[ChristianRock]

With that lineup I would leave the 40 and carry all other 6. Still a small setup Or leave the 35 since you have the 100 for macro and the 40 is half the size of the 35...

[carlb]

With your kit, I would take the 15, 21, 40 or 50, and 100 in one bag, and the 15, 21, 35, and 70 in the other. I listed the 15 and 21 in each kit because they are so small. However you do it, I would include a macro lens in each. If you don't swap between each set i would separate the 15 and 21, so you have something wide in each and also separate the 70 and 100.

I actually do similar, I have two small sling bags (ThinkTank Turnstyle 5 and 10). I always have the larger sling packed with the KP with either the DA 20-40 Limited or DA 55-300 PLM mounted, the other packed also, the DA15 Ltd, and possibly another small lens like the F 50, Sigma 50 macro, or Tamron 90 macro. I'll use the smaller sling when I want to take two lenses, or three small lenses.

Another option is to carry the camera, and keep an extra lens or two in a lens case on your belt. I've done this often, with an extra battery in my pocket (which also keeps it warm on Winter hikes) and whatever else I may need. This is usually what I would do on a wildlife/nature hike, with the DA*300 mounted as the main lens, and maybe a wide angle or macro in the lens case, but they will not get used if it starts to rain or snow, or wind is strong. I will also use that setup at a festival, even though one lens will usually suffice.

In you collection you have all primes, including the 35 macro, 40, and 50 focal length. Do you use all of those regularly, enough to carry them around? I feel you kit is very limited at the long end. The 100 macro is pretty specialized, yes you can use it as a telephoto, but I feel the autofocus very slow and manually is has such a nice long throw, it always needs to be on a tripod to get the best out of it (just my opinion). What you are missing out on are a lot of landscape and closeup opportunities with your top end at 100. A lens like the 55-300 PLM is inexpensive and a real performer. But seeing no zooms in your lineup you obviously prefer primes, whih are bit more limited in telephoto, with currently the next longer lens being 200mm. But there are some older 135s etc floating around. I've recently moved to a location that is near the coast, so beaches are a common place to go. I find the 55-300 to be ideal for the beach, because of so many useful focal lengths, quick autofocus, and it is not a place you want to change lenses.

Only you can decide, but I think you have a good idea here, rather than lugging them all around.

Thanks for your detailed and helpful response. I do have several zooms, including the 55-300 but I tend to use them for travelling. But taking it out more often to give me something extra at the long end isn't a bad idea.

[pres589]

DA 15 for ultra-wide duty
DA 70 for lower-light and short-tele / portraits.
Either the 21 or the 35 for everything in-between. Having more than three lenses in my bag means at least one of them doesn't come out, day to day.


My old kit for a day trip into a city would be the DA 15, 18-135, and Sigma 28mm EX DG. I should really look for a copy of the 24mm EX DG...

[monochrome]

I have the following lenses which all fit nicely into a bag with a KP body. It's not too heavy to carry around but I find having seven lenses to choose from at the same time becomes a bit of a case of too much choice all at once.

DA Limiteds
15mm
21mm
35mm Macro
40mm
70mm

DA 50/1.8 and a DFA 100mm Macro

So, how would you group these lenses into a couple of separate kits for general photo excursions? My thoughts were along the lines of something like a "short" kit with the 15, 21, 35 & 40 and a "long" kit with the 50, the 70 and the 100. I know someone will say it all depends what I want to shoot and "why not just take whatever lens you feel like" but I'm just interested in other ideas that people might have.

21 | 40 | 70 is my standard KP kit. Those three lenses are always in my KP bag (with the 28~105). That is also my travel kit - those are the 4 lenses I always and only take on an airplane trip. The 21 is my default lens.

The 15, 35 or FA100/2.8 Macro are added as needed based on the purpose of the particular shooting session.

[hjoseph7]

For traveling I would choose the 15mm, the 35mm, the 50mm and the 70mm
Ditto for special events
For regular walk around/about I would just use the 35mm or 50mm.

[kypfer]

In recent times I've taken to walking about with just one lens, usually a 28mm or thereabouts, working on the principle that a "standard" lens can be adequate for most scenarios if I'm prepared to "zoom with my feet". There's rarely opportunity to swap lenses "on the fly" in a dynamic situation, so a bagful of primes becomes more of a fashion statement than a working solution
If I'm going somewhere where I know there'll be "wide sweeping vistas", something somewhat wider will be slipped into a pocket, similarly if I want to treat myself to a few isolated details, a 135mm will usually fit the bill.
Anything more varied than that is what zoom lenses were made for


Just personal opinions, obviously ... horses for courses... YMMV ... etc


Good luck!

I would go with 35mm, 70mm and the 100mm.

[rogerstg]

Sheesh, I wasn't looking for an in-depth psychological assessment of my character, just some ideas from other members. Thanks for your contribution

I'm still working on my issues procrastinating.

[Wasp]

My answer: get a bigger bag and take them all!

[disasterfilm]

I have a very similar 'street photos' kit! If I'm going to maximum compactness, I like this:

KP with DA21 mounted.
DA15, DA40, and DA70 in a small side bag.

I keep telling myself this is going to be my 'on vacation' setup too, but I always end up lugging absolutely everything all the time anyway.

[Lane]

My four prime kit is either 15 - 31- 77 - 140 (100macro with 1.4) or 21-43-77-140. Both work well.

[alex66]

Depending on situation but general walking around 15/31/77 and a second body, but if it was something more specialized then adjust to suit but still a second body. If not seriously taking photographs then one camera one lens around the normal range so the 31 or 40. I tend to go with one body with a zoom and one with a fast normal prime or moderate wide angle. Adjust to suit if I found I was wanting a longer lens then swap out the 77 for the 100 and maybe change the 15 for a 40.

[timb64]

Buy a 16-85 and be done with it

Just this /\/\/\

Sheesh, I wasn't looking for an in-depth psychological assessment of my character, just some ideas from other members. Thanks for your contribution

Although I answered your question and gave my thought about it, one can ask oneself why on earth did you put the question to us. These questions are actually a bit silly and are not to be taken too serious. I think rogerstg is right: the question was put to us because with so many lenses it is hard to make a decision which one to use. I, for one, rather take one and sometimes regret that I had not taken the other one, so I have to make the most and the best with what I got. That is where creativity comes in.

[Arjay Bee]

Buy a 16-85 and be done with it

And Norm's thoughts expanded on that - I have the 21 40 70 combo and the 16-85 - since buying the latter the others all go unused for all the reasons Norm states - now thinking of selling the limiteds (put toward a Ricoh GRIII). The inconvenience of lens changing is greater than the inconvenience of lens bulk and I use the wider 16mm a lot.

When I had the 16-45 I thought it would be great to have the three limiteds as a discreet travel kit - but I found myself not taking as many pics as I never had the correct lens on the camera at any specific moment and changing lenses was getting in the way of the travel with companion experience.

Sorry - not answering your question.