[jremick]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! Some great info. for me to think about.

@twitch - Amazing photos! Thanks for sharing.

Any reason you choose zooms over primes most of the time? I understand the 50-135, I keep reading that its a wonderful lens

I actually didn't think I did choose zooms over primes most of the time since I already have two primes and one great zoom (50-135) and want to get two more primes and one more zoom to compliment the 50-135.

The 50-135 has been my go-to lens for quite awhile since I got it and I'm hoping I'll like the DA* 16-50 close to as much as the 50-135. I go for the primes when I have time to move, compose, adjust, etc. and go for the zooms when I need quick adaptability. As I get more skilled at shooting and faster at using primes and adapting, I'll likely use zooms less (except the *s in crappy weather).

- -

I guess something wider than the 15 ltd would make more sense, but I have to admit that I'm lusting after the 15, haha. More thinking to do I guess!

[jremick]

Well, after more reading, thinking and photo oogling, I think I've decided to change my whole plan. :-/

Instead of getting the DA* 16-50 and 55, I'm pretty sure I've decided on getting the 15mm ltd and 31mm ltd. Then, with those two primes, I'd bring my 50-135 and maybe my 50mm f1.7. I'll probably still pick up the DA* 16-50, but won't use it unless it looks like bad weather is on the way or I'm feeling lazy.

My sister dropped by yesterday having asked me to take some "creative" portraits of her and it occurred to me that I was having more fun with my 35mm f2.4 than the other lenses. The primes made me work and think more for the photos, but it was more enjoyable. Then I realized I'd have a lot more fun with the 15 + 31 ltds than the 16-50 while I'm out traveling the world.

At some point I'm sure I'll look at getting a few primes for the longer focal lengths, but I'm really attached to the 50-135 right now. I've been using it long/often enough that it feels like a third eye for me, lol.

Thanks for the recommendations everyone! I'll post some photos after/during my trip.

[Blitz_]

What would you use more for street / town / travel photography in your experience, the 31 or 50-135? I'm going to America next year and I was thinking of using the 31 (if I get it) for general walkaround town and portraits, and the 50-135 for whenever I need more reach, with something like the sigma 8-16 the go to for whenever there is a sprawling vista or landscape to capture.

[scarboro1]

I just got back from Italy (Cosenza, Rende, Rome, Pompei, etc), Switzerland (Lausanne), and France (Paris) and I traveled with my Tamron 17-50, DA 70, and Sigma 50 Macro (AF broke after one day). I wish I had something wider for the tight streets and inside the churches, etc. I wish I had something longer for the details in the buildings (gargoyles, etc.) and get closer to certain mountain peaks. I would look to aquire a 12-24 next time I travel to a old city and maybe carry the 55-300 along with a prime in the 50 to 70mm range for street portrait and museum/statue type shots.

[jremick]

What would you use more for street / town / travel photography in your experience, the 31 or 50-135? I'm going to America next year and I was thinking of using the 31 (if I get it) for general walkaround town and portraits, and the 50-135 for whenever I need more reach, with something like the sigma 8-16 the go to for whenever there is a sprawling vista or landscape to capture.

For street photography I'd use the 31 more.

[teetoeb]

I went to Italy in June for 3 weeks, brought the 16-50, skopar 20, 43, 77, and M 200. I was traveling with the gf and went out with the zoom and the 43 in my pocket all the time. I felt bad for the 77 so i took it out exclusively for the day in Venice. DA* came in handy during the 10 min rain on occasion.

just sharing..

[RioRico]

I can't talk about stars, just about the kit I find useful in tiny Mexican villages, which are equal to tiny Italian and German villages I've visited.

* Tamron 10-24 for tight spaces
* DA10-17 to exploit curves and angles
* FA50/1.4, and 28/2 and 85/2 MFL's for dimness or action
* DA18-250 for everything else
* Raynox DCR-250 to close in

And it's easy to throw in a few tiny lenses for sharp fun:

* SuperTak 35/3.5
* Petri CC 55/1.8
* Enna Tele-Sandmar 100/4.5

And some heavier lenses just cry out TAKE ME! because nothing matches them:

* K50/1.2
* Schneider Betavaron 50-125
* Sakar 500/8 mirror (yes, it's useful!)

What lenses anyone *needs* depends on how they travel, not necessarily where. The 10-24 and 18-250 zooms cover almost everything when I'm on the move. The others are for probing more deeply when I get somewhere. If I traveled on a IF THIS IS TUESDAY WE MUST BE IN NAPLES mode then the 10-24, 18-250, 50/1.4, and Raynox would suffice. But I don't and they don't.

If I had to pare-down to almost NOTHING, then my Komine 28/2 CFWA would be my single lens, or maybe a 35/2. I've traveled Mexico and Guatemala with P&S and 135/FF equivalents. Nothing forces me to SEE like having only one lens!

So take just your 35 and 50, and look closely at what's around you.

[axl]

For street photography I'd use the 31 more.

In my experience 31 is just touch too neither here nor there lens for streets. 24 + 50ish are better suited for that purpose...IMO that is

[simico]

I'm pretty sure I've decided on getting the 15mm ltd and 31mm ltd.

First of all I hope you'll enjoy your visit here in Budapest Depending on your style, what you want to shoot and from where 15mm may or may not be wide enough. For example for full building shots in the city 15mm may not cut it most of the time since we have narrow streets and the (old) buildings worth to shoot are usually quite large. On the other hand there are many subjects with enough space around them where your 15mm will shine If possible try to get and bring uwa zoom somewhere in the 10-20mm range (e.g. 8-16, 10-20, 12-24). If architecture and/or uwa shots doesn't interest you and you don't want to take the obligatory tourist shots of opera-house, basilica, etc, then 15mm will be enough.

[jremick]

Hey all, thanks for your input!

After much more research, taking into consideration travel plan changes, other travel variables and my budget, I've decided to just add the DA* 16-50. I also like and prefer the idea of buying a single lens and using only that lens for awhile to really get familiar with it. After Budapest, I'll be in Spain for five weeks so during that time I will probably add an UW lens to the mix.

So my daily pack-around kit will be the DA* 16-50 + 50-135 + 50mm f1.7

I think that will be a flexible and light [enough] kit for me to start traveling with and then figure out from there what I need (want?) to change or add. I'll be sure to update this post and share my experiences as things change and I figure out what works best for me.

[Mohawk]

I was about to post a similar question then stumbled onto this thread.

My current lineup is:

DA 12-24/4
DA* 16-50/2.8
DA 40/2.8
DA* 55/1.4
DA* 50-135/2.8
DA 100/2.8 marco
2x K20D
2x Af540Fgz
2x Af360Fgz

About to go for a romantic trip to Europe with my wife, so lugging around a lot of gear is not option.

After much consideration, I'm bringing my 12-24 and 40, a K20D and a bounce card for the pop-up flash.

I'll have the zoom on the camera and the 40 in my pocket (hey that should be turned into a Pentax song/jingle!)

<M>

[jremick]

@Mohawk - I'm glad you posted as I've been in Budapest for the last week and now I feel like I have a better idea for what I should've brought.

I brought the DA* 16-50 + 50-135 and my two smaller primes (35 f2.4 + 50 f1.7).

I've mostly kept the 16-50 on, but it's not wide enough in more instances than I expected and the wide end doesn't seem that great to me. The 12-24 or 10-20 would be great, plus a "street" prime (focal length) and maybe something for the longer end if you like going for more of portrait type shots or something.

I haven't been able to be out shooting all that much (at least not as much as I'd have liked), but once I get to Spain I will be looking at getting the 12-24 + 31 ltd and carry those along with my 50-135 if I think I might use it.

Tonight I'll be out doing a little shooting and I plan on using my 35 f2.4 and bringing my 50-135 (I've been craving it, but forcing myself to use the 16-50 to get used to it). Here's a few [rather poor] snaps I took the other night while I was out exploring (Budapest). All with the 16-50 and all hand held.











There were some places I walked around that felt like I was in a movie. Budapest is quite a beautiful city!

[simico]

I've mostly kept the 16-50 on, but it's not wide enough in more instances than I expected

I told you

[jremick]

I told you

Indeed, you were correct. :P

[Rondec]

Nice photos. I am currently on vacation in Orlando. My travel kit is the DA *16-50 and 50-135. Then for primes I bring my Sigma 30mm f1.4, DA *55,andDFA 100mm WR. Truthfully I could just about leave the 100 macro at home as it isn't on my camera a lot. At some point I want to get something wider, but I really wouldn't use something wider than 16mm that often. Probably the bigger gear thing for me is to replace my K7 with another K5 so my wife and I don't have to fight about who gets which camera...