[mhsp1948]

Yes, for different trips and whether I fly or drive I take different cameras and lenses. Thank for sharing ramseybuckeye

[MrB1]

No not at all MrB1, you do not know me, I asked because I needed more impute and I like what you said. I had not even considered the better SR and improved light performance and extra EV giving me with the KP. Thank you

In that case here's another vote for the 18-135 as the travel companion for your KP. Undoubtedly it is the most versatile of your lenses and it would keep your travel kit relatively light-weight, compact, and WR.

Cheers,
Philip

[Zooland]

I wouldn’t go without the 18 to 135mm if I were you.

[felixkh]

Pair the KP with the 18-135 for travel. It is light enough to carry around. It does take good pictures too. Set your KP accordingly and it will do wonders for you.

[FreeSpirit9]

Since I got the Sigma 18-35 it's on my camera most of the time.

[mhsp1948]

I want to thank all of you for your responses. I have liked this forum every since I got on it because it is one of the most informative forums with people who actually have tried what they are talking about. I love my Pentax cameras and lenses. I use to have Nikon and a larger set of Canon cameras and lenses. Sold all of the Nikon gear and Canon gear so I could buy the Pentax gear I now have and not sorry I did and not looking back. Once again thank you for your impute as I now decide between the 20-40 and the 18-135. I will admit that I really like the crop KP camera and of course I love my K1 and K1-ii especially with the HD Pentax-D FA* 50mm F1.4 SDM AW on my K1-II and the HD Pentax-D FA 15-30mm F2.8 ED SDM WR on my K1. For closeup flower work I like the Pentax DA* 200mm f/2.8 ED (IF) SDM on my KP. Thanks guys, appreciate it.

[mikesbike]

I most frequently have my DA 20-40mm LTD on my KP when out and around doing various scenic shots. I might also take along the DA 70 or FA 77mm for low light and/or moderate tele shooting. These are all small, light lenses. My 3 lens kit is typically the DA 15mm, 70MM and 20-40mm LTDs. In fact, however, the DA 18-135mm is so compact, it can be carried as an alternative to the DA 20-40mm being carried on camera, if a need for more reach comes up, or in moving-along situations where you'd have little time for lens changing. When you know the scenes will generally be within the 20-40mm range for shots, it will do just fine, and it will offer a faster f/2.8 aperture at the wide end, sometimes a real advantage.

[Jonathan Mac]

Of those I suspect it'd be the DA limited zoom, though from it's reputation I think the 31mm would be in with a chance.

[LennyBloke]

I have had several of the lenses you list and for sheer all round IQ I would choose the the D-FA*50/1.4 - but it is a heavy lens. As a great alternative you could take advantage of the ridiculously low used price of the DA*55/1.4 and invest in a superb quality, WR, lightweight lens. When I'm travelling/hiking that now forms part of my kit that doesn't break my back!

It probably doesn't fulfil all your needs but it's just another option for you to consider

[mhsp1948]

Thank you Jonathan Mac and LennyBloke. Lenny, the D-FA*50/1.4 is too heavy for carry around all day on my KP but it is balanced much better on my K1 and is awesome in image quality. The KP being a crop - if I wanted something close to a 50mm on a full frame but wanted to use my KP I would seriously consider my 31mm prime, which has outstanding image quality and is small and light.

[rogerstg]

Another vote for the 18-135. Coupled with the 55-300 PLM and 35 2.4 for low light it's pretty much a no brainer if weight is a concern. A fun kit that fits in a small, easily manageable bag.

I just returned from a 10 day fly fishing trip to Idaho and Montana and that's the exact kit that I took. It worked out well for me.

[Ronald Oakes]

DA 20-40 hands down. An alternative would be the 18-135 if size wasn't an issue

[Oktyabr]

If I was going on a trip and taking an aps-c and only one lens, the 18-135 would be on the camera, without a doubt. It practically lived on my K-70 and later my K3ii. Size wise, it's not much larger than the 20-40 (283g and 6.9cm vs 405g and 7.6cm), and if there is some fine loss of IQ (in the 20-40mm range), the extra 2mm at the wide end and the 95mm FL on the long end would easily make up for it.

I never left the house with the 18-135 on a walkabout and wished I had a brought a different lens instead (unless it was chasing birds... hence the trusty backup, the 55-300 PLM). I loved the 20-40 LTD for the short time I actually found a use for it but didn't use it as much as I had anticipated and eventually sold it.

[normhead]

Since I got the Sigma 18-35 it's on my camera most of the time.

No telephoto or macro capability, at least you've got low light covered.You must shoot a very limited set of subjects. To my mind, telephoto opportunities are often over quickly landscape and wide angle, you usually have time for a lens change. I have a number fo BiF shots where with wide angle on the camera I wouldl have missed the shot.

[mhsp1948]

I have re-read everything and tried the 31mm, 20-40mm and the 18-135. I took each one on a walk-about in the tight quarters of the inner part of town, then parks and more open spaces and then out in the country side for land scape and animals like cows in a pasture and birds and squirrels. My conclusion was the 31mm had the sharpest photo bar none, but I was not able to take some telephoto shots of flowers and get close enough on birds and squirrels and cows out in the field that were not up next to the fence. The 20-40mm was not as sharp as the 31mm but allow for more shots to be taken but not telephoto or some close ups and the same problem with some land scape shots when I wanted the main subject of the photo to be closer. The 18-135mm was not as sharp as the 31mm but most cases almost or as sharp as the 20-40mm, but I was able to take any shot in the three areas I walked around in. I have decided if I take only my APS-c KP on a walk around and travel where I do not want to carry a bunch of camera equipment (which some trips are just for photos I take a bunch along ) I will take the 18-135mm. I have enjoyed this thread, it got me out and about trying one lens at a time to see which one really would meet my needs as a general walk-around lens. Thanks guys