[sprint113]

I believe that both lenses use the same optical formula so they should be nearly identical in optical performance. For Pentax DSLR shooters, the A variant probably has more value due to the A setting, making it easier to use. However, I think the A body used more plastic, especially in the aperture ring, which can hamper manual aperture operation a bit. In any case, both lenses are usually found pretty cheap on ebay, like copies sold for <$10.