Conflicted! HELP - Trip to Italy is 18-135mm good enough?
Feb 16, 2012 14:45:23 #
KTVasser
Loc: Los Altos, California
I am so conflicted. I have a trip to Italy - like a lifetime trip - in 2 months. I bought a Pentax K-5 with an 18-135mm lens as an all around. Will be in Venice, Bologna, Siena, Lucca, and Rome - is that lens sufficient or should I get a super wide ? I will have to hide the purchase from my husbandino because he's already having heart palpatations from how much I spent on the camera. He says - don't bring it- ... just buy post cards - so that's where he's at. I really think a 10-20 or 12-24mm would be so great and I so get that life is short - so should I sneak one into my kit (I've got plans for that process) or is the one lens I have good and avoid the expense and hassle of lens changing ???? HELP I go back and forth. Opinions everyone (I know there should be plenty).
Feb 16, 2012 15:01:19 #
Feb 16, 2012 15:04:08 #
KTVasser
Loc: Los Altos, California
I tried renting locally - no one has Pentax stuff ... it seems to be the odd camera out. Yes, I have Photoshop Elements 9.
If I use an online rental company, it's pretty expensive ....
and the husbandino is out of the decision equation because he'll just think it's one of my old lenses. I've got a good workaround for that issue.
If I use an online rental company, it's pretty expensive ....
and the husbandino is out of the decision equation because he'll just think it's one of my old lenses. I've got a good workaround for that issue.
Feb 16, 2012 15:05:21 #
KTVasser wrote:
I am so conflicted. I have a trip to Italy - like ... (show quote)
This is just my opinion, but super-wide-angle lenses rarely produce attractive photos. If I were you, I would much rather carry a wide aperture lens, such as a 50mm f/1.8 to take care of interiors and night shots.
In the end, it is your choice and yours alone.
Feb 16, 2012 15:08:56 #
18 to 135mm will do it. My wife was in Venice last year and
had a 18 to 200mm which worked out good..
had a 18 to 200mm which worked out good..
Feb 16, 2012 15:10:31 #
I think 18mm is wide enough. Anything wider and you're probably going to get that distorted look. With a cropped sensor, the 18mm isn't really 18mm anyway, and is more like 28.8mm. I'm really figuring this is wide enough unless you're planning to shoot in extremely close quarters.
Feb 16, 2012 15:13:40 #
KTVasser wrote:
I really think a 10-20 or 12-24mm would be so great and I so get that life is short - so should I sneak one into my kit (I've got plans for that process) or is the one lens I have good and avoid the expense and hassle of lens changing ???? HELP I go back and forth. Opinions everyone (I know there should be plenty).
If you need a wider angle of view and don't have the lens you could stitch several toghther in Phoptoshop Elements:
http://www.alibony.com/pse/060908photomerge.html
I've posted this before, but it was done from 5 frames (shot vertically) in Photoshop CS 5. I've done these in daylight w/o a tripod. Practice before you leave.
It gives you more resolution- you'd be able to make really big prints to enjoy.
...but don't give up on the w/a lens!
Feb 16, 2012 15:20:53 #
[quote=PhotoMan1929 I would much rather carry a wide aperture lens, such as a 50mm f/1.8 to take care of interiors and night shots.
I think I would dial in 50mm on you present 18-135 lens, walk around and see what photos would look like if you shot them at 50mm. If the composition is pleasing and you like it then get a good 50mm 1.8 and take it with you.
I think I would dial in 50mm on you present 18-135 lens, walk around and see what photos would look like if you shot them at 50mm. If the composition is pleasing and you like it then get a good 50mm 1.8 and take it with you.
Feb 16, 2012 15:39:21 #
I think the lens you have is a good all purpose lens. Have you thought of purchasing a 1.4 teleconvertor; very small and light, costs less than a new lens.
Feb 16, 2012 17:21:03 #
Roger Hicks
Loc: Aquitaine
More than good enough. If you can't take pictures that you're happy with, using the lens you have, you probably can't take pictures you're happy with, ever. On my last trip to Italy I was more than happy with 35, 50, 75 on full frame.
Oh: and 15mm for one interior.
Cheers,
R.
Oh: and 15mm for one interior.
Cheers,
R.
Feb 16, 2012 17:49:38 #
Whenever I travel in Europe I carry my Canon 10-22mm and 24-105 mm lenses. I find myself using the wide angle a lot since many cathedrals are in built up areas and you only have the width of the town square to work with it's nice to have that WA lens. Interior shots too will benefit.I don't know what Pentax has available in that range but I'd look into it. The attached shots were taken with the 10-22 and, yes, you have distortion, but you get the shot!
Strasbourg Cathedral
Strasbourg Cathedral
Feb 16, 2012 18:02:40 #
KTVasser
Loc: Los Altos, California
great idea to learn a new Photoshop trick and do stitching - thanks.
Feb 16, 2012 18:12:13 #
I bought the Rokinon 8mm fisheye for my canon. It is made for cropped sensors, so it is a true 8mm. I like the distortion, but if you know how, you can fix this in photoshop (I don't know, 'cause I like the distortion). B&H has the Pentax K mount for $289. This lens is cheap mainly because it is manual. You will fit sooo much into the frame, you might be able to just crop out the distortion. I bought it just for fun, but I ended up LOVING it (even sold a few). Read the reviews for this lens on B&H, all positive. It's great for large plazas and interiors of churches. 2 months is plenty of time to get accustomed to this lens. If you don't go over the top, HDR is a great treatment for the interiors of old buildings, especially churches. If you'd like, I can post an example shot.
Feb 16, 2012 18:18:05 #
Feb 16, 2012 18:24:28 #
KTVasser wrote:
sure - I'm on the learning curve and everything is helpful!
Here are a few from Pittsburgh. The Consol center is also a HDR. All shot with 8mm.
B&H has no sales tax, free shipping and 14 days to return if you don't like it, you just pay return shipping. So, you really can't go wrong. At that price, you may not have to sleep on the couch.
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