[pres589]

It sounds like you're getting on with the "new" K-x. I would have suggested that route as well over the Sony you had mentioned.

If you want to improve the situation with the Sigma, my suggestion would be to sell it one way or another, and replace with a good used copy of the 55-300 Pentax. They've been around a long time now, still seem pretty well respected, and can be had for ~$100 USD on ebay for the DA-L version that comes with a plastic mount. Your camera isn't compatible with the most recent 55-300 so be aware that the "PLM" version is not what you want.

[ZyXELo]

Perhaps; I was looking at cheapo 55-200mm copies previously. But I don't want to go out and buy additional lenses right away in case they don't want or like the bundle as is.

[Edward Brock]

There is nothing wrong with a K-x. Slap a fairly decent lens on it and shoot.

[ZyXELo]

Well, the gift has been presented. Did more testing since the last post, packaged everything nicely and wrote a custom quickstart plus quick reference guide for them. Hope they'll enjoy the bundle and who knows, maybe they'll even get bit by the bug? Including all accessories (a bag and that stupid propriety USB cable) and shipping, everything came in under just under €145. Probably doesn't get much cheaper for a reasonably modern APS-C camera with two lenses and a one-year warranty. Could have put together like an antique D70 with an old film-era third-party kit lens for quite a bit less, but I cannot hand over something like this to a novice shooter in good faith. Certainly not in 2023.