The K10D goes to 1600ISO (but then often the specified ISO isn't quite the same as reality - for most cameras).

The image isn't full res - but it does look very clean!
You can nearly get there using RAW and Silkypix (which has good noise reduction built in).

Horses-for-courses as they say
Matt

Pete,
http://www.pbase.com/mattmatic/image/56163051
http://www.pbase.com/mattmatic/image/56163052
http://www.pbase.com/mattmatic/image/56163050
http://www.pbase.com/mattmatic/image/56163049
(All with With Cokin P ND grads)

They were all on the 6Mp *ist-D
Haven't got anything I can show you on the 16-45... yet

Matt

16-45 = excellent. 67mm filters. 365g, £299
16-50 = should be amazing. 77mm filters . 600g, £549

And, yes, the 16-45 is a better lens compared to the 18-55. I usually get much better images from it (colour, contrast and sharpness). It's an all round wonder

Actually, the prices of the new star lenses is amazingly low. I was dreading they'd be nearly twice their actual price.

And there'll probably be a few S/H 16-45 on the market once the 16-50 hits the streets

Matt

Just a post-script to this...

Have been reading the April issue of PBase magazine, and they mention that "LightZone" is available for Linux - "unofficially" and for nothing
http://www.lightcrafts.com/linux/

Think I might be loading up Ubuntu again...

Matt

George,
One of the docs about the lenses mentioned that a firmware upgrade was required to the K10D to make use of the SDM.
from here: http://www.dpreview.com/news/0702/07022105pentaxdastarlenses.asp
(Which presumably is Pentax press release)
Matt

And I thought that it was for making an invigorating eye balsam for the pixel peepers


LOL!
Matt

What's up??
You mean apart from creating a pro level camera at a consumer price?!
Oh, and the 645D, and a lineup of serious lenses...

Might be worth reading these if you haven't already...
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4002
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3998

Matt

My sons would love this
Matt

The Pentax has a small amount of distortion - nothing that can't be fixed in Silkypix or PTLens
Likewise the Sigma.
Yes, the Pentax 12-24 is a great lens - superb flare resilience, very sharp, and superb on the K10D. It's also tiny compared to the Sigma. But it's expensive

To answer your previous question: going from 18 to 16 is like going from 28mm to 24mm in film. A definite difference. That's why I was suggesting you ask yourself how much you really use the very wide angle (I don't use it as much as I'd thought and often find I'm taking images in the 16 to 20mm region which are just fine on the 16-45.) And why I suggested that some ND grads might be a more useful investment if you are concentrating on landscapes...

HINT: Come mid-March there'll probably be some second hand 16-45's going as the 16-50/f2.8 comes along

Matt

Keith,

The new lenses will have internal motors that will work with the K10D only. (For all other bodies these new lenses can be driven by the body motor.)

It's supposed to be (a) quicker, (b) quieter.
But we'll have to wait and see
Having said that, the K10D has probably the fastest focus motor of the Pentax DSLRs and SLRs - so don't let lack-of-HSM put you off!

There's enough difference in AoV and quality to make the 16-45 tempting. The only niggle I have with the ultra-wides is I find I often have to switch lenses in the field because 24mm (or 20mm for that matter) is still too wide for a lot of shots I take.

But, as I said, it depends on what you want to take, and what style
There are a few on this forum that have the Sigma and can give you an idea of its performance (try doing a search here).
Matt