I ended up with the black. I really wanted the black and silver one but Jacobs don't stock it. So Black it was.

I will give it a workout tomorrow as a group of us are off to Matlock Bath for the day to take photos, eat fish an chips, have a quick drink, more photos etc (you are more than welcome to come along John), so it will get a bit of use along with my K20D and MZ-5n.

The I-10 is now 1p under £100 at Jacobs. So much so I bought one at lunch time......

link

It is a great lens, and probably my sharpest next to the FA50mm F1.4

But, and it is a but, I have recently had problems with it not focusing at all. However, either swap lens and swap back, or (today) manually focus in the first instance and it starts talking to the body. Still a bit of a pain, just needs some coercing. I think I am not the only one to have this issue.....

Still, it is mighty in operation.

I (sort of) have both...

The Sigma is very sharp. The Tamron I have is the old 90mm F2.5 SP Macro F2.5 1:2, but with a 2x converter making it a 180mm F5 1:1 macro. (told you it was old)

However both are seriously good and having either will be a great addition. Cannot split them really.

No chance! Unless you have a hermatically sealed lab with no dust, the right cement and equipment to ensure the glass will be re-cemented deadly accurately........

Point one might be okay for me, my brother in law works in a similar lab for AstraZenica. Not got the other bits though.....

DC, it is indeed an interesting question, one that cannot be answered easily. The only way to answer the question is to compare each lens out in the field. Of course this is difficult, and reading other users blogs on the lens can you make an informed decision. But even then you might find that a lens that is not suitable for one person, might be the lens you have been looking for.

On the whole though, Primes are better than zooms at a given focal length, but this is getting closer (Nikonites might argue that the 14-24 and 24-70 nikkors are like a bunch of primes put together for instance, and indeed they are damn close!)
But as you have the 55-300mm zoom, which although great, is considered budget, you will probably find that the Tamron will be better at 300mm as regard to sharpness than the aformentioned 55-300mm. The downside is that, being an older lens it may suffer from CA. However unless you are shooting high contrast areas, you may not notice. In fact CA can be reduced if not eliminated post processing.

Hope this helps.

Tell me about the price rises.

18 months ago I bought my 16-45 new for a mere £180. At the time the 35mm Limited was £350 and forgot about the 35mm F2. But, at the time I wanted a great zoom that was wider than my 24-70 F2.8 and superior to my kit lens, and the 16-45 won out. Then March 2009 all prices rocketed! so getting that 35mm Ltd was out!
The F2 is a wonderful lens, and if I had the money I would get one like a shot, but I don't, worst luck

Honest opinion?
In macro mode, lots of CA especially with the black and white, but sharp.

the bridge? very soft at 100% i'm afraid. I wonder what a similar image would look like at the supposed sweet spot of F8-F11?

Bokeh is great though, very smooth.

All in all, a good purchase you have made.

As the topic of the new 35mm F2.4 rages, I thought what prime lenses would we like to see? Maybe hypothetical, maybe reality. Obviously at the moment Pentax have no intention to produce a FF camera, so lenses must suit APS-C.
I will start.

As Pentax were the only one to bring out a "true" normal prime (the 43mm), an APS-C version will be needed. So, as the focal length is considered "normal" in the world of focal lengths, then a 28mm F1.4 should be considered. This will give an EFOV of 42mm on any body apart from the K20D and K-7, and 43.4mm on the aformentioned K20D and K-7 (did you know they had a crop ratio of 1.55 rather than the normal 1.5 of other bodies? me neither until I looked into it.....). I suppose we would like sealing and motor drive, so. DA*28mm F1.4 it is.
A limited (with metal body could be brought out too, say, the DFA 28mm F1.8 Limited, with no sealing and SDM).

Next a couple of 90mm lenses (EFOV 135-139) mainstream at F2.8 and DA* at F2.

How about a super fast 70mm (EFOV 105mm) F1.4 DA* lens? Won't be cheap, but boy a superb portrait lens...

What about a superwide. Yes they have the 15mm Limited. but wider. How about a 10mm F2.8 or F3.5? Weather sealed, but no need for SDM though.

Finally, some tele lenses. some lenses greater than the 300mm F4

How about a 400mm F4, 500mm F5, and properly put the 600mm F4 available rather than "special order", all with sealing and SDM......
Also, I would like to see a 180mm F4 Macro too, as at times I use my very old Tamron 90mm F2.5 with 2x but it is slow and clunky.

So, a nice start, what would you want?

The thing is, the new lens is not the same price. Currently the 35mm can be had for £430 new (WEX), and this one has an RRP of £180. So probably street will be around £150 mark. Therefore it is just over a 1/3rd of the price. (alright you can get 2.8 F2.4 lenses for the price of one F2 lens)
Also, current prices for old 35mm F2.8 lenses are not cheap. for example one is for sale in Manchester for £80 and its only an M lens!
So if you see it from that point of view, the new lens is a bit of a steal.
Maybe in due course Pentax will surprise is and bring out the real replacement for the FA which will be a DA* and have an aperture of F1.8....heres hoping.

In the meantime, I think I will get this new lens as for the price it will be a great addition, indeed look very discreet on my K20D, let alone on my DS....

Edit
Oh, just thought, they already have a top level lens, the 31mm F1.8 Limited........hmmmmm