[eddie1960]

The 28 mm's are good but not greatly different than the kit lens. Especially since I usually use these for landscapes stopped down. I have 4 of them so it's still worth it to buy one but...

Something that is much different is the M100/2.8 ($100ish), M100/4Macro (100ish) or the M135/3.5 (50ish).

My M 28 3.5 stopped down to 5.6 or so destroys the kit lens for sharpness

agree on the other 3 they are all great value (though I have the K135 3.5 not the m - larger but very good for the $50)

[RioRico]

I have been obsessed with macro photography for years already with my little cameras!!! I have a CHEAP screw-on macro attachment that I've been playing around with, but I know when I get a real macro lens NO ONE is going to want to take a walk with me anymore! (unless they leave me behind... ) hehe..

Some macro options: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-lens-articles/152336-cheap-macro-b...lose-work.html

no such thing as cheap when it comes to the range of the 15 - the zenitar is probalbly the cheapest at a couple hundred and needs de-fishing, then the samyang 14 at 300 or so

at the 20 end there are finds my lentar 21 was well less than a hundred but it's slow and big, pretty sharp on apsc though (probably much less so on FF I haven't actually shot it on film yet)

Sometimes the Zen16 goes for as little as US$125 (on the Marketplace here a few weeks ago) and if used carefully it needn't be defished. It's also the fastest lens in the vicinity, except for the DA14/2.8 for rather more money. The Zen's AOV is about that of a 12mm rectilinear. Don't leave home without it.

The Lentar (Tokina) 21/3.8 is great but fairly big. A few weeks ago, also on the Marketplace here, I got a new favorite around there, the MF Cosina-made Vivitar Series 1 19-35/3.5-4.5 for US$35 shipped. Its AF version is available on Amazon for rather more money. That 19-35 is now one of my carry-most-of-the-time lenses.

[Jonathan Mac]

My M 28 3.5 stopped down to 5.6 or so destroys the kit lens for sharpness

agree on the other 3 they are all great value (though I have the K135 3.5 not the m - larger but very good for the $50)

Mine destroys the kit lens for sharpness wide open at f/3.5

[Patajac]

i fund my m 1.7 at f2.8 sharpness excels kit lens at f8

[abacus07]

ok, ok there are some great 28mm primes that are better than the kit lens. but these are the kind of comments that confuse first time DSLR's and they start thinking that it's the lens's fault. The kit lens is actually a very good lens especially stopped down in the middle of the focal range. In fact it is probably better than many photographers skills (esp first time DSLR's) as long as you stay in its sweetspot.

Getting a 28mm prime is still a good thing but getting a fast fifty (acquired by the OP), a telephoto or a macro lens allows a new user to really see different capabilities of a DSLR. All of a sudden they can do things that they have never been able to do with the kit lens and certainly not the P&S that they likely had before. there is a steep learning curve to this but aperture, telephoto and macro (close ups are not bad on the kit lens) are areas where new users can see huge difference compared against the kit lens.

I'm speaking of new users in general. I don't really know what experience the OP has.

[Paleo Pete]

I have the same f1.7 M series lens, I like it really well, but I use the A series f1.4 most, it's my favorite. The 1.7 does a very nice job though, I pull it out more often than my 1.4 M series or the f2 M lens. Excellent lenses all of them, but the A series 1.4 just outshines every other 50mm I have. I also have the M series 28mm, good lens but I normally only use it for landscapes.

As far as the kit lens goes, it does a pretty good job but with all this older K mount Pentax glass to choose from it's sitting here collecting dust...

[gut1kor]

It may be strange for some, but this is the lens I first bought even before deciding on a K-7 or K-x (with that said, I decided early to go with Pentax). Ever since I became adept at manual focusing I loved this lens much. Very sharp, fun to use with smooth manual focus, with f1.7 the razor thin depth of field is awesome for videos. I wish the new DA 50mm f1.8 is even better and reasonably priced.

Cheers
Guna