Travellling Lens Tips!

[mattyc1039]

Hi, im relatively new to this forum, so all help and advice would be greatly appreciated!
Im travelling round thailand for a month or so soon and would like some advise on a lens to purchase to best suit my needs! I have a budget of maximum 300 pounds, and my current kit is an olympus pen e-p1 and the standard kit lens 14-42mm. I have heard excellent stuff about the 20mm lumix 4/3 lens but would this be versatile enough for a month of different sights!?
Thanks again!
MAtt

 

[Jimwah]

The lumix 20mm f1.7 is a lovely lens, I'm actually starting to miss mine having recently sold it! The images it produced were always nice and sharp and the out of focus areas were rendered nicely - I couldn't imagine someone being disappointed with the results. Have a pick through the flickr group for some examples:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/lumix-pancake/

I always quite liked using a prime lens, you might find it restrictive, but I always found it had a positive effect, as I had to think a little differently about what I was shooting; and you have the kit lens for backup. I'm looking at options for the 7D now that will recreate the same look and feel of the 20mm.

 

[joxang]

The 20mm (40 equiv) is very versatile indeed, but I'd personally prefer the 14mm f/2.5 as I greatly prefer shooting at 28mm.

I think that anything from 28mm to 50mm equivalent is good for a carry around lens tbh, and it much depends on what you like. If you find yourself shooting most often with the widest end of your kit zoom then you might prefer the 14mm prime.