[bpjod]

Ah yes, one of my favourite things to ponder and the reason I switched to Pentax. My lens selection consists of all the DA Ltds, FA135/2.8, DA12-24 & DA*60-250. My small travel kits are:

1 lens:
either DA35 or DA21

2 lenses:
DA21 & DA70 - this is my most common kit. DA21 on the body and DA70 in the pocket.
DA21 & DA40 - if I'm mostly going to be indoors (museums, etc.) or if my pocket is small.
DA15 & DA35 - in theory I think this would be a great kit for me based on focal lengths and versatility, but I've never done this because both those lenses are too big to fit in my pants pocket. Still, I'm very tempted to give it a go, one day I should bring along a jacket or vest and try this.

3 lenses:
This is so hard to pick but depending on my needs I go with 15/21/70 (favourite combo), 15/35/70, or 21/40/70 (if size is most important). That said, I rarely ever go out with only 3 lenses. Once I've committed to that much bulk, I just take all four!

BIG travel kit:
DA12-24 + DA21 + DA40 (or DA35) + DA70 comes in the bag and either I head out with the 12-24 and two longer primes or just the 21+70 when I leave for the day's activities.

You mention that the DA21 doesn't get a lot of mention here but I tend to think of it as the cornerstone of my kit, followed by the DA70. That combination can handle just about anything, especially if you don't mind judicious cropping of the DA21's images. That said, I'm watching the Fuji X100 closely. I may get that and leave out the DA21. That would mean less lens swapping and a backup body all in one reasonably compact package. Time will tell...

[bpjod]

Oh and as a final thought, the one thing missing with the DALtds is speed. I could totally relate to someone who thought the DA15 + FA31 + DA70 was the perfect combination. In fact if the FA31 were ever updated to a DALtd, that's what I'd do. I like quick-shift focus ring and the smaller lenses which is why I haven't gone that route.

[robgo2]

I'm going to give a contrarian reply that you are free to ignore. In my film shooting days, I owned a Contax G2 rangefinder with 5 Zeiss prime lenses: 21/2.8, 28/2.8, 35/2, 45/2 and 90/2.8. That kit was like a box of jewels, and I will keep it till the day I die. When I traveled, I usually left behind only the 28/2.8, although it was a superb lens. But to tell the truth, I grew weary of changing lenses every time I wanted to change focal length, which, as everyone knows, is the main drawback of using prime lenses.

When I switched to Pentax digital SLRs, I started using zoom lenses for the first time, and I have come to appreciate the flexibility and convenience that they provide. My main lens nowadays is the DA* 16-50, and I am more than satisfied with the results. I usually carry two prime lenses in a waistpack--31 Limited and 77 Limited--for when I need more speed or telephoto reach. I find that this hybrid approach provides excellent IQ and convenience. Yes, I give up a slight degree of IQ by using the zoom, but at least I'm not changing lenses every ten minutes.

Finally, I let me add that I could easily live with just the 31 and the 77. In fact, if I were told that I could keep only one lens for the rest of my life, it would be the 31. For my photographic eye, that is the most useful focal length.

Rob

[GeneV]

Oh and as a final thought, the one thing missing with the DALtds is speed. I could totally relate to someone who thought the DA15 + FA31 + DA70 was the perfect combination. In fact if the FA31 were ever updated to a DALtd, that's what I'd do. I like quick-shift focus ring and the smaller lenses which is why I haven't gone that route.

The compactness of the DALtd will probably keep a lens the size of the FA31 from fitting into that line. I'm not sure what updating those lenses need anyway. I was out walking this afternoon doing an informal comparison between the DA40/2.8 Ltd and the Voigtländer 40/2 Ultron, which is close to the size/weight of the FA43/1.9 . The difference in size and weight on the one stop faster lenses is very noticeable. Each has its place IMHO.

[Intric8]

In a very similar position; heading to Vietnam next week. I have the following lenses:

Sigma 10-20
DA15
DA35
DA40
FA43
FA50
DA70

Thinking of one of these combos:

1) DA15 / DA35 / DA70
2) DA15 / DA43 / DA70

Might find the DA35 gives me the flexibility of macro work, but the rendering of the DA43 is hard to surpass.

[TOUGEFC]

In a very similar position; heading to Vietnam next week. I have the following lenses:

Sigma 10-20
DA15
DA35
DA40
FA43
FA50
DA70

Thinking of one of these combos:

1) DA15 / DA35 / DA70
2) DA15 / DA43 / DA70

Might find the DA35 gives me the flexibility of macro work, but the rendering of the DA43 is hard to surpass.

If i were you i would go with the 15/43/70 combo.
Not only becuase of the 43 rendering, but also because its smaller/lighter and just over a stop faster than the da35, and it will be your best low light lens

[GeneV]

In a very similar position; heading to Vietnam next week. I have the following lenses:

Sigma 10-20
DA15
DA35
DA40
FA43
FA50
DA70

Thinking of one of these combos:

1) DA15 / DA35 / DA70
2) DA15 / DA43 / DA70

Might find the DA35 gives me the flexibility of macro work, but the rendering of the DA43 is hard to surpass.

Frankly, I'd consider taking all three of the lenses in the 35-43 range. You can decide what you will carry with you. The 35 gives you superb performance and a great FOV on the APS-c sensor. The FA43 gives you a nice rendering and another stop. No matter whether you pick the 43 or 35 or both, taking the DA40 is a no-brainer. It takes up virtually no space and adds only 90 grams of weight. It is worth having along for the travel light factor and the unobtrusiveness for people shots and a backup.

[Bart]

With a three lens set-up, I'd go for 21/31/125.
Two: 31/125
One: 31
Four: I'll add the 77mm.

But when I'm somewhere where I can easily return, I don't mind picking just one lens and force a certain FOV on myself. I made a walk in Gent (BE) with just the 77mm. Fun.
(Gent is one of these European cities where I see that people tend to use wide)

[GeneV]

With a three lens set-up, I'd go for 21/31/125.
Two: 31/125
One: 31
Four: I'll add the 77mm.

But when I'm somewhere where I can easily return, I don't mind picking just one lens and force a certain FOV on myself. I made a walk in Gent (BE) with just the 77mm. Fun.
(Gent is one of these European cities where I see that people tend to use wide)

I've done the same thing, carrying a 35mm on film or just the 40mm on a DSLR. It is kind of a challenge. I can see how that would be true in Gent.

[Michaelina2]

I realize that most people probably shoot in the 20-70mm range, but almost all my favorite photos come from the far ends of the spectrum....

DA 15, D-FA 100, DA 40

15/40/100 WR has my vote, too, so long as the 100 is the WR version. When the weather gets challenging it's nice to have a WR available.

Cheers... M

[NeverSatisfied]

15/40/100 WR has my vote, too, so long as the 100 is the WR version. When the weather gets challenging it's nice to have a WR available.

Cheers... M

I'm close to that with 15/43/100 WR, of course if I had a 70 or 77, I'd probably want to throw in DA 35 Ltd instead of 43, just to still have a macro in the mix. And the 35 is high on the LBA list right now!

[Sideway]

Here's my prime traveling kit:

One: FA31
Two: FA31 + either DA15 or DA70, depending on the destination
Three: 15 + 31 + 70

[twitch]

Here's my prime traveling kit:

One: FA31
Two: FA31 + either DA15 or DA70, depending on the destination
Three: 15 + 31 + 70

I have those 3 and can totally relate. A 4 kit would include the DA21.

[Lowell Goudge]

When I look at all the proposed kits, I think I can narrow it down to 2 different possible kits.

Kit 1 - 2 zoom lenses
- Either Sigma 10-20 or Pentax 12-24 for the UWA and
- anything that zooms from 18-28 on the short end to about 50-75mm on the long end but this second lens is at F2.8

Kit 2 - 3 primes
- a 14-15mm
- something between 28 and 40mm
- something between 70 and 85mm

I think either kit would be reasonably good, although I know from my travels, I would favor the zoom kit because of the UWA. I shoot about 60% of all travel shots with my sigma 10-20 and 60% of those, or 35% of all travel shots at 10mm. In many instances, stepping back to fit the same subject in the FOV of a 15mm lens is not possible.

Perhaps a mix of lenses is possible, a UWA zoom, followed by 2 primes ( one between 28-40mm and one between 70 and 85mm) although knowing my primes, the 2 lenses between 28 and 85mm would be rather large compared to my Tamron 28-75. But that is because my primes are 28mmF2, and 35mmF2 at the wide end and 85mmF1.4 and 1.8 at the long end of this range.

[paperbag846]

I want to play with a smaller budget .

My first visit to new york was with a 28mm and 55mm lens. Honestly, I rarely needed anything longer, and only sometimes would have benefited from something wider.

The 55 1.8 was nice for indoors / pictures of friends / when the lights were lower. The 28mm was wide enough to capture scenes on the street. Sure it could have been a little wider but I didn't really feel like I was missing out on much.

I've acquired a few lenses since then. I think I'd like to give the 15 a go in the city, but I still think I'll be using my 28 and 55. They might be boring focal lengths, kind of close to together, but for photography in unpredictable situations, they just get the job done.

If I had to pick 2 limiteds for this, I would bring the 21 and the 40 (or 43). I would prefer, though, to bring the 21 and a 55 (focal length dictating that decision alone).