SMC Tak 55mm F1.8? Don't for heavens sake get rid of it, it is one of the greats! Mind you, get rid, it's horrible, I will take it off your hands......

Seriously though, I cannot understand why these lenses go for so cheap? Maybe people are put off the M42 screw mount, because optically they are really one of the great Takumars, period!
I have the first of the K-mount versions of this lens, same optics, but with the bayonet, and I am always surprised how seriously good it is when I put it on my DSLR's. Currently it is sat on my MZ-5n at the moment, which makes a cracking combination.

A vastly underated lens IMHO.

Enjoyed the day, Nice to put faces to names.
Many thanks for making a "Pentax Meet virgin" so welcome.

I hope to make some more.

Once again cheers guys, I enjoyed it.

Could be interesting, I might pop up......

Bernard,
In that case, it could be fungus, or the "glue" in the optic sandwich failing.
Normally Fungus on lenses are round growths in areas of the glass, this could be one large growth.
However, it is unusual and possibly someone might have the correct answer.

Hi mate,
Although I don't have one, the 30mm seems a good lens. A mate of mine has one and loves it. Great shots from it too. Plus compared to the 28mm it is a lot smaller and has nice bokeh as well.

I was wondering if anyone has got this lens and what do they think if it?
I have already looked at the database on the other forum, but it would be interesting if people here have got or used it.

Not sure.
If it is a mirror lens, it might be decay of the mirror coating that you can see.
Whatever it is, it does not look good.

It is certainly not a Pentax Mount.
I crossed referred it to one of my lenses.
The red dot should be at the top of the left hand "flange". the Aperture control lever should be slightly in on the right hand "flange" and the AF link should be about 5% off centre anti-clockwise from the bottom point of the lens.

So no, it's not a PK mount.

I have both the 360 and 540 flashes. I have had the 540 for a few years, before prices went silly, and I was lucky with the 360, as a major High street chain were selling them off really cheap. Both are great, but the 540 has the extra ability of the swivel head. However having said that, the 360 is still a great flash unit, and for solo portrait work, it provides enough power.

Ultimately though, I would go for flash guns that you can use "wirelessly", ie off camera, which uses the camera flash as the trigger.
This will be a boon, and very creative. In fact I have used both flashes off camera as a compact strobe set up when my proper strobes are too bulky, or when I am out in the field. So really go for the ones that can be used off camera, and if they can "talk" to Pentax flashes at the same time, all the better.

Hope this helps.

As has already been said

Faster
Smaller
Less distortion - on the whole
simpler, Better optics (they only have one focal length)
Make you work harder
Sharper? - Probably, even now.
Make you think more about a focal length for the shot.
As for focal length, it makes you learn more about focal lengths
Even "budget" primes are superb. (eg 35mm F2.4, FA 50mm F1.7)

On the other side - zooms
More convenient
Pretty good IQ (dependent on the lens)
You can keep your feet in the same position.
You don't have to keep changing lenses

Personally, I use both, but apart from my DA*50-135, I get the most joy from the images I take with my primes.