> I'm going on a trip soon & might want to buy a good zoom (I know > that might be an oxymoron for some people). However, for the sake > of travelling light...Does anyone have a favorite SMC-A lens that > takes great pictures and is a good focal length for all-around > picture taking?
I'd suggest four, Steve: 1. A 35-70/4. Useful, if narrow, zoom range. Good overall performance (except a bit of barrel distortion at 35mm). Excellent macro ability. Very light and compact. 2. A 35-105/3.5. Decent traveling zoom range. Very good performance (macro OK). Not so light or compact, though. 3. A 28-135/4. Very useful traveling zoom range. Very good performance (macro OK). Definitely not light, and slightly less compact than 35-105. 4. FA 28-200 3.8-5.6 (or its Tamron twin). Very useful traveling zoom range. Very light and pretty compact. Decent performance. (Not sure of macro mode yet - haven't tried that yet.) The first three run the gamut from narrow range & small & light to wide zoom range & not very small & and not very light at all. The fourth lens I haven't had as much experience with yet, and I think it's gotten only mixed reviews, but it seems to make a decent traveling lens, from what I can see so far. Fred - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
