HOLIDAY CAMERA SET UP

The Tamron AF 70-300mm Di LD only goes into "macro" at 180-300mm, and can't focus closer than 0.95m - nothing like a proper macro lens.

Not if you buy a decent lens. There's a good chance (if you buy wisely) that you'll recover most if not all of the cost by selling it on your return.

Just to take you down a slightly different route, I bought a bridge camera for a 'trip of a lifetime' to New Zealand. Fortunately I have no mobility issues, but nonetheless didn't want to cart all my kit with me and was prepared for the trade-off against my Pentax DSLR.

The camera did everything I wanted, including video, and I don't regret a penny of the expediture At the time Pentax didn't do an equivalent, but they do now!

Mike P has an 18-250 for sale - link maybe that is an idea?

You can always sell it on again after your holiday.

I am trying to resist it myself at the moment .

Gwyn.. For another £60 can get it new with warranty. How does this lens rate? It is not a lens I thought of getting. An interesting prospect, though. Thanks for the pointer.
JohnX. I took a fuji bridge camera to NZ, and it did OK, but it doesn't give the versitility in processing the shots that a dslr would give. Cannot see me going there again. I have a son and grandchildren in Wellington. Beautiful country but full of contrasts in both people and scenery.
regards Thoramay.

The 18-250 is commonly thought to be the best super zoom available for Pentax, and you'll find a lot of impressive images taken with it.

Bear in mind though that it has significantly more distortion at the wide end than you get with the kit lens, it's not light, and is soft at the long end compared with a good telephoto zoom.

Gwyn. Have just picked up the Tamron 18-250 Di11 lens at the local store for £160. Is that a bargain?? Now to get familiar with it.
Pete. Guess you always have a trade off with a cover all lens. I am not after competition quality shots on this trip, except for the close up and macro, which I know enough about to look for quality. We have a week and a bit so it is possible to return to any areas with the right gear. Would have preferred the Pentax version as I like to stick to my favorite brand.
regards Thoramay.

...That is a good price. A used one recently went on eBay for £175 + £9 post.

Cheaper than I thought, actually. My lens buying addiction is in danger of being set off again

this purchase now frees up my Pentax FA 100-300 power zoom. What is it worth and is is a wanted lens?
regards Thoramay

Congratulations thoramay - that is a bargain!

Someone else will no doubt be able to tell you about your 100-300. Do you use e-bay at all? Always worth a punt on there I guess.

I meant to add that I know a of couple of professionals who use the Tamron or it's equivalent as their holiday lens. They don't want to be carrying stacks of stuff, and changing lenses all the time (one reason why I am tempted). If it's good enough for them - and I have seen some great photos taken by them with it on other makes of camera - I am sure you will be very happy with it.

An FA 100-300mm recently sold on eBay for just £22.50 + post. Surprisingly low, I don't know if that's typical.

The 100-300mm is a decent lens, I have the older version without power zoom (I'm led to believe that the optics are the same). I paid £60 for mine last year.