Originally posted by sataraid1 I may have to concede that one. A Google shopping search turned up $499.95 as the lowest price, but I see now that some sellers on eBay claim to be selling it new for $399.
You can't trust quick Google searches for Pentax prices, since Pentax apparently requires sellers to advertise at the "list" price for all lenses. You have to actually add to cart to see the real prices on virtually all Pentax lenses.
The two main dealers in the US are B&H and Adorama; these are the first two places one should always look for Pentax gear. They both sell the DA40 for under $350.
I suspect you are getting greatly inflated notions of all Pentax prices if you haven't been checking B&H or Adorama but are relying only on Google searches and Ebay scammers.
Quote: Though IMHO, even $400 for a slow fixed lens that *should* be as common as grass is a bit pricey. Other manufacturers are making similar lenses two stops faster for considerably less.
Two stops faster? I think not. You won't find any f/1.4 lenses for considerably less than the DA40 at *any* focal length. *One* stop faster, yes, there are a handful of f/1.8-f/2 lenses available for less. Mostly these are old film-era 50's not optimized for digital and now *well* outside the normal range. There is exactly *one* normal lens for digital sold right now that sells for significantly less than the DA40 - Nikon's 35/1.8, which has only been on the market a year or so (before that, they had nothing any more appropriate either). So yes, you can get faster lenses if you are willing to compromise on focal length and quality. But those are both hugely important considerations, and none of those other lenses can touch the DA40 there.
Anyhow, the point being, yes, others have lenses Pentax doesn't but the reverse is just as true. And personally, I wouldn't trade my DA40 for anything anyone else makes, although I do admit that Nikon with their 35 offers a great choice if you don't mind the lesser quality and lack of stabilization. That would be my reluctant second choice if I had to give up Pentax and the DA40.
Quote: On a less-than-serious note, I find myself wondering how anyone can use those "pancake" lenses anyway. Part of my grip of the camera, even when using AF, is the underside of the lens. What do people hang on to when using one of those?
With a pancake lens, you don't *need* the second hand to support the lens. The camera can be held with one hand, or with the second hand on the camera itself.