Original price was £199. I got mine (new) for £100. So £180 does seem a bit steep.
It's a shame that Jacobs went bump, as even on the last day they had both black and white ones for £100.
Best to keep looking around, as I wonder who snapped up the remaining stocks.

When it comes to lenses, the nearest Pentax version to the Olympus 50-200 would be the DA*60-250mm F4 rather than the 50-200mm WR, which is more of a budget entry level zoom.
As for the 12-35mm, again it would be the DA*16-50mm F2.8. Having said that, the aformentioned Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 is a mighty lens in itself and would be considered a fine alternative.

The one advantage though is that although the Pentax lens range is fairly small, there is plenty of quality optics to choose from, depending on what subject matter you wish to shoot.

Hope this helps.

12 months ago I e-mailed Tamron, just like Gwyn. And I got the same response.
One thing that has struck me (which is a hole in the Tamron argument) is that the Shake reduction system. Tamron say it does not warrant the changes to remove it for Pentax mount due to cost and potential sales. Well Sigma seem to have done okay with producing with SR and advise togs to use one or the other.
We are not fools and actually know that having both SR systems on will conflict.
I actually would like to get a 70-200 F2.8 and a new 24-70 F2.8 (both are remarkably useful on APS-C) and would like the option to have them other than Sigma, as Pentax dont make the actual lengths (more the equiv angle of view).
But hey ho, I suppose it now depends - in Tamrons Eyes at least - the increase in market share of Pentax as a brand.

Still, if Pentax themselves produce DA*24-70 and DA*70-200 (which could stand on the toes on the 60-250 F4) then the request would be over.
I have a feeling that they won't be made unless a FF body (so DFA* instead) comes out.

Zeiss have announced this lens for mirrorless and certain DSLR's

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/09/07/Carl-Zeiss-preparing-Distagon-55mm-F1-4-...

No Pentax mount (surprise!), but do we care when we have the Tak's to fall back on? Of course not!

Read some of the responses in case you are not aware

Do we tell the uninitiated of the benefits of a Tak55 with an adapter, works beautifully, or tell the trolls on DPR, it is only worth getting a non-55mm lens, and keep the magic to ourselves.......LOL

God, I feel evil this evening (I will tell you why sometime)

Good those who have always wished for a tilt/shift lens with a K Mount

This:-

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/09/07/samyang-24mm-f3-5-tilt-shift-lens

No price, but good news.

If the Samyang 35mm and 85mm lenses are anything to go by, then this will be a fine lens indeed.

I think I will start saving for it.

I loved that video, and that comment.
Sure Cartier Bresson did'nt rely on the perfectly sharp lenses (damn even I am mentioning CB as Kai did.....LOL)
Like all photography it depends on the subject, and indeed the "moment".

As long as the image is not out of focus, then it could be called creative.

Don't mention that to cameraphone users, especially those who use instagram........Oh Dear.....Errr.....LOL

Not sure about the 16-50 which extends, but the 50-135 is all internal with no extending parts. Does it work? Well YES! As I have proved several times in Monsoon weather, like last week.

I have a feeling that even inside the seals are there, as even my little 18-55 WR works fine in weather that we have had all summer with no residue or water inside.

Try updating ACR, as had been said. Also update LR3 to LR3.6. I have just checked that both the 01 and 02 Q lenses are included in the list of lenses on 3.6

Hope this helps mate.

Actually, that brings up a possibility.
Given the sheer expense of actually producing a FF sensor, a 1.3x crop APS-H sensor could be a good compromise. Cheaper to produce, but gives a larger area whilst actually not being FF. Most DA lenses will cover the area (10-17, 14 and 15 might struggle - 16-45 possibly, kit and 21, borderline)

If it is good enough for the EOS 1D series (ignoring the "s" models and the New X. Plus the Leica M8 series was the same), it might actually be a good way to go.

Hmmmmmmmmmmm

Well N*k*n do it, so I can't see why not.
Mind you C*n*n don't at all as their EF-S lenses don't even fit FF bodies, and even if they did, they protrude too much into the mirror box....
Thank God for Pentax!

IF, and it is a big IF, Pentax did bring out FF, I wonder if they could have a variable crop dependent on the lens, as some DA lenses don't quite cover FF, but would cover say an APS-H crop (1.3x) to get rid of the vignetting. My 50-135 does come to mind.....