PM sent.

In that case, agreed!

I thought SDM issues involved total failure of the motor, not hunting?

D_C_D, can you reveal your source(s) please?

I understand that the 55-300 has superior IQ to the 50-200 (be it Samsung or Pentax badged). The Tamron suffers from PF but does have some 'macro' capability which the 55-300 does not.

In your position I would sell the 50-200 and keep the 70-300 until/if a dedicated macro lens is purchased.

The Samsung will probably attract a better second hand price than the Tamron and you'll still have 'macro' capability.

(Just saw Iceblinkers post. Looks like this is going to end up with tossing a coin Whatever you do will be right!)

Can't answer all your questions, but look here for an adapter that protects from high trigger voltages. link

Hong Kong based.

This from their T&C's which explains their pricing;

Taxes

You are responsible for paying any governmental taxes imposed on your purchases, including, but not limited to, sales, use or value-added taxes. SimplyElectronics.net will automatically charge and withhold any applicable tax for orders to be delivered to any jurisdictions that it deems is required.

Thanks for this. I haven't fully grasped how/why it differs from the AF160; I have a manual for the AF160 and I'll compare it with this.

I have found one or two for sale. There's no evidence that it's anything other than straight from Pentax, and that's whats odd. It's nothing like the usual AF160S; the Pentax badge on the front looks correct and the 'Energy Saving' looks to have been applied at manufacture.

It's a bit of a mystery, but as I've discovered via Google, not unique.

Odd! I hit the link and it takes me straight to it. Could it be because I won it (last week)?

The item number is 150411127211.

Anyone heard of a AF160S Energy Saver?

I bought one off ebay out of interest only. It's appears identical to the AF160 - body, controls, etc - but is labeled AF160S with the words 'Energy Saver' in yellow just below the label.

Here's a link to the ebay page> link