Don't show 'em the bad ones.

The 18-35 is a full-frame lens, very inexpensive, superb flare control, and really not that bad.

McBrian,

A focal length is a focal length, and it doesn't change. What does change, depending on the size of the sensor or film frame, is the angle of view.

In this case, 18-55mm translates to an angle of view on a D or DS that is similar to 28-80mm on a 35mm camera.

Ardent/Jayson,

Keep saving. It's a lovely piece of kit, though the slight grinding of the gears as you focus can never compare with the absolutely silky smoothness of a good old screw mount Tak.

(Anyone reading this who has never experienced the wholly sensual feeling imparted by an SMCT 55mm 1.8 should get onto Ebay now and buy one along with a rusty old Spotmatic. Nothing on earth (photographically speaking) can beat it.)

Digressions aside, I have not yet used the 77 enough to draw any firm conclusions. At this stage I would not say that it is massively better than my -F 50 1.7 or -F 28 2.8, but these are both very good lenses in their own right. However, I haven't yet undertaken any serious comparisons, and I certainly haven't done any prints, which would be a better test than a computer screen.

I know what you mean about lenses. My collection just keeps growing.

But your point about the 40mm being an alternative to the 43mm just adds to its pointlessness in my view. The 43mm focal length is useless on digital, so why supply yet another lens (bearing in mind there is also the 40mm M) when there are so many other lenses that Pentax could and should be producing?

A reasonably priced DA 18 2.8 is what I would like to see.

I have to say I can't see the point of this lens. Very few (if any) 60mm lenses have ever been made for 35mm, and this lens is the equivalent on Pentax digital of a 60mm lens. I wouldn't buy it (I have just bought a lovely 77mm Ltd, though), and I wonder who else will.

Als Protege

The software supplied with modern Pentax P&S cameras doesn't work with W95 and W98.

However, it's pretty useless anyway. As Kim says, the only sensible way to go is to buy a card reader.

Congratulations.

The 1.7 is not an expensive lens, even new, so buying new isn't a bad idea.

G

Ebay is pretty safe if you take sensible precautions.

Buy from people with excellent feedback, and who seem to know what they are talking about.

Ask them a question, and see what response you get.

Don't buy from people who can't spell the word "lens", or who don't describe the item properly. You can't trust the information they provide.

People who take trouble over how they present their auction will probably have also taken care of what they are selling.

The few probems I have had have all been promptly rectified by the seller, so I can say that I have never had a bad experience on Ebay.

Some of the best bargains come from people who sell in lots.

Best wishes and good luck.

The purpose of macro is to provide close focussing. That is why you need to be in macro mode to be able to focus closer than 0.5 (which is pretty close anyway for a non-macro lens).