Originally Posted by pentaxkat 
why buy a new camera? Get a used DS. Unless you need more resolution or want to do action its a great little camera.
No SR, but then the olympus doesn't have that either.
Pentaprism viewfinder almost as good as the old Super A/ME supers. Great for manual focusing. Small, compact, takes AA batteries.
Perfect travel camera. A lot of friends don't even realise its and SLR until I start changing lenses!
I laugh at all the poor reviews when it came out now. Its a cult classic IMO.
Problem with that is that Pentax shut that door. You can't use the new 17-70 with a ist series, nor will it be compatible with all SDM lenses to come...
I pray every day for an updated version of the ist D. Shouldn't be so much: only a little faster and SDM compatible (oh, and while I'm at it, do away with the silly joypad, and place a joystick instead...)