[ThorSanchez]

In June I'll be on a family trip to both Yosemite and Tahoe. Never been either place, don't know if/when I'll ever get back, as I'm an East Coaster with elementary school aged kids.

I have both a K-3ii and a K-30, and I have these lenses: Rokinon 8mm fisheye, the 18-55 WR kit lens, 35mm plastic fantastic, and the 55-300mm non-WR version. I like all of them, and have taken some good landscapes with most of them.

But I've been thinking and dreaming and rationalizing about a wide angle prime for landscapes and light weight, small size for walking around and hiking. Either the DA 21mm f/3.2 AL, or the 15mm f/4. They both look great, but the rational part of my mind says I'll get really good results with what I have without blowing $300-500. The irrational me says who knows if you'll ever be back to Yosemite, so get some great glass to take mind-blowing pictures.

Thoughts?

[boriscleto]

If you don't own 5 50mm lenses then you don't have LBA. Keep buying.

[micromacro]

Sorry, I can't help you to save money
I do have 21mm, 70mm and want to have (and will) 15mm. Ltd lenses are great! You will not regret.

[Nick Siebers]

I wouldn't call the desire for either of those two lenses irrational. Both will give you somewhat better IQ than the 18-55, in all likelihood, and they are tiny and good for walking around. The 15 is significantly wider than your current 18-55, although I find that works for certain shots and not others. With a prime lens over a zoom you may have framing issues, and likely more lens switching. Traveling with a zoom is not a bad way to go, stopped down and with good technique you can still take very nice pictures, as you have already found, and there is more on-the-fly flexibility.

When I went to Yellowstone a few years ago on a similar family trip, I took my A 16mm fish eye, my 43, a 75-300 and an 18-55 WR. I used the 18-55 most, and the 43 for some people pictures, the 75-300 for some wildlife shots, and almost never used the 16mm. My favorite landscape shots from that trip were all with the 18-55. Your experience may be different, but I suspect you could get by just fine with the 18-55, 35 and 55-300.

[robgski]

Considering the gap between the Rokinon 8mm (I have that lens and love it) and the 18-55 WR, I vote for the 15mm. I hope you'll bring the kit lens, being able to go out in bad weather and shoot is such a great advantage for Pentaxians.

Suggestion: You could rent both lenses and see which one you prefer. I have been renting lenses frequently in the past year, it's been very helpful in determining my next purchase. I use borrowlenses.com and I have been very happy with their selection of lenses for Pentax, as well as the price and service.

BTW, both places are gorgeous, you'll have no end of subjects. I look forward to seeing your shots.

Also, you might not have enough room (or desire) for a tripod, but consider taking a beanbag. That little bit of stability coupled with the cameras anti-shake, will let you get some great long exposures.

[Marktax]

I have two of the 15 Ltd's. I think you will want that focal length for the places you are going. There are many places with expansive views that you will want to shoot..

[normhead]

That's a good set up. For years my personal set up was the 18-55, the 10-17, the Sigma 70-300 and a 50 1.7 for low light but you 35 2.4 will do that, just not as good.. So, your basic set up is quite functional.

So, I'd sit down and write a list of what you want to have 10 years from now and only consider purchasing lenses that are on that list, If you see yourself getting into full frame, scratch the 21 and 15. If you don't I'd consider the 10-17 fisheye or Sigma 8-16.

Just if you don't have a 50 1.8, what are you going to do in the bat cave? That's what I want to know

[Conqueror]

15 35 55-300 makes a nice setup

[drypenn]

Your LBA is PERFECTLY NORMAL. Compared to most people here (I'm still in denial), you actually have too few lenses to select from.

[Moropo]

My newbie opinion is that the quality of your lens do not match your K3ii...

[dadipentak]

All I can say is that Yosemite totally blew my mind--like, "OMG, there really is a heaven!" Of course, I was only 12 at the time and not thinking about lenses.

[cpobuttons]

let me fuel the LBA...21mm ltd

[blackcloudbrew]

You are perfectly normal. The suggestion above about renting lenses is a good one. I use Rent Lenses, Cameras, Drones, and much more ? Camera Lens Rentals when I need too as well. For both Yosemite and Tahoe, given your line up, I'd suggest you consider the DA*16-50 f2.8 or the HD 20-40 lens. Also, I've had very good results with the DFA 100 f2.8 macro lens in Yosemite. It's more than a macro, it does really sharp landscape images. Great for the rocks and falls there. If it were me trying to choose between the DA 15 or DA 21, I'd choose the DA 15. Good high quality polarizers is a big help too. There is a very good book - Photographing Yosemite - Digital Field Guide, which you might find handy. Have a great trip. Those are two of my very favorite places in California.

[TaoMaas]

The irrational me says who knows if you'll ever be back to Yosemite, so get some great glass to take mind-blowing pictures.

You're not crazy to be considering the lenses you have in mind. You had a good point in wanting to raise your image quality while losing bulk and weight. Of the two lenses you are considering, I like the 15mm because it sits well in-between your 8mm and 35 mm. However...the line I quoted bothers me because it's not the lenses that will be making mind-blowing pictures. That's on you. If this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity...get up early, stay out late...look and think constantly...and shoot a lot. That'll make a whale of a lot more difference than any lens. And it's cheaper, too.

[mgvh]

I know you mentioned getting lightweight primes for hiking, but you might be better off getting something like the 16-85 or 18-135. I really enjoy the Rokinon 8mm FE, but I'm not sure I'd bring that hiking. That's where the DA 10-17 FE is handy. (I was trying to decide between a DA 10-17 or the DA 15, and I ended up with 10-17 because it was cheaper and more versatile.)

If you can only get one lens now, I'd say either the 10-17 FE or the 16-85.