I suppose in film photography we are always shooting at the optimum resolution, only limited by the film used. But in essence it is always the best quality.

In digital cameras it depends on not only the lens, but how this interacts with the sensor and again how we save the images (RAW, TIFF or JPEG) and at what resolution. Although I always shoot at the highest resolution, just in case the image is one I want to put to some other use.

So, for example, when copying a monochrome magazine image, my Fuji S7000 needs to be set to monochrome, or the structure of the printed image causes interfernce patterns with the SuperCCD. I don't know if the Pentax sensor is better in that specific circumstance because I haven't tried it yet. But the point is that the sensor structure has a serious effect on the final image and needs to be matched to the lens.

As for the *istDS, I have tried M lenses, A lenses, F lenses, FA lenses and DA lenses and to be honest they have all given excellent results. Obviously some will be better lenses than others, but that would have been as true on film.

I think the difference lies in the much larger CCD, which does not have to pack tiny photo diodes so tightly as the Fuji (for example) does. The result is an incredibly clean and sharp image with very low noise.

I think I'm sort of talking around your question to an extent, but perhaps the thoughts will prompt some other responses?

Sometimes I wonder when AP will find a DSLR that they actaually like, but then they did like the Nikon D70 and the Canon !DS II, so I guess they do sometimes....

I found the 18-55mm lens to be very good, amazingly so for its price. Very sharp, low flare, good contrast and virtually no chromatic abberation. I haven't tested the 18-35 we bought from you via eBay (!) because Sue is using that on her *ist film camera.

I have also been using a SMC Pentax-A 35-70mm in the studio with studio flash. This has been equally excellent for portraits and I'll be posting some of those on ePHOTOzine over the next few days, starting at some ludicrous hour early tomorrow morning.

I did notice that the AP review was mostly complimentary, although I felt reluctantly complimentary...They praised the low noise levels, but then the headline on the pictures was a negative comment about noise at 3200 ISO. Very inconsistent approach.

I'm actually quite pleased that the *istDS does not over-sharpen in camera, and I have found with a modicum of USM (around 50%) the pictures crisp up beautifully.

The only thing we don't know is how this relates to the type of photography that we take, and it may well be that someone else would not be as pleased as I am. But I certainly have no complainsts about the *istDS.

The lenses seem to be rather different, so I guess I would suggest that first perhaps you could think about what focal lengths you need, and then see what lenses fit your requirements.

Apparent focal length will be 1.5x on the *istDS, so getting a long enough telephoto will not present much of a problem.

In terms of build quality, I think the pentax lenses are on a par with the best. I actually prefer the feel and handling of Pentax to the Zeiss lenses, which I find rather stiff to operate.

In terms of optical qualities, it depends on the lens. The best Pentax lenses will take on anything. The cheaper ones will not necessarily reach the same standards, but then neither will the price.

In a 1980 test of 100mm lenses, for example, the conclusion was "The clear winner is the Pentax-M...." and that included your Nikons, leicas and Zeiss lenses.

The M and A ranges are much the same lenses. The K ones preced these and are much the same as the last of the screw thread Takumars. Typically the K lenses will reach their peak at smaller apertures. The M and A versions will be better wide open and reach a peak sooner. Some will prefer the reproduction of the older lenses, some the newer.

Pentax lenses are eminently useable with slide film, and I feel they give a neutral to warm image. This image is clean, clear and crisp. Very nice indeed.

Using the mount adapter K, you can use your screw thread lenses on the ME Super and have the advantages of the electronic body as well.

Wow, that's a question! I can only speak personally, but I don't feel worried by it, I doubt that much radiation is coming from a Takumar lens....

Watches with hands that fluoresce are also guilty of being radioactive, or at least at one time they were.

You will also get a pretty healthy dose of radiation when you fly away on holiday.

The Tamron 90mm f2.5 Macro lens has an excellent reputation, and I am just trying one out now. Also the Elicar 90mm f2.5 Macro and the Kiron 28mm f2.

However, once you stray from the pentax range things do become less certain, and aperture rings may operate in the reverse direction as can focus rings. This causes some degree of confusion and reduces operational speed and certainty. Also, you may find you need to buy even more filters of different sizes.

I only need 49mm and 58mm filters for almost all my Pentax lenses, which does reduce expense.

The perfect companions for your K1000 wil be, IMHO, the SMC Pentax-M and SMC Pentax-A lenses. On the latter, you will not be able to use the A setting, but otherwise they have the same function as the M series lenses.

As the K1000 is a manual exposure camera, it is useful to choose lenses that have a constant aperture value. So the best zooms will not change aperture when zooming (otherwise you will have to meter after zooming) and some excellent performers would include:

SMC Pentax-M 24-35mm f3.5
SMC Pentax-A 24-50mm f4
SMC Pentax-A 35-70mm f4

All these take 58mm filters, and this is useful consistency!

All the prime lenses have constant apertures and all will give excellent results.

I have said it many times before, but I really do think the Pentax lenses are better.

There are also good reasons for some of the professional lenses being so expensive, such as the 28-70mm f2.8 mentioned above. This lens has superb optical and mechanical quality and a relatively large and constant aperture. It is heavy and bulky but it should last a lifetime of hard use.

There are some good independent lenses, but in general I have never been that impressed. I remember picking up a very sloppy Sigma 18mm at an exhibition, and the rep said "Well, it has had a lot of use", but then again so it would in professional use, and I wouldn't expect a Nikon or Pentax lens to go in the same way....

I suggest eBay as the most likely source.

If you enter a "Favourite Search" you can select a category and get quick access to, say, the section Film cameras and lenses>film camera lenses>to fit pentax or whatever else you choose. Then check every day and see what is on offer.