Primes. Try an M28/3.5. Much sharper than the f/2.8 version, much cheaper than the f/2 version.

Zooms. I think you'll find the 16-45mm is in fact very good and not all that far from primes. For the price, it is excellent bang for your buck.

I am puzzled why you say the 16-50 is bad quality/price? It is expensive, but hardly poor quality. It does suffer from some barrel distortion, however, and so if you take a lot of architecture shots it could be a little disappointing.

What about the 17-70mm? Matt regards the lens very highly.

The 12-24 is a stunning lens. If it was weather sealed it would easily be a star lens. It is very pricey though, and a big chunk of glass.

K.

Isn't that called the 645D?

Personally, the only think I would "like" a FF camera for is the larger brighter viewfinder. But I probably couldn't afford it, so I'll stick with my "full frame" analogue sensors. I seem to get good results even if I have to wait a few days for them to arrive in the post.

K.

[quote:3496ace15f="geordie01]Has some one dropped a pound ?[/quote]Nah, it was 20p...

Can't one have lunch in peace?




(Just a silly photo, BTW...)

Sadly the fence at the end of our bit of the garden makes for weird pattern in the out-of-focus bits.

K20D and a K300/4.

K.

The main advantage of the A over the M is the ease of use by having the A setting on the aperture ring. They cost cost a bit more, however. The 1.4s tend to have a more curved field of focus than 1.7s (hence 1.7s are better for copy work). I rather like my K50/1.2 I was lucky to pick mine up relatively cheaply as both the K and A series 1.2s are usually very pricey. Some people rave about how lovely the K55/1.7 is, and some swear by the Super Takumar 50mm f/1.4 first version...

The F/FA lenses also have a very good reputation. I get the subjective impression the 1.4s are easier to find, however. Having not used one I can't comment, all my 50s (of which I seem to have accidentally accumulated rather a few) are manual focus.

I don't think there is a bad Pentax 50/55mm lens, but they do all have subtly different attributes and their own fan clubs...

Best wishes, Kris.

Funny that. I've been trying to pick up some genuine Pentax filters in 52mm (I'd like a set of colours for BW, i.e., the usual yellow, yellow green, orange and red) but the 49mm ones are much more common. Not surprising really as many Takumars and many M and A series lenses have 49mm threads whereas the shorter-lived K series lenses often use 52mm... I guess I might have to buy some 3rd-party 52s.

K.

It shouldn't do. I usually find M42 lenses easier to use than older K-mount glass because you can leave the camera in Av mode and just open and close the aperture with the auto/man switch. I don't pay much attention to the hexagon as I prefer to rely on the split-screen but it certainly works.

How very odd.

K.

K20D, SMC K 135mm f/2.5 lens.

K.

Worth persevering though. I like the second one especially.

K.

Pentax. Not manufactured now but second hand copies available from ebay and other retailers.

K.