Originally posted by GerryL I don't think there are any more cheap Pentax lenses due to backward compatibility and a lot of sellers already know that.
I'd invite the OP to visit Santa Fe NM where a photo-gear co-op on Cerrillos around 5th St has some pretty cheap Pentax and compatible glass. But that's rather a long drive from Boston MA. Bother...
Originally posted by wtf_cowboy If you want dirt cheap, spend 10 bucks on an m42 adapter.
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Oops RioRico beat me to it...
Nope, I didn't mention the adapter, that's YOUR good work!
An astounding assortment of high-quality M42 glass is still available at little cost. *IF* you know how to look, that is. (I'm not lucky, just persistent. And cheap.) I should mention enlarger lenses and bellows, and easy mount conversions, but that would be a bit over-the-top here.
So I'll just say that I love using M42's. And Russian M39's (and M42's), mostly captured Zeiss designs and production. Like the fabled Helios-44 58/2, my lens-of-the-day around Santa Fe today, which is still incredibly inexpensive, a near-clone of the legendary Zeiss Biotar. Yeah, we should talk more here about the Russians. [/me refrains from listing my collection]
I'll reiterate my cheap suggestions for the OP:
* take the DA18-55, leave the Viv 28/2.8
* get a Fast Fifty; Takumar's and other M42's give most bang/buck
* get a longer zoom, maybe a Sears (Samyang) 80-200/4 in KAR mount
* if you can afford US$200, get the fabulous Zenitar 16/2.8
Again, I don't recommend primes between 20-45mm because inexpensive ones won't out-perform the kit lens by much. And I reconsidered; forget my suggestion of a longer prime, since a 135/2.8 is only 1 stop faster than a 70-210 or 80-200 f/4 zoom. So my pared-down list is just your kit lens, a Fast Fifty, a longer zoom, and the Zenitar for joy. That's my story and I's sticking with it.