[davidvcd]

Hi all,

Between getting a K3 III, my 16-50mm not working anymore and hopefully be able to travel this year, I've been seriously looking at revamping my travel kit.

Current travel kit:
16-50mm broken, need a replacement
50-135mm very happy with it
55-300mm HD version

primes depending on destination
15mm (tough rarely) / 31mm / 43mm or 50mm FA 1.4 / 70mm or 77mm
I usually take the 31mm and 50mm for walkabouts and low light situations.

Volume and weight are a factor. WR very much appreciated.

1. would it be worth it to change the 55-300mm HD to PLM version, the K3 combined with the PL making up for the slower aperture. This would be the least interesting and slowest priority " upgrade though the cheapest. Weight are about the same but the HD is slightly wider and almost an inch shorter.

2. To replace the 16-50mm with the latest 16-50mm PLM. It would be expensive and come with an increase in weight and size. Looking at pictures would the new lens take up less width due to the sun hood ? I was thinking combining the 11-18mm with the 20-40mm too. this is my main priority.

3. I've been looking at the 11-18mm 2.8, but its pretty expensive. I do have use for the wider end.

It feels like I need to decide if the 20-40mm will do the job or I just suck it up and get the 16-50mm PLM. Get the 11-18mm if budget permits or there s a sale. Keep the 55-300mm HD for now even if I can get a good deal on the PLM version.

I wish there was a 50mm 1.4 weather sealed and light.

Thanks for any help !

[Mbaez]

Get the 55mm f/1.4, it's weather sealed, and the new 16-85 PLM,. On the ultra wide end it looks like it's not that crucial for you, so wait until you have the money for the 11-18, or go for a cheap Sigma 10-20 in the meantime.

[jumbleview]

What's wrong with 16-50? If SDM it could be converted to screw control.

[Sidney Porter]

I do not have any of the 55-300 but what I hear about the plm is the main benefit is faster auto focus rather than a huge upgrade in IQ. If you gap and priority is wide and replacing your broken 16-50 I would not focus on replacing the 55-300 since you expressed concerns on cost

[davidvcd]

What's wrong with 16-50? If SDM it could be converted to screw control.

The 16-50mm simply blocks when I try to change focal length. It is already screw drive converted.

[allanmh]

On my KP, my travel kit is the 15mm Ltd, the 20-40mm Ltd, and the 70mm Ltd. Since the 55-300mm PLM complements the K3iii so well, I would recommend those four lenses as a well-rounded travel kit.

[Sidney Porter]

Get the 55mm f/1.4, it's weather sealed, and the new 16-85 PLM,. On the ultra wide end it looks like it's not that crucial for you, so wait until you have the money for the 11-18, or go for a cheap Sigma 10-20 in the meantime.

I have the sigma 10-20 f4-5.6 used you can get them for $150 the constant 3.5 seems to go for $200.

I think I paid around $180 for mine it was new/old stock when sigma stopped making them. I am completely satisfied with the results for the price. I am sure the 11-18 is better but based upon cost I doubt I would ever consider upgrading vs spending that money somewhere else

[Gene D]

On my KP, my travel kit is the 15mm Ltd, the 20-40mm Ltd, and the 70mm Ltd. Since the 55-300mm PLM complements the K3iii so well, I would recommend those four lenses as a well-rounded travel kit.

This kit Allan mentions is the exact same kit I use as well---KP, 15mm, 20-40 (its also WR), and 70mm Ltd. I also have the 55-300 PLM which is a nice add, pairs well with the KP. All combined in a sling bag I can carry this easily on hikes or bikes. In the city, I leave behind the 55-300 PLM. I will sometime throw in an old 50mm f1.7 M prime depending on street shot needs, bokeh etc. It's light weight. Guess it depends on what your travel is but for range, weight and coverage I give this combo a thumbs up. Good luck!

[AlwaysAl]

Have you considered the D FA 28-105? It's weather sealed, reasonably priced and a great walk-around lens.

[i_trax]

For my traveling, the priority always was / is ,
good MACRO + 1 lens walk around kit capability.
For many years it was Sigma 17-70 2.8 - 4.5 MACRO ( the original , no HSM ) - good walk around lens , low light , tight places , indoor , evenings,
DA 18 - 250 , outdoors , daytime , good light.
Gradually Sigma was upgraded to 17 - 70 2.8 - 4.0 MACRO HSM Contemporary,
+ Sigma 18 - 250 MACRO ( Mark III , the latest smallest version ) / Sigma 18 - 300 MACRO HSM Contemporary.
The Pentax 55 - 300 is excellent lens but it is not one lens kit + poor MACRO.

I also did some European travels with Pentax Q-s1 + 01 + 06 + 08.

The DA* 11 - 18 is also brilliant performer but definitely not as my traveling companion , the same goes with K - 1 / K - 1II / DFA 28 - 105

[davidvcd]

Have you considered the D FA 28-105? It's weather sealed, reasonably priced and a great walk-around lens.

Not wide or fast enough for me, when I already have the 50-135 2.8.

[Settesz]

You could get 16-50 repaired. 16-50 PLM is great optically but it's a heavy horse to drag around.
When traveling I usually just take 16-85, best Pentax kit if you ask me, and 70Ltd if my wife feels like doing portraits.
Sometimes I add Sigma Art 30 or 55-300 PLM, but 16-85 is THE travel lens for me.

[jslifoaw]

The combination of 11-18, 16-50 PLM, and 55-300 PLM is outstanding.

You get WR/AW, fast/quiet focusing, and great quality. The DA* zooms aren’t light (roughly 700-800g each), but they’re quite dense so not bulky.

I just took this combination down to Antarctica and it’s an extremely capable solution for cold and snowy/wet conditions, and capturing all sorts of subjects that need accurate and fast AF. The AF with the PLM lenses can keep up with the high speed shooting the K3 III is capable of. This is the first body and lens combination where I think the burst shooting is fast enough to seriously use and has no real weaknesses.

[PKMike]

I recommend the upgrade to 55-300 PLM. It is closer in size (when retracted) to the 18-135 than it is to the HD 55-300 - VERY compact. Auto focus is night and day difference (lightning fast, does not hunt) from the HD version! IQ is somewhat better in my experience. I had DAL version then upgraded to HD WR when it came out, then upgraded to PLM when it came out. Well worth the upgrade! One of my favorite lenses. I have 60-250 which is better optically but it is a beast in comparison and MUCH slower to focus.

---------- Post added 02-05-22 at 04:22 PM ----------

my 16-50mm not working anymore

What a great opportunity! It seems to me that the the K-3 iii begs to be paired with the PLM 16-50. I almost bought them both recently, but upgraded to full frame (K-1ii w/ 28-105) instead. I still want a K-3iii but want the 16-50 PLM with it to take full advantage of AF capability. If it were me I would try to have both 16-50 PLM and 55-300 PLM. My 2 cents.

[UncleVanya]

I have the KP. I own many of the same lenses and some of those you have discussed getting.

For travel I’d suggest you consider one of these kits:

HD DA 18-50 RE
HD DA 55-300 PLM RE

Or

HD DA 20-40
HD DA 55-300 PLM RE

Or

HD 20-40/2.8-4
DA 50-135/2.8
HD DA 1.4x TC (gives you a 70-280/4)

Any of these might pair up with the DA 15 also.

Here’s my KP with the 18-50/55-300:

SKB photography “go box” by -vanya_42nd-