Six modern lenses in a system is very few. Primes are lenses, so if primes are lacking then unless there is a huge number of zooms then it logically follows that lenses are lacking. What's lacking? F4 or variable aperture zooms to be cheaper and more compact, fast and slower primes at almost every focal length.

Adding an in-lens focusing motor is a new lens in the same way as changing the coatings and cosmetics make a new lens, it's just a question of where you draw the line. I would say that taking the same FA limited optics and updating coatings, adding the focusing motor and maybe making it WR but still calling them limited lenses is a re-vamp, albeit a heavy one. A new lens would involve a change in optical formula, focal length or maximum aperture.

Compared to other systems there are very few modern lenses for Pentax FF, I think that's the complaint, and they're right. The options are few and generally extremely expensive, and primes are scarce. Having said that, the new Panasonic 50/1.4 makes the Pentax look like a bargain.

Pentax would do well to re-vamp or re-release some updated FA-era lenses in the same way as they have done with this new 35mm. Re-vamping the FA limiteds with in-lens focus motors would be an even smarter move.

Le Rolls seems to have moved to a Fujifilm system where he uses the 56mm f/1.2 lens.

The problem with the 16-85mm is that it's slow, which makes it much less useful in low light. A very different lens from an 18-50mm f/2.8.

The thing I was most surprised by is that they've kept the aperture ring. That's definitely a good thing in my book as if I were to ever get one (unlikely) I'd be able to use it on all my K-mount film cameras too.

The obvious choice would be the newer Sigma model, which is 17-50mm.

I remember buying an 18-50mm as my first "good" lens for my K200D and took it back the next day as it was very soft wide open. I changed for a Tamron which was much better optically, though with poorer build quality.

More recently I got the newer Sigma and sold the Tamron as I like the Sigma more. Optically they're on a par but the Sigma is much better built and has an in-lens focus motor. It's also significantly heavier but that's the price you pay for good build quality.

I think at that point you'll need to save your cash to buy food when it costs £10 for an apple.

The 18-55mm WR lens is decent enough when stopped down and the WR capabilities make it very useful. I've upgraded to the 16-85mm but it's a lot more money compared to the 18-55mm. For value it's hard to beat.

It sounds like it's got a fault but it also sounds like something that could be fixed. The focusing in my DA 40mm seized up completely a while back and a €45 service fixed it.

I've seen a rumor that a re-vamped FA 35mm f/2 lens is on it's way. It looks like the only difference will be HD coatings and a slightly changed outer design, but it's possible there are other changes under the hood. The price seems to be around €400, which is not far off what the current one goes for.

Pics on the link below (text in Japanese), below the pics of the DA* 11-18mm:

https://www.nokishita-camera.com/2019/01/hd-pentax-da11-18mmf28ed-dc-awhd-pentax...

Personally I feel the design could be a bit more modern but re-vamping the old FA lenses with newer coatings and updated designs is certainly the easiest way to refresh the FF lens line-up. Hopefully some more will follow.

A 50-135mm and a 55/1.4 both recently came up for sale recently in my area, which is rare as Pentax is not a common brand at all here in Spain. I'd love either of them as the optics are reputed to be excellent, but I'm just not willing to pay what's still a considerable price for lenses I know are prone to failure, even if there are work-arounds for some of them.

Pentax desperately need to release mark II versions of these lenses with the problem fixed, but that's been true for the entire time I've been a Pentax user (ten years in May) and there's no sign of it happening.