Opinions on a good travel lens

andysask · 04-18-2011, 10:53 PM

Hey Pentaxers

I've been hauling around a takumar A 28-80 on most of my trips on my k1000. It has done me well. Its rugged and dependable which i love but i've been thinking of switching it up. I like the looks of the 35-70mm A series with the nice manual focus on them, but don't really want to lose that reach. The F and FA series are nice, but I want lens built around manual focus in the 28-80 range. Anyone have any suggestions, maybe a sig or other third party that fits the description? Looking for something that can take a beating at the bottom of a canoe, I'm not looking for the best bokeh or low light performer! (but it would be a plus!)

Thanks!

tsangpo · 04-18-2011, 11:56 PM

You again loose the 28-35 range but the A series 35-105 is considered pretty good as far as older zoom lenses go.

Check out the user reviews https://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-Pentax-A-35-105mm-F3.5-Zoom-Lens.html

wlachan · 04-19-2011, 01:54 AM

Smc pentax-a 28-135/4?

BillM · 04-19-2011, 02:36 AM

Hi Andy, A35-105/3.5 Tsangpo mentions is a heck of lens.Do fair amount of canoeing
myself.Bought the A70-210/4 way back in the early eighties cause the camera shop owner sold the 35-105 I really wanted.Have them both now,heck,if its a BIG canoe
bring em both.Standard float kit for along time was a ME super or P3n & 70-210 in an old surplus .30 cal ammo can.Just deciding between those 2 lens is a hard choice.
When all is considered,probably have to go with the 35-105.Throw something
like a 1.4x TC in there and thats a killer one lens kit you could cover a lot of territory with,would travel with a fairly small foot print and not weigh all that much.

**Moe49** · 04-19-2011, 05:32 AM

'Vivitar Series I 28-105 f/2.8-3.8' is my favorite film camera 'vacation' lens. I am on my third one [previous two were stolen!].

Vivitar Series 1 28-105mm 2.8-3.8 Lens Reviews - Pentax Third-Party Lens Review Database

PGillin · 04-19-2011, 01:48 PM

I was going to suggest the Vivitar!

The M-series 40-80 is good if you can find it, and the Soligor C/D 35-70 F2.5-3.5 Macro is SUPERB in all of its many iterations. If you find a good M 40-80 at a decent price, get it, and if you find ANY Soligor C/D 35-70, even a re-brand (Mine has a different front ring for a Canadian photo im-ex) you should pick it up.

GeneV · 04-19-2011, 01:57 PM

For me, it is usually the Voigtländer 40mm/2 Ultron. I am a simple guy.

The combo of an MX and this lens will fit in a good sized coat pocket or a small waist pack. If I'm not so simple, I may carry an FA77 and/or an M20 in the other pockets.

Tom in Delaware · 04-19-2011, 04:32 PM

Tamron 59a, 159a, SP 27a or 44a Adaptall-2 28-70/28-80 zooms are all good performers. I have the 59a and the 44a - between the two, I like the 59a better - it is as sharp at 28mm as any of my primes and more than acceptable at 70mm. It cost me $9.99 on Ebay and may be available from KEH.

**grux** · 04-19-2011, 08:34 PM

i'm quite satisfied with my a35-70 f4 when travelling. size, weight, quality all very good. if i need wider i would just put on my m28. this zoom is the only one i own.

Swift1 · 04-19-2011, 08:51 PM

There is a SMC Pentax-A 28-80mm that seems to get much better reviews than the Takumar-A 28-80mm. There is also a non SMC, Pentax-A version that is probably the same lens as what you have.
The A 35-70/4 seems like a great lens also.

The A 35-105 is a superb lens but at the going rate, I don't think I would put it in the bottom of a canoe

andysask · 04-19-2011, 09:54 PM

Thanks Everyone! Its always interesting to see what other people are carrying along with them. I missed out on a 35-105 the other day while I was picking up a FA 35mm locally. Someone else got to it first, but your probably right I wouldn't want it rolling around on the bottom of my canoe! I'll have to do some more looking into it and wait till one of you posts their zoom on the marketplace!

kheldour · 04-19-2011, 10:31 PM

I recently bought a used Sigma 18-125 HSM. It is my "always on" lens and I love it because of it's almost quiet HSM autofocus drive.

GeneV · 04-20-2011, 05:15 AM

Originally posted by kheldour

I recently bought a used Sigma 18-125 HSM. It is my "always on" lens and I love it because of it's almost quiet HSM autofocus drive.

Joerg,

This was posted in the film forum, so I think the original poster is looking for a lens to cover the full 135 film format. The Sigma would not work for that, to my knowledge.

andysask · 04-20-2011, 06:36 AM

There is also a lack of autofocus motor on my k1000, but it does sound like a nice lens!

GeneV · 04-20-2011, 07:28 PM

I don't know about the Sigma with its HSM, but many AF lenses are quite nice on MF cameras. The FA77 is one of my favorites on all my cameras.

04-18-2011, 10:53 PM	#1
andysask New Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 16	Opinions on a good travel lens Hey Pentaxers I've been hauling around a takumar A 28-80 on most of my trips on my k1000. It has done me well. Its rugged and dependable which i love but i've been thinking of switching it up. I like the looks of the 35-70mm A series with the nice manual focus on them, but don't really want to lose that reach. The F and FA series are nice, but I want lens built around manual focus in the 28-80 range. Anyone have any suggestions, maybe a sig or other third party that fits the description? Looking for something that can take a beating at the bottom of a canoe, I'm not looking for the best bokeh or low light performer! (but it would be a plus!) Thanks!

04-19-2011, 05:32 AM	#5
Moe49 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Santa Cruz Mtns. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 874	'Vivitar Series I 28-105 f/2.8-3.8' is my favorite film camera 'vacation' lens. I am on my third one [previous two were stolen!]. Vivitar Series 1 28-105mm 2.8-3.8 Lens Reviews - Pentax Third-Party Lens Review Database Last edited by Moe49; 04-20-2011 at 01:57 PM.

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04-18-2011, 11:56 PM	#2
tsangpo Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 78	You again loose the 28-35 range but the A series 35-105 is considered pretty good as far as older zoom lenses go. Check out the user reviews https://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-Pentax-A-35-105mm-F3.5-Zoom-Lens.html

04-19-2011, 01:54 AM	#3
wlachan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 2,625	Smc pentax-a 28-135/4?

04-19-2011, 02:36 AM	#4
BillM Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Ferguson, Mo. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,348	Hi Andy, A35-105/3.5 Tsangpo mentions is a heck of lens.Do fair amount of canoeing myself.Bought the A70-210/4 way back in the early eighties cause the camera shop owner sold the 35-105 I really wanted.Have them both now,heck,if its a BIG canoe bring em both.Standard float kit for along time was a ME super or P3n & 70-210 in an old surplus .30 cal ammo can.Just deciding between those 2 lens is a hard choice. When all is considered,probably have to go with the 35-105.Throw something like a 1.4x TC in there and thats a killer one lens kit you could cover a lot of territory with,would travel with a fairly small foot print and not weigh all that much.

04-19-2011, 01:48 PM	#6
PGillin Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Southern Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 343	I was going to suggest the Vivitar! The M-series 40-80 is good if you can find it, and the Soligor C/D 35-70 F2.5-3.5 Macro is SUPERB in all of its many iterations. If you find a good M 40-80 at a decent price, get it, and if you find ANY Soligor C/D 35-70, even a re-brand (Mine has a different front ring for a Canadian photo im-ex) you should pick it up.

04-19-2011, 01:57 PM	#7
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	For me, it is usually the Voigtländer 40mm/2 Ultron. I am a simple guy. The combo of an MX and this lens will fit in a good sized coat pocket or a small waist pack. If I'm not so simple, I may carry an FA77 and/or an M20 in the other pockets.

04-19-2011, 04:32 PM	#8
Tom in Delaware Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Delaware Posts: 177	Tamron 59a, 159a, SP 27a or 44a Adaptall-2 28-70/28-80 zooms are all good performers. I have the 59a and the 44a - between the two, I like the 59a better - it is as sharp at 28mm as any of my primes and more than acceptable at 70mm. It cost me $9.99 on Ebay and may be available from KEH.

04-19-2011, 08:34 PM	#9
grux Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Toronto Photos: Albums Posts: 1,060	i'm quite satisfied with my a35-70 f4 when travelling. size, weight, quality all very good. if i need wider i would just put on my m28. this zoom is the only one i own.

04-19-2011, 08:51 PM	#10
Swift1 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Oregon Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,079	There is a SMC Pentax-A 28-80mm that seems to get much better reviews than the Takumar-A 28-80mm. There is also a non SMC, Pentax-A version that is probably the same lens as what you have. The A 35-70/4 seems like a great lens also. The A 35-105 is a superb lens but at the going rate, I don't think I would put it in the bottom of a canoe

04-19-2011, 09:54 PM	#11
andysask New Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 16 Original Poster	Thanks Everyone! Its always interesting to see what other people are carrying along with them. I missed out on a 35-105 the other day while I was picking up a FA 35mm locally. Someone else got to it first, but your probably right I wouldn't want it rolling around on the bottom of my canoe! I'll have to do some more looking into it and wait till one of you posts their zoom on the marketplace!

04-19-2011, 10:31 PM	#12
kheldour Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Cologne Photos: Gallery Posts: 306	I recently bought a used Sigma 18-125 HSM. It is my "always on" lens and I love it because of it's almost quiet HSM autofocus drive.

04-20-2011, 05:15 AM	#13
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	Originally posted by kheldour I recently bought a used Sigma 18-125 HSM. It is my "always on" lens and I love it because of it's almost quiet HSM autofocus drive. Joerg, This was posted in the film forum, so I think the original poster is looking for a lens to cover the full 135 film format. The Sigma would not work for that, to my knowledge.

04-20-2011, 06:36 AM	#14
andysask New Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 16 Original Poster	There is also a lack of autofocus motor on my k1000, but it does sound like a nice lens!

04-20-2011, 07:28 PM	#15
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	I don't know about the Sigma with its HSM, but many AF lenses are quite nice on MF cameras. The FA77 is one of my favorites on all my cameras.