Epilogue: Just to tie this up with a bow, we went to the coast for the day on Monday and although I carried my Lowepro Nova 3 camera bag (packed light) the reality is I could've left home with my K-x & 18-55 kit with a Lenspen and Rocket Air all in a holster style camera bag. I never took the kit lens off all day. The one time I could've used the 100-300 zoom I didn't because the picture wasn't that important. I could have changed to my prime lenses on some shots, but to be honest we were moving pretty good through our day and I didn't see the need to hold up my wife & I. After coming home and running the pics through LR4 I came out with some pictures I'm happy with. The day was overcast (as in all grey till about 5 PM), so there were no great scenic pics to be had, but it made for some really nice architecture pics of the buildings at Oysterville and the lighthouses as the colors weren't washed out. We walked off a late dinner around Astoria at dusk and I got some great pics as the neon and other lights were making things interesting.
I come away with this: the 18-55 is a good kick around lens that's got a place in the collection, but I now know for sure I'd prefer a longer walk around lens (as others have mentioned here). I think going to 200mm or even 250mm would not be asking too much for my style in a walk around lens. I also appreciated having 18mm wide option in the kit lens. The Tamron 28-105 would've forced me to compromise on a few shots where I was getting in tight.
Thanks again for the inputs. Attached some pics.
---------- Post added 07-15-14 at 01:30 PM ----------
Originally posted by stevebrot BTW...while you are near Long Beach, take the time to go to Oysterville. It is quite quaint.
Steve
Steve, thanks for the Oysterville recommendation. Got some good pics and my wife bought some seafood there. Thanks again. Ron S.