One Lens to travel?

If you could pick any lens that fits a K-3 for travelling with, which would you pick?
I have the Pentax 18-135 WR, but have noticed it is not too sharp above about 80.
I have a Sigma 18-250 but it´s not WR.....
I have a Pentax 70-300WR but it doesn´t focus in teh dark at all.....
The Sigma 10-20 is great but not enough zoom and no WR...
the wee primes have the same failings...
The 100mm Macro wr is no uise for close work and I have still to take a single good landscape shot with it...
Is there a prfect general use lens out their that can be truly recomended?

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Cheers,

Bruce

I have quite a few Pentax and some 3rd party lenses, I use them sometimes. But I always come back to my favorite Pentax SMC-F 35 - 70 f3.5to 4.5 macro lens.
It is always sharp and clean at every focal length. It is light, quite rugged . The macro is not bad and it was very inexpensive.

The focal length t suits me fine. So what, if one has to move a bit forwards or backwards.
It also has a 49mm filter thread.

You can sometimes get it for 35 or 40 Dollars on Ebay.

Regards, Horst

Quite simply there is no perfect general use lens, but if I am forced to take a single lens out it will often be the DA*16-50. It's fast, WR, reasonable zoom range and excellent quality. It's also heavy (compared to some zooms) and a bit on the expensive side. From those you listed I'd have picked the 18-135, I've not used mine extensively (it's on a virtually permanent loan to a family member), but I've not found it lacking in sharpness until it reaches much closer to the 135 setting

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LennyBloke

I'd take my 18-135mm. Not perfect, but very good results visually and very versatile.

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Best regards, John

I was looking at the SMC DA 17-70, but not convinced it would provide an all in one answer.
Any experience with this lens?

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Cheers,

Bruce

My own favourite is the Sigma 17-70; lightweight and reliable. Not WR but neither is the Pentax 17-70.

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Regards, Philip

It would have to be the DA 18-135mm, versatile, not too big or heavy and good IQ when you get to know it's limitations.

I would take my DA 17-70mm f4, excellent lens and although not WR it does have an extra gasket on the mount like the DA* lenses. I have been wondering about the new 16-85mm though.

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. My Flickr

I'm curious about the 16-85 as well. There seems to be very little information about it so far. Does it have better IQ than the 18-135 to justify the higher price? I like the extra couple of mm's at the wide end.

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Regards, Philip

the best one i would have thought for travel is the pentax 18-270

Surely it depends on where you are travelling to, and what you are hoping to photograph?

I took the DA17-70 to the US (along with the Bigma and Samyang14mm) and was frustrated with it more times than I have ever been in the past. I should have taken the 18-135, and accepted the slightly lower IQ.

My 17-70 has been through all weathers without a problem.

Personally I would never restrict myself to a single lens for a trip. I'd rather leave clothes behind than lenses.

If it has to be one then 18-135mm or 16-85mm perhaps

But if you can go to two... DA 20-40mm (WR) with a DFA 100mm (WR) might be a nice combo (or swap the DFA 100mm for the 55-300mm HD WR and you have a massive range covered).

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K-3ii

I'm with Gwyn on this. Depends entirely on where you are going and what you are going to do.

If I'm out in the mountains it is almost always the 18-135. Light, compact, fast to operate with a good range and weather protection. It is usually carried in a holster attached to my rucksack, for easy access as I walk/climb. I don't have time and the weather can be a problem for lens changing. Sure, It's not the best quality lens but it works well in the environment I'm in and the pictures are definitely better than friends compacts, without carrying too much weight.

If I'm being a bit more leisurely, I would probably take two lenses and go for better quality. Lens choice would depend entirely where I am going and what I'm expecting to want to take pics of. Sometimes it would be a couple of zooms, sometimes it may be DA Limiteds. Small enough to drop 2 or 3 in your pockets!

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Bob

Another one for the 18-135, plus my 10-20 Sigma Sigma!

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K-3 II, K-3 and a K-70 from SRS (having now relegated the K-30 /"K-50" to a backup body), & some Sigma and Pentax lenses (and a lot of old 35mm gear!)

As has been pointed out, 'Travel' means different things to different people. If taking a DLSR and one lens, I'd probably take my K-5 (leaving the grip at home) and DA17-70/4. The lens is just about wide enough, just about long enough and just about fast enough - bit bulky though. If buying today I'd look at the 16-85, however if you already have the 18-135 it may be harder to justify a new lens?

Depends if the 'one lens' option is down to space/weight or the ease of use of a zoom, swapping lenses while traveling (if you're rushed) is sometimes more awkward than at other times. But I'd also suggest taking a fast/compact standard lens maybe? Next time I take my K-5 I'm considering taking my FA20-35/4, 50/1.4 & M135/3.5. More recently, I usually only take my MX-1 to give me more space for the LX and these three lenses.

If you take only take one lens, I suggest packing a spare body/lens cap pair so you can separate them if you need to. I once struggled to get the K-5 & DA17-70 inside a hotel safe with the lens mounted.

John.

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