Favorite Travel lens

Decided to leave the K1 and DFA's at home for this trip and travel light taking my favourite travel set up, K3/18-135 and it did a good job of these "snapshots" (which is what they are).

Critiques and comments appreciated, particularly on No 8, the "boat in the cave shot" ( ISO 51,2000 hand held ).

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Daronl

Some nice images there, especially the boat in the grotto.

Having just returned from a week away i have decided the DFA 24-70 whilst a great lens is not an ideal "travel" lens due to it's weight. Perhaps I should not have sold the old FA 24-90 after all.

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Peter



My Flickr page

If you hadn't told us about the lens you used, most of us (definitely myself) would not have been able to guess from the images alone.

When you said 'travel lens', there could only really be one. The rest are great (including the excellent 16-85 and 28-105) but they're either bigger or don't have the range.

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All the gear with no idea

Nice set of shots in some very contrasty lighting.. After all the eurphoria surrounding the K1. The K3 is still very hard to beat...

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K-1Gripped K-1 ungripped K-5ii K7 Various lenses

Stuart..

Sorry about the portrait orientations ; don't why that happened so hear thry are again

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Daronl

I invested in an 18-135 lens this year, Daron, primarily to cover a river cruise holiday. I agree with you that it is a formidable travel lens and I am well pleased with it.

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Regards,
Mike

Every day's a holiday!

Really nice images, I also like the boat in the cave.

I'm seriously thinking about the 18-135 or the 18-270. I'm sick and tired of changing lenses when I'm out and about. I need one go-to lens for architecture and street shots, has anyone tried the 18-270?

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Beautiful travel set. The boat one rocks. A good demonstration that high iso shot is better then no shot I often take the K3 instead of K1 due to weight, it never disappoints

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'Photography...it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten....' (Aaron Siskind)

Hi Carol,

In answer to your commentary, I have owned the Tamron and Sigmas equivalent to the Pentax 18-270, both of which were sold to buy the Pentax 18-270.

All ( invlufing the Pentax) were at best disappointing, at worst not usable at the extreme ends and particularly poor wide open.

I bought the 18-135 Pentax because of a comment John Riley made in respect of a review where he actually stated in his opinion after using it the lens was very capable (given that the review might have undersold the capability of the lens).

In my view it is in a different league to the 18-270 Pentax even when a 1.7x conv is fitted.

I never cease to wonder at this great little lens, it is a gem and gas been hammered over the last six years but always delivers.

I kept the K3 just to use with this little aps lens despite having two K1s

It is my "go to" travel lens and despite having the DFA 28-105 FF, it will remain so

Regards

ver

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Daronl

It's my 'go to' travel lens as well. It's light, with fast & accurate focussing and produces very sharp images for a lens at it's price point. The only downside - a little CA around the edges, but it's easily cleaned up (very easily in Lightroom!). It's also WR, which can be a bonus.

I'd definately recommend it.

Phil

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K-5iiS; K-r; ME Super; ME; DA* 16-50 f2.8; DA 18-135 WR; DA 55-300 WR; HD DA 15mm F4 ED AL Limited; FA 50mm f1.4; A50mm f1.7; DAL 18-55mm; M40mm f2.8; + assorted non-Pentax lenses

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I agree with all of this, it also has the silent DC focus motor that seem to just work properly! Mine has spent a lot of time bouncing around on my rucksack hip belt and has never missed a beat.
The 16-85 is a better lens but much bigger/heavier. The 18-135 is perfect when you don't want the weight and a long reach.

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Bob

Being an 'old glass' merchant I tend to take the Tamron A03 28-200 on my travels. Many of the shots in my gallery were taken with it and it has never disappointed. Its utility can be judged in that they are rarely seen for sale. It goes well with either a K5 or K3.

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Both the *istDS and the K5 are incurably addicted to old glass

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I actually owned the first version of the Tamron A03 28-200 and made the mistake after a few years, of "upgrading" to the 18-270 DI, which whilst being an "OK" performer left me a little deflated by comparison.

The A03 28-200 is certainly a great travel lens and actually would be very useful on a full frame K1 because I guess you won't loose the wide end (28mm) to the APS Format where it becomes a 42mm field of view.

Now, I wish I still had it,

Regards

Daronl

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Daronl

What's the building in the second image? Looks very nice, I can see myself living there!!

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Gareth
Welsh Photographer

My outfit: K1 gripped - K3ii - two Z-1P - Pentax D FA 24-70mm - Sigma 70-200mm OS HSM - Pentax modified DA* 60-250mm f4 - Irix 15mm Firefly - Pentax FA 35mm - FA 50mm - Sigma EX 20mm - FA 28-70mm f4 - Tamron SP 90mm macro - Pentax AF 540 FGZ II

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Nice set the combination works well. They look sharp and the col's look punchy.

Regards Ian