Cuba!

I'm off to Cuba in a few weeks and wondered which lenses people would reccommend for this type of trip. I don't want to spend the whole trip looking through the viewfinder but want a lens that is sharp, fast and not tooo heavy.

I,ve got the following on offer:

Kit lens
Sigma 17-70
Sigma 28-105
Pentax 28-70 F4
Pentax F35-70
Pentax F35-105
Pentax F50 1.7

I really quite like the F35-70. I went away the other weekend thinking I had it on the camera but it was the F50 1.7 and I found that I kept wanting a wider lens.

I'm also thinking about getting the DA35 f2.4 for this trip. By how much would it outperform the F35-70? Wouldyou go with just one prime or reccommend a zoom? I think it will be mainly landscapes, old buildings and cars, and street scenes.

Also a choice of cameras..K200d and *istDS

The *istDS is a little smaller and lighter, but it's still a dslr, would you favour one over the other?

I can afford the DA35 but not much more.

Also any tips for shooting in Cuba, places to see etc?

Thanks

Andy

The 50/1.7 @1.7 will be wonderful for old buildings and cars, and street scenes.

I'd also take the 17-70

No doubt there are Lonely Planet and Rough Guides to Cuba that will give you plenty of ideas of what to see.

Unless you have some specific style in mind, I would suggest travelling light. General purpose zoom - 17-70mm from your list. Longer lens if required - you don't really have a suitable lens but the 50-200mm can be picked up for £99 from the web (SRS) and the 55-300mm is better but bulkier and more expensive.

A fast 35mm would be nice to add, for hand held night shooting. The f2.4 will be fine. Don't forget you can up- the ISO to make lenses more hand=holdable.

Spare batteries. Spare cards.

Personally I would go for the 17-70mm and the 50mm F1.7 with the K200D

Enjoy your trip to Cuba, it is a place I would love to go to

Actually, noticing that 50mm f1.7 again, if you follow Offertonhatter's good advice then you could add the 50-200mm from the SRS eBay shop for just £99 and extend the versatility of your kit for minimal outlay.

And of course minimal increase of weight and bulk.

Of the two camera bodies you have, the later one may well give better results, much as I like the *istDS.

Pentax 50-200 WR will be really nice. Sigma 28-105 should also be a useful range from what you have.

Regards,

Jeeess

I had a great time in Tenerife (town and landscape shooting) with just the 15mm and the F35-70mm. A great lightweight combo. But as you have the 17-70, I'd go with just that, maybe adding the 35 f2.4 or 50 f1.7 for low light/shallow DOF. You'll not notice much difference between the 35 2.4 and the F35-70mm at equivalent f-stops but the speed of the 2.4 allows for shallower DOF.

Thanks for all the replies. 17-70 and 50 1.7 it is then.

Andy