What lenses for France holiday?

rob1234 · 07-31-2011, 08:31 AM

I'm off to Bordeaux, then down the coast to the Basque region in a bit. Photos (I imagine) will be amix of landscape, city, and portrait (both of my other half and candid).

I'm taking my K10D in a Billingham Hadley; the question is what lenses should I take?

Sigma 10-20mm
M50/1.4
FA*24
Kit 18-55

and one of either:
FA77 or DA50-135

Presently I'm going with the 10-20, FA*24 and 50-135 - although I keep changing my mind...

Any ideas? Would like to keep it to 3 lenses really, and skip the flash. Thanks for any comments!

RonHendriks1966 · 07-31-2011, 08:45 AM

Well with the 50-135mm you can walk in the rain/drizzle and still make pictures.

On the other hand if you just take 24 and 77 you can do almost anything and don't bother to change lenses to much.

**JimD** · 07-31-2011, 11:47 PM

Personal choice in the end but if you've never been to that part of France before Bordeaux down to the Basque country is pretty flat: big open area's with pine forests.

The area near the Spanish border, where the Pyrenees come down to the sea has some very dramatic scenery.

Cities, such as Bayonne have very narrow streets with tall buildings. So your 10-20 and your FA*24 would be my choice.

The Basques are also sport mad. Rugby, surfing, pelota and bull fighting so your 50-135 would also be a must for me.

I'm off to Biarritz myself on Thursday, for 3 1/2 weeks, so if you see some one wandering with a k5 it could be yours truly

rob1234 · 08-01-2011, 12:01 AM

Great, thanks guys.

Think I'll go with the 10-20, 24, and 50-135; hiring the 77 can wait til another time!

I'll keep an eye out for another Pentax user...

**Lowell Goudge** · 08-01-2011, 04:49 AM

I would go with the 10-20 the kit lens and the 50-135

The 24 would leave too much gap

rob1234 · 08-01-2011, 11:22 AM

Yeah... but the FA*24 is new and I don't want to leave it!

**Kerrowdown** · 08-01-2011, 12:56 PM

Originally posted by rob1234

What lenses for France holiday?

All that you own and all that you can borrow, can one really have enough?

SpecialK · 08-01-2011, 03:24 PM

Originally posted by rob1234

I'm off...the question is what lenses should I take?

Same as any place you go - the 12-24 :-) Or in your case, the 10-20 and 50.

rob1234 · 08-11-2011, 09:55 AM

Went for 10-20, 24, and 50-135...

**Lowell Goudge** · 08-11-2011, 10:30 AM

my last few trips to europe have included nothing beyond 85mm. (although I cheat a little by taking my 1.7x AF TC to use on my 84F1.4 in a pinch, BUT I don't use it all that much.

In fact even when i did take a 70-200F2.8 and a 2x TC it largely went un used.

that was 5 or 6 trips ago.

although the 50-135 will give you some good shots, The hole between i20 and 50 is important.

my basic minimum kit for europe is sigma 10-20 and tamron 28-75F2.8

then I add in the 85/1.4 and sometimes a fisheye

Bart · 08-11-2011, 11:27 AM

I find some tele very useful for architectural details that can be some distance away like higher up in churches, on fronts etc.

I'm with kerrodown by the way. When on my holiday trip, I bring everything I have.
When I go out, naturally I make a selection.

**Lowell Goudge** · 08-11-2011, 02:11 PM

Originally posted by Bart

I find some tele very useful for architectural details that can be some distance away like higher up in churches, on fronts etc.

I'm with kerrodown by the way. When on my holiday trip, I bring everything I have.
When I go out, naturally I make a selection.

I do this to some extent, I can't take everything though as I have (Due to LBA) 45 lenses and 3 dslr bodies, but I do take 2 camera bags.

one to carry eveything to where I am going, and a smaller shoulder bag that can hold a couple of lenses and / or a second body with a lens attached.

THat way, I take what I think I would realistically need for the purpose, although lately, I really have found that I can get by on vacations while city bound with just the 10-20 and 24-75 if I have to. In that case I put one on my K7 the other on my K10 and just switch bodies/lenses in and out of the shoulder bag.

I agree a tele can help on archetectural details, and this is where I flip back and forth between my 85/1.4 plus 1.7x AF TC and my K135/2.5

twitch · 08-11-2011, 04:41 PM

I'm going to the same region in a little while and am planning on packing a DA12-24, DA15, FA31, FA77 and a 18-55WR for wet days. I'm leaving my 50-135, 55-300 (or do I take this instead of the FA77?), DA21, DA70, DA40, 17-70 at home. A bit nuts I'm leaving all 3 pancakes at home, makes me wonder what the point of them is now.

GeneV · 08-11-2011, 05:05 PM

Originally posted by twitch

I'm going to the same region in a little while and am planning on packing a DA12-24, DA15, FA31, FA77 and a 18-55WR for wet days. I'm leaving my 50-135, 55-300 (or do I take this instead of the FA77?), DA21, DA70, DA40, 17-70 at home. A bit nuts I'm leaving all 3 pancakes at home, makes me wonder what the point of them is now.

That's pretty close to my kit these days, but I have been traveling with the DA70, rather than FA77. I think the DA is more suited to landscapes, and it is smaller. I also keep the DA40 at all times. It is so small and sharp there is no reason not to have it in the bag. The kit lens, by itself, is so small and light, that it is great to have it along.

SpecialK · 08-11-2011, 06:57 PM

Originally posted by twitch

I'm going to the same region in a little while and am planning on packing a DA12-24, DA15, FA31, FA77 and a 18-55WR for wet days. I'm leaving my 50-135, 55-300 (or do I take this instead of the FA77?), DA21, DA70, DA40, 17-70 at home. A bit nuts I'm leaving all 3 pancakes at home, makes me wonder what the point of them is now.

I would substitute a baggie and 2 rubber bands instead of the kit. Since you are not taking everything, I would think about just the 12-24, 40, and 70. If you love the 31 which most owners do you could substitute it for the 40. But as Gene said, the 40 and 70 are great travelers.

07-31-2011, 08:31 AM	#1
rob1234 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Wiltshire/Hampshire Photos: Albums Posts: 1,760	What lenses for France holiday? I'm off to Bordeaux, then down the coast to the Basque region in a bit. Photos (I imagine) will be amix of landscape, city, and portrait (both of my other half and candid). I'm taking my K10D in a Billingham Hadley; the question is what lenses should I take? Sigma 10-20mm M50/1.4 FA24 Kit 18-55 and one of either: FA77 or DA50-135 Presently I'm going with the 10-20, FA24 and 50-135 - although I keep changing my mind... Any ideas? Would like to keep it to 3 lenses really, and skip the flash. Thanks for any comments!

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07-31-2011, 08:45 AM	#2
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Well with the 50-135mm you can walk in the rain/drizzle and still make pictures. On the other hand if you just take 24 and 77 you can do almost anything and don't bother to change lenses to much.

07-31-2011, 11:47 PM	#3
JimD Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Newport, South Wales Posts: 187	Personal choice in the end but if you've never been to that part of France before Bordeaux down to the Basque country is pretty flat: big open area's with pine forests. The area near the Spanish border, where the Pyrenees come down to the sea has some very dramatic scenery. Cities, such as Bayonne have very narrow streets with tall buildings. So your 10-20 and your FA*24 would be my choice. The Basques are also sport mad. Rugby, surfing, pelota and bull fighting so your 50-135 would also be a must for me. I'm off to Biarritz myself on Thursday, for 3 1/2 weeks, so if you see some one wandering with a k5 it could be yours truly

08-01-2011, 12:01 AM	#4
rob1234 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Wiltshire/Hampshire Photos: Albums Posts: 1,760 Original Poster	Great, thanks guys. Think I'll go with the 10-20, 24, and 50-135; hiring the 77 can wait til another time! I'll keep an eye out for another Pentax user...

08-01-2011, 04:49 AM	#5
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,888	I would go with the 10-20 the kit lens and the 50-135 The 24 would leave too much gap

08-01-2011, 11:22 AM	#6
rob1234 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Wiltshire/Hampshire Photos: Albums Posts: 1,760 Original Poster	Yeah... but the FA*24 is new and I don't want to leave it!

08-01-2011, 12:56 PM	#7
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,818	Originally posted by rob1234 What lenses for France holiday? All that you own and all that you can borrow, can one really have enough?

08-01-2011, 03:24 PM	#8
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,480	Originally posted by rob1234 I'm off...the question is what lenses should I take? Same as any place you go - the 12-24 :-) Or in your case, the 10-20 and 50.

08-11-2011, 09:55 AM	#9
rob1234 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Wiltshire/Hampshire Photos: Albums Posts: 1,760 Original Poster	Went for 10-20, 24, and 50-135...

08-11-2011, 10:30 AM	#10
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,888	my last few trips to europe have included nothing beyond 85mm. (although I cheat a little by taking my 1.7x AF TC to use on my 84F1.4 in a pinch, BUT I don't use it all that much. In fact even when i did take a 70-200F2.8 and a 2x TC it largely went un used. that was 5 or 6 trips ago. although the 50-135 will give you some good shots, The hole between i20 and 50 is important. my basic minimum kit for europe is sigma 10-20 and tamron 28-75F2.8 then I add in the 85/1.4 and sometimes a fisheye

08-11-2011, 11:27 AM	#11
Bart Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: WW community of Pentax users Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,646	I find some tele very useful for architectural details that can be some distance away like higher up in churches, on fronts etc. I'm with kerrodown by the way. When on my holiday trip, I bring everything I have. When I go out, naturally I make a selection.

08-11-2011, 02:11 PM	#12
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,888	Originally posted by Bart I find some tele very useful for architectural details that can be some distance away like higher up in churches, on fronts etc. I'm with kerrodown by the way. When on my holiday trip, I bring everything I have. When I go out, naturally I make a selection. I do this to some extent, I can't take everything though as I have (Due to LBA) 45 lenses and 3 dslr bodies, but I do take 2 camera bags. one to carry eveything to where I am going, and a smaller shoulder bag that can hold a couple of lenses and / or a second body with a lens attached. THat way, I take what I think I would realistically need for the purpose, although lately, I really have found that I can get by on vacations while city bound with just the 10-20 and 24-75 if I have to. In that case I put one on my K7 the other on my K10 and just switch bodies/lenses in and out of the shoulder bag. I agree a tele can help on archetectural details, and this is where I flip back and forth between my 85/1.4 plus 1.7x AF TC and my K135/2.5

08-11-2011, 04:41 PM	#13
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	I'm going to the same region in a little while and am planning on packing a DA12-24, DA15, FA31, FA77 and a 18-55WR for wet days. I'm leaving my 50-135, 55-300 (or do I take this instead of the FA77?), DA21, DA70, DA40, 17-70 at home. A bit nuts I'm leaving all 3 pancakes at home, makes me wonder what the point of them is now.

08-11-2011, 05:05 PM	#14
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	Originally posted by twitch I'm going to the same region in a little while and am planning on packing a DA12-24, DA15, FA31, FA77 and a 18-55WR for wet days. I'm leaving my 50-135, 55-300 (or do I take this instead of the FA77?), DA21, DA70, DA40, 17-70 at home. A bit nuts I'm leaving all 3 pancakes at home, makes me wonder what the point of them is now. That's pretty close to my kit these days, but I have been traveling with the DA70, rather than FA77. I think the DA is more suited to landscapes, and it is smaller. I also keep the DA40 at all times. It is so small and sharp there is no reason not to have it in the bag. The kit lens, by itself, is so small and light, that it is great to have it along.

08-11-2011, 06:57 PM	#15
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,480	Originally posted by twitch I'm going to the same region in a little while and am planning on packing a DA12-24, DA15, FA31, FA77 and a 18-55WR for wet days. I'm leaving my 50-135, 55-300 (or do I take this instead of the FA77?), DA21, DA70, DA40, 17-70 at home. A bit nuts I'm leaving all 3 pancakes at home, makes me wonder what the point of them is now. I would substitute a baggie and 2 rubber bands instead of the kit. Since you are not taking everything, I would think about just the 12-24, 40, and 70. If you love the 31 which most owners do you could substitute it for the 40. But as Gene said, the 40 and 70 are great travelers.