Have you considered a Tamron 24-135 (if you can find one)? They seem to get favourable reviews.

I have the Jessops 360AFD flash and can report it works with my K10D in auto and manual modes. It does seem to be PTTL compatible (If you put the camera on 2s delay there is an initial flash when you press the shutter button and then a proper flash after 2s).

It does feel a bit cheap though and you may be dissappointed if it cost more than the £68.48 it is currently on for.

pm on 50mm sent

Thanks for the pointers, I think I'll go for this lens and compromise that it isn't ideal for living subject macro.

I'll try and put up some shots when I get it.

Has anybody used this lens?

I am tempted by it especially with the current cashback offer. I have a 50mm Super Tak already but find it is often too long for indoor shots (I live in a small house) and looking at my images I have taken quite a few with the kit lens in this range.

The 31mm limited would be nice but the price is too steep for me.

I would consider the FA 35 f/2 also but would probably use the macro feature of the DA more than an extra stop of light.

Has anybody got any real world samples from this lens they could point me to?

Try googling 'bathtub curve' if you're not familiar with the term already. As has been said you're probably through the downslope already.

The question for me is what is the design life for a Pentax DSLR? This will depend on how much and in what environment it is used but are there any published guidelines?

I like these a lot, interesting subject and great composition.

There is an interesting article here if you want to compare 135mm lenses:

http://oomz.net/135/

Also a forum on the same site:

link

Anybody elso notice that the biggest 'specialist' camera chain in the UK doesn't even seem to advertise on their website that there is a Pentax cashback offer on. This brings the cost of a K20D with kit lens to £479.99 compared with £429.99 for Canon 450D + lens by Jessops prices (including cashback). Of course people have specific requirements for DSLR's but have you felt the quality of the Canon compared with a K20D?

They're not so shy about other cashback deals from Canon, Sony and perhaps surpisingly Olympus.

Anyway if it wasn't Pentax I'd probably be tempted by a Sony, I think the A200 for £220 or so that is available at the moment is a great deal.

Thanks for the comments,

Terry, the Welsh Mountain Zoo is located at Old Colwyn (nr. Colwyn Bay), North Wales. link

Nice fireworks, I like no.1 in particular.

What sort of shutter/aperture technique did you use to get these?