Winder - You completely missed my point, and I defintely do NOT want to be made an example of why you should buy glass and not bodies
Lets put aside the fact that a 60-250 is $1500 by itself, so a
used K-7 plus this lens is $2200 vs the $2900 for a
new K-5 plus the same lens. Even buying the 60-250 lens and keeping my K-x would cause me to be out $400 more than just getting the K-5 (I'm selling my K-x). Also put aside the fact the all these shots were done handheld (stupid me - forgot the tripod) and shot wide open (hardly ideal for
any lens). Lets ignore the fact I could have gone with higher ISO and a better aperture. Lets ignore the fact that the K-5 probably buys me 1 or 2 stops compared to K-7 and would allow me to shoot stopped down or at higher speed - improving quality in many situations. Ignore the fact it is a 55-300mm lens - tyipcially considered a lot sharper than the 50-200mm. Ignore the fact that I can't figure out whether to spend money on a super-wide angle, a macro, a fast prime, or (last) a tele - because I enjoy using them all...
I would LOVE to have a lens like the 60-250mm. Before that I would want to get 3 or 4 limited lenses. Do I
need any of these - no. Would I enjoy them? Yes. Would I be better off with ONE more limited lens and the K-7 vs the K-5? Maybe. Would I enjoy it more - probably not. Would I take better pictures? In some instances - yes. In others the lower DR and lack of high ISO would create worse results.
I am not arguing that I made the choice that is better for
you. I am arguing that maybe it is more important to sometimes do what makes you
happy and not trying to justify your choices based on the final picture IQ, or the incremental improvement in pictures you are going to get.
I have been enjoying my K-5, and can't wait to try out the 16-45 lens I received today. Getting a 50mm F DA macro tomorrow. May get the cheap 35mm F2.4 as well. As I work with these I am sure I will figure out what lenses I prefer, and I can then upgrade as needed. The used price market on lenses certainly makes that possible.
Adding up the money I could have kept the K-x and gotten the 60-250mm lens - except that lens is not on my wishlist...
Of course I could also have followed the herd and been a Canikon
We are all different - I made choices I am happy with. If you would do it differently by all means chip in. Just don't try to dismiss my choices as "bad".