[c-meier]

This year again we are seeing many student protests here in Chile. I have made some experience last year photographing it with a point-and-shoot, but now I'd like to now use my DSLR. So, what lens would you recommend? A versatile super-zoom? A fast-focusing and inconspicuous prime? Something in between?

Guess WR would be A Good Thing(tm), specially if it is a larger lens, don't want that white dust that settles from the tear gas or water from the cannons and rain getting into the camera.

I see most of the other photographers carrying rather large zooms (with red rings), but I think that's because they also tend to stay a bit further from the action than I'd like. Is prime or small zoom an option, provided I wear good shoes?

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Last edited by c-meier; 08-18-2012 at 11:09 AM.

[Vylen]

18-135mm WR... Wide for the crowd shots, just enough zoom for picking out individuals.

[lytrytyr]

You could try a small old manual wide angle like a 24mm f/2.8,
with a UV filter and rubber lens hood.
Cheap enough that it won't hurt too much if you lose it.
Leave it at hyperfocal distance or a little closer so you don't have to worry about focusing.
Use live view to compose (like your point-and-shoot)
if you start crying or your camera gets contaminated
so your eye doesn't make contact with the viewfinder.

[Adam]

18-135mm WR... Wide for the crowd shots, just enough zoom for picking out individuals.

+1 on that

Adam
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[lytrytyr]

Adam, what gives with the forum right now, radioactivity and riots?

[laert]

i like DA*55mm in all time
fantastic lens ,fantactic bokeh, WR, super bild
mast know how it work before used it ( AF,perspective etc)
if you need simples - send me emeil

if you not need WR -- 77mm limited best choise!!!!!

for all situation i have rare 24-135 SP tamron -- i like it but pentax prime more more better

[c-meier]

You could try a small old manual wide angle like a 24mm f/2.8,
with a UV filter and rubber lens hood.
Cheap enough that it won't hurt too much if you lose it.
Leave it at hyperfocal distance or a little closer so you don't have to worry about focusing.
Use live view to compose (like your point-and-shoot)
if you start crying or your camera gets contaminated
so your eye doesn't make contact with the viewfinder.

Will give that a try. Got the manual 28mm, but sadly no LV (...yet, got a GX-10 while I build up a lens collection -- hope to upgrade to K-5 soon).

I'll see if I can get one of the local pentaxians to lend me a 18-135. If not, was considering buying that lens for vacation, anyways. Just seems a bit large for what I want (not attracting too much attention from cops / protesters).

[Sol Invictus]

I think this is a rare situation where I would recommend getting a UV filter to protect that front end.

[joe.penn]

Another vote for the 18~135...

Also take some pepper spray, always good to have some on hand for crowd control

[RioRico]

Do the troops and police target people with professional-looking cameras and lenses? You might want to use an older bridge|superzoom P&S camera, with the lens wrapped in a plastic bag if needed, but a camera that you won't mind losing. Yes, a WR dSLR and lens are resistant to liquids and aerosols and particulates, but not to truncheons etc.

[hcarvalhoalves]

I would go with an inexpensive film body + small prime, if Chile's police is anything like the brazilian one. As soon as you raise that long zoom to a cop they will flock all around you and take your camera.

[c-meier]

Do the troops and police target people with professional-looking cameras and lenses?

Depends on who you ask. Some will say that "looking professional" will actually protect you, but there have been some cases of journalists (even foreigners) being hit, arrested and/or their memory cards "confiscated".

You might want to use an older bridge|superzoom P&S camera, with the lens wrapped in a plastic bag if needed, but a camera that you won't mind losing..

As said, I used a (older, waterproof) P&S last year... but besides the obvious but not that important IQ issues, I was too slow with that thing to capture the action, sometimes. I got the GX-10 for almost nothing, so I will probably keep it for this kind of situation, even when I upgrade.

All this said, things aren't that bad as they might sound, as long as you try to keep a out of trouble and know when to run.

[boriscleto]

Adam, what gives with the forum right now, radioactivity and riots?

Adam announced that the forum is on its way to 2 million posts. You should have seen what it was like on the count up to 1 million

[Frogfish]

WR 18-135 and multiple SD cards (change often) !

[Rocksy]

why change often? in case they are confiscated?