[Cerebum]

I am off to Granada in May I have a small dilemma though. My head tells me I should take my smc da18-135mm f 3.5-5.6 & my smc da 10-17mm f3.5-4.5, but my heart wants to take my trio of da limiteds, 21mm f3.2, 35mm f2.8 & 70mm f2.4

Has anyone experience of doing a city break and just taking primes?

[MarkJerling]

I am off to Granada in May I have a small dilemma though. My head tells me I should take my smc da18-135mm f 3.5-5.6 & my smc da 10-17mm f3.5-4.5, but my heart wants to take my trio of da limiteds, 21mm f3.2, 35mm f2.8 & 70mm f2.4

Has anyone experience of doing a city break and just taking primes?

Anything preventing you from taking primes and zooms? Friday, I spent the whole day shooting various subjects with my old 24mm Cosina lens. Quite fun "forcing" yourself to only use a lens but, given the choice, I'd take zooms and primes if I was you.

[aaacb]

I've often traveled with my da limited primes. In fact, it's my default because it's easier to pack given my camera and travel bags, unless I know I'll want a zoom. The other reason is that a zoom like the 16-85 is awkward to walk with if extended, the overall size of the lens even for a normal angle of view grows a lot in addition to the initial bulky size; the built in hoods of the limiteds make it even easier to have them around the city. Last trip was 15+21+40+70, other times I just take three, or two, or just one So I usually start with either the 21 or the 40, then change as needed.

As long as I have the camera on a strap, changing lenses out of my bag while standing hasn't been an issue, but I wouldn't want someone to bump into me while I'm doing it so I try to go to a less crowded place.

[ramseybuckeye]

I just looked up Granada's weather, it's pretty dry in May, you should be fine. 21 is not very wide though. You may want to go on Flickr and find pictures from Granada and check the focal lengths they are using on photos you like of places you'll visit.

[kypfer]

Probably depends on the nature of your visit. If going with others and moving around together, I'd choose a wide-range zoom for convenience.


If you're alone and indulging yourself, take all you can carry and choose what to use closer to the time.


Unless you're getting paid, remember, it's a hobby, you're supposed to be enjoying yourself, don't spoil it by overloading yourself


Enjoy!

[pschlute]

Has anyone experience of doing a city break and just taking primes?

Many times. The first one was Hong Kong in the 1980's with a 28mm/50mm/135mm with my MX. I kept them in my pockets so I was ready for a quick change.

Those primes are all nice and small and light, take them and use them. Keep them to hand so you don't upset your travelling companions by constantly stopping and unloading your camera bag

[Lowell Goudge]

When I went to Grenada I took 3 zooms, sigma 10-20, tamron 28-75 and a sigma 70-200/2.8 with 2x TC.

You need to remember there are a lot of birds as well

[Paul the Sunman]

Yes, Japan a few years ago, mostly with primes. The problem was that it rained a lot, which made changing primes outdoors a real issue.

[aslyfox]

they made them small and low weight on purpose just to cause trouble

Diam x Length 63 x 25 mm (2.5 x 1 in.)
Weight 140 g (4.9 oz.) w/ Hood: +15g

Read more at: SMC Pentax-DA 21mm F3.2 Limited Reviews - DA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

Diam x Length 63 x 46.5 mm (2.5 x 1.8 in.)
Weight 215 g (7.6 oz.)

Read more at: SMC Pentax-DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro Reviews - DA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

Diam x Length 63 x 26 mm (2.5 x 1 in.)
Weight 130 g (4.6 oz.)

Read more at: SMC Pentax-DA 70mm F2.4 Limited Reviews - DA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

[MaineNative]

When I am flying somewhere, I usually take my 18-135. It is a great general purpose lens and not too big. I also take the 10-17 so I have a really wide lens. My third choice is the DA 21 for landscapes. If you take more pictures of people, the 21 is probably too wide. I like having a prime with me like a 21 or 35 when I am going out to dinner and want my camera, but want to keep the size and weight down.

[-JW-]

I think it depends on your usual shooting style. You should definitely be fine with just the primes, but if you're generally a zoom shooter, you might end up hating it. I would consider if the 21 is wide enough and the 70 long enough. If yes, leave the zooms at home or bring the 18-135 as a backup but try not using it and see how that feels.

I do and did all sorts of trips with just the DA limiteds and brought along a weather sealed zoom for bad weather. That used to be the 18-55 WR, which I really didn't use except for in bad weather.

I have recently acquired a DA 20-40 limited though, this has replaced the 18-55 for WR, as it turns out I'm not just using that for bad weather but also as a walkabout lens quite often. It's convenient and high quality, but I find the primes much more enjoyable and prefer their compact size. If I'm not after anything specific or not really looking for photos in general, I tend to mount the zoom for the occasional snap that comes along.

[zapp]

Why use zoom: quicker focus change, typically smaller and lighter than a couple primes. No lens change in dusty or rainy conditions.
Why not: smalker aperture, single lens is bigger on camera and more obstructive.
Why prime, why DA Ltd: more fun, more thinking involved in image taking, larger aperture, small on camera.

For being a tourist, take the zoom. For taking images take the prime for the fun images and buy postcards for the tourist shots.

[Cerebum]

Brilliant suggestions, thanks guys. I am a prime shooter by choice, even though I miss the odd shot I get more smiles per mile with a prime. I always have the option of taking my 10-17 for extra wide. I tend to feel a bit touristy with a zoom but I know I will get better pictures than I did last year because I have had a year to learn and last years pictures were good. I like the idea of +2 f stops more light and the amazing rendering of the limiteds but my wife is not blessed with patience so lens changes may be an issue, although, she doesn't like me looking like a tourist either..... So many factors. I think I will take them all together round the back streets of Lancaster and see what works best. Thanks again, I really wanted to know if it was a good or stupid idea, now I know it is a good one I can weigh up the pros and cons

[Jonathan Mac]

I went to Japan in 2017, a trip I'd dreamed about for years, and had to go with my heart and take my DA Limited primes to shoot with. They make shooting a much more enjoyable experience and of course the image quality is fantastic. I'd have been disappointed if I'd come home with any image quality problems that weren't due to me.

I had the DA 18-55mm WR kit lens and used that almost exclusively in the two days when it rained a lot and as someone commented above, in Japan it can rain a lot. These days I have the 16-85mm WR which would have provided much better IQ that the 18-55mm, but I still much prefer shooting with my limiteds.

[Sandy Hancock]

I went to Italy in June 2017 with the KP and DA15, DA21, FA31, FA43, DA*55 and FA77 (OK, my 10-17 and 55-300 may have come along for the ride too )
They served me very well.



Forget the HD35 pictured here - I basically didn't use it.