Yup, I fully accept that. Looking forward to 'real' macro though it may have to wait a little while. Not least because I've still got a lot of learning to do to master the K10D.

Hmmm. I think I'm sufficiently wedded to new technology that I'll want a modern bayonet AF-capable lens, not least because most of them are also recommended as portrait lenses.

Thanks, everyone, for their replies. I might look around second-hand sources (any particular recommendations?) since all of these lenses are quite pricey new. It's funny that macro seems to be the one area that comes for 'free' with digital compacts, but is very expensive to achieve with a D-SLR!

The first new present for my new toy (though it may have to wait a while) will be a macro lens. Anyone have any experience or views as to the relative merits of the Pentax offerings vis-a-vis the Tamron 90mm or Sigma 105? And between the Pentax 50 and 100mm themselves?
Thanks

One thing about the kit lens is that it's extremely cheap when bought with a body. So why not buy it? The general view at DP Review is that it's pretty good provided you don't use it at full aperture at either zoom extreme. The 16-45 may well be better, but there's a heck of a price difference.