[pathdoc]

There's a lot to be said for super-zooms in terms of convenience.

I shot my kids' scouts sleepover with one recently, and when camera, flash and lens came together the results were outstanding (flash was misbehaving a touch). They're only Facebook fodder, so even an *istDS and a DA 18-250 can deliver the goods in IQ terms, but the flexibility with a couple dozen kids running around and doing all sorts of hilarious things at various distances from the camera is worth the sacrifice in IQ over a prime or a more restricted-range zoom.

The only disadvantage is that the AF control system on the older cameras struggles in low light as the widest available aperture narrows, and by the time you're down to f/5.6 or even 4.5 you start wishing for a combination of quick shift and back-button AF.

[Sandy Hancock]

My last overseas trip I packed the K-1 with 10-17, 15-30(!), 31, 55, 77, 100 and 55-300, a flash, and a compact tripod. Mind you, I was going there for a friend's wedding, and I was one of two "official" togs for that event.

I have another trip later this year and will definitely be going a lot lighter. K-3 with 10-17, 16-50, 55 and 55-300 are my current front-runners. If I get a rush of blood to the head I might replace the K-3 with a KP, and the 16-50 with either a 16-85 or 20-40 to make it even lighter.

[Driline]

and the largest truck stop in world (yes, seriously, this interests me).

Really? It's a just a Truck Stop. Just really really big. I know it's close to where I live If you're coming this far you might as well stop at the John Deere Museum in Moline Illinois. It's free and you can climb up and sit in a huge $500,000 combine. There's also a great restaurant located right next to it. Johnny's Steak House. Isabel Bloom is also across the street. World famous for concrete figurines.

---------- Post added 01-28-17 at 07:00 PM ----------

My last overseas trip I packed the K-1 with 10-17, 15-30(!), 31, 55, 77, 100 and 55-300, a flash, and a compact tripod. Mind you, I was going there for a friend's wedding, and I was one of two "official" togs for that event.

I have another trip later this year and will definitely be going a lot lighter. K-3 with 10-17, 16-50, 55 and 55-300 are my current front-runners. If I get a rush of blood to the head I might replace the K-3 with a KP, and the 16-50 with either a 16-85 or 20-40 to make it even lighter.

Did you use the FA 77 much at the wedding? Did you miss the DA*50-135?

[madison_wi_gal]

Really? It's a just a Truck Stop. Just really really big. I know it's close to where I live If you're coming this far you might as well stop at the John Deere Museum in Moline Illinois. It's free and you can climb up and sit in a huge $500,000 combine. There's also a great restaurant located right next to it. Johnny's Steak House. Isabel Bloom is also across the street. World famous for concrete figurines.

OK, I shall do that. I missed out on a nice steak in Fredonia AZ (long annoying story) so if Johnny's is good I'm all for it.

[Sandy Hancock]

Did you use the FA 77 much at the wedding? Did you miss the DA*50-135?

No. Mainly the 15-30 and DA*55, strangely enough. My mate had a longer lens on his Nikon for the tight shots, while I got up close and personal. It was a very casual affair.

The 55-300 got a bit of use shooting from the Thames, at a secret test track with the Ford WEC team (lucky the GPS was turned off, or it wouldn't be a secret anymore), and on the lake at Ashford Castle. The 10-17 was used to great effect at the London Eye, but rarely otherwise. The 31 and 55 were great indoors and for some special landscapes.

The overwhelming majority of shots were with the 15-30, but that was at least partly because it was my "Single In" for last July.

Some of my faves from the trip are in THIS ALBUM

[Driline]

Some of my faves from the trip are in THIS ALBUM

Is that you sporting those turquoise and yellow striped tennis shoes? You certainly won't be confused as an American wearing those babies

Very nice Album by the way. Great vista's. It really makes you appreciate those wide angle lenses. I really like my DA 14. It always rides along with my FA 31.

[Sandy Hancock]

Is that you sporting those turquoise and yellow striped tennis shoes?

Yep - but they are trail running shoes....

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Last edited by Sandy Hancock; 01-28-2017 at 10:14 PM.

[clickclick]

we forget we can "zoom" with our feet - you seem to have not!

[madison_wi_gal]

Not sure bringing the 18-250 Tam on KY trip will work - did a test run today (and no, did NOT bring 18-135 to compare side by side, I was cold) - seems soft to me but maybe due to subject being so different from Arizona cliffs. I let the AF do its thing and none of these are edited in any way.

I'll go back with 18-135 to Olbrich, not to Zoo, it was too depressing. Vilas does a good job and animals are healthy and cared for but I just hate animals in concrete.

And in case anyone asks, the tire in the tree is mine, this website sells them, my squirrels love love love their tire and 5 or more squish themselves in. I have 2 and will get 2 more.

[cali92rs]

(and no, did NOT bring 18-135 to compare side by side, I was cold)

I thought peeps from Wisconsin were incapable of feeling cold

[madison_wi_gal]

I thought peeps from Wisconsin were incapable of feeling cold

Ha ha.

[Pontax]

For two years I have only brought my 40XS on trips. To be honest I have had it on my K5 since I got it two years ago. I use it for everything, sometimes it's to narrow, then I use my feet or just skip the picture, I do not mind.

I have many lenses, mainly MF. But I often just like a quick one-hand snap of my kids when we are on the go. And the short focus travel is also great for video. I simply love this lens and when I see other turists with heavy zooms I grin.

Maybe it's a legacy from my film era days, with my Contax and 50mm.

[northcoastgreg]

I have way too many lenses and cameras, so I certainly can't take everything with me, nor would I want to. Often how much I take depends on whether I have a secure place to keep some of it. So if I go to Arizona to visit my sister, I'll take a complete zoom (DA 10-17, DA 12-24, DA 16-85, M 75-150) and prime kit (DA 15, DA 21, DA 35 ltd, A 50/2.8 Macro). But when I went to Painted Hills in Oregon back in May of last year, I took only the three zooms I absolutely would need (DA 12-24, DA 16-85, Tamron 70-200). Often if I'm going somewhere for the first time, I'll take zooms (because I'm not sure what I'll need). If I'm going somewhere that I'm quite familiar with, where I know exactly what I want (especially local places), I'll take primes. I don't like leaving expensive gear in the car and I hate camera bags, so I like to be able to carry extra lenses in pockets and/or lens cases — all of which encourages not taking too much stuff.

[UncleVanya]

On one of the kitchen sink trips with a safe base of operations and unknown opportunities I took the following gear:

K-3
DA 20-40 limited
FA 77
DA* 50-135
DA* 200
Sigma 400 AF
HD DA 1.4x Rear converter
F 1.7x AF Rear converter
Canon 500D 77mm close up lens
Manfrotto tripod
Manfrotto monopod
Af540fgz
Spare batteries

Meanwhile my dad had his Gx-7 and that gear...

[mgvh]

I recently wrote up a field report on a 2-week trip to Turkey/Greece where I carried as little as I could but everything I thought I might need. (Summary: K-3 and K-30 and 6 lenses and Kenko 1.4x teleconverter) In general, here's how I function:

• Minimal touring kit: body w/ DA 18-135
• Minimal night/museum/street kit: DA 21 or DA 40XS
• Lightest, broad-range touring kit: DA 18-135 and DA 10-17 FE
• Full-range kit: DA 18-135, DA 10-17 FE and DAL 55-300 (or a remarkably small but competent Tokina SZ-X 80-200mm or the 1.4x teleconverter)

And I have varying size bags for each of those options!