On the verge of a new camera purchase but...

[steve.ledger]

It would surprise me if Pentax lenses come hoodless.

All PENTAX and SIGMA lenses I have purchased come with a plain or petal hood.

[HayTay]

Glen - In my research on lens hoods for the two lenses I've discovered that the DA L 18-55mm lens takes a 52mm PH-RBA petal style hood while the DA L 55-300mm lens should be fitted with a 58mm PH-RBG conical hood. The hood configurations coincide exactly with what you stated. That DIY lens hood site link that you posted intrigues me. I might give making my own a try to see if I can make one to last for awhile and to find out how it performs. It can't hurt and the price is right!

Steve - From what I can tell, if the lenses are purchased separately they come with front & rear lens covers, a hood, and a soft case. The ones in the kits also come with front and rear lens covers but, unfortunately, don't seem to include the lens hoods or the soft cases.

[steve.ledger]

Might be different in your part of the world I suppose. But that is not the case here. CR Kennedy (the import and distro for PENTAX Australasia) supply all DA lenses (even as a body+lens kit) with a hood. I'm surprised that kit's don't include them there?
Also worth mentioning, that many of the PENTAX body+Lens kit's are supplied with SIGMA lenses here, but they are also inclusive of a lens hood.

Soft lens case? What's that for?

[sylvan]

Hi HayTay
Have you checked out the samsung nx10? A more compact. Not a dslr, but it does have an electronic viewfinder and manual focusing, etc. It also has interchangeable lenses. Just an idea.

[HayTay]

Thanks for the tip Sylvan, but it's too late. I just received my new Pentax K-x camera outfit two days ago. Now all I have to do is figure out how to use it effectively and to my advantage. So far I've taken a few dozen photos and they all could benefit by a vast improvement in the skills of the guy controlling the shutter release! I must work on getting better at focusing manually and setting the exposure correctly (or at least better). Once I manage to get a picture that doesn't have to be heavily post-processed I'll post it.

I can't get much worse,
Harry

[steve.ledger]

Good to hear Harry,

Yes no point in setting the camera to Auto everything - a P'n'S can do that.
Make LOT'S of mistakes and study the EXIF.
If the K-x is anything like the PENTAX dslr's I own, you can use the on/of switch pushed 'one step clockwise' to see a TTL view of the closed aperture. That way you will get a bit of an idea if it's going to be under or over exposed (not entirely, but it's a small measure of help at first)