Thanks for the comments folks! I have a couple of sets printed off and ready to post off to the family, as soon as I get my a**se in gear!

Talking of wacky effects and a waste of money... Isn't it time for a revival of the Cokin Creative Filters? Starburst, green centre spot, soft effects, keyhole, and not forgetting the highly convincing rainbow filter?

My local camera shop kept giving me the catalogue for these specialist items which looked like it dated from 1975.

I think when the reviews say it's best stopped down they are thinking of landscape work where you want edge to edge sharpness. The same reviews confirm that central sharpness is very good from f4, and judging by the sample pics, contrast is great.
Therefore I think the lens would complement your FA31mm very well. I can see the point of this focal length for street photography - if you are right on top of the subject you can frame them into the shot without them realising it. And while the 31mm is a more obvious focal length, you can have the 15mm in your pocket for wide angle shots of opportunity.

Next time the pipe smoking contest is on I think I may pop down

This is true, but there is no harm pointing out when Pentax offers the weaker deal in terms of price/performance. I'm sure the 16-50mm is excellent and offers more than the sharpness measurements seem to indicate (I notice it renders starbursts rather nicely!) And if you need weather sealing the discussion is over - you need the 16-50. But I have seen a few threads from people who have switched to the Tamron because of SDM issues, and have been pleasantly surprised, so they are not speaking from ignorance. I chose the 16-45mm initially because Pete Bargh favoured the lens in a head to head with the 16-50. link Since then I have gone for the Tamron and yes it is cuttingly sharp and (I feel) sturdier than the 16-45.

I suspect he meant something similar to the Andy Murray phenomenon... when he loses, the English are soppused to refer to him as a Scottish tennis player implying he has nothing to do with us. When he wins, he's referred to as British, so we can embrace him as a national hero! Load of nonsense really but a bit of fun.

Get a Tamron 17-50mm instead and spend the difference on that Ltd! User reports on the 16-50mm are not glowing, and many seem to end up getting, and preferring, the Tamron 17-50. Pentax 16-45mm is another option.

Got to meet my new niece Emily at the weekend - just over a week old!













The usual suspects were there too! Alice poses beautifully for the camera and knows how to say 'cheeeese', but Olivia is just too fast moving for an in-focus shot with shallow DOF!







1, 3 and 6 with the SMC-M 50mm f1.7, the rest with the DA 35mm f2.4 which is a beautiful lens for these family portraits... I find the transition from very sharp to out-of-focus on the shot of Alice really pleasing.

Great minds and all that

Is the aperture ring set to 'A'?