The Pentax lenses have the edge IMHO.

With the 1.5x focal length multiplier, because of the APS sized CCDs, telephoto lenses are not really the problem with digital SLRs. Just choose a good quality one to avoid chromatic abberation.

Wide angles are more difficult, although the new digital-only zooms look very promising.

I thought most Pentax digital cameras took SD cards?

But back to CompactFlash - Type I cards are pretty much universal and are slightly thinner than the Type II cards, which are the same dimensions as a Microdrive. Cameras that take type II and Microdrive will happily take Type I as well.

If a camera is designed only for Type I then the Type II and Microdrives will not fit.

I think what is being referred to is the change in illumination of a lens as it is focused closer. Normally this effect is not important, but it becomes noticeable around a magnification ratio of 1:10 and greater. That is why 50mm lenses usually focus down to 50cm or so, and 100mm lenses say down to 1 metre.

The effect increases as we go closer. It is the same effect as using extension tubes - the further the lens is racked out from the film plane, the more light is lost.

I think the camera will start a new folder and commence at 0001 again, but it might take you a while to get to the point where you find out for sure!

All of our digital cameras seem to start off at the DCIM folder level, and then the sub-folder is 100PENTAX or 100FUJI, and where we have more than one model of Fuji camera the second one is obligingly 101FUJI. If you deleted the DCIM folder, all the others would disappear with it.

Most of the usual M series lenses take 49mm screw-in filters, but some take 52mm or other sizes. It's useful if most or all of your lenses take the same size of filter.

The pentax-M lenses that take 49mm filters, from memory, include 20mm, 28mm, 30mm, 35mm, 40mm, 50mm, 85mm, 100mm, 135mm, 150mm.

Hope that helps....

Canon lenses will not fit pentax cameras, as you have found. The same would be true for Nikon lenses or any of the other main manufacturers. Independent manufacturers such as tamron or Sigma make their lenses in all the main fittings, you just need a Pentax K fit.

The lenses that were are on sale with the ME series of cameras, including the MV and MV-1, were the pentax M series. These are marked SMC Pentax-M and are of the highest quality. They are also freely available from sources of second hand equipment such as eBay, dealers and private sales. Prices are fairly low and there are some real bargains to be found.

Happy hunting!

You might try Pentax UK for the parts, or any of the repairers advertising in the photo magazines, or on this site.

Any Pentax K fit (i.e., bayonet fit) lens will fit your camera and be useable within the linmitations of the body. You will have aperture priority auto exposure available, and manual focus only.

The lenses intended for the MV are really the M series ones, but almost all the others will work fine as well. The exception will be the new FA-J and DA lenses, which have no aperture rings and are therefore not suitable.

Thanks, jayson, I'll second that - hope everyone has a fantastic time!

Yes, I think these are remarkably good lenses, especially at the price.

I've had time to get to grips with the 18-55mm now, and I must say it has commendable control of chromatic abberations. No colour fringing, even in quite extreme situations. Sharpness, colour and flare control are also excellent.

All in all, I have been delighted with my *istDS and its lens.