But even then, I think you would need to further check the number of shots taken with the lens as how long you've had it could just mean that the lens sat in the cupboard for 6 months and not used.

Beautiful shots, Peter.

This is interesting for me at the moment as there has been a marvellous documentry on the TV here is Australia done by the BBC that is simply breathtaking. It takes you through each season of Yellowstone from winter onwards. Really very interesting.

Welcome aboard.

The DS's sensor is a real beauty. My first Pentax DSLR was the Pentax *ist D which uses the same sensor as the DS and I still think it can deliver some of the best IQ of any camera, period.

Pretty much all previous Pentax lenses fit the DS, but I would suggest sticking with the A, A*, F, FA, FA*, DA, DA* and DFA lens series as they work best, especially the DA/DA*/DFA/DA Limited lenses, see below. The A/A* lenses are fully metal construction manual focus lenses and are generally beautifully made. Most have exceptional IQ, with the A85 f1.4 and A135 f1.8 arguably considered among the finest Pentax have ever made.

The F series of lenses are Pentax's first foray into auto focus. There are many excellent examples still to be had.

The FA/FA*/FA Limited lenses are the second generation auto focus lenses with many of them also considered amongst Pentax's finest. The FA*85 f1.4, FA*28-70 f2.8, FA*80-200 f2.8, the FA*200 f2.8, FA*300 f4.5, FA31 Limited, FA43 Limited, FA77 Limited all considered fantastic examples of Pentax's lens maker's art. Many of them are legendary.

The DA/DA*/DFA/DA Limited are the lenses designed for the digital cameras, the DFA's will also work on FF cameras. Many of these are also gaining the reputation for being superb lenses. I would suggest starting with some of these lenses as they are designed to work best on your DS.

You may have noted that some of these lenses have the "*" next to their models. This stands for Pentax's premium lenses in this series. The "Limited" lenses in either the FA or DA series are sort of considered semi retro lenses made in "limited" numbers. By retro, I mean that they are designed to look and feel like the old manual focus lenses, ie full metal construction with good manual focus feel, but still auto focus. They are considered some of the finest lenses ever made as afar as IQ and build is concerned. See this article:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/sm-02-05-02.shtml

I think I have covered all the relevent lens series. I hope this has been of some help in your quest to find lenses.

That is a stunning photo, Peter!

Yes, the DA35 Limited macro is a wonderful lens. The things that I like about are:
1) it is almost the "standard" view lens yet with close focus ability,
2) It is relatively small
3) The IQ is outstanding on all accounts, sharpness, bokeh, colour rendition, CA, contrast.

Even though I have the FA31 and love it, I am more likely to put the DA35 on the camera.

Yes, I remember you posting these lovely photos. The horse shot is excellent.

Interestingly, Photozone gave the IQ of the Pentax DA17-70 3.5/5 and the Sigma 3/5 and also said that the build/mechanical quality of the Pentax was 3.5/5 and the Sigma was 3/5. The Sigma did win on price performance as it is cheaper, the Pentax getting 4.5/5 and the Sigma 5/5.

I now have the DA17-70 and think it is a superb all round zoom, just like the DA16-45 with an extra 25mm at the long end.

I have the following SDM lenses:

DA*16-50 f2.8
DA*60-250 f4
DA*300 f4
DA*55 f1.4
DA17-70 f4

Everyone of them working fine with no problems.

The only issue I have ever had with an SDM lens was the DA*16-50 which played up only once. I think it was on the K20D. It refused to focus for some reason and I removed it from the camera and turned the screw drive of the lens a few times and it has never played up since and that was over 18months ago. I have since used it very extensively since.

Yes, I think they meant that it is the Pentax part that is flawed, not the K-7 part.

Wow! These are fantastic images, Ed!