My favourite Pentax lens is my Pentax-FA* 300mm F2.8, not least because I have had to wait / search for so long to track one down - it also means that the last reason I had for hanging on to my EOS system has evaporated (anyone want a Canon 10D and Sigma EX 300mm F2.8?)

Had my K10D for a couple of days now - the smile on my face shows no sign of fading yet - so good to have a camera that feels like a proper successor to my LX and MZ-S bodies

I find myself agreeing with George on this. I have the 80-320 Pentax but despite its undoubted versatility the 70-210 comes out of my gadget bag more often. For focal lengths of 300mm upwards I tend to use prime lenses (picked up a Pentax-M 300* cheaply from Ebay - stunning lens)

Hi Marcus,

I have always found that Camera Direct in Brighton are great for sourcing all sorts of Pentax oddments. The web site is http://www.camera-direct.com/default.asp

As we have strayed slightly away from the original question, hope you don't mind if I turn it round slightly to look at the MES in comparison to the ES11 (my personal favourite from the spotmatic range). The MES has all the advantages of the bayonet mount, and in this instance probably more reliable electronics but somehow the ES11 has that idefineable something about it. Yes it is a big solidly built tank of a camera in comparison to the MES but it stll has a good balance to it ands it 'feels' right in the hand (something shared by the KX, KM, K2, K1000). When I use my screw thread optics it is generally the ES11 I pick up first, the same can'y be said for the MES which is propably the least used of my K mount bodies.

Hate to say it George, but vinyl discs are definitely still being produced - in response to consumer demand, so using the film / digital parrellel I would expect film to be readily available for years to come.

I would suggest an MZ5 or MZ5n - would give you the autofocus capability but has a similar control layout to many manual Pentax bodies - superb camera with great metering and I have found to be very robust and reliable. Normally a few around on Ebay and plenty secondhand in the shops.

I have had oneof these for a while now - originally purchased to compliment my K series camera bodies. It is a big heavy lens (by modern standards) but I have found the optical performance to be excellent (as with most Pentax glass).Took me ages to track down the right lens hood for it though!

I have been using MZ-S cameras for over a year now and have not experienced any problems with the cameras integeral flash - having said that I don't the intergeral flash very often. I would suggest a service / repair would be the best way forward.

Hi All,

To answer the original question, moving on from the spotmatic range I would opt for the KX - for most og the reasons Kim has given. Of my K series bodies it is an even split between my KX and K2's as to which I use most. The aperture priority option on the K2 can be useful.
I first moved to Pentax from a Pracktica LTL3 when the MX was launched and have a particular soft spot for this model as a consequence. The more readily available drive units for the M series and LX give them an advantage over the K bodies if you require this feature.

Having said all that as Richard has noted there are some great screw mount bargins out there - so why change?