Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
04-03-2016, 08:56 AM   #1
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Hattifnatt's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Bucharest
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 4,616
Thailand - what lens to take?

Hello everybody,

I need some gear advise, I will go for a vacation in Thailand, Koh Tao island, in June 2016. This is close to Koh Samui island.

My photo gear: K5IIs, 18-55, DA15 mm Ltd, Sigma 35mm 1.4 Art, FA 43mm Ltd, FA 77mm Ltd, flash, tripod. By then I will also have the new K-1 full frame.

Some things I'm considering: take the K-1, the K5IIs or both? my girlfriend could use the K5IIs, but I'm not sure how safe is to carry 2 DSLR's in Thailand.

I am tempted to take all my lenses with me except for Sigma 35, which is big and heavy. But another idea would be to just buy a nice zoom (like the new 24-70) and just take that one. I am not a fan of changing lenses very often especially in a sandy environment. On the other hand, a big zoom can attract more attention than some small primes... thinking about thieves or such. Do you have any other lens recommendation for me?

My girlfriend is a big diving fan, I am thinking to get a water resistant camera which can take pictures or record underwater... any ideas? how about WG-5 ?


Thanks in advance!

04-03-2016, 09:14 AM   #2
Senior Member
Davidparis's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Paris, France
Posts: 290
Thailand is totally, absolutely safe. Used to work there and go back regularly. No need at all to worry about camera kit in Thailand. You're thoughtful and careful just as in any place else, but not more so. I'd go wide to mid-length and avoid schlepping around the big gun (but for weight, not safety reasons). All your primes are nice but what a pain changing them in hot and humid weather. Have fun in the Land of Smiles.
04-03-2016, 09:39 AM   #3
Senior Member




Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: viking country
Photos: Albums
Posts: 276
Keep an eye open for one of the old F2.8 28-70 zooms, the tokina is worth three times the price it is on sale for (around $300) just make sure it is the first version, according to the forum the later model is not as good. Or spend a little more money and get the Pentax FA*. Or go for the new 24-70. Either way should work fine! I can personally vouche for the tokina and Pentax FA* lenses, they are Awesome!

Edit: The gopro is awesome for diving, I have several friends that are divers and they all use the gopro!

Last edited by discharged; 04-03-2016 at 11:36 AM.
04-03-2016, 10:18 AM   #4
Pentaxian
zman's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Western NY
Photos: Albums
Posts: 515
I can't help you on lenses to take, but can recommend a waterproof P&S camera. Take a look at the Olympus TG-4. It runs about the same price as the Pentax WG. I had a WG-3 that I gave to my grandson and replaced it with the Oly TG-4. I found the image quality to be way better than anything I got with my old WG-3. Venture over to Flickr and check out the Olympus TG-4 group. Someone just posted underwater photos while diving that are excellent. I only have used my Oly at a water park.

Enjoy your trip.

04-03-2016, 11:48 AM   #5
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
robgski's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 8,759
IT really depends on what type of shots you prefer to take. I use a 17mm or 28mm for landscapes and street shots, but I also use the 40mm XS in crowded spots because it is so smalland perfect for tight spaces, and great for isolating a subject while getting in the surroundings as well.

Of course, something like the 18-135 would give you versatility in a variety of settings.
04-03-2016, 12:35 PM - 1 Like   #6
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Hattifnatt's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Bucharest
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 4,616
Original Poster
I mostly like landscape shots... so I was thinking the new 24-70 might prove flexible? plus it's WR.
04-03-2016, 12:50 PM   #7
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
robgski's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 8,759
QuoteOriginally posted by Hattifnatt Quote
I was thinking the new 24-70 might prove flexible? plus it's WR.
That sounds like a good choice to me. I look forward to seeing your pictures.

04-03-2016, 01:52 PM - 3 Likes   #8
Veteran Member




Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,854
QuoteOriginally posted by Hattifnatt Quote
Hello everybody,

I need some gear advise, I will go for a vacation in Thailand, Koh Tao island, in June 2016. This is close to Koh Samui island.

My photo gear: K5IIs, 18-55, DA15 mm Ltd, Sigma 35mm 1.4 Art, FA 43mm Ltd, FA 77mm Ltd, flash, tripod. By then I will also have the new K-1 full frame.

Some things I'm considering: take the K-1, the K5IIs or both? my girlfriend could use the K5IIs, but I'm not sure how safe is to carry 2 DSLR's in Thailand.

I am tempted to take all my lenses with me except for Sigma 35, which is big and heavy. But another idea would be to just buy a nice zoom (like the new 24-70) and just take that one. I am not a fan of changing lenses very often especially in a sandy environment. On the other hand, a big zoom can attract more attention than some small primes... thinking about thieves or such. Do you have any other lens recommendation for me?

My girlfriend is a big diving fan, I am thinking to get a water resistant camera which can take pictures or record underwater... any ideas? how about WG-5 ?


Thanks in advance!
You current range for APSC is 15-77 and in FF that translate into 22.5-115mm...

In APSC you best bet would be likely 16-85 + maybe one small prime for low light needs on the occasion (FA43).

On FF you could get the kit lens 28-105, the FA43 again for low light and you could use DA15 for cases when you need the WA waiting to buy something better.

The 24-70 is f/2.8, that's nice but the range is quite small, even your 18-55 cover up to 83mm equivalent. If you like to have some reach on the occasion you'll miss what the FA77 does for you today in term of framing. You could crop but that negate the benefit of FF, like for the DA15...

Example of FA77 on APSC from my last trip in India:


Cropped to 90mm APSC, 135mm FF.



It is quite nice to take some scenes:









And don't discount what teles can do in term of landscapes:

FA77 on APSC, britany



F135 on APSC; britany



F135, britany



For some landscapes, if you don't take a tele, it just look empty...

FA77 on APSC, Italy



FA77, near Bordeaux, France

04-03-2016, 02:06 PM   #9
Pentaxian




Join Date: May 2008
Location: London, UK
Posts: 1,697
If you think you will visit any temples or any relatively enclosed areas, and so on, then an ultrawide zoom is a good idea - and I think that the lightest body you can take is probably a good idea because you will be carrying it for long periods, especially if you are on escorted tours because they travel rapidly and move around very quickly and you do not have time to change lenses.
04-03-2016, 03:34 PM   #10
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Roi-et, Thailand
Posts: 773
Whatever you do take, take Ziplock bags and silica gel pouches. Going from aircon to that humidity risks internal moisture/fungus. Don't take out of the plastic until the temperature of the bag contents is the same as outside.

In my Thailand house I have a large dry cabinet. At the moment it's 40+ celcius over there and humid as hell.

Last time I had Pentax gear there it was K5IIs, 15/4 and 31 and 77, DF-A 100 WR, others can't remember.

You're close to Koh Samui. Check travel guidance from your consulate, contrary to popular belief it is not crime free and there are safety risks.

Edit: Pick up a Ricoh WG-M2 if you can before the trip.

Last edited by HopelessTogger; 04-03-2016 at 03:47 PM.
04-03-2016, 03:46 PM - 1 Like   #11
Senior Member




Join Date: Oct 2013
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 157
I have found the 21/3.2 ltd (smc) to be the perfect lens for traveling, it does everything! full body/ half body portraits, landscapes, cityscapes etc. I have it with me when ever i want to go light and unobtrusive.
you may want to consider the equivalent 31/1.8 ltd on the K-1
or else you could look at the 20-40/2.8-4 ltd. nice range, light, small, weather sealed, but no star bursts :S

your choice
04-03-2016, 04:04 PM   #12
Veteran Member




Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,854
QuoteOriginally posted by HopelessTogger Quote
You're close to Koh Samui. Check travel guidance from your consulate, contrary to popular belief it is not crime free and there are safety risks.
Man, for criminality, sure some place are more dangerous than others sure. You are right they should check and better cautious than sorry.

But if I read the recommandation from french governement, Tanzania and Kenya many other places are dangerous because of terrorists. India is dangerous, Italy, even is dangerous. But I am sure that if I read recommendations from other governements they point out there was 2 successful terrorist attack in Paris not long ago, many that failled, 1 in Brussel and whole europe is at risk.

Now the risk of death by car accident is 20 time greater in France, and is every year, not just for 2015... If we take history into account this is more like 200 or 500 time more. We don't have that much deaths by terrorist on average.

And in thailand the death rate by car accident is 7 time higher than in France... Do people take special precautions for that?

I mean we should live and enjoy life. We should be carefull, but that a fantastic country to visit...

If the camera got stolen, that's bad but really, that just a camera. I lost one camera... In the states. I guess this is supposed to be a safe country. Anyway, the problem for me was more the memories lost than the gear. I lost a crap compact camera and never lost a DSLR or ltd lenses.
04-03-2016, 04:08 PM   #13
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Roi-et, Thailand
Posts: 773
QuoteOriginally posted by Nicolas06 Quote
Man, for criminality, sure some place are more dangerous than others sure. You are right they should check and better cautious than sorry.

But if I read the recommandation from french governement, Tanzania and Kenya many other places are dangerous because of terrorists. India is dangerous, Italy, even is dangerous. But I am sure that if I read recommendations from other governements they point out there was 2 successful terrorist attack in Paris not long ago, many that failled, 1 in Brussel and whole europe is at risk.

Now the risk of death by car accident is 20 time greater in France, and is every year, not just for 2015... If we take history into account this is more like 200 or 500 time more. We don't have that much deaths by terrorist on average.

And in thailand the death rate by car accident is 7 time higher than in France... Do people take special precautions for that?

I mean we should live and enjoy life. We should be carefull, but that a fantastic country to visit...

If the camera got stolen, that's bad but really, that just a camera. I lost one camera... In the states. I guess this is supposed to be a safe country. Anyway, the problem for me was more the memories lost than the gear. I lost a crap compact camera and never lost a DSLR or ltd lenses.
Thailand on the whole is okay, I've lived there for 15 years now. The southern islands however, are lawless. Even a friend, a doctor from Ramallah mentioned this.

UK foreign office advice is worth reading.
04-03-2016, 04:11 PM - 1 Like   #14
Veteran Member




Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,854
As for gear, that just me but in the end, the pictures I take from vacations are quite important for me. If my best gear can't make it, this mean I'll not use it against the best shooting opportunity. Trip all over the world, safari Tanzania, cities in India, Italy, Iceland. The US national parks. So it means it basically not worth buying, at least for me.

Hattifnatt, if you are not willing to take that FF with you when you get unique opportunities to shots fantastic pictures, there no point to keep it for the less interresting ones at home... I know that not everybody point of view, and everybody choose for himself;

But if you think FF big and heavy and bulky and expensive once you factor the lenses you need to buy again... Maybe it cost a lot in many ways (not just money) for what it bring. And if some of the cost like weight/bulkiness or risk to loose it bother you to the point you don't take it... Might not be worth all the trouble to get one to begin with.
04-03-2016, 04:16 PM   #15
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Roi-et, Thailand
Posts: 773
QuoteOriginally posted by Nicolas06 Quote
As for gear, that just me but in the end, the pictures I take from vacations are quite important for me. If my best gear can't make it, this mean I'll not use it against the best shooting opportunity. Trip all over the world, safari Tanzania, cities in India, Italy, Iceland. The US national parks. So it means it basically not worth buying, at least for me.

Hattifnatt, if you are not willing to take that FF with you when you get unique opportunities to shots fantastic pictures, there no point to keep it for the less interresting ones at home... I know that not everybody point of view, and everybody choose for himself;

But if you think FF big and heavy and bulky and expensive once you factor the lenses you need to buy again... Maybe it cost a lot in many ways (not just money) for what it bring. And if some of the cost like weight/bulkiness or risk to loose it bother you to the point you don't take it... Might not be worth all the trouble to get one to begin with.
I concur. Dragging a lot of heavy gear round SE Asia is not fun and takes the joy out of it. Keep it light, keep it simple. I used to drag gear around that never once got used, really regretted it.
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
body, cambodia, fa, fan, gel, girlfriend, humidity, island, k-1, k-mount, k1, k5iis, kids, kit, lens, lenses, lowepro, ltd, pentax lens, silica, slr lens, stuff, thailand, thailand what lens, trip, vanguard, wr
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Cruise to New Zealand - what to take???? Wild Mark Travel, Events, and Groups 12 01-02-2016 01:25 AM
What to take? dakight Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 11 10-26-2015 05:59 AM
What lens to take on holiday? Junah Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 26 04-22-2011 10:52 AM
What Lens To Take On A Fair Photoshoot? shutterpuppy Pentax DSLR Discussion 16 09-11-2008 08:45 PM
What lens to take.... figmental1978 Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 12 05-02-2007 07:48 AM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:22 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top