Clarky are you sure they were lenses for an SLR not for a TV/film camera? I know that there is a lot more handwork involved in producing those lenses, with suitable horrendous price tags to match.

I have one too, and use it on a Ds with no problems at all!

But hills and mountains look better zoomed in on - very wide and they just look flat.
Are you taking other lenses or really only taking one? if you're taking others as well then yes get the Sigma, if you are only planning on taking a single lens get the Pentax.

I'd pack light and go versatile. So the 18-250.
It's on my list to get in the US in a couple of weeks. The bill payer thinks he's getting it on the Ds when (if) I get my K20D, but if I really like it (and I think I will) then he maybe out of luck - but don't tell him that!

Wow! The first one looks a tad soft but the macro ones are incredible. I can't wait to see what you do when you eventually get the new lens to go with it!

Me want, me want! I failed to win the lottery again yesterday so I'll just have to wait a bit longer .

I'll just have to not spend too much in the US. Although lenses are really cheap there at the mo..... if I can lose the Bill Payer for an hour or two and hit a camera store then I fear the old credit card may take a beating If he sticks around he will be the voice of reason sadly.

Edit: it will be interesting to see if those having problems with their K20D's respond to these photos

Me too! i would happily hang it on my wall.

I really like the monochrome version. It would be interesting to see it in colour, but I do like it as it is.

As I read the OP he is asking what we do when the weather is not so good, not how to take landscapes in poor light. He merely says the landscape looked flat.
In that case you look for details, get up close, photograph flowers, stonework, a fence. Anything in the landscape but not the landscape. It is an ideal time to play with a camera and explore it´s abilities.

Lovely photo Dan!
I agree if you are doing broad landscapes with sky the a grey day is useless, but for other photos the diffuse light can result in lovely photos.

Exactly Martin.

Couldn´t have put it better myself, in any language