Maybe time for repairs, but first I would operate all controls and wheels vigorously to ensure there's no half contact anywhere. Then remove the battery, leave it out for a while and then start again.

I've done most of my recent buying from SRS and have never really had much problem with stock levels.

I would suspect the effect of the Japanese tsunami would be hitting stock levels about now, wherever the manufacturing process depends upon a supply chain in the affected areas.

Please get back to the original point of the thread. Now the title says lens we can all hopefully relax and get back on topic?

Pointing out a spelling error is one thing, but let's not descend into personal insults.

A CPL will lose light, so why have that on the lens when you don't need it?

Better to be more mindful of the kit you're using, and of course, always use a lens hood.

The other culprit could be setting the camera to spot metering. This will cause wildly incorrect exposures depending upon where the spot happens to fall, unless you are aware it's on and use it appropriately.

Interesting point - what sort of batteries are you using in the K-x?

Are the other lenses that focus fine on the K-x SDM lenses or screw-drive AF ones?

Just wondering if that could be the key to the problem.

I thought for one brief moment you were going to write that you'd metered your black cat in your coal cellar....

I think it just goes to show how different our requirements as individual photographers can be.

The wide aperture lens though is not that common, so you're not very well served, and certainly not at a reasonable price. At one time things were different, but now an f2.8 optic is often considered to be fast. I would have called a fast lens at least f2, and preferably faster than that.

At the moment then, we have the three Limited lenses, the 50mm f1.4 and the 55mm f1.4 in the Pentax portfolio, plus whatever can be found second hand.

As you say, you'll end up with more DOF for the same field of view as the nearest lenses are the 31mm-35mm range. In fact, unless you were lucky enough to have the mysterious SMC Pentax-M 35mm f1.4 lens, the best choice seems to narrow down to the SMC Pentax-FA 31mm AL Limited.

The Sigma 30mm f1.4 would be another contender.

If you go to Shop>Exclusive Discounts there's a list and full explanation of the applicable discounts.

Hope that helps!