how I get on with real images. It may take me quite some time though, that way I'll have to hang on to both lenses. I have no doubt already though that the K85 is the better value for money. Obviously it all depends on what you paid, but for me the 77 is no way 4.6 times better lens than the 85. I hope to build up a K series of bargains as a team of supersubs if ever I have to sell off the newer lenses. Plus I like to have a day every now and again when I just use manual lenses, sort of reinvigorates me.

I would buy one too (subject to funds). I would need a wide zoom for landscape but apart from that all my favourite lenses are full frame, so would serve a dual purpose with the K5 crop factor.

So do I, it will have to compete against the D600. Or against the D600's replacement by the time it comes out.

It sounds to me like Charlotte's camera is faulty.

Charlotte, I would suggest writing to Jonathan Martin, MD of Pentax UK. I had a succession of faults with my K20 and K7 (and yes genuine faults not user error) and after being fobbed off by the retailer and senior Pentax staff over several months he sorted the issue out very satisfactorily for me. PM me for the email address (although it's an obvious one) if you wish to go down this route.

I've started trying out this lens and I think it is absolutely stunning. It will take me a while to get used to it and to get the best from it, but it is clearly a thing of beauty and hugely promising. My new best value for money lens. My top three best value lenses are now all K series and buy a wide margin. Some first shots, all hand held so will get better even better sharpness once it's on the tripod:

A bog standard portrait, but the lens has a gentle touch:




Wide open, the subject pops out nicely:




No CA:




I really like how it performs on landscapes, there is just so much detail in the trees and rocks.

The Nikon has the silent wave motor, a metal lens mount, hood and pouch and a much lower launch price. Pentax is making a statement that the DA50 is optically streets ahead of the better specced Nikon.

And the new Q10.

Because the batteries are tiny you can have a few spare cheapies in your pocket. It might be an issue if you are intending to use it for many hundreds of shots in one session.

Many thanks Chris, very useful information. The ME is pretty scratched so not really worth anything, it will join the others in the cupboard. There is a winder that someone might find a use for. It looks like the lens was a decent buy. I'll take some snaps with it and add to the image bank. From what I've seen so far I really like it. Open it has a nice dreaminess about it. Stopped down it rather reminds me of the K35 (no suprise I suppose) and the DA*50-135. I am really getting to like K series lenses.