Macro lenses is an area where Pentax compatibility helps as you can buy on older manual focus lens and give macro a try without spending lots of cash. I'm using an old K-mount 55mm F2.8 Vivitiar macro with 1:1 capability and it's been getting decent results with my DS:

My wife is in Singapore in week or so and I'm currently trying to persuade here that I really need a K10D as it can be had there fore about £400. I've already persuaded her to pick me up a 16-45 F4 for £170...

I've no experience with the 35-80 but I have had one of the 28-80's (I wrote a review some years back and it's available online at http://www.photo.net/equipment/pentax/fa28-80). It's not a bad lens (I've seen worse from Pentax) and it was fine as a start however I actually found the later FA 28-200 a better performer where their ranges overlapped.

I've always heard that the 28-70 F4 was a considerably better performer but I've never owned one myself (although I've heard some build quality woes).

I'm not Jessops biggest fan however that Glasgow branch is ok - when I was looking for my first DSLR it was just about the only place in the UK (online or otherwise) that had a DS in stock although I could have had any number of DL's - the dash through from Edinburgh to get it was well worth the trip.

Are you sure it's the 10-17 you really want as that's a fisheye and produces quite unusual results. I've got one (and it's great) however the 10-20mm Sigma I also have is a more generally useful lens.

To go really wide I'm not sure there is a very cheap option (other than the attachment mentioned by Matt) unfortunately - might be best to start saving for the Sigma (or the 10-17 if that's what you want).

The 10-20 is the only one of the mentioned lenses that I own. I've had mine from soon after I went digital and it's by far my most used lens. I've been very happy with it both from an optical and a build quality point of view.

I'm sure I'd have been just as happy with the Pentax 12-24 (I do tend to favour Pentax lenses although there are 3rd party lenses I also use a lot e.g. the Tokina ATX-Pro F2.8 zooms) however the Sigma was much cheaper and therefore, IMHO, better value.

Regards
Steve

Personally I think Brian will miss the lens! I have the Tokina ATX-Pro equivalent and find it just as useful with digital as I did with film - a 70/80-200 F2.8 is a fantastic tool for all sorts of stuff, especially when mated to a decent 2x TC - portraiture, sports, candid, wildlife etc:

Personally I'd be happy enough with any of the lenses mentioned. From the tests I've seen it doesn't look like anyone actually makes a bad macro lens and they all seem to review well.

I'm using an old manual focus 55mm F2.8 Vivitar Macro and I've been impressed with the results I've had.

I've haven't managed to land a decent AF 1.4x TC yet, however I have had good results using a 7 element 2x TC with the Tokina.

Cheers Matt - I was wondering why that wasn't working (which is why I'd tried switching the first one to a URL instead of an IMG - could you fix that as well please?

I'll keep the trailing space in mind for future postings.