Want to thank everyone for the wealth of info here -- I did a bit of research and just ordered my first Pentax setup...
K-50 RED WITH 18-135MM F/3.5 DA ED AL IF DC WR (refurb from KEH)
35MM F/2.4 SMC DA AL lens (refurb from KEH)
PENTAX AF-280T FLASH
Protective filters for each lens
Extra battery
By buying the refurb, and applying the 10% discount code PENTAX, I was able to buy the setup with a full 3-year warranty on the camera for about what the base camera/zoom would cost new. After researching here, I think this is a better package for a beginner than the normal kit lens, whether 18-55, 50-200, or even the 55-300.
Now the fun begins!
Moving up from a Sony DSC H-5 superzoom for my first foray into DSLRs. It's been a long time since I ran a Minolta SRT 202 match-needle through its paces with film/slides. It'll be interesting to see how much I've forgotten, and how technology has revolutionized things. I'm sure I'll have some noob questions, as I try to take the training wheels off...
Thanks again for the availability of all this great info.
Last edited by KentT; 11-21-2014 at 01:31 PM.