this is not uk specific, it's been happening everywhere. i think somebody at hoya got a dream they are leica or something. canon glass is starting to look more appealing (the 70-200/4is is already cheaper than the 60-250/4, yeah, i know it's not the same thing, but if you look at the non-is version, which is half the price, you are starting to wonder what is the blody point of in-body stabilization, and would you really mind paying half and doing without stabilization, having the same excellent glass? hmm..).
i'd really hate to let go of pentax, but if this goes on, i won't even blink, if only because i don't want to have my gear "stuck" when everybody figures it out and won't buy it anymore. cameras are tools, not a religion. i won't even sigh. let's see what happens.(i really hope they get a ****ing grip on reality soon)
edit: maybe i didn't make myself clear: of course i can use third party glass, but i am sober enough to understand that pentax cannot survive by selling only bodyes. if i have the money to buy new glass, and the will, and i chose to go with third party all the way, instead of pentax, many others are likely to do the same, and in that case, sorry, but i won't be there while it sinks.
oh, and btw: now that we're at it, why is it that i can get the tokina 80-400 for both nikon and canon, new, but not for pentax? i thought they were "friends"? it's not like pentax has anything in their lineup to compete with that, so what is the ****ing problem? how about the 11-16/2.8? my nikon friend has had it for months, and loves it, and i am scratchign my head like an idiot.
yeah. when i get pissed.. watch out