[zeitlos]

Currently own a Pentax 24-70mm which I use with my Pentax K-1.

It's a great lens, however, on my last trip to America (San Francisco, L.A., Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley) I left my camera at the hotel for most of the time, since the combination Pentax K-1 and 24-70 made me feel uncomfortable (due to the high weight and the large size), especially when exploring the cities.

I used to shoot with a 16-50mm 2.8 for a long time, which was quite okay.

So I'm considering selling the 24-70mm again and replace it by a 28-105mm Pentax or 28-75mm Tamron.

Both lack the wide angle (24) which could turn out to be a real loss. In addition, the Tamron isn't weather sealed, the Pentax 28-105 ends at 5.6 which is a drawback, I suppose.

So what could my future standard lens for my K-1 look like?

28-75mm instead of the 24-70mm? => it's lighter and more compact!
28-105? Same here, lighter and more compact. Since I also have the three FA Limiteds, the lack of f2.8 could maybe be compensated through using them in bad conditions.
24-70 AND 28-105? The latter one for traveling, the first one for the rest?
28-75mm AND 28-70? Could be financed by selling the 24-70mm?

I'm rather lost right now, struggling to make a reasonable decision.

Any thoughts that might help?

[noelpolar]

Why would you leave your K-1 behind.... just put the 43 on it in a small bag and go..... Domke 5xb is what I use when travelling light.

[MJKoski]

Yea...no leave K-1 behind. Insert Zeiss 35/2 ZK for instant win.

[UncleVanya]

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/328077-how-...ull-frame.html

Another option.

[HudsonShooter]

the lens may not be great but there is the 28-80
its light.

[zapp]

You went to: San Francisco, L.A., Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley

You left the camera in the hotel. Something is serioulsy wrong with your setup. These are prime places to take any kind of images. Think about small primes or maybe even a different camera system K3 with 20-40 is very compact and nice for travel for instance. K1 is one size larger and decent lenses increase the overall size.

[bdery]

One other option (apart from developing some muscle, and finding a good camera bag) would be to select an APS-C lens for those moments when you do not want to bring heavy gear.

For anything outside, a lens doesn't need to be fast. You could use the 18-135 or 16-85, which are relatively light and small, and use the camera in crop mode (it gives you 15 MP, equivalent to what a K-5 would deliver).

Or travel with a few primes. The DA40 is FF compatible, the FA43 is fine, the DA21 is an APS-C lens which delivers beautifully, the DFA 100 macro WR is a fine short tele, etc.

[PhilRich]

Currently own a Pentax 24-70mm which I use with my Pentax K-1.

It's a great lens, however, on my last trip to America (San Francisco, L.A., Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley) I left my camera at the hotel for most of the time, since the combination Pentax K-1 and 24-70 made me feel uncomfortable (due to the high weight and the large size), especially when exploring the cities.

I used to shoot with a 16-50mm 2.8 for a long time, which was quite okay.

So I'm considering selling the 24-70mm again and replace it by a 28-105mm Pentax or 28-75mm Tamron.

Both lack the wide angle (24) which could turn out to be a real loss. In addition, the Tamron isn't weather sealed, the Pentax 28-105 ends at 5.6 which is a drawback, I suppose.

So what could my future standard lens for my K-1 look like?

28-75mm instead of the 24-70mm? => it's lighter and more compact!
28-105? Same here, lighter and more compact. Since I also have the three FA Limiteds, the lack of f2.8 could maybe be compensated through using them in bad conditions.
24-70 AND 28-105? The latter one for traveling, the first one for the rest?
28-75mm AND 28-70? Could be financed by selling the 24-70mm?

I'm rather lost right now, struggling to make a reasonable decision.

Any thoughts that might help?

Please forgive my opinion if it offends. Having said that - I think the weight issue is way over blown. I have the same K-1 with the 24-70, and also have the 645Z with a bag full of lens. I take these with me exploring (not all of them at once), etc., and I'm 73 years old. Sure, the neck may get a little tired, but the pursuit (or chance occasion) of a good image far out weighs the somewhat discomfort. If there is a handicap, then leaving the camera behind is understandable. The advantage of the 24-70 is the wider field of view coupled with not having to change lens for varing situations.

I have an old camera bag/case that will hold a single camera with lens mounted and strap. It can easily be slung cross wise across the opposite shoulder and over the head putting the camera on the opposite side so that the weight is more comfortable (hopefully my description makes sense, i.e., like a sling bag).

This is my "snap" reaction every time I read similar "weight" comments. Come on, lift weights and get into better shape if you have to, but don't leave the camera behind!

[UncleVanya]

I think the Op mentioned more than weight. I think it was also about the bulk and size making the gear too obtrusive and drawing too much attention.

I personally suggest trying a small prime like the 43 or a smaller apsc camera like the ks1 if this is the case.

Also weight/bulk bothers me too. It isn't a matter of not being able to carry it - it limits how often it is with me. This is why I have an lx7 as well as a k3.

[rawr]

The D FA 28-105 is a very fine lens on the K-1. Light, sharp and WR. DxO and Lightroom also fully support the lens on the K-1 too.

Don't let the lack of f2.8 bother you too much.

[leekil]

There is the

SMC Pentax-FA 28-70mm F4 AL Reviews - FA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

which I think is a good small lens, and it gets a pretty good rating on the lens database. The only issue with it is that it (and some other Pentax lenses made around that time) developed a haze, so there are few of them around today in good shape, so they are a bit hard to find. I had one back in the day until to got haze, and I was looking for one recently for use on a K-1 (until I got the lens mentioned below).

The

SMC Pentax-FA 24-90mm F3.5-4.5 AL [IF] Reviews - FA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

which I was the last film-specific lens that Pentax made (or so people say). I just got one, so I don't have a lot of experience with it yet, but it has reasonable ratings, goes to 24mm, and it not that big (I imagined it was larger from the photos of the lens alone). The back part of the moving element looks to be more plastic than I expected, but the exterior of the lens seems pretty standard for a good non-metal lens. This lens is also not so common, so you might have to wait for a couple months to find one.

[mattb123]

I love my K-1 but I wouldn't normally take it around a city much either unless I was on a specific photo mission. I don't mind it in the wilderness (unless I need to go ultra light) but prefer to stand out less in the city.
So I often bring my K-S2 and three Limited primes, the 15, 40, and 77 or if the weather is bad, a DA 18-135 sealed zoom. That fits in a small "man purse" sized shoulder bag that isn't too conspicuous.

When I do carry the K-1 out and about the Tamron 28-75/2.8 is a great match with a usable range, speed, nice IQ, and is very compact. I've had the lens for years but it's finding new life lately on the K-1.

[cali92rs]

Kinda strange that the OP mentioned that the lack of 24mm could be a big deal, yet folks are mentioning 35mm and 43mm primes as a solution.
You could get a 16-85mm and use your K-1 in crop mode and have a fully sealed, compact setup.

[noelpolar]

Kinda strange that the OP mentioned that the lack of 24mm could be a big deal, yet folks are mentioning 35mm and 43mm primes as a solution.

Not to me at all..... the op's position that a biggish zoom is some barrier to taking his camera with him from time to time is potentially the real issue here..... not what slightly smaller zoom might magically change things.

Given the op already has a 43..... it seems a bit wierd that one would think that a slightly smaller zoom would magically alter ones experience, when there's plenty of shots to be had with about the smallest lens he has already available to him, but hasn't seen this as a natural solution (since the camera was left behind many times in great locations)......Suggesting the 43, or whatever, might help in identifying a different approach. I'd recommend participating in the "Single in" monthly challenge to help one learn just how flex-able a single focal length lens can be.

[zeitlos]

Thank you all for your answers and sorry for the delayed answer!

It's was an interesting read and I appreciate your comments! Using a prime lens instead of a zoom lens might be a solution for certain situations, but if that's what it takes to go full frame I'd seriously consider changing to a smaller system (Olympus/Fuji X etc.)

But still I see good changes that using a different zoom lens instead of my current 24-70mm while traveling can be the solution.

Currently, I consider buying the 28-105 while keeping the 24-70 (for a while?). If it's really a replacement in most cases, I'll sell my 24-70mm. Otherwise it might be a good supplement to my 24-70mm.

Maybe it's justified to have both, the 28-105 for traveling and the 24-70 for, hm, for what then?
So I hope that the 28-105 is a good choice for traveling even though I might miss the 24mm and f2.8 at all focal length. To be hones, I'm mainly struggling with the thought of "degrading" a full frame camera when using a lens like the 28-105 because of the f3.5-5.6.

As I said, traveling and taking pictures with a dslr never really bothered me. The K-5/K-30/K-3 and the 16-50mm was okay in size and weight. Took all my pictures while traveling Georgia (http://www.pentaxians.de/40456504nx51499/reisefotografie-f20/georgien-kaukas...cke-t1654.html) for a couple of times using this combination and never worried about size and weight too much. Anyway, the K-1 and the FA31 could also make for a good travel companion.