16-50, local stores etc.

[Igor Roshchin]

I stopped by a local store (Nelson) here, in San Diego.
I was surprised by the inventory they had for Pentax
K10D, K100D, 16-50/2.8 ($900), 50-135 ($1000), 77/1.8 ($1100),
40/2.8, 50 (?probably macro, f/2.8)...
And this was at their smaller store in La Jolla.

First of all, I was surpised to see 16-50 and 50-135 in stock,
while even large mail-order places don't have them.
Second, I was surprised to see them at these prices,
especially in contrast to the $1100 for the 77-ltd.
I guess, it is because these prices are still at or close to MSRP,
and that's probably an indication that they will go down (at mailorder
placed) once the initial rush is over and the supply catches up 
with the demand.

It was nice to see these lenses "live". I was pleasantly surprised that 
the 16-50 is smaller then I expected (it is smaller then my 
Tokina 28-70/2.6-2.8 atx-pro). So, it was very tempting...

Igor