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04-17-2008, 01:06 PM   #1
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Compact Travel Kit

i am full of BS ... if you look at my postings you'll see that i've said that i want to get a DA40, FA31, A50 1.2, Nokton 58mm ... i'm lucky enough that i have some extra change to spend on lenses for a growing hobby and after hanging around on the forums, it's easy to get carried about LBA and forgot why i chose pentax to begin with, to get a solid travel package.

i hope to take a lot of photos when i travel, but i don't want to lug a big lens bag around with me all the time. i reached a bit of a revelation when i read someone on Photo.net had travelled only with a DA21 and DA70. i have a DA21, which i really hope to start exercising. onto the questions:

1. stop down metering in low light - how accurate is this in really dark places? i really like my M50 1.4, but e.g. in a well lit restaurant last weekend, it would always underexpose, drastically
2. does it make sense to go with a da21 + m50 + da70 combo
3. da70, good lens for candids? i'm kinda scared to do in your face street photography, but i'm hoping with some distance and faster AF, i can try it out

as an aside comment i really like the 30mm (35mm equivalent) focal length, i would love to use the FA31 on compact FF body, but who knows when that will happen. and we can say now that such a lens may never be produced again, but maybe it will, or newer better lenses may be out (DA* 30?). as much as i'd like to use it, doesn't make much sense to buy a lens now to use 5-10 years later.

hopefully i don't change my mind too quickly, thanks for any help


Last edited by k100d; 04-17-2008 at 01:12 PM.
04-17-2008, 01:08 PM   #2
JMS
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Any metering will be pretty much hit-and-miss in dark places.
04-17-2008, 01:23 PM   #3
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I just packed my lightweight bag today to come to work. DA35LTD and DA*200mm. I'll see how that works out when I go for a walk in an hour or two.
04-17-2008, 03:22 PM   #4
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When I first got the k10, I sold my film zooms and only had a few primes. Most of the time I would put a 50mm on the camera and a 28mm in my pocket. I learned to really enjoy a two lens kit. Since a normal focal length is not my favorite, a slight wide and slight tele was great. I only wished the 28 was a bit wider. The 21/70mm kit would be a perfect combination for a small digital travel kit for me. My dream film kit is the 31/77 combo, very close to the 21/70 on digital.
Good luck, Ryan

04-17-2008, 03:58 PM   #5
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I'm going on vacation for a 1week and i will take:

DA18-55
DA50-200
FA35
FA50
and a Zenitar 16mm

no DA*, no limiteds, just poor man lenses....

It's not exactly compact, but it's probably a trip that i will not do again in long time, so i will take the best i have.

When i go out to shoot here in the area, i just take which lenses will suit my needs and take a small hand bag, usually FA35+DA50-200
04-17-2008, 04:42 PM   #6
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I think my dream combo is 15 / 43 / 100macro but the first is not out yet so instead I lug my zoom. I would like to say the 77mm could replace the 100mm but then I lose the macro ability.
04-17-2008, 07:27 PM   #7
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I think I've located a 50/1.2 for you at Adorama:
Pentax Smc 50/1.2 Bay-lns *52

There are a couple more at KEH.com, too:
KEH Camera: Pentax Manual Focus - Fixed Focal Lengths - 50 F1.2 SMC A (52) WITH CAPS 35MM SLR MANUAL FOCUS STANDARD ANGLE LENS
These are A-type.

Then again, if you're going to spend that kind of money, then the 43 Ltd. comes highly recommended--and it's autofocus. I've been thinking about getting the DA 35 macro and if I do, I'll be selling this lens, as the focal lengths are so close together.

HTH,
Heather

04-18-2008, 09:30 AM   #8
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Seeing as I don't have that much ... it is pretty much all stuffed into one bag and I carry that.
But I am thinking of storing my lenses at home another way ... and selectively packing for different outings.

Still ... I just take everything now ... because I just don't know if I am going to need a certain lens or not. It's not easy ... but i guess soon I will have to make the decision what to bring and what not to bring.
04-18-2008, 06:41 PM   #9
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thanks for the help everyone

seems like everyone has a different opinion on a compact travel kit, i hate carrying too much weight! i think i'll take most of my photos with the DA21 and then use the DA70 for more isolating shots as well as a useful telephoto. and then maybe have the M50 as a backup, but i'd rather carry only two lenses... might be a bit adventurous, but no way like learning how to swim in the deep end.

QuoteOriginally posted by hwblanks Quote
I think I've located a 50/1.2 for you at Adorama:
Pentax Smc 50/1.2 Bay-lns *52

There are a couple more at KEH.com, too:
KEH Camera: Pentax Manual Focus - Fixed Focal Lengths - 50 F1.2 SMC A (52) WITH CAPS 35MM SLR MANUAL FOCUS STANDARD ANGLE LENS
These are A-type.

Then again, if you're going to spend that kind of money, then the 43 Ltd. comes highly recommended--and it's autofocus. I've been thinking about getting the DA 35 macro and if I do, I'll be selling this lens, as the focal lengths are so close together.

HTH,
Heather
thanks for the pointers Heather. matsuiya has a new A50 for <$600, but i've given up on getting that 50/1.2 because it's just not worth that money for basically a very specialized use. the 43 is in that range where i'm not sure if i'd use it or not, but i know how muc you love your 43
04-18-2008, 07:23 PM   #10
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If you change your mind, then you can always rent the 43 at Cameralensrentals.com and try it out before buying.

CameraLensRentals.com - Online Camera Lens Rentals for Canon,Nikon, and PENTAX Cameras

Heather (who's now thinking that she may not trade the 43 for the DA35 after all)
04-19-2008, 03:06 AM   #11
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QuoteOriginally posted by rparmar Quote
I think my dream combo is 15 / 43 / 100macro but the first is not out yet so instead I lug my zoom. I would like to say the 77mm could replace the 100mm but then I lose the macro ability.
OK, I broke down. I'm getting a 77mm limited.

Now to await the 15!
04-19-2008, 05:37 AM   #12
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da 40mm f/2.8 limited
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