Although a great deal is made of the coating issue, the pentax SMC coating is so good anyway that I would not worry too much.

The Jupiter 9 is a poor lens by comparison, and very variable in quality from sample to sample.

Personally, I would stick with any Pentax lens with a high degree of confidence.

I'm no expert on the internal construction of lenses, but I know there need be no real signs of oil or grease to gum up the blades. They are very thin and light and the slightest contamination will be detrimental.

Is the rest of the lens OK? If, for example, it was superb cosmetically and the only defect the one you mention, then a repair might well be a good option.

Otherwise, there are plenty more of them available.

It sounds like lubricant has got onto the diphragm leaves, making them sluggish. Any competent repair house should be able to clean the diaphragm - why not check out the price by calling them?

This was all very good compared to the dismal standards of the Kodak stand. One saleperson proudly showed me the new Kodak twin Lens Compact, but had no idea why it had two lenses or why it was an advantage. He mumbled a bit about "LSR" cameras and eventually retreated into a state of anguished embarrassment.

So things could indeed be much worse...

I do understand what you say, but at least it was a start. Much better than Canon, who were not even there.

If from these small beginnings an enthusiasm can build, then ultimately it will be a success. The products are right, the promotion has always been patchy in the UK, but hopefully that is changing.

By contrast, the ePHOTOzine stand was enormous, and seemed to be getting an excellent throughput of visitors.

Did you enjoy the exhibition? Hard on the feet isn't it?

Mark, Congrats on winning the lens!

Brian, I don't have any comparative information on the two lenses you mention, but it a general sense I would expect the Tokina and Tamron lenses to be amongst the better ones available. Hope that helps!

You'll have to move quickly for some of these!

I don't know which is the best lens to buy, but the price of all of them is pretty low, so any risk is not enormous. The first is described best, the second not so well but that doesn't mean it isn't a good or the better lens. We can't know. The third one has no case, etc., but I think all buyers and sellers have to start somewhere so a low amount of feedback is not necessarily a bad thing - it is 100% after all.

I have always accepted bids from new eBayers, but some people do not like untested buyers and I guess the same goes for sellers. Although I would think very carefully before parting with a large amount of money to any new seller.

Sorry I can't choose for you, but I hope the thoughts will help a little.

A T2 mount is an adapter that bayonets into the camera. The mirror lens is then screwed into this T2 mount.

There are quite a few 500mm mirror lenses on the second hand market. They operate at a fixed f8 and are attached to the camera using a simple T2 mount. These should be very low priced and may well be worth a try.

500mm lenses (making 750mm on your DSLR) will be tricky to use, so practice will be needed to get the best out of them.

The answer will surely be that with the advent of lenses of 10mm or less focal length we won't need a full size sensor.

I think with all the Digital lenses that are being produced, the die is already cast.