Lens selection for USA trip

I'm off to the States on a business trip in a couple of weeks time and will be fortunate enough to have time to do some sightseeing on the West coast (San Francisco and then inland to Las Vegas).

I'll be a bit limited in terms of the kit I can take and am planning the following:

K-5
DA10-17 (fish eye, can be de-fished for ultrawide stuff)
DA18-250 (general walkaround + reasonably long tele)
DA35 ltd (macro and landscape shots)
M50/1.4 or M85/2 (low light, shallow DOF shots)

I'm not sure I really need 4 lenses, but can see a use for all of them. I've been out that way before, but before I really got into photography. All I can remember is that most things are huge and there should be plenty of light!

Any suggestions/advice would be appreciated.

Do you've more lenses beside those 5?
It's bit hard to give you advice if we don't know what else you've

I might be inclined to leave the 50mm/85mm out. The DA 35 Ltd already has shallow DOF and will cope well in low light (especially with the high ISO performance of the K5).

If I had to whittle it right down I'd take the 35 and the superzoom. But if you've got space and you're hiting a car, why not cover a few more bases. Out of the 50 and the 85 I'd take the 85... street candids.

I think you might be able to find specific uses for each of them. The de-fished 10-17 will be useful for shots of the bridges in the bay. When you de-fish it leaves you with a long thin shot, well suited to the subject matter.
The 18-250 will come in handy if you want to take shots of the sea lions in SF bay.
If you take a trip to Alcatraz, then the limited will be handy as it's pretty dark in there.

Not sure about Vegas but I think you probably leave the 50 and 85 behind. Use I can think of for the macro would be taking close shots in the casinos, but I'm fairly sure you're not allowed to do that.

That is probably three more lenses than I'd take, certainly from that list. OK maybe the fisheye, de-fished or not, but I can't see a need for the other two when you have the 18-250.
What other lenses do you have?

I have lugged lenses across America and never used them, so imho less is more - especially as you have to take them carry-on, along with your work stuff no doubt.

The 18-250 is so good, I don't really see a need for *anything* else on that list except the fish. Ok, maybe throw in a small prime, but that's it. Like the 35 Macro. But the 250 does close focus so well I'm astounded.

Bret

I'd take all of them. I can't understand using a good selection of lenses in your own country, and then when you goto an exciting place on holiday only take one or two. Makes no sense to me at all.

For Las Vegas you need something wide... really wide
I also like detail shots on telephoto, so I went with DA17-70 and DA55-300.

You'll enjoy the fountain outside the Bellagio hotel (the inside is pretty cool with the garden and glass flowers ceiling!). It's all ridiculously huge - a fish eye would be fun I'm sure

Matt

Thanks for the all the replies. I had thought that 4 was probably overkill, but it's interesting to hear other people's points of view.

Yes, other candidates were as follows:

Tamron 17-50 (my most used lens - I could manage with just this, really)
Sigma 24-70 (good IQ and useful range but a bit big and heavy)
FA31ltd (quite new to me and I don't want to lose/damage it)
FA43ltd (an alternative to the fast 50/85)
Sigma 30/1.4 (quite big and the DA35 is better for close focussing and landscapes)

Yes, that's a fair point. I bought it with a K200D body for my wife, took it on holiday earlier this year and was amazed by the results in good light.

I'm not sure about the 10-17 either, as the best shots I've had with it are indoors and I don't get on well with ultrawides for landscape shooting (lack of skill on my part, I suspect).

I'd agree (if being completely rational), but I enjoy shooting at 50-85mm and really like the narrow depth of field from fast primes in that range. Besides which the M50 and M85 are both tiny...

Sounds good to me! I think this is roughly how I ended up with my original shortlist, as it caters for just about everything I'd want in as small and light a combination as I've got.

I definitely couldn't go somewhere like that without a narrow depth of field job.




or the 10-17

I did a shoot at Canary Wharf a couple of weeks ago. Only just finished sorting them out and PPing.

You'd be mad to leave the 10-17 behind IMO, espiecally if you're goign to Vegas ... All these are 10-17

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Lovely mono shot there.

(Mean the one of the chain in front of the golden gate bridge. The others you just sorted look good too just a lot to digest on my phone's screen

Thanks Smeggy, some excellent shots there.

Now to get some serious research in to find good places to photograph...

Just take the 10-17 and 18-250.

They cover everything you should need, as for DOF, are you really going to get that arty on a business trip?

The fisheye will give you all you'll need in 'frisco and Vegas to capture the scenery and moods.

The 18-250 will cover the rest.

That's just my thoughts though, I tend to pocket my DA40 with my 18-250 when travelling, just incase!