New walkaround lens for Sri Lanka

Hi all,

I'm off to Sri Lanka in a little over 6 weeks. I desperately need some advice about what lenses to consider. I'm using a k10D with the kit lens and a 50mm f/1.7. I'm looking for something that will give me a good increase in IQ, isn't too bulky so that I'm constantly worried about it getting knocked etc..., and offers me something above and beyond the range of the 55m from the kit lens.

What I've considered:-

55-300. Received one of these for Christmas, but am considering sending it back to Amazon. I honestly don't think I'll use the range that often, maybe on a safari, but not enough to justify how little use it will get IMO...

18-135. Tried one in a shop and loved the build quality, size and range. Bit pricey here in Germany but can be imported from the UK for not too much more than the 55-300. However, was not impressed with the IQ (at that price).

50-200. Cheaper and more compact than the 55-300. However the IQ is not supposed to be in the same league.

17-70. Seems to get great reviews and looks like a nice piece of kit (not handled one yet). Pricer again, but the IQ looks to be very well regarded. Doesn't offer as much range, but will I need it?

In general, I like to shot architecture and landscapes, but tbh you can add a bit of everything in to that mix every now and then (see what I mean here:- http://picasaweb.google.com/johnieutah).

Now the most important thing for me is not the price, but usability and quality. If I spend €200 on a lens and only use it a handful of times then I consider that a bad purchase. On the contrary, if I spent €400-500 on a 17-70 and find it's stuck on my camera 90% of the time, giving me great results, I'm a very happy bunny

I'm still just a hobbyist/travel photographer and would rather get one lens for now and then take it from there.

Should I be looking at other alternatives from Sigma and Tamron??

Also, if anyone has been to Sri Lanka and has any hot tips on what to see/do/stay etc... please jump in.

Any help and advice much appreciated.

Matt.

Sounds to me like the 17-70mm would be a fair bet for you. A step up from the kit lens and slightly more range at both ends. 70mm is usually long enough for me but I would be tempted to add something longer into the mix, maybe an M 135mm f3.5... a very small lens although fully manual of course. In terms of price (about 35 quid) vs quality though, it's completely off the charts

Or if you aren't scared off by this talk of manual lenses, the M 75-150 f4 is simply legendary for the price (under 45 quid).

hello

was in new zealand 2 years ago, took tamron 17-50/2.8, sigma 70-200/2.8, fish 8/3.5, a50/2.8 macro and 50/1.4. shoot nature and animals, but no people. had backpack 6,5kg of photo gear, never regret a single gram of weight.
off to sri lanka in 10 days, planing to take both zooms, add 15/4 ltd, thinking of taking 31/1.8 ltd as well, not decided yet. maybe i keep 50 macro, but certainly not 50/1.4. for tele i would probably take something lighter, but don't have anything decent autofocus of that range. and iq is superb on all of this lenses.
will definitely read this topic and comments...
i am leaving sri lanka on 4 of februar, if you are there by then, we can have a cup of coffee and discuss, or maybe on munich airport on my way back

good luck, hny
janko

I've just spent 4 weeks travelling in Asia including Sri Lanka. I took other lenses, but the Pentax 18-250 didn't leave my camera once in all the time I was there. It's capable of stunning images, even in my fairly inexperienced hands.

I had a FA 50mm 1.7 with me and didn't ever feel the need for it. Some of the portraits taken with the 18-250 are easily the match of anything I have taken with the prime.

Based on the last 4 weeks if I could take just one lens, that would be it.

From what you say I think the 17-70 sounds right too.

I'm just about to buy one myself to do (most of) what my 16-45 and 24-90 do. Range-wise I'd prefer the 18-135, but I do have doubts about its IQ - maybe OK as an upgrade from the kit lens but I expect I would be disappointed compared with my existing zooms.

Incidentally I was never convinced by long zooms until I bought a cheap Sigma 70-300 and tried it out in different settings - typically from a vantage point to capture e.g. boats coming into harbour, distant buildings, architectural detail etc. Now I take about 10-15% of my shots with the 55-300 - which BTW is an excellent lens.

Be aware that the DA17-70 is SDM only; if you're still on the original firmware for the K10D, you need to update it or the DA17-70 will be manual focus only. I think that the same applies to the 18-135, but not sure.

Other advise will be to test the new lens before you go; if you happen to get a bad copy and only find that out while traveling, you will be highly frustrated.

Like others I also think that the 17-70 would be a good choice; I would however keep the 55-300 (and take it with). Mine spends most of the time in a cupboard, but it is nice to have the focal length available (I use it about once or twice a year).

Man, I am also going to Sri Lanka soon and thought I picked an original destination. It seems like everybody is going

I plan to bring the 55-300mm with me. My walkaround lens will be da 35mm macro for its size and close up abbilities. On previous trips I have used the 50mm 1.7 and since you already have that, the advices to go for the 17-70 seems sound but for me the jump from 55mm to 70 would not make my day.

I have spent hours and days having similar considerations. Why does it have to be so hard

Yep, was aware of the SDM issue and the k10d is running v1.30. Worked fine with the 18-135mmm I tried out. Only issue I later found was that Lightroom didn't pick up the lens info, but that may be down to the version of LR I use.

17-70 looks pretty good value from SRS. Are there other reputable retailers that will ship to the EU??

Also how about the Sigma 17-70 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sigma-optical-stabilisation-Pentax-Digital/dp/B002ZNJB3M... ??

Yes I was not that impressed by the IQ of the 18-135. But that could have been down to the sample, shooting conditions etc... I did think it felt lovely and solid in the hand, and the WR is a nice bonus.

So I think I will spend more on a suitable upgrade walk around lens and then pick up a cheaper zoom from the forums.

Matt.

There are people on here with experience of the 17-70s you are looking at. I have heard in a few places of the Pentax version having focusing issues around the 50mm mark. If it were me given that option then I'd go for the Sigma which also has a great reputation for it's IQ.

The 17-70 seems to me to be the best zoom you can get that meets your needs. Most high quality zooms are x2 or x3 so at x4, and still highly thought of (both the Pentax & the Sigma) is something.

The 17-70 is a great lens, but it is quite a big heavy lens, much chunkier and heavier than the 18-135.

MIne lives on my K-5 and I do the bulk of my photography with it.
It can hunt for focus on occasion, but it has never been enough of a problem for me to want to swap it for something else.

Don't get rid of the 55-300. Take it with you as well - you may get some wildlife shots there after all.

With those two and your 50 f1.7 for low light work you will have all bases covered without your kit weighing a ton.

Have a great holiday.

I guess this thread is made for my input, given I have owned the DA17-70, DA55-300 & Tamron 17-50; and I live in Sri Lanka.

Re. the lenses - I always found the 55-300 a very useful range (prior to upgrading to an f2.8 lens) and a decent performer. And it's remarkably small given the focal lengths it covers. As such it is a good travel lens. Though if you really think the focal length isn't for you, then there's no point having it weighing down the bag. I'd be surprised if you didn't find it useful at some point - even if restricting yourself to landscape and architecture it could be useful for detail shots. BTW don't send it back to Amazon whatever you do - you will almost certainly get more from selling it here or on ebay (assuming you got the offer price at Amazon).

The DA17-70's a great lens and the range is very useful indeed, while IQ wise it's definitely a step up from the kit lens. On my K20 it could occasionally be a bit reticent focusing beyond 50mm, but this was solved by lightly placing your finger on the focus ring.

I ended up getting the Tamron to replace the 17-70, as I wanted a faster lens for throwing b/g's and low light. The Tamron is probably slightly superior in most respects apart from colour (where the DA is a bit more appealing). It's definitely sharper - brutally sharp in fact. I'd say that alongside the DA35 f2.4 it's the biggest bargain among new lenses for Pentax at the moment, punching way above it's comparatively modest price. It's also amazingly compact (smaller than the DA despite the wider max aperture). If I had to choose again between this and the DA17-70 I'd go for this, regardless of price (though admittedly the extra 20mm might make the former a better travel lens, depending on what your priority is).

I'd also definitely take the 50 f1.7 for low light stuff (I'm always shooting low light stuff here)

Re. Sri Lanka - in the Cultural Triangle, my faves are Polonaruwa and Anuradhapura, both extensive abandoned ruined capitals with some phenomenal extant structures among the tropical vegetation. Sigiriya's nice too - though only if you have a head for heights (there's a sheer drop of about 2-300ft with just a metal rail between you and it). Forget Dambulla, particularly if you can go to the similar, more low key and more scenic, Mulgirigalla (near Dikwella on the south coast).

Kandy and the surrounding area is nice.

The tea country around Nuwara Elliya is stunning. Nuwara Elliya itself definitely isn't! Ella definitely is.

The south and west coasts have loads of desirable beachside destinations - and Galle which has a wonderful old Fort area. The east around Trincomalee sounds cool, though I've yet to get there.

The parks can be nice - though don't expect African type experiences.

Only a month late replying to you! - sorry. Thanks ever so much for your tips. Have got most of what you said already on the itinerary, and will try and implement the rest if possible

Still haven't sorted a lens out!! This is driving me mad