The one other factor invloved is the shutter speed used. We don't know if the users who complain of poor performance are suffering from poor lens quality or good old camera shake. Over 200mm most people would, I suspect, be best with a very solid tripod ar some other secure support. If hand held, the results may well be poor.

This lens got a really excellent review in AP.

Perhaps you got a rogue one, Paul?

If there are no electrical contacts, as with SMC Pentax and SMC Pentax-M lenses, you can use the lens for manual exposure or for aperture priority auto exposure (you set the aperture, the camera sets the shutter speed)

If you use a manual focusing lens and set the camera on autofocus there is a focus confirmation symbol in the viewfinder. When this is lit the camera assesses that the lens is focused optimally. Your eyes might disagree!

I agree that a processing fault is very unlikely.

The ME Super shutter fires at 1/2000 sec without batteries, so an intermittent contact on the power supply could be a potential cause. Batteries should be wiped with a cloth before insertion, and not handled with fingers. The contacts in the battery chamber could be cleaned with an idia rubber or piece of glasspaper.

If all else fails, a repair may well be necessary.

It is certainly true that nothing should ever be forced on a camera. If the last wind on action stops half way, depress the rewind button before you complete the winding stroke to avoid tearing the film or damaging the mechanism.

Before you go for the repair though do try new batteries. If the batteries have failed the camera will not operate. Also, when rewinding film and loading and shooting blank frames set the shutter dial off auto to 100X to avoid unecessarily long exposures.

Another thought: sometimes switching off auto can release a locked up mirror, but it is difficult to judge without handling the camera.

If you ask them to, Jessops will get one to any branch for your perusal.

If you want a really fantastic lens how about the Pentax 80-200mm f2.8? A monster of a professional lens, superb quality at a high price!

Otherwise, will someone like Park cameras send you an MZ-S on approval? You'll no doubt have to pay for it and a refund would presumably not include the shipping charge.

I'm a great supporter of Pentax cameras and have used them since the Spotmatic. They are, for me, the ideal design, lightweight but reasonably rigged and with superb optics. The lenses are perhaps more durable than the camera bodies. Pentax have kept faith with the mount extremely well (as have Nikon) and I also loke the retention of the traditional aperture ring (as with Nikon), although the *ist cameras abandon this.

Pentax and Nikon aperture and focusing rings operate in the same direction so personally I wouldn't look at Pentax or Canon but rather Pentax or Nikon.

But whatever choice you do make, I am not sure that having two different systems is ergonomically sound. There is less potential confusion if you stick with one make.

I too think that many more manufacturers than Sigma support the Pentax mount.

I think I might be inclined to put in an insurance claim!

To be fair, although I'm sure some people have had problems from time to time, I have never had any complaint about the quality of work from Pentax UK. It has been slowish (6 weeks) but effective.

Unfortunately, the guide soes not yet include any of the autofocus Pentax lenses, although it does for Nikon. Very strange!

There is always McKeowan's Camera price Guide, a hefty tome that will cost you around £75 from Andrews Cameras. This is a wonderful information resource for all classic cameras. I don't know about the web having a price guide as such, but each dealers web site lists lenses for sale and these prices will give you a good guide, as will the current issue of AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER.

With a good deal of research you will be able to then spot any bargains straight away!