Originally posted by SSGGeezer DA 40 of any variety! And the SMC DA 21 make for a great walk around combination. I love any of the * lenses a lot but on a budget the limiteds used are the way to go. Then the DA* 50-135, converted or with working SDM. Amazing lens on the KP.
I absolutely agree. The DA 21mm LTD is a great lens with a FL that is very versatile as a walk-around prime lens used for general photography. In silver it would be especially beautiful with your KP. But these DA Limited primes tend to hover around the $500 USD mark here in the US if bought new. One important question- are your Pentax 18-55mm and 50-200mm of the WR type having the green trim? The Limited primes are not of WR construction. I don't know about purchasing in Canada from US suppliers, only that there is a difference in currency value, and maybe more for shipping.
OTOH, right now the DA 20-40mm f/2.8-4 LTD is not generally being run at any special price and going for around $800 USD, but I have sometimes seen some special sale prices come up for the DA LTDs, including this zoom lens. It features a superb build, quiet, fast AF instead of the noisier screw-driven AF of the other Limiteds, and it has WR construction. It is a vey fine lens, a bit less zoom range, but a faster aperture than your kit lens, able to produce twice the shutter speed wide open under the same lighting and ISO. It is very compact, a perfect companion to your KP, comes in silver, its balance and size seemingly designed with the KP in mind!
If you google this lens, check the Amazon listing, find the one for the silver model, which will be offered by 3rd party sellers. I bought mine through Amazon, from BigBoxSuperstore, and got a great deal way back then. It turned out fine. It also makes for a fine matchup with the DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 if you should ever get one.
For low budget but high quality imaging prime lenses, there are the plastic fantastics, the DA 50mm f/1.8 and 35mm f/2.4, both very sharp lenses. The 50mm f/1.8 would be very good for portraits and for low light work. Black lenses look great on a silver KP too!
One more recommendation, for low light/fast action at closer distance or for landscape, etc. the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM is a very well-built pro-style constant fast aperture lens. Very sharp with quiet, fast AF with the KP. Remarkably low field curvature. It can provide 4x the shutter speed of your kit lens! Bulkier, of course, than the DA Limited 20-40mm, no WR, but a very fine lens, and there are some excellent deals around for it. I have this lens as well, bought this past year. When needing f/2.8 capability, it is also excellent with the DA* 50-135mm.
The far greater quality from the KP at higher ISO ratings causes all your lenses to effectively become as faster-aperture lenses, as you can increase ISO more without degrading your images, compared with the K-7.
I think you will find you've made a mistake not getting an extra battery, whether or not you get the battery grip. They are small and easy to carry, and to pop in when your battery runs low. I think you might be impressed with having the battery grip. I suspect your excellent DA* 300mm f/4 serves you very well for long range sports and other needs. I have a likewise excellent FA* 300mm f/4.5 with which I employ the battery grip. The combined weight with the grip on the KP is about the same as a K-3 II without a battery grip, yet it will then be capable of far more battery shooting life than the K-3 or the K-1. The balance is better especially when just handling the camera when not shooting.