Sorry for the delay. My wife and I just adopted 2 kittens so they have demanded some attention.
OK Guys, got back from my camping trip last night. After much internal debate over what to carry, here is what ended up in my pack:
K-7 (w/ 2 batteries, 3 4GB SD cards, remote, strap, etc) (~900 g)
DA* 16-50mm F2.8. (600 g)
F 100mm F2.8 Macro. (590 g)
Feisol CT-3342 CF Tripod legs (1 kg)
w/ Photo Clam PC-40NS Ballhead (395 g)
total of ~3.5 kg (~7.7 lbs) ouch!
I never even got to use the macro lens. With 5 other people hiking, I didn't really have time to set up the tripod and do any proper macro work. I figured I would be able to find some interesting stuff near our campsite, but I helped fix dinner and by the time we were done it was dark. The second day we were basically inside a cloud, so I didn't want to bring the macro lens out b/c it wasn't WR. Anyways, I would have been better off w/ a more generic telephoto option, (FA 77 or F135), although I'm not sure that I would have used either given the versatility of the DA*.
How I carried it:
The camera was connected to straps with quick release clips that attached to the frame of my backpack at the shoulder harness. This allowed the camera to dangle right at my sternum in between the hip and chest straps of the pack itself. The camera was always available, and this allowed me to take shots on very short notice. I have done this for several prior hiking outings and it has always worked well. If I can get my friends to share any of their photos maybe I can share what this looked like.
The tripod was strapped to the top on my pack along with the tent I was carring. It fit pretty well there but stuck out just barely more than the rest of the stuff. Occasionally it would catch a branch in tight spaces but generally was no issue (other than the added weight). My second lens was stuffed in my pack to keep it away from any elements that we encountered.
Some thoughts:
Plan the trips more than a day in advance! If I would have had better time to prepare what I was bringing, then I would have figured out a lighter support system (maybe a gorrilapod, monopod, or smaller tripod). I did use the tripod and was glad that I had it, but it was the heaviest photography item that I was carrying on my pack.
I really enjoyed the versatility of the DA* zoom. It allowed me to go wide for those tight trail sections and large rocky outcroppings, but also gave great performance for portraits and flowers. But to be honest, I don't enjoy using it as much as many of my primes. It's bulky, has a zoom ring (I enjoy the simplicity of a prime), and the feel isn't quite as nice as a proper manual focus lens or FA Ltd. If my A28/2 was weather sealed, then I would have been happy with it mounted on the camera most of the time, with possibly a wide option and short tele option in the bag. Why can't Pentax just go ahead and release that fabled DA* 28/2? I'm ready!
Also, as you will see from some of this selection of photos, I certainly made use of the weather sealed spec of the K-7 & DA* combo. We basically were hiking back through a cloud of mist with the wind was whipping strongly. At time, my camera/lens were covered in droplets of water, something that I wouldn't even want to try with a non-sealed combo. And this wasn't just for a few minutes, it was during most of the 2 or 3 hour hike back to our cars. I ran into no issues other than the water droplets on the external viewfinder optic causing some difficulties in making sure focus was where I wanted it. To deal with water droplets on the lens filter, I carried a microfiber cloth in my pocket, and would periodically wipe the front filter before taking photos. I also kept the lens cap on some of the time and tried to keep the lens pointed away from the wind direction to minimize the amount of mist that got on the filter. This worked well and I was never hindered by any water droplets on the lens.
Ok, here is a brief selection of some of the photos from this weekend, quickly processed just to give you an idea of what kinds of situations I was in and the photos that I took. I have a lot of photos to process and I'll share the ones I like once I'm done.
Group shot at the waterfall
12s timer, 28mm, F8, 1/40", ISO400
Arm-length self-portrait
16mm, F4, 1/1600", ISO400
Mountain Laurel Flowers
16mm, F5.6, 1/400", ISO400
Emily Taking a Break
16mm, F5.6, 1/1250", ISO400
Austin and a Baby Pony
34mm, F5.6, 1/500", ISO200
Megan Relaxing
34mm, F5.6, 1/640", ISO200
Mountain Jump
28mm, F5.6, 1/1000", ISO200
Megan Jump
16mm, F4, 1/2000", ISO200
Nia Climbing
16mm, F5.6, 1/1000", ISO200
Emily and I
50mm, F5.6, 1/500", ISO200
Emily Trekking
28mm, F5.6, 1/500", ISO200
Group Trekking
36mm, F5.6, 1/640", ISO200
Hot Dog Dinner
16mm, F5.6, 1/60", ISO400
Campsite in the Morning
16mm, F4, 1/60", ISO400
Me in the Mist
19mm, F5.6, 1/200", ISO400
Breakfast!
16mm, F4, 1/125", ISO400
Hiking in the Clouds
16mm, F4, 1/500", ISO400
Hiking in the Clouds
31mm, F4, 1/500", ISO400
Lonely Trees
26mm, F4, 1/640", ISO400
Hikers in a Row
29mm, F4, 1/640", ISO400