I did hint at doing that, but it wasn't the question asked! One is allowed to own both a 50-200 and a 55-300 if one wants! The 55-300 might be a more useful lens than an 18-250, but for some the 18-250 is just ideal for holidays when photography isn't your main aim, eg taking to a scout/guide camps etc. where you're in charge and just want a decent but simple camera/lens combo but better than a smartphone or compact. For some uses a superzoom like the 18-250 is ideal! Why the prejudice against one?

Agree with them a deadline after which you'd like your money back if still not repaired. If that's not what you want you'll have to wait as there isn't much else lce can do other than try and source another one for you (but they aren't showing any more in stock at the moment.)

I meant reducing the full frame resolution. That might not be an option but it is with most digital cameras. The image is still recorded from the 'full frame' but at a lower resolution when the need for the fps is more important than resolution.

Where can you get a 20-40 for £149 then?
If someone wants a superzoom a 20-40 isn't it! May as well use a prime than one of those.

No, you're not wrong but we all have different ideas and needs.

Not that the fps of the camera is a worry to me, it isn't a feature I normally use, however wouldn't the K-1's fps rate go up if the recorded image size was reduced to match the 24 mp sensors of that other mentioned brand?

The web price at Castle Cameras looks to be £279 (perhaps a different shop with the same name or an alternative lens?)
http://www.castlecameras.co.uk/sigma-18-250mm-f35-63-dc-macro-hsm-lens-for-penta...
That's a lot more than the price you gave in the original post.

I'd have thought around £149 for a used 18-150 would be a reasonable price, be it a Sigma, Tamron or Pentax. The price you said is in that ball park. (I paid around that for my mint and boxed Tamron version.)

As others have said you might not need the lens, but if you want it it's a free country!
If it's a bit more reach you're after for the bird life, what about a Pentax 55-300?

Norfolk Broads: Is that on a boat or just general sightseeing. Either way there's plenty to photograph. Birds, Windmills, bridges, other boats and so on.

Sigma lens: Is this an eBay purchase, local dealer or private sale from newspaper ad or similar?
eBay is difficult unless the lens hasn't sold and you approach the seller afterwards to give you a deal.
A local dealer/private sale, just say how much you would like the lens, but can you do it for £xxx ? Always worth a try. Suggest a bit less than you're prepared to pay and hopefully end up with a compromise. Mind, if the lens is a bargain already there might not be much room to negotiate. Just watch a few episodes of the Apprentice for haggling ideas! Sure you've seen those?
Dishonest eBay sellers? Not as common as you might think with camera bits and bobs. If there's an issue you can report the item as not as described and arrange to return it to the seller. I must say many sellers are amazingly honest.

I agree, still reckon the best focussing aid is the split screen prism found on ME's and MX's. It works 100% every time!

Really only Louise can make the decision herself and something has tempted her. I have quite a few lenses covering the standard lens range in both zooms and primes. Variety is the spice of life!
It's what becomes LBA. The fact one doesn't really need it doesn't mean it shouldn't be purchased unless one is in debt.
Things to really consider are how close it can focus, maximum apertures, image quality at various f stops, whether the zoom creeps (my Pentax branded one does) and how important weather sealing, or lack of it, is to you. How comfortable it is to hold / balance on the camera. What suits one doesn't necessarily suit someone else.
If someone has one of the lenses in question and suggests it is either brilliant or a pig to use that would be useful info for Louise. But whether she should purchase one is really a personal thing only the person can decide themselves. Everyone might slate it but that doesn't mean to say she shouldn't buy it if she wants. It is what it is.
The bottom line to my input is that I have found it (my Pentax one) a useful lens to have on occasions.

I can't comment on the Sigma one as I haven't used one but I do have both the Pentax and Tamron versions which aren't bad for what they offer. Go and try the Sigma again, take some photos and see if it suits your needs.
On a miserable day it will save some lens swapping, and you'll more likely have a useful lens on should that once in a lifetime scoop appear in front of you. so don't dismiss it out of hand.

[quote="ephotozine.com"]Being priced at around £400, this lens is cheaper than 18-200mm alternatives from most camera manufacturers, plus it delivers decent quality and an extra 50mm of reach at the telephoto end. I believe this represents good value, plus as this lens is newly released, I imagine the street price may drop in time too[/quote]https://www.ephotozine.com/article/sigma-18-250mm-f-3-5-6-3-dc-macro-os-hsm-lens...

It's a very useful one lens fits all to take on holiday where perhaps luggage is limited.

When the 18-135 came out the general consensus was it didn't offer much in terms of image quality over the Pentax 18-250 other that it was weather sealed. But this is the Sigma one. Perhaps read a few more reviews?

If it's OK, see if you can negotiate a bit off and go for it.