Is this thread on the other forum any help?

I'd rather you were able to clean and keep it for yourself but, if not, I'll put my name forward to be its new keeper

Thanks for the news. I wonder what bugs they've fixed that I wasn't even aware of!

PM sent

You did very well there! Some people ask almost that just for a pair of spare lens caps!

If you're anything like me, you may find manual focus tough with moving subjects like pets (and children), and that static objects are much easier to begin with. (But then I'm as bereft of skill as I am of talent, and you might find it a breeze)

I have M, A and F flavours of the 50mm f1.7. All are wonderfully sharp.

The M version is without doubt the biggest bargain amongst Pentax lenses. It's ridiculously cheap relative to its quality, purely because so many were sold in the 70s.

Yes, the A is a little simpler in use since you haven't to press the green button to meter. But it costs twice as much.

And yes, the F adds autofocus. But it costs twice as much again.

I may have more lenses than talent (not hard when I wasn't blessed with much of the latter) but the manual focus 50/1.7 is still one I use on a regular basis. I've recently re-discovered that it excels as an indoor portrait lens. Available light, f2.8, ISO800. Or with flash at f5.6 and ISO100. Either way I love the images it produces as much as I love the build quality and velvety-smooth focus ring.

Talking of build quality, sometimes I think they don't make 'em like that any more. But they do. They're called FA Limiteds and cost £600-1000.

For £30-odd, the M50/1.7 is a steal.

Good advice, thanks.

They were for a while! That banner was added a bit later on in the day.

I noticed that too. Cheeky monkey, that administrator...

Seems I'm out £50. But I'll live.

I feel more sorry for the staff. Especially if they end up not getting paid for days worked since last payday.

That goes along with the link that fritzthedog kindly supplied.