20-40 vs 16-85 what would you bring for travel?

Wasp · 12-20-2019, 12:20 PM

With no experience of either lens, I can only guess that it comes down to the versatility of the 16-85 or the pixie dust of the 20-40. With the latter you might miss out on some shots but the extra magic of the Limited would make up for that. Quantity, i.e. lots of pictures or the quality of a few special shots?

parinya-ekparinya · 12-20-2019, 12:57 PM

For travelling, I will bring along only one or two lenses. My experience teaches me that changing a lens is not always an option, especially when our photography involves people or animals. I will bring with my 18-135mm. Anyway, I would rather use 16-85mm if I own one.

If you know beforehand what are you going to solely shoot in a location, however, you may change the lens before going there and stick with it for that particular location. In the past, I usually travel with other people and sometimes I only have 10-15 minutes for a location; those people couldn't wait for me to set up my gear. Anyway, YMMV.

dbs · 12-20-2019, 04:21 PM

Can you zoom with your feet..? if not the 16 - 85 is the one plus the 10 - 17 ( well I like it ),and anything else that will fit in your bag 50 - 135

Dave

EssJay · 12-20-2019, 11:12 PM

Glad to hear you've decided to shelf the honking 50-135mm. For me, the enjoyment I get from travel is directly linked to the size (or lack of) and simplicity of my luggage ... but of course everyone is different. Personally I'd take only the 20-40. That's it. Small, light, and unobtrusive, and fairly fast at the wide end where you need it most for darker interiors like churches and such. If absolutely necessary you could pocket the 70mm limited and still come in lighter than the 16-85. The 16-85 is similar to my Sigma 17-50 in size and weight. Excellent for a couple of days of shooting, but after walking around for a couple of weeks with it hanging off my shoulder and neck, waving around the huge front element/hood, it gets old fast ... just my opinion of course.

...as for traveling with a fisheye lens, its not my cup of tea. While its fun to have a handful of fishy images from a vacation, looking at an entire vacations worth of fishy images becomes a bit ... dare I say it - gimmicky

. If a wide angle lens is important, a rectilinear like your 14mm (or 15mm, may yours R.I.P) is in my opinion much more useful because you can shoot it all day every day and the effect never gets old. I bring my fisheye when I travel in my own vehicle and don't have to carry it daily, otherwise it stays home ... once again, this is just opinion and I'm in no way slagging others who like to travel with their fisheye.

- its interesting to see how divided the responses are - what to bring traveling is such a subjective subject!

Wasp · 12-22-2019, 11:44 AM

Originally posted by EssJay

Glad to hear you've decided to shelf the honking 50-135mm. For me, the enjoyment I get from travel is directly linked to the size (or lack of) and simplicity of my luggage ... but of course everyone is different. Personally I'd take only the 20-40. That's it. Small, light, and unobtrusive, and fairly fast at the wide end where you need it most for darker interiors like churches and such. If absolutely necessary you could pocket the 70mm limited and still come in lighter than the 16-85. The 16-85 is similar to my Sigma 17-50 in size and weight. Excellent for a couple of days of shooting, but after walking around for a couple of weeks with it hanging off my shoulder and neck, waving around the huge front element/hood, it gets old fast ... just my opinion of course.

A great big fast zoom has it uses, but stealthy it is not. I took my Samsung NX1 with 16-50mm f/2-2.8 with me on my commute last week. I felt very conspicuous...

ecostigny · 12-27-2019, 10:54 AM

Originally posted by timb64

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

I would think not.

**clickclick** · 12-29-2019, 05:46 PM

Originally posted by Wasp

With no experience of either lens, I can only guess that it comes down to the versatility of the 16-85 or the pixie dust of the 20-40. With the latter you might miss out on some shots but the extra magic of the Limited would make up for that. Quantity, i.e. lots of pictures or the quality of a few special shots?

I think the versatility wins. The 16-85 is a great lens unto itself (I've had both), and as much as I like the mythical pixie dust, there's a point where I think the versatility wins. Especially from the travel angle when you might not be able to return, and you can't back up any further/get any closer etc.

ecostigny · 12-30-2019, 10:30 AM

Originally posted by clickclick

I think the versatility wins. The 16-85 is a great lens unto itself (I've had both), and as much as I like the mythical pixie dust, there's a point where I think the versatility wins. Especially from the travel angle when you might not be able to return, and you can't back up any further/get any closer etc.

The 16-85 covers almost all the focal lengths that I've found myself using during my own travels, so it would be a good choice if I was limiting myself to one lens.

**clickclick** · 12-30-2019, 11:21 AM

Originally posted by ecostigny

The 16-85 covers almost all the focal lengths that I've found myself using during my own travels, so it would be a good choice if I was limiting myself to one lens.

Wonder how it pairs up with the 1.4x TC? Might be an interesting way to add a little reach.

ecostigny · 12-30-2019, 02:26 PM

Originally posted by clickclick

Wonder how it pairs up with the 1.4x TC? Might be an interesting way to add a little reach.

The 16-85 is a relatively slow lens, so it might not be the best candidate for a teleconverter (even a 1.4x).

**clickclick** · 12-30-2019, 02:43 PM

Originally posted by ecostigny

The 16-85 is a relatively slow lens, so it might not be the best candidate for a teleconverter (even a 1.4x).

Quite true

Gary H Perth · 02-09-2020, 01:31 AM

Originally posted by Gary H Perth

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?

The trip is now uncertain, scheduled to leave next weekend to BKK and then to Vietnam. All the photos in the media with local using masks and disinfectants leaves me worried that I may be stuck in quarantine somewhere along my trip. I am less scared of the infection than I am scared that I will be isolated because of somebody else, and the trip will be nothing like as enjoyable as I was expecting. I may delay by a couple of months.

If I go, my kit will be a bit smaller now: 16-85mm, 55-300mm PLM, 15mm and 21mm Limited, plus one of the 35mm Limited, 40mm Limited or 50mm Macro.

noelpolar · 02-09-2020, 06:35 AM

Originally posted by Gary H Perth

The trip is now uncertain, scheduled to leave next weekend to BKK and then to Vietnam. All the photos in the media with local using masks and disinfectants leaves me worried that I may be stuck in quarantine somewhere along my trip. I am less scared of the infection than I am scared that I will be isolated because of somebody else, and the trip will be nothing like as enjoyable as I was expecting. I may delay by a couple of months.

If I go, my kit will be a bit smaller now: 16-85mm, 55-300mm PLM, 15mm and 21mm Limited, plus one of the 35mm Limited, 40mm Limited or 50mm Macro.

Thats disapointing for you. I love Vietnam.... did a similar trip to yours a few years back... just with a few primes 15, 21 etc pluis a 300mm.... I find lens changes simple, quick and no problems.... I'd happily just go with a 21, 31 or 35ish and 300.... and 10-17.... there are shots everywhere.....

300mm....

300mm.... frogs in a bomb crater

timb64 · 02-09-2020, 11:35 AM

Originally posted by Gary H Perth

The trip is now uncertain, scheduled to leave next weekend to BKK and then to Vietnam. All the photos in the media with local using masks and disinfectants leaves me worried that I may be stuck in quarantine somewhere along my trip. I am less scared of the infection than I am scared that I will be isolated because of somebody else, and the trip will be nothing like as enjoyable as I was expecting. I may delay by a couple of months.

If I go, my kit will be a bit smaller now: 16-85mm, 55-300mm PLM, 15mm and 21mm Limited, plus one of the 35mm Limited, 40mm Limited or 50mm Macro.

I think your plan to delay by a couple of months is a wise one, hopefully by then the media frenzy will have blown over.Good luck!

Gary H Perth · 02-13-2020, 05:12 PM

Originally posted by noelpolar

Thats disapointing for you. I love Vietnam.... did a similar trip to yours a few years back... just with a few primes 15, 21 etc pluis a 300mm.... I find lens changes simple, quick and no problems.... I'd happily just go with a 21, 31 or 35ish and 300.... and 10-17.... there are shots everywhere.....

I have changed plans again after a number of conversations with specialist travel medicine professionals and daily checks of WHO website, I am going. Three days in Bangkok to reacclimatise myself with being overseas, then two weeks in Vietnam.

The suggestion of a 10-17 is a teaser, since I have one and it's very light and goes much wider than the 15mm. I expect that the 16-85mm will be the lens I use almost all the time, then the 21mm as a lightweight walkaround.

12-20-2019, 11:12 PM	#49
EssJay Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Kamloops B.C Photos: Gallery Posts: 83	Glad to hear you've decided to shelf the honking 50-135mm. For me, the enjoyment I get from travel is directly linked to the size (or lack of) and simplicity of my luggage ... but of course everyone is different. Personally I'd take only the 20-40. That's it. Small, light, and unobtrusive, and fairly fast at the wide end where you need it most for darker interiors like churches and such. If absolutely necessary you could pocket the 70mm limited and still come in lighter than the 16-85. The 16-85 is similar to my Sigma 17-50 in size and weight. Excellent for a couple of days of shooting, but after walking around for a couple of weeks with it hanging off my shoulder and neck, waving around the huge front element/hood, it gets old fast ... just my opinion of course. ...as for traveling with a fisheye lens, its not my cup of tea. While its fun to have a handful of fishy images from a vacation, looking at an entire vacations worth of fishy images becomes a bit ... dare I say it - gimmicky. If a wide angle lens is important, a rectilinear like your 14mm (or 15mm, may yours R.I.P) is in my opinion much more useful because you can shoot it all day every day and the effect never gets old. I bring my fisheye when I travel in my own vehicle and don't have to carry it daily, otherwise it stays home ... once again, this is just opinion and I'm in no way slagging others who like to travel with their fisheye. - its interesting to see how divided the responses are - what to bring traveling is such a subjective subject!

02-09-2020, 06:35 AM	#58
noelpolar Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Goolwa, SA Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by Gary H Perth The trip is now uncertain, scheduled to leave next weekend to BKK and then to Vietnam. All the photos in the media with local using masks and disinfectants leaves me worried that I may be stuck in quarantine somewhere along my trip. I am less scared of the infection than I am scared that I will be isolated because of somebody else, and the trip will be nothing like as enjoyable as I was expecting. I may delay by a couple of months. If I go, my kit will be a bit smaller now: 16-85mm, 55-300mm PLM, 15mm and 21mm Limited, plus one of the 35mm Limited, 40mm Limited or 50mm Macro. Thats disapointing for you. I love Vietnam.... did a similar trip to yours a few years back... just with a few primes 15, 21 etc pluis a 300mm.... I find lens changes simple, quick and no problems.... I'd happily just go with a 21, 31 or 35ish and 300.... and 10-17.... there are shots everywhere..... 300mm.... 300mm.... frogs in a bomb crater Last edited by noelpolar; 02-09-2020 at 06:43 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
IQ Comparison: 16-85 HD VS 20-40 Limited	Blacknight659	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	5	07-05-2017 08:35 PM
K-5 vs MZ-S vs LX vs PZ-1p vs ist*D vs K10D vs K20D vs K-7 vs.......	Steelski	Pentax K-5 & K-5 II	2	06-28-2017 04:59 PM
Lens opinion: 18-35 vs 12-24 vs 20-40 vs 16-50	Greinerstudio	Pentax DSLR Discussion	38	06-25-2016 11:05 PM
DA 16-85 vs. DA* 16-50; which is a better travel lens?	Newtophotos	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	41	01-08-2016 08:32 AM
Please create a review! 16-85 WR vs 20-40 WR	Blacknight659	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	19	12-22-2014 06:45 AM

12-20-2019, 12:20 PM	#46
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,660	With no experience of either lens, I can only guess that it comes down to the versatility of the 16-85 or the pixie dust of the 20-40. With the latter you might miss out on some shots but the extra magic of the Limited would make up for that. Quantity, i.e. lots of pictures or the quality of a few special shots?

12-20-2019, 12:57 PM	#47
parinya-ekparinya Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Bangkok Photos: Gallery Posts: 114	For travelling, I will bring along only one or two lenses. My experience teaches me that changing a lens is not always an option, especially when our photography involves people or animals. I will bring with my 18-135mm. Anyway, I would rather use 16-85mm if I own one. If you know beforehand what are you going to solely shoot in a location, however, you may change the lens before going there and stick with it for that particular location. In the past, I usually travel with other people and sometimes I only have 10-15 minutes for a location; those people couldn't wait for me to set up my gear. Anyway, YMMV.

12-20-2019, 04:21 PM	#48
dbs Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Clare Valley S A Photos: Albums Posts: 7,563	Can you zoom with your feet..? if not the 16 - 85 is the one plus the 10 - 17 ( well I like it ),and anything else that will fit in your bag 50 - 135 Dave

12-22-2019, 11:44 AM	#50
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,660	Originally posted by EssJay Glad to hear you've decided to shelf the honking 50-135mm. For me, the enjoyment I get from travel is directly linked to the size (or lack of) and simplicity of my luggage ... but of course everyone is different. Personally I'd take only the 20-40. That's it. Small, light, and unobtrusive, and fairly fast at the wide end where you need it most for darker interiors like churches and such. If absolutely necessary you could pocket the 70mm limited and still come in lighter than the 16-85. The 16-85 is similar to my Sigma 17-50 in size and weight. Excellent for a couple of days of shooting, but after walking around for a couple of weeks with it hanging off my shoulder and neck, waving around the huge front element/hood, it gets old fast ... just my opinion of course. A great big fast zoom has it uses, but stealthy it is not. I took my Samsung NX1 with 16-50mm f/2-2.8 with me on my commute last week. I felt very conspicuous...

12-27-2019, 10:54 AM	#51
ecostigny Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Branford, CT Posts: 561	Originally posted by timb64 Unfortunately gift shops aren't a major feature of Burmese temples I would think not.

12-29-2019, 05:46 PM	#52
clickclick Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2016 Location: East Coast Posts: 2,903	Originally posted by Wasp With no experience of either lens, I can only guess that it comes down to the versatility of the 16-85 or the pixie dust of the 20-40. With the latter you might miss out on some shots but the extra magic of the Limited would make up for that. Quantity, i.e. lots of pictures or the quality of a few special shots? I think the versatility wins. The 16-85 is a great lens unto itself (I've had both), and as much as I like the mythical pixie dust, there's a point where I think the versatility wins. Especially from the travel angle when you might not be able to return, and you can't back up any further/get any closer etc.

12-30-2019, 10:30 AM	#53
ecostigny Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Branford, CT Posts: 561	Originally posted by clickclick I think the versatility wins. The 16-85 is a great lens unto itself (I've had both), and as much as I like the mythical pixie dust, there's a point where I think the versatility wins. Especially from the travel angle when you might not be able to return, and you can't back up any further/get any closer etc. The 16-85 covers almost all the focal lengths that I've found myself using during my own travels, so it would be a good choice if I was limiting myself to one lens.

12-30-2019, 11:21 AM	#54
clickclick Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2016 Location: East Coast Posts: 2,903	Originally posted by ecostigny The 16-85 covers almost all the focal lengths that I've found myself using during my own travels, so it would be a good choice if I was limiting myself to one lens. Wonder how it pairs up with the 1.4x TC? Might be an interesting way to add a little reach.

12-30-2019, 02:26 PM	#55
ecostigny Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Branford, CT Posts: 561	Originally posted by clickclick Wonder how it pairs up with the 1.4x TC? Might be an interesting way to add a little reach. The 16-85 is a relatively slow lens, so it might not be the best candidate for a teleconverter (even a 1.4x).

12-30-2019, 02:43 PM	#56
clickclick Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2016 Location: East Coast Posts: 2,903	Originally posted by ecostigny The 16-85 is a relatively slow lens, so it might not be the best candidate for a teleconverter (even a 1.4x). Quite true

02-09-2020, 01:31 AM	#57
Gary H Perth Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Floreat Posts: 623	Originally posted by Gary H Perth 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? The trip is now uncertain, scheduled to leave next weekend to BKK and then to Vietnam. All the photos in the media with local using masks and disinfectants leaves me worried that I may be stuck in quarantine somewhere along my trip. I am less scared of the infection than I am scared that I will be isolated because of somebody else, and the trip will be nothing like as enjoyable as I was expecting. I may delay by a couple of months. If I go, my kit will be a bit smaller now: 16-85mm, 55-300mm PLM, 15mm and 21mm Limited, plus one of the 35mm Limited, 40mm Limited or 50mm Macro.

02-09-2020, 11:35 AM	#59
timb64 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: /Situation : Doing my best to avoid idiots! Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,510	Originally posted by Gary H Perth The trip is now uncertain, scheduled to leave next weekend to BKK and then to Vietnam. All the photos in the media with local using masks and disinfectants leaves me worried that I may be stuck in quarantine somewhere along my trip. I am less scared of the infection than I am scared that I will be isolated because of somebody else, and the trip will be nothing like as enjoyable as I was expecting. I may delay by a couple of months. If I go, my kit will be a bit smaller now: 16-85mm, 55-300mm PLM, 15mm and 21mm Limited, plus one of the 35mm Limited, 40mm Limited or 50mm Macro. I think your plan to delay by a couple of months is a wise one, hopefully by then the media frenzy will have blown over.Good luck!

02-13-2020, 05:12 PM	#60
Gary H Perth Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Floreat Posts: 623	Originally posted by noelpolar Thats disapointing for you. I love Vietnam.... did a similar trip to yours a few years back... just with a few primes 15, 21 etc pluis a 300mm.... I find lens changes simple, quick and no problems.... I'd happily just go with a 21, 31 or 35ish and 300.... and 10-17.... there are shots everywhere..... I have changed plans again after a number of conversations with specialist travel medicine professionals and daily checks of WHO website, I am going. Three days in Bangkok to reacclimatise myself with being overseas, then two weeks in Vietnam. The suggestion of a 10-17 is a teaser, since I have one and it's very light and goes much wider than the 15mm. I expect that the 16-85mm will be the lens I use almost all the time, then the 21mm as a lightweight walkaround.