I didn't know you were a New Zealander, Mr Everitt?

I'd go with the K-r, if you're fairly new to photography. Take a million photos with it, and when you're just starting to feel comfortable with it, go and get yourself a K5, or K3 or whatever the top spec is at the time. That's how you learn, by jumping into deeper water and forcing yourself to adapt to challenges. I'm signing up for Rocket Science at the local tech college next week....
Regards

I reckon you buy the best your budget can afford. For me, that was to be a K-r ($680), which is a big step up from the old K100D Super. Then I saw a K7 on ebay for $200 more and broke my own rule by stretching the budget just a tad. I'm extremely happy with the purchase. The K7 is lightyears ahead of the K100D Super. The K5 would have cost twice as much, and not represented a similar increase in functionality. If I was using a K20D, then the upgrade might not have been so beneficial. To each his own...
Regards

Thanks all for the very helpful comments. Special mention to Tim for the Lab tests. I've decided on the Tamron. It can be had from my friends at Quality Deals (Hong Kong), via ebay, for $800AUD. they delivered my K7 in two days, (over a weekend, no less), so I should have it just as soon as I free up some funds. On that note, anyone interested in a Tokina 80-400 and a Pentax-A 35-105???

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I'm thinking of shedding some excess lenses and buying a decent 70-200.
I've read the earlier Sigma is the pick of the bunch, but the Tamron gets a good write up as well, optically speaking. Some have criticized the slow focus of the Tamron, but I believe that would be typical of other mounts who rely on the lens-based motor. Can anyone comment on the AF speed and accuracy of the Tamron on a K7, and which would be the best teleconverter. I will be looking to sell the Tokina 80-400, which is mostly used for shooting the kid's soccer matches, hence the interest in a (2x ?) TC.

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Just a mention, if you're after a cheapy manual flash that also acts as a wireless slave, the Yongnuo YN460-II is worth a try. I bought one off ebay for $43 AUD, delivered from China.

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I was thinking of getting one of these for my K7. Why is it "nasty"?

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Sigma 17-70 for me. I've been reading good things about the Sigma 70-200 f2.8- the original version, without the OS of the new one, or the extra glass of the 'macro' previous version. (I've read that the extra elements soften the results of that lens somewhat).
If you'd like to sell yours, Mr. Pwynnej....

Regards

While that's a nice bird, I think it's extremely unfair to drag me into this post on the promise of seeing a "Great tit".

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I reckon we could all send our original straps to Mrs. terrytootall. After all, ten bucks plus postage sounds like a great deal to me. What do you think, Terry??

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I've got one. Nice and sharp, focuses well, useful macro mode and compact. I have another lens in a similar range (Tokina 80-400), but I can't bring myself to get rid of the Sigma. Ninety five squid seems like a good deal to me. Jump on it.

Regards