[y0chang]

My APS-C Kit is a lot better organized than my full frame kit...APS-C im lugging around the 12-24, the 16-85, and the 50-135mm. If i had the moolah and didn't have full frame, the 12-24 might be replaced by a 11-18mm

[bdery]

I would go with the DA10-17 and 16-85 combo. I would not bring the 50-135, too bulky for travel when you’re not on a dedicated portrait session. Or, said otherwise, the 16-85 is already good enough for casual portraits on a trip. You can still bring the small and lightweight DA70 just in a case...

I would do this. 10-17, 16-85 and 70.

The 16-85 is a workhorse, maybe it lacks some of the finesse of the 20-40 but it's close. On the other hand it's much more versatile, has fast AF, is reliable and delivers great images. I liked it so much that I kept it for 18 months even after acquiring the K-1.

[Bui]

Thanks a lot for many helpful comments, I'm very pleased reading all opinions throughout this topic. At the moment I'm leaning more toward bringing my 16-85 and let the 20-40 stay at home for another shorter trip. Its range is too tempting. I will almost certainly bring the 10-17 too, I like Sandy Hancock's images in this topic a lot, I have almost no experience with it, so want to experiment a bit. Will that decision save me also from bringing the 14mm? It's not very heavy but very big, especially with its hood. Image quality and f2.8 are pretty nice though. I really miss my old 15mm.

[aslyfox]

. . . For the context, I'm bringing my family to Austria for Christmas time, there will be lots of driving, snow, and hopefully great landscape.. . .

. . . At the moment I'm leaning more toward bringing my 16-85 and let the 20-40 stay at home for another shorter trip. Its range is too tempting. I will almost certainly bring the 10-17 too, I like Sandy Hancock's images in this topic a lot, I have almost no experience with it, so want to experiment a bit. Will that decision save me also from bringing the 14mm? It's not very heavy but very big, especially with its hood. Image quality and f2.8 are pretty nice though. I really miss my old 15mm.

glad you made your choice [ at least most of them ]

remember to have fun, even without the camera and lenses, with the family, and enjoy your trip

looking forward to any photos you choose to post

[bdery]

I will almost certainly bring the 10-17 too, I like Sandy Hancock's images in this topic a lot, I have almost no experience with it, so want to experiment a bit.

You might learn a few things here:

HD Pentax-DA Fish-eye 10-17mm F3.5-4.5 Review - Introduction | PentaxForums.com Reviews

[TER-OR]

Yeah, I love that Sigma 8-16. I have it and the 10-17 and they're very different. The Sigma is big and heavy, though, and I tend to regard Sigma lenses as a bit on the fragile side.

Travel is a different thing, you don't want to be worrying about your kit all the time so the zooms make more sense, as does weathersealing. When I go somewhere now I typically bring my 18-135 which is versatile enough for most uses. I'll pocket my DA21 as well, since that's so very nice indoors and for casual people pictures and is so tiny. The only problem is I have to plan to have somewhere to stash the 18-135 when not in use.

[clickclick]

Not exactly the same, but close, was running out the door the other day and looking at the DA* 16-50 versus 20-40 plus the 15, and went for the 16-50 to avoid having to change lenses - was headed out on the water, and simplicity of not changing lenses was the driving force. Ended up only using the 55-300 PLM though....

[Gary H Perth]

I have a holiday in Vietnam next year, taking the K-70. I have decided my key zooms will be: 10-17mm, 16-85mm and 55-300mm PLM. I may take one other as a lightweight, either the F35-70mm or the DA 16-45mm - both of these are pretty sharp and have quite good "macro".

For simple lightweight gear and low-light situations, I will also take couple of my Limited set, probably the 15mm and 21mm, and always a 50mm (either the FA 1.4 or the A 1.7). I am still considering the Limited 70mm as well. All the primes will be 49mm threads, so I can take on PL and one Grad-ND filter.

That is a kit of four zooms and four primes, which makes sense only because I am travelling by myself, so no companions who will be inconvenienced by my lens changes. No teleconverters and no close-up filters, Too fiddly.

[timb64]

I have a holiday in Vietnam next year, taking the K-70. I have decided my key zooms will be: 10-17mm, 16-85mm and 55-300mm PLM. I may take one other as a lightweight, either the F35-70mm or the DA 16-45mm - both of these are pretty sharp and have quite good "macro".

For simple lightweight gear and low-light situations, I will also take couple of my Limited set, probably the 15mm and 21mm, and always a 50mm (either the FA 1.4 or the A 1.7). I am still considering the Limited 70mm as well. All the primes will be 49mm threads, so I can take on PL and one Grad-ND filter.

That is a kit of four zooms and four primes, which makes sense only because I am travelling by myself, so no companions who will be inconvenienced by my lens changes. No teleconverters and no close-up filters, Too fiddly.

Have a great trip.My only word of caution would be that Vietnam can be extremely dusty and humid and you might want to limit the number of lens changes.Do you really want to carry eight lenses,some of which duplicate your basic zoom kit?

BTW I managed a ten week trip around SE Asia with just a K5ii and DA16-85WR no lens changing,no problems in low light situations such as temple interiors and really appreciated not carrying a lot of photographic kit in the climate.

https://flickr.com/photos/14468090@N00/sets/72157673006943271

[Gary H Perth]

Have a great trip.My only word of caution would be that Vietnam can be extremely dusty and humid and you might want to limit the number of lens changes.Do you really want to carry eight lenses,some of which duplicate your basic zoom kit?

BTW I managed a ten week trip around SE Asia with just a K5ii and DA16-85WR no lens changing,no problems in low light situations such as temple interiors and really appreciated not carrying a lot of photographic kit in the climate.

My favourites from Asia Trip | Flickr

Thanks for the advice, Tim B. I saw your flickr album some time ago. I admire both your pictures and your discipline. Great stuff.

I am on a small package tour through Vietnam, mostly in the major coastal towns - Saigon, Hoi An, Na Trang, Hue and Hanoi. I expect to have time to swap and clean lenses, but I agree the number of lenses sounds a bit obsessive-compulsive. I love my primes, although I expect that the 16-85 will do most of the work on this trip, supported by the 15mm and 21mm as lightweights.

How did you deal with low-light interior shots when flash is frowned on - ISO of 3200 and upwards?

[timb64]

I think I set ISO to 3200 max and then the results were generally acceptable

e.g.



A question I've asked before and never got an answer to is,would you lose much IQ by foregoing the 21mm and just cropping from the 15mm?

[ecostigny]

I think I set ISO to 3200 max and then the results were generally acceptable

e.g.



A question I've asked before and never got an answer to is,would you lose much IQ by foregoing the 21mm and just cropping from the 15mm?

Is this with the K-5ii? Looks pretty good on my screen.

[timb64]

Is this with the K-5ii? Looks pretty good on my screen.

Yes, K5ii with DA16-85WR wide open (f3.5),1/40 second.As it was taken at 16mm I could probably have dropped the shutter speed even more and either closed down the aperture or lowered the ISO but it’s a compromise between taking acceptable photos and enjoying the ambience of being somewhere like that (....and also not trying the patience of SWMBO too much with faffing over the camera!)

[ecostigny]

Yes, K5ii with DA16-85WR wide open (f3.5),1/40 second.As it was taken at 16mm I could probably have dropped the shutter speed even more and either closed down the aperture or lowered the ISO but it’s a compromise between taking acceptable photos and enjoying the ambience of being somewhere like that (....and also not trying the patience of SWMBO too much with faffing over the camera!)

My SWMBO would usually be in the gift shop, where she could spend a lot more time than I would normally need to get the picture!

[timb64]

My SWMBO would usually be in the gift shop, where she could spend a lot more time than I would normally need to get the picture!

Unfortunately gift shops aren't a major feature of Burmese temples