Re-Think

My lenses comprise of, Pentax DA 18-135 ED AL DC WR, Pentax DA 55-300 ED WR, Sigma 17-50 2.8 EX DC HSM, Sigma 10-20 DC EX, Tamron SP90 DI Macro. Apart from the Tamron I'm looking at a Re-Think. Do I have the right focal range, can it be changed or improved.
My thoughts are to get the Pentax-DA HD 16-85mm f3.5-5.6 ED DC WR, to replace the 18-135 and or the Sigma 17-50, bearing in mind it's F2.8. A used PENTAX 24-70mm F2.8 would also be an option.
I'm just interested in other possible combinations. Apart from the occasional long shot my average picture focal lengths are between 16mm to 75mm. Primes are not important at this moment in time.
My interest are mainly Landscapes, anything querky. I'm also now looking at street and abstract photography (see other post prime or zoom). The 18-135 is my main walkabout lens
Your thoughts will be appreciated.

I know you said Primes are not important...

But the DA 50mm 1.8 and DA 35mm 2.4 Plastic Fantastics are relatively inexpensive, and brilliant little lenses. I'd give them some serious consideration.

I said not important at this moment. but I will bear it in mind for the future.

Thanks

Right, I'll reveal my approach to the lens collection issue, it might help here. It has at least served me well for many years and will probably last me until the inevitable end.
1. Have a set of general purpose zooms covering wide angle to long tele. This is now Tamron 10-24mm, Pentax 16-85mm and 55-300mm. It's what I will take with me if I'm going to be out and about and don't have a reason for taking an alternative lens. Leave either the 10-24mm or 55-300mm at home if I only want to carry 2 lenses. Take the 16-85mm if I only want to carry one lens. (To be fair, I might also put a Q with a couple of lenses into the pocket.)
2. Buy other lenses when I want (sometimes even need) them for specific purposes. So DA*300mm f4 + 1.4TC when I became interested in birds. Macro lenses when I got into close-up and macro. 135mm when I realised how useful it would be for flowers that are at the back of a flower bed. And so on.
3. Buy a lens or two for fun, just to see what they can do - but only when I spot what I think is a bargain. That's why I've got the DA10-17mm fisheye and Tamron 500mm mirror lenses.
4. Don't dispose of any lens even if its function has been taken over by another lens. The DA16-45mm was my first 'made for digital' lens. The 16-85mm replaced it because of the longer reach. But I get some nostalgic pleasure out of taking the old 16-45mm for a quick spin once in a while - and the restriction to 45mm rater than 85mm challenges me to think differently (or perhaps to think like I used to!). Similarly, the 18-55mm might not have the range of focal length or IQ of the 16-85mm, but it is smaller and lighter which can be important (speaking as someone who damaged his back last year and hopes never to go through it again!).

That might or might not help you ... .

Steve

You have every FL covered from 17 to 300.

Why change ?

I don't really want any unecessary overlaps.

The 16-85mm is a good replacement for the 18-135mm. It should be a lot sharper and while I had one it was my default landscape lens as it had better IQ than anything else, even some really nice primes.

I had the Sigma 17-50mm at the same time and I didn't sell it just because I had the range covered - having a constant f/2.8 zoom is very useful and the Sigma is very good indeed. One for range/WR and one for speed.

The Sigma 10-20mm, Pentax 18-135mm and Pentax 55-300mm are your equivalent of my 10-24mm, 16-85mm and 55-300mm - a decent set of general purpose primes that, as pschlute says, covers everything from 10 to 300mm. Yes, there is some FL overlap, but that's necessary in order to minimise difficult lens changes (e.g. a superb rainbow has just appeared but it would require a lens change and it's just started to rain). So why change those three lenses? What do you want that they don't give you?

The Sigma 17-50 does duplicate FL, but it is f2.8 which is wider than the others and might also have other attributes that the other lenses don't have. Only you can decide whether you want those attributes in your kit. And part of the decision inevitably involves how much you'd get for the lens if you sold it. MPB has one for £184 so you might get, say, £150 for a private sale. What would you do with the money? Would it be better just to keep the lens?

Steve

As the title says lens Re-Think, that’s just what I’ve now decided what my lenses will be. After all suggestions from everyone, which have been greatly appreciated, and has helped immensely with my decision.
I know I’ve been undecided about the 55-300, but I’ve decided to keep it and try and make more effort using it. It’s too good a lens to get rid of. I’m going to keep all other lenses. I will also keep my eyes open for a used Pentax 20-40, or a good third party equivalent.

I've addedd a HD Pentax-DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 Limited DC WR to my collection three weks ago. I must say what a great buy, I'm totaly satisfied with it. Not been off my camera, great for street photograhy.