Would you travel with just a DA21 and KA50 ?

vn33 · 06-17-2011, 06:48 AM

Thanks for the great responses !! I think I will pack the 18-55 as well, but since this will not be a "touristy" trip, I have a feeling I will be using the 21 a lot, just to capture the activities I'm involved in.

**Lowell Goudge** · 06-17-2011, 06:56 AM

Originally posted by vn33

Hi fellow Pentaxian ...
I have not joined the dSLR club yet, but getting closer ... maybe later this month. I have my mind set on a K-r and a DA21 as my general purpose kit.
I'll be in Central America for 10 days this summer, not as a tourist, but more for a short term humanitarian reason. I'll be in close contact with people, and also the surrounding environments.
Since I want to have my camera with me as much as possible, I want it to be real light and comfortable to carry. I plan to leave the 18-55 kit lens at home and just bring the 21 and the A50 f1.7 with me.
Did anyone of you good people ever traveled with something similar ? Would this be sufficient ? I would love to add a DA70, but unfortunately, I don't have many loose coins lying around

Thanks in advance ...

I did a trip to costa rica last year for habitat for humanity, and left my DSLR at home and only took my bridge camera. In some ways I regret this, because there were some great photo opportunities, including wild life, where I would have loved to have either my 70-200F2.8 and a 2x TC or my 300F4 with 1.7x AF TC, BUT you have to remember the purpose of your trip.

You are not going on a photo holiday,
You are going to a very poor area probably, and a display of wealth like this is a bit over the top
you will not have that much time (of course this depends on the type of humanitarian trip you are doing.
security of your personal gear can be an issue.

You have the right idea in mayy ways, going light, but depending on situation I would question if a 21mm is wide enough. the kit lens gives you a lot of other opportunities with the additional field of view.

Personally, if you have one, I would consider a bridge camera and nothing else. I have a .5x wide angle adaptor for mine that solves the wide part of the question.

vn33 · 06-17-2011, 12:05 PM

Thanks Lowell ... Your assumptions are correct !

I will not have much time for photo ops, I'll be in some of the poorer neighbourhood so I want my gears to be as inconspicuous, hence a small-ish package. This will also help with keeping my camera around me in a hip pack or so.
Unfortunately, I do not have a bridge camera, and just don't want to bring my P&S. In addition, I may not have (nor want) to use my kit lens.

As you have been in similar situations before, any additional tips would be welcomed indeed. Thanks!!

**Lowell Goudge** · 06-17-2011, 12:13 PM

the only additional comment I can make, is that you should take a good polarizer. I had a hell of a time with glare, due to the bright sunlight.

the other thing to consider, and this may or may not apply to you, but when I went with habitat, there was a small celebration at the end of the time, with the families we were building the houses for, plus all th elocal habitat staff and local builders involved. Many of the team handed their cameras over to the children to take shots through out the night. Some of the kids were really really good at taking photos, and had a lot of fun with the cameras. as long as they know to give them back, it is really worth while. the message here is take your P&S too!

Also, depending on your team? you might wish to set up an file transfer site for photos. I set up an FTP site for the team I went with. This year my daughter went to honduras for a build and the team leader set up a site. You may wish to do so, as well./ I have now settled on using dropbox for a file transfer site. 2GB is free, and for each person you get to down load the software (also free) you get an additional 250MB. it can add up quickly to enough for shots from the whole team, especially since most will be snaps and can be JPEGs.

Docrwm · 06-17-2011, 12:20 PM

Originally posted by Lowell Goudge

the only additional comment I can make, is that you should take a good polarizer. I had a hell of a time with glare, due to the bright sunlight.

the other thing to consider, and this may or may not apply to you, but when I went with habitat, there was a small celebration at the end of the time, with the families we were building the houses for, plus all th elocal habitat staff and local builders involved. Many of the team handed their cameras over to the children to take shots through out the night. Some of the kids were really really good at taking photos, and had a lot of fun with the cameras. as long as they know to give them back, it is really worth while. the message here is take your P&S too!

Also, depending on your team? you might wish to set up an file transfer site for photos. I set up an FTP site for the team I went with. This year my daughter went to honduras for a build and the team leader set up a site. You may wish to do so, as well./ I have now settled on using dropbox for a file transfer site. 2GB is free, and for each person you get to down load the software (also free) you get an additional 250MB. it can add up quickly to enough for shots from the whole team, especially since most will be snaps and can be JPEGs.

Lowell, thanks for the Dropbox recommendation. Had heard of it in the past but forgot and it will come in handy for several projects here.

Ikarus · 06-17-2011, 12:31 PM

Originally posted by Docrwm

Lowell, thanks for the Dropbox recommendation. Had heard of it in the past but forgot and it will come in handy for several projects here.

Make sure you also check out Sugarsync. Their free plan is 5GB.

vn33 · 06-17-2011, 01:21 PM

Originally posted by Ikarus

Make sure you also check out Sugarsync. Their free plan is 5GB.

Excellent !! 5Gb is quite generous !

Another option is Google Docs ... you can actually upload JPGs (not tested with RAW) there. Not sure if they are as generous as SugarSync, but always nice to have options, right ?

harmonica2 · 06-17-2011, 02:53 PM

In regards to the suggestion that you get a polarizer, this should be for your K50. You will not be able to use a polarizer with the DA 21 without removing the built-in lens hood, and you probably won't need a polarizer anyway: The DA21 is quite flare resistant.

And to clarify my comment about barrel distortion: I didn't notice the DA21 barrel distortion until I corrected it in post-production, and the improvement to the image blew me away. Try it!

axl · 06-17-2011, 03:00 PM

I would, why not.
These days my main kit is FA24 + DA55, I don't really need more so 21+50 would do just fine

robgo2 · 06-17-2011, 04:44 PM

I don't own either of the two lenses in question, but I see no reason why a skilled photographer could not function beautifully with that pair. Together with the K-r, they should make a very neat little kit. I could easily live with either my FA31 or FA43 alone. You just learn to visualize at whatever focal length is at your disposal and take pics appropriate to it.

Rob

**Lowell Goudge** · 06-17-2011, 06:00 PM

Originally posted by vn33

Excellent !! 5Gb is quite generous !

Another option is Google Docs ... you can actually upload JPGs (not tested with RAW) there. Not sure if they are as generous as SugarSync, but always nice to have options, right ?

Drop ox will take anything and let's you have multiple folders within your main folder with different access rights to each. I use it for sharing data between different groups

abacus07 · 06-17-2011, 06:51 PM

a few things to consider

if you aren't an experienced prime shooter and/or DSLR user then shooting exclusively with two primes will be frustrating. If you go out for a small group sightseeing trip then you'll want a zoom because there won't be time to switch lenses or to compose your shot by moving closer/farther.

I don't know where you'll be but in big cities in South America theft is a HUGE issue. I also don't know how the rest of the cities compare to Quito (2008) but pretty much everyday I was there someone (from my hostel) that I knew was robbed. One group of 3-4 had a P&S camera snatched out of their hand while taking a picture. Another girl was aggressively groped by an attacker trying to find her concealed money (she had none). Another was surrounded by 3 men (1 had knife) while reading a book in a park (daylight) and he surrendered his $3. The small cities in Peru/Ecuador were completely different however.

But anyway if you aren't an experienced prime/dSLR user then I would recommend using your current camera. You're going to be busy and won't have time to concentrate on your photography.

06-17-2011, 02:53 PM	#23
harmonica2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 157	DA 21 with polarizer In regards to the suggestion that you get a polarizer, this should be for your K50. You will not be able to use a polarizer with the DA 21 without removing the built-in lens hood, and you probably won't need a polarizer anyway: The DA21 is quite flare resistant. And to clarify my comment about barrel distortion: I didn't notice the DA21 barrel distortion until I corrected it in post-production, and the improvement to the image blew me away. Try it!

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06-17-2011, 06:48 AM	#16
vn33 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: GTA, Ontario Posts: 61 Original Poster	Thanks for the great responses !! I think I will pack the 18-55 as well, but since this will not be a "touristy" trip, I have a feeling I will be using the 21 a lot, just to capture the activities I'm involved in.

06-17-2011, 06:56 AM	#17
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,888	Originally posted by vn33 Hi fellow Pentaxian ... I have not joined the dSLR club yet, but getting closer ... maybe later this month. I have my mind set on a K-r and a DA21 as my general purpose kit. I'll be in Central America for 10 days this summer, not as a tourist, but more for a short term humanitarian reason. I'll be in close contact with people, and also the surrounding environments. Since I want to have my camera with me as much as possible, I want it to be real light and comfortable to carry. I plan to leave the 18-55 kit lens at home and just bring the 21 and the A50 f1.7 with me. Did anyone of you good people ever traveled with something similar ? Would this be sufficient ? I would love to add a DA70, but unfortunately, I don't have many loose coins lying around Thanks in advance ... I did a trip to costa rica last year for habitat for humanity, and left my DSLR at home and only took my bridge camera. In some ways I regret this, because there were some great photo opportunities, including wild life, where I would have loved to have either my 70-200F2.8 and a 2x TC or my 300F4 with 1.7x AF TC, BUT you have to remember the purpose of your trip. You are not going on a photo holiday, You are going to a very poor area probably, and a display of wealth like this is a bit over the top you will not have that much time (of course this depends on the type of humanitarian trip you are doing. security of your personal gear can be an issue. You have the right idea in mayy ways, going light, but depending on situation I would question if a 21mm is wide enough. the kit lens gives you a lot of other opportunities with the additional field of view. Personally, if you have one, I would consider a bridge camera and nothing else. I have a .5x wide angle adaptor for mine that solves the wide part of the question.

06-17-2011, 12:05 PM	#18
vn33 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: GTA, Ontario Posts: 61 Original Poster	Thanks Lowell ... Your assumptions are correct ! I will not have much time for photo ops, I'll be in some of the poorer neighbourhood so I want my gears to be as inconspicuous, hence a small-ish package. This will also help with keeping my camera around me in a hip pack or so. Unfortunately, I do not have a bridge camera, and just don't want to bring my P&S. In addition, I may not have (nor want) to use my kit lens. As you have been in similar situations before, any additional tips would be welcomed indeed. Thanks!!

06-17-2011, 12:13 PM	#19
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,888	the only additional comment I can make, is that you should take a good polarizer. I had a hell of a time with glare, due to the bright sunlight. the other thing to consider, and this may or may not apply to you, but when I went with habitat, there was a small celebration at the end of the time, with the families we were building the houses for, plus all th elocal habitat staff and local builders involved. Many of the team handed their cameras over to the children to take shots through out the night. Some of the kids were really really good at taking photos, and had a lot of fun with the cameras. as long as they know to give them back, it is really worth while. the message here is take your P&S too! Also, depending on your team? you might wish to set up an file transfer site for photos. I set up an FTP site for the team I went with. This year my daughter went to honduras for a build and the team leader set up a site. You may wish to do so, as well./ I have now settled on using dropbox for a file transfer site. 2GB is free, and for each person you get to down load the software (also free) you get an additional 250MB. it can add up quickly to enough for shots from the whole team, especially since most will be snaps and can be JPEGs.

06-17-2011, 12:20 PM	#20
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by Lowell Goudge the only additional comment I can make, is that you should take a good polarizer. I had a hell of a time with glare, due to the bright sunlight. the other thing to consider, and this may or may not apply to you, but when I went with habitat, there was a small celebration at the end of the time, with the families we were building the houses for, plus all th elocal habitat staff and local builders involved. Many of the team handed their cameras over to the children to take shots through out the night. Some of the kids were really really good at taking photos, and had a lot of fun with the cameras. as long as they know to give them back, it is really worth while. the message here is take your P&S too! Also, depending on your team? you might wish to set up an file transfer site for photos. I set up an FTP site for the team I went with. This year my daughter went to honduras for a build and the team leader set up a site. You may wish to do so, as well./ I have now settled on using dropbox for a file transfer site. 2GB is free, and for each person you get to down load the software (also free) you get an additional 250MB. it can add up quickly to enough for shots from the whole team, especially since most will be snaps and can be JPEGs. Lowell, thanks for the Dropbox recommendation. Had heard of it in the past but forgot and it will come in handy for several projects here.

06-17-2011, 12:31 PM	#21
Ikarus Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: California Photos: Albums Posts: 484	Originally posted by Docrwm Lowell, thanks for the Dropbox recommendation. Had heard of it in the past but forgot and it will come in handy for several projects here. Make sure you also check out Sugarsync. Their free plan is 5GB.

06-17-2011, 01:21 PM	#22
vn33 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: GTA, Ontario Posts: 61 Original Poster	Originally posted by Ikarus Make sure you also check out Sugarsync. Their free plan is 5GB. Excellent !! 5Gb is quite generous ! Another option is Google Docs ... you can actually upload JPGs (not tested with RAW) there. Not sure if they are as generous as SugarSync, but always nice to have options, right ?

06-17-2011, 03:00 PM	#24
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	I would, why not. These days my main kit is FA24 + DA55, I don't really need more so 21+50 would do just fine

06-17-2011, 04:44 PM	#25
robgo2 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Mexico Photos: Albums Posts: 1,125	I don't own either of the two lenses in question, but I see no reason why a skilled photographer could not function beautifully with that pair. Together with the K-r, they should make a very neat little kit. I could easily live with either my FA31 or FA43 alone. You just learn to visualize at whatever focal length is at your disposal and take pics appropriate to it. Rob

06-17-2011, 06:00 PM	#26
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,888	Originally posted by vn33 Excellent !! 5Gb is quite generous ! Another option is Google Docs ... you can actually upload JPGs (not tested with RAW) there. Not sure if they are as generous as SugarSync, but always nice to have options, right ? Drop ox will take anything and let's you have multiple folders within your main folder with different access rights to each. I use it for sharing data between different groups

06-17-2011, 06:51 PM	#27
abacus07 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Taiwan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,075	a few things to consider if you aren't an experienced prime shooter and/or DSLR user then shooting exclusively with two primes will be frustrating. If you go out for a small group sightseeing trip then you'll want a zoom because there won't be time to switch lenses or to compose your shot by moving closer/farther. I don't know where you'll be but in big cities in South America theft is a HUGE issue. I also don't know how the rest of the cities compare to Quito (2008) but pretty much everyday I was there someone (from my hostel) that I knew was robbed. One group of 3-4 had a P&S camera snatched out of their hand while taking a picture. Another girl was aggressively groped by an attacker trying to find her concealed money (she had none). Another was surrounded by 3 men (1 had knife) while reading a book in a park (daylight) and he surrendered his $3. The small cities in Peru/Ecuador were completely different however. But anyway if you aren't an experienced prime/dSLR user then I would recommend using your current camera. You're going to be busy and won't have time to concentrate on your photography.