Somewhat of an eye-opener!

Dewman · 07-21-2015, 12:11 PM

Last week, my nephew and I took a three-day trip to the Oregon coast and I took two hard cases full of lenses. They included everything from a Pentax-M 28mm f:3.5 to a Sigma 28-300mm Hyper Zoom.... and just about everything in between! FA-50 & 100 macros, primes, zooms, kit lenses.... you name it and I probably had it covered.

The eye-opener was that I used only two lenses for the entire trip.... a Pentax-DA 18-55mm WR and a Tamron 28-200mm lens. They covered every situation I came upon. The 18-55 WR lens has proven to be exceptionally sharp (MUCH more so than the non-WR edition) and in spite of the reviews of the Tamron, my particular copy is among the sharpest of the 100+/- lenses I own (Not including my two FA macros!)

So, this morning, I'm sitting here, with my lens cabinet open and thinking.... "O.K., who's going... and who's gonna' stay?" I think I could seriously reduce this arsenal to about 6 or 7 lenses and be very "well-armed."

Have any of you experienced this same thing? How did it ever come to this?

**jatrax** · 07-21-2015, 12:15 PM

Originally posted by Dewman

How did it ever come to this?

Perhaps LBA?

**From1980** · 07-21-2015, 12:17 PM

Originally posted by Dewman

Have any of you experienced this same thing? How did it ever come to this?

Yeah, once, over thirty years ago. I wasn`t afflicted that way very long though and more recently I have full-blown LBA again.

Dewman · 07-21-2015, 12:24 PM

Originally posted by jatrax

Perhaps LBA?

NO! Say it ain't so!

alamo5000 · 07-21-2015, 12:28 PM - **2 Likes**

Yes it's happened to most of the people here

LOL

Fortunately for me I've kept it in check somewhat. I have periodically parsed stuff as I've gone along.

I also have mentors who give me crap from time to time. One guy (way back in the 80s and 90s) did an around the world trip with a single camera and didn't even finish off a single roll of 36 exposures...came home and got two pictures published in national geographic.

Yeah, they rub it in quite often and sometimes remind me nicely that I suck and that I shouldn't complain about gear.

**grahame** · 07-21-2015, 12:35 PM

I just came back from a trip in China. I packed 15, 35 macro, 55/1.4, 18-135 and 55-300, and 18-135 was on the camera for 95% of time. I used 55/1.4 for portraits of family members so it’s worth the weight and space in the bag, but 18-135 was almost the only lens on the go.

I am not regretting getting so many other lenses in the cabinet, they are all wonderful lenses, and I used and will use them for different purposes. But I learned that most time in the field, 1-2 lenses is good enough.

You can have three cars at home, but drive only one each time.

**TER-OR** · 07-21-2015, 12:59 PM

Travel is unique - hiking even moreso. Less is more and it's where zooms shine. I'll almost always pack the fisheye and 21mm now, along with the 18-135 and only if I really think I'll use it, the 55-300. The first two lenses are small and unique, the third is the workhorse and the last totally depends on what i'm doing. I rarely pack the 100mm macro or other special stuff unless part of the reason I'm traveling would benefit from that. Even so, the 18-135 around 70mm-100mm does a serviceable job.

That said, I always overpack. Even when I backpacked as a kid, I overpacked.

Last time I flew with the K5 I only took the 18-135. I was surprised how well it did through the airplane window. Yes, you can tell it was through the window and 40K feet of atmosphere, but over the Rockies I got some really interesting images.

Last edited by TER-OR; 07-21-2015 at 01:04 PM.

stevebrot · 07-21-2015, 01:05 PM

Originally posted by Dewman

Pentax-DA 18-55mm WR and a Tamron 28-200mm lens

The Tamron is generally underrated IMHO.

Originally posted by TER-OR

Travel is unique

Yep! A walk-around zoom along with a longer option usually covers it all.

DoctorX · 07-21-2015, 01:30 PM

If I could do it again it would be an 18-55 WR, a DA* 60-250, and the FA 100 WR. That would do it.

jamarley · 07-21-2015, 01:49 PM

It's posts like this that make me realize I really do need a lens cabinet.

But it's often the case that I plan on 2 or 3 lenses for my trek, and come home with them still safely tucked away in the pack.

**savoche** · 07-21-2015, 02:02 PM

Originally posted by TER-OR

Travel is unique - hiking even moreso. Less is more and it's where zooms shine.

Exactly. When travelling my mainstay is the 18-135 or the 55-300, depending on the character of the trip. In addition the DA15 and FA43 are always with me, and often the DFA100.

I rarely use zooms when going for a photo walk at home. Then it's usually one or two primes. I try to rotate which ones.

Which is all the reason I need to feed my LBA.

condor27596 · 07-21-2015, 02:31 PM

I'm not convinced yet. I borrowed a 18-135 WR to go to south of the border SC Disney and Florida in general. It's very easy to frame a shot with the WR. But it needs so much light and it is slow.

I am going back to Florida in a couple weeks. I will take the WR. But I'm going to concentrate on going back to focusing with my feet.

The HD 21 for selfies and point and click group shots with my friends. The 35 or 50 for a more portrait shots and the 40 pancake for on the go shots.

I carry 3 gallons of ice cubes in a backpack plus everything a picky eater 5 year old needs. The extra weight and space is inconsequential.

Out of the ton of money I have spent on lenses ( to me) it's that pancake that has turned out to be the go to.

It should be noted I do not pic daylight landscapes. My spectrum of photos is to gather pics for a calendar and yearly book.

**savoche** · 07-21-2015, 02:44 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by condor27596

I'm not convinced yet. I borrowed a 18-135 WR to go to south of the border SC Disney and Florida in general. It's very easy to frame a shot with the WR. But it needs so much light and it is slow.

...which is why you need at least one fast prime as well. My choice is usually the 43.

Of course, the whole point with interchangeable lens cameras is that you can choose the lens that suits you. And I can choose different. And both of us can be right

condor27596 · 07-21-2015, 03:10 PM - **1 Like**

Yes! I just wanted to throw out an alternate view of the 18-135 WR being the be all end all.

ChristianRock · 07-21-2015, 03:39 PM

I was saying in the "3 primes" thread that I can't live with just 3 lenses, but every time I go out, I only take 2-3 (mostly primes). And that's not a contradiction

Because I can be going out to a downtown area, or to my kids games, or to a gathering of friends, or to a family day at the park, or to just take pictures of flowers around the neighborhood... different lenses will be used depending on what I'll be doing.

07-21-2015, 12:11 PM	#1
Dewman Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,492	Somewhat of an eye-opener! Last week, my nephew and I took a three-day trip to the Oregon coast and I took two hard cases full of lenses. They included everything from a Pentax-M 28mm f:3.5 to a Sigma 28-300mm Hyper Zoom.... and just about everything in between! FA-50 & 100 macros, primes, zooms, kit lenses.... you name it and I probably had it covered. The eye-opener was that I used only two lenses for the entire trip.... a Pentax-DA 18-55mm WR and a Tamron 28-200mm lens. They covered every situation I came upon. The 18-55 WR lens has proven to be exceptionally sharp (MUCH more so than the non-WR edition) and in spite of the reviews of the Tamron, my particular copy is among the sharpest of the 100+/- lenses I own (Not including my two FA macros!) So, this morning, I'm sitting here, with my lens cabinet open and thinking.... "O.K., who's going... and who's gonna' stay?" I think I could seriously reduce this arsenal to about 6 or 7 lenses and be very "well-armed." Have any of you experienced this same thing? How did it ever come to this?

07-21-2015, 12:28 PM - 2 Likes	#5
alamo5000 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 2,962	Yes it's happened to most of the people here LOL Fortunately for me I've kept it in check somewhat. I have periodically parsed stuff as I've gone along. I also have mentors who give me crap from time to time. One guy (way back in the 80s and 90s) did an around the world trip with a single camera and didn't even finish off a single roll of 36 exposures...came home and got two pictures published in national geographic. Yeah, they rub it in quite often and sometimes remind me nicely that I suck and that I shouldn't complain about gear. Last edited by alamo5000; 07-21-2015 at 07:11 PM.

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07-21-2015, 12:15 PM	#2
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Originally posted by Dewman How did it ever come to this? Perhaps LBA?

07-21-2015, 12:17 PM	#3
From1980 Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Essex, Ontario Posts: 682	Originally posted by Dewman Have any of you experienced this same thing? How did it ever come to this? Yeah, once, over thirty years ago. I wasn`t afflicted that way very long though and more recently I have full-blown LBA again.

07-21-2015, 12:24 PM	#4
Dewman Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,492 Original Poster	Originally posted by jatrax Perhaps LBA? NO! Say it ain't so!

07-21-2015, 12:35 PM	#6
grahame Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Photos: Albums Posts: 2,041	I just came back from a trip in China. I packed 15, 35 macro, 55/1.4, 18-135 and 55-300, and 18-135 was on the camera for 95% of time. I used 55/1.4 for portraits of family members so it’s worth the weight and space in the bag, but 18-135 was almost the only lens on the go. I am not regretting getting so many other lenses in the cabinet, they are all wonderful lenses, and I used and will use them for different purposes. But I learned that most time in the field, 1-2 lenses is good enough. You can have three cars at home, but drive only one each time.

07-21-2015, 12:59 PM	#7
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	Travel is unique - hiking even moreso. Less is more and it's where zooms shine. I'll almost always pack the fisheye and 21mm now, along with the 18-135 and only if I really think I'll use it, the 55-300. The first two lenses are small and unique, the third is the workhorse and the last totally depends on what i'm doing. I rarely pack the 100mm macro or other special stuff unless part of the reason I'm traveling would benefit from that. Even so, the 18-135 around 70mm-100mm does a serviceable job. That said, I always overpack. Even when I backpacked as a kid, I overpacked. Last time I flew with the K5 I only took the 18-135. I was surprised how well it did through the airplane window. Yes, you can tell it was through the window and 40K feet of atmosphere, but over the Rockies I got some really interesting images. Last edited by TER-OR; 07-21-2015 at 01:04 PM.

07-21-2015, 01:05 PM	#8
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Dewman Pentax-DA 18-55mm WR and a Tamron 28-200mm lens The Tamron is generally underrated IMHO. Originally posted by TER-OR Travel is unique Yep! A walk-around zoom along with a longer option usually covers it all.

07-21-2015, 01:30 PM	#9
DoctorX Forum Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 65	If I could do it again it would be an 18-55 WR, a DA* 60-250, and the FA 100 WR. That would do it.

07-21-2015, 01:49 PM	#10
jamarley Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Photos: Gallery Posts: 409	It's posts like this that make me realize I really do need a lens cabinet. But it's often the case that I plan on 2 or 3 lenses for my trek, and come home with them still safely tucked away in the pack.

07-21-2015, 02:02 PM	#11
savoche Master of the obvious Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Lowlands of Norway Posts: 18,311	Originally posted by TER-OR Travel is unique - hiking even moreso. Less is more and it's where zooms shine. Exactly. When travelling my mainstay is the 18-135 or the 55-300, depending on the character of the trip. In addition the DA15 and FA43 are always with me, and often the DFA100. I rarely use zooms when going for a photo walk at home. Then it's usually one or two primes. I try to rotate which ones. Which is all the reason I need to feed my LBA.

07-21-2015, 02:31 PM	#12
condor27596 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Raleigh, NC, USA Posts: 870	I'm not convinced yet. I borrowed a 18-135 WR to go to south of the border SC Disney and Florida in general. It's very easy to frame a shot with the WR. But it needs so much light and it is slow. I am going back to Florida in a couple weeks. I will take the WR. But I'm going to concentrate on going back to focusing with my feet. The HD 21 for selfies and point and click group shots with my friends. The 35 or 50 for a more portrait shots and the 40 pancake for on the go shots. I carry 3 gallons of ice cubes in a backpack plus everything a picky eater 5 year old needs. The extra weight and space is inconsequential. Out of the ton of money I have spent on lenses ( to me) it's that pancake that has turned out to be the go to. It should be noted I do not pic daylight landscapes. My spectrum of photos is to gather pics for a calendar and yearly book.

07-21-2015, 02:44 PM - 1 Like	#13
savoche Master of the obvious Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Lowlands of Norway Posts: 18,311	Originally posted by condor27596 I'm not convinced yet. I borrowed a 18-135 WR to go to south of the border SC Disney and Florida in general. It's very easy to frame a shot with the WR. But it needs so much light and it is slow. ...which is why you need at least one fast prime as well. My choice is usually the 43. Of course, the whole point with interchangeable lens cameras is that you can choose the lens that suits you. And I can choose different. And both of us can be right

07-21-2015, 03:10 PM - 1 Like	#14
condor27596 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Raleigh, NC, USA Posts: 870	Yes! I just wanted to throw out an alternate view of the 18-135 WR being the be all end all.

07-21-2015, 03:39 PM	#15
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,912	I was saying in the "3 primes" thread that I can't live with just 3 lenses, but every time I go out, I only take 2-3 (mostly primes). And that's not a contradiction Because I can be going out to a downtown area, or to my kids games, or to a gathering of friends, or to a family day at the park, or to just take pictures of flowers around the neighborhood... different lenses will be used depending on what I'll be doing.