I'm so happy that the new Sigma 30 1.4 is coming for Pentax.
In the quest for a solid "normal" prime, I've tried:
The old Sigma 30mm. Sharp center. Garbage edges and corners. Any improvement on this is welcome. I'm also more familiar now with focus adjustment, which is something that gave me a sour experience with the old Sigma 30 (purchased when I was new to the whole "photography thing").
The DA 35mm 2.4 (multiple copies actually). It's too narrow on crop.
The FA 31mm is too pricey. I've never tried one.
The F 28mm 2.8 was good, but not fast enough.
The FA* 24mm doesn't get good reviews. It's also kind of rare and pricey for what it brings to the table.
I've wanted a normal prime for a while, and I almost bit the bullet on an FA 35 f2 a few times, but I always suspected I would end up feeling more or less the same about it as I did the DA 35 2.4.
Bring it on Sigma!