It must quite a few years ago since I last shot with my 9-year-old Pentax K-5 and the kit lens, a SMC Pentax DA 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 AL WR (to give it its proper name…). I tend to just shoot with a “compact” Fujifilm X100T these days, as I love the Fujifilm colours and rangefinder styling, and even when I do shoot with the Pentax K-5, the lenses that I stick on them tend to be prime lenses (having also own the optically excellent SMC Pentax FA 31/1.8, 50/1.4 and 77/1.8 lenses).

An upcoming trip to Europe got me thinking about shooting with zoom lenses again, instead of the fixed-lens Fujifilm X100T which had been my go-to travel camera over the years. Today, I thought I’ll try to get reacquainted with this fancy new zoom lens wizardry.

Now, I know that the kit zoom lenses (I also own the SMC Pentax DA 50-200 f/4-5.6 ED WR) aren’t the sharpest tools in the catalogue, but are they decent enough for travel photography? I hope to make some test shots and determine that. Here are some shallow depth-of-field shots with close-focus at f/5.6.

"Red Hot Pokers" in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens
“Red Hot Pokers” in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Sonny against old repurposed car
Sonny against old repurposed car
Sonny against segments of the Berlin Wall in Christchurch
Sonny against segments of the Berlin Wall in Christchurch
Sonny and Hot Chocolate
Sonny and Hot Chocolate

Here’s some wider depth-of-field shots, with medium-focus at f/5.6.

Street scene in Christchurch NZ
Street scene in Christchurch NZ
Colourful public piano in gothic building
Colourful public piano in gothic building

And here’s a single low-light shot in a dimly-lit museum.

Sonny in Canterbury Museum
Sonny in Canterbury Museum

These shots were taken with the shorter, more travel-friendly 18-55mm lens. I don’t think they turn out too badly, certainly better than what any of my cellphones can capture.