I have the Pentax 17-70. It was my main lens on my recent US holiday. I am very happy with it. A bit longer would have been great but I managed most photos very well with the range. It is not weatherproof, though it is sealed at the bayonet. It does not focus as close as for instance the kit lens does but it is a great all round performer.

You don't say how much you want to spend, or what you already have. If you can afford it, and have a reasonable wide angle (which includes the kit lens btw!) then consider the 50-135*. You won't regret it.

We use it too. We got the tip first from a forest worker in Scotland, then from someone who works for Avon, and again this spring in the US a Forest worker said it works great against no-see-ums. Makes for some sweet smelling lumberjacks .
I passed some on to my son for our grandsons too - much more child friendly and effective than most things on the market.
The only place I wouldn't use it is in a malarial zone, when DEET would have my preference, kept well away from the camera of course since it melts plastic .

I thought they moved manufacturing outside Japan for the same reason UK/US/European companies moved theirs from their home bases - cheap labour and lower costs, nothing to do with protecting products from currency fluctuations.

Can you post them a bit bigger? It's hard to tell from this size.

We had a family of Genets at our camp/lodge in Tanzania - the mother was called Genet Jackson

I still take my K20d, three or four lenses, including the Bigma, a flash, a tripod, a selection of filters, a spare battery and charger and a pair of binoculars with me. Even when flying.
This last trip I didn't use the macro lens and barely used the 50-135 but I was happy to take them, just in case. Last year I left the Bigma behind but took the 10-20 and regretted it. This year I left the 10-20 behind and never missed it. It all fits in/on my Tamrac backpack, though the tripod has to go in the suitcase for the flights. I can happily walk long distances with the backpack as it it so well balanced and comfortable. I did need my walking poles on occasion to negotiate some steep slopes when fully loaded.
If we go to Africa again I will take just two lenses - the 17-70 and the Bigma. And binoculars, and most of the other accessories, though I'll probably invest in a monopod too.
I'll never be able to fly with only hand baggage though .

A couple more from the recent hols.
We were at Mount St Helens on the 29th anniversary of her blowing her top. The photos are taken from Johnston Ridge, named after the volcanologist
David Johnston, who was camped out on this ridge observing the volcano when it blew. His final words were “Vancouver, Vancouver, this is it.” He was never found.
Johnston Ridge had re-opened after the winter snows just the day before.
It is a truly impressive sight, which it is hard to capture with a camera. Even now 29 years on, and with nature (and the foresters) taking back some of the area destroyed, the scenes of destruction are incredible.

[IMG]http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c205/Bargwynbu/Pacific%20Northwest%20USA/K20D2166-copy2-copy.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c205/Bargwynbu/Pacific%20Northwest%20USA/K20D2176-copy.jpg[/IMG]

I haven't any online at the moment, mostly I have analogue photos from there. We were planning on going again early this year but it never happened, and now we've just had 4 weeks in the US I can't see us getting there later this year either. Unless I go for a week on my own of course.

Nice photo. My favourite island is the bigger of the other two in your photo. I love La Palma, and have some photos of Tenerife taken from there.

Stefan, I have made a couple of Gifs using the k20d. They are pretty good. I haven't tried converting them to wmv though.
I'm not going to show them here as they were just messing about ones to see if they worked. Fills up a card pretty quick though.

Pentax lenses have an international warranty. Pentax USA will also issue an international warranty on camera bodies if you ask them to. I bought my first Pentax in the US and it was no problem to get an international warranty on it.