Looking at images in-camera is most definitely not the ideal way to evaluate images/lenses. It will give you some idea, but I wouldn't base my decision to shell out several hundred pounds on a lens, solely on the images viewed on the camera.

Did you never watch Blue Peter? Make one from an old Ice cream carton and some sticky backed plastic tape.

The D-FA 100mm lens is very good indeed. I bought one of the £299 offerings in a 'tatty box' and I'm extremely happy with it.

David Paterson's tips are aimed at beginners mostly, but there are some basics in his tips that serve as a good refresher.

Here's a link to one of his tips.

Steve, I need to sell some of my unused lenses before I can even think about it, but even then, I'd have difficulty justifying the expense.

Thanks for doing this Clarky. If you repeat the experiment, could you set the WB to daylight please, or something fixed anyway. You had it set to auto which may account for the colour differences.

The bokeh produced by the Pentax is better than that from the Sigma.
Colour reproduction is different, but which one is accurate? Difference might be due to auto WB.

I think a slightly more scientific comparison is needed where all settings are the same for both lenses, maybe use the same body with everything set manually. Field of view will be slightly different because of the differing focal lengths.

The difference in image quality is not enough to make me choose the Pentax over the Sigma lens, but the price is. I'd still go with the Sigma lens.

Of course, if somebody would share their lottery win with me, I'd have the FA* 200mm Macro like a shot.

SOLD - Pentax-F 28-80mm 1:3.5~4.5

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Colour rendering, contrast, saturation, close focussing. Sharpness is excellent if stopped down a bit from wide open.

Is it possible that we are seeing one leg of a closed tripod? That's what it looks like to me.