Which is your best kit for hiking?

Nick Siebers · 07-08-2009, 08:26 PM

Vivitar 24mm and DA 40mm - covers all I need for hiking (vivitar is MF, but does 1:4 macro, which is handy)

Light_Horseman · 07-08-2009, 09:27 PM

I usually take more than I use because my bag has room and I don't usually mind the extra weight.

But!, with a few 14ers planned I'll be cutting back. Probably the sigma 17-70 and the tamron 90mm macro or the 12-24, A50 and Tammy 90. I'll throw in the DA* 300mm if I expect a lot of wildlife though!

arbutusq · 07-08-2009, 10:04 PM

For me it is the 16-45 and the 55-300. If it is a longer trip I'll chuck in the 50 1.4.

robjmitchell · 07-09-2009, 04:21 AM

I was taking the k10d + sigma 17-70 on multi day hikes. However of late i have been liking landscapes in the 50-135 region using the 50-200. I'm looking at getting a 21ltd or voigtlander 20 to use in combo with the 43ltd and 50-200. I also carry a cheapish Slik tripod that weights 1 kg

lunelson · 07-09-2009, 08:31 AM

I recently went on a three day backpacking trip with my K20D, Sigma 10-20, and FA 50 f/1.4. If I had to do it over again I'd have just brought my K20 and DA35. The extra weight just bothered me too much, and I found myself using the Sigma at its long end anyway. The only problem I'd have had with it is not being quite as close for some of my wildlife pictures, but I think it would be a reasonable compromise. If I owned the DA* 55 I might have taken that, as weathersealing would be great. I was dealing with a lot of Ziploc bags for the trip since it was in dusty conditions that changed to light rain.

foxglove · 07-09-2009, 08:43 AM

I was hiking with just my K100 and Sigma 17-70, but then I got on a prime lens kick... the last few times I've had the Zenitar 16mm FE, Tamron 28mm, and Tokina 90mm macro (all old MF) and found it a pretty good mix for my uses. I just need a better way of carrying them, besides tossed in my backpack in individual lens cases.

**Canada_Rockies** · 07-09-2009, 09:36 AM

I hike with a LowePro 100AW in which I have:

K10D with D-BG2 grip, battery remote F and spare card
DA 12-24
DA* 16-50
DA* 50-135
M 100/4 Macro
77 mm Circular Polarizer
F 1.7X AF converter

and my 2 litre water bottle.

If it is a wildlife hike, I switch to my LowePro Trkeer backpack with all the above plus

A 70-210
M 400/5.6
A 1.4X-S converter
Manfrotto 055B legs and 168 ball head.
Benbo Trekker (yeah, second tripod!)
Lunch

I do get my exercise!

GeneV · 07-09-2009, 11:56 AM

Originally posted by Light_Horseman

I usually take more than I use because my bag has room and I don't usually mind the extra weight.

But!, with a few 14ers planned I'll be cutting back. Probably the sigma 17-70 and the tamron 90mm macro or the 12-24, A50 and Tammy 90. I'll throw in the DA* 300mm if I expect a lot of wildlife though!

It's been a few years since I did a 14er, but I remember that by the time I was near 14 I was barely tolerating a waist pack with a point and shoot. Hat's off to you on getting there with that rig!

cloudswimmer · 07-09-2009, 07:11 PM

Originally posted by soalle

Which is your best kit for a 5 to 8 hours hike?

I use to bring 18-250mm and the K100D but I found it still too heavy...
your suggestions?

Probably my snake bite kit

**Canada_Rockies** · 07-09-2009, 07:17 PM

Originally posted by GeneV

It's been a few years since I did a 14er, but I remember that by the time I was near 14 I was barely tolerating a waist pack with a point and shoot. Hat's off to you on getting there with that rig!

Living at nearly 4,000 ft, I do have an advantage in acclimatization. 7,000 ft isn't uncommon here on a day hike. I have been to 10,000 on Maui, and realized that 4,000 ft of acclimatization is a big help. We were in shorts and quite comfortable while those from sea level were having a rough time of it.

raymeedc · 07-09-2009, 08:12 PM

Originally posted by cloudswimmer

Probably my snake bite kit

Probably my snake.

Jimfear · 07-10-2009, 12:09 AM

I see I have kind of the same philosophy as Canada_Rockies...

I'm not too concerned with weight so I take the lot. The same kit I always carry with me when I'm out shooting. And understandably it also weighs a lot. The bag weighs in at almost exactly 5 kg and that includes:

- Pentax LX
- Pentax KX
- Sigma 16mm FE
- Cambron 18-28mm
- Vivitar 28mm
- Pentax 35mm
- Pentax 50mm
- Pentax 135mm
- Vivitar 200mm
- Pentax 70-210mm

If I have room left I also take the tripod. It weighs close to 3 kg bringing the kit to a nice 8 kg of solid camera. I have never understood the concerns with weight, a little extra exercise doesn't hurt anyone, does it?

roentarre · 07-10-2009, 02:20 AM

I took my Da 15mm ltd, 21mm ltd and 55mm f1.4 ltd.

Good set of lenses to bring to any hiking.

Lens gallery

EricT · 07-10-2009, 03:42 AM

I usually just bring my DA* 16-50. Decent wide-angle, OK macro performance (~1:4) and fast for when the light starts fading. Oh, and the weather-sealing has saved me a lot of times. If Pentax ever releases a small 135mm limited, I'll probably buy that as well for this purpose. I'm looking for an M 100 or M 135 as well until then.

**mtngal** · 07-10-2009, 07:36 AM

An interesting question and interesting answers. I haven't done an 8 hour hike in a very long time, but 4-5 hours isn't all that uncommon for me. I've done it both ways - going minimalist and regretting not bringing some lens and taking everything but the kitchen sink and feeling very squashed by the time I got back to the car.

Up until yesterday I had my kitchen-sink kit set to: K20, DA 55-300, A*300, DA 12-24 and Viv 105mm (if it's a really short hike I add a 50mm 1.4, flash and a reversing ring). The Viv etc. is only because I love macro so much, if it weren't for that it would get left at home. Minimalist kit is K100, DA 55-300 and DA 12-24.

07-09-2009, 09:36 AM	#22
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	I hike with a LowePro 100AW in which I have: K10D with D-BG2 grip, battery remote F and spare card DA 12-24 DA* 16-50 DA* 50-135 M 100/4 Macro 77 mm Circular Polarizer F 1.7X AF converter and my 2 litre water bottle. If it is a wildlife hike, I switch to my LowePro Trkeer backpack with all the above plus A 70-210 M 400/5.6 A 1.4X-S converter Manfrotto 055B legs and 168 ball head. Benbo Trekker (yeah, second tripod!) Lunch I do get my exercise!

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07-08-2009, 08:26 PM	#16
Nick Siebers Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,165	Vivitar 24mm and DA 40mm - covers all I need for hiking (vivitar is MF, but does 1:4 macro, which is handy)

07-08-2009, 09:27 PM	#17
Light_Horseman Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Coffs Harbour, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 297	I usually take more than I use because my bag has room and I don't usually mind the extra weight. But!, with a few 14ers planned I'll be cutting back. Probably the sigma 17-70 and the tamron 90mm macro or the 12-24, A50 and Tammy 90. I'll throw in the DA* 300mm if I expect a lot of wildlife though!

07-08-2009, 10:04 PM	#18
arbutusq Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Vancouver BC canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 380	For me it is the 16-45 and the 55-300. If it is a longer trip I'll chuck in the 50 1.4.

07-09-2009, 04:21 AM	#19
robjmitchell Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne Aus Posts: 1,776	I was taking the k10d + sigma 17-70 on multi day hikes. However of late i have been liking landscapes in the 50-135 region using the 50-200. I'm looking at getting a 21ltd or voigtlander 20 to use in combo with the 43ltd and 50-200. I also carry a cheapish Slik tripod that weights 1 kg

07-09-2009, 08:31 AM	#20
lunelson Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 80	I recently went on a three day backpacking trip with my K20D, Sigma 10-20, and FA 50 f/1.4. If I had to do it over again I'd have just brought my K20 and DA35. The extra weight just bothered me too much, and I found myself using the Sigma at its long end anyway. The only problem I'd have had with it is not being quite as close for some of my wildlife pictures, but I think it would be a reasonable compromise. If I owned the DA* 55 I might have taken that, as weathersealing would be great. I was dealing with a lot of Ziploc bags for the trip since it was in dusty conditions that changed to light rain.

07-09-2009, 08:43 AM	#21
foxglove Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Atlantic Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,049	I was hiking with just my K100 and Sigma 17-70, but then I got on a prime lens kick... the last few times I've had the Zenitar 16mm FE, Tamron 28mm, and Tokina 90mm macro (all old MF) and found it a pretty good mix for my uses. I just need a better way of carrying them, besides tossed in my backpack in individual lens cases.

07-09-2009, 11:56 AM	#23
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	Originally posted by Light_Horseman I usually take more than I use because my bag has room and I don't usually mind the extra weight. But!, with a few 14ers planned I'll be cutting back. Probably the sigma 17-70 and the tamron 90mm macro or the 12-24, A50 and Tammy 90. I'll throw in the DA* 300mm if I expect a lot of wildlife though! It's been a few years since I did a 14er, but I remember that by the time I was near 14 I was barely tolerating a waist pack with a point and shoot. Hat's off to you on getting there with that rig!

07-09-2009, 07:11 PM	#24
cloudswimmer Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: So.Cal. Photos: Gallery Posts: 89	Originally posted by soalle Which is your best kit for a 5 to 8 hours hike? I use to bring 18-250mm and the K100D but I found it still too heavy... your suggestions? Probably my snake bite kit

07-09-2009, 07:17 PM	#25
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Originally posted by GeneV It's been a few years since I did a 14er, but I remember that by the time I was near 14 I was barely tolerating a waist pack with a point and shoot. Hat's off to you on getting there with that rig! Living at nearly 4,000 ft, I do have an advantage in acclimatization. 7,000 ft isn't uncommon here on a day hike. I have been to 10,000 on Maui, and realized that 4,000 ft of acclimatization is a big help. We were in shorts and quite comfortable while those from sea level were having a rough time of it.

07-09-2009, 08:12 PM	#26
raymeedc Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Brooklyn, New York Posts: 951	Originally posted by cloudswimmer Probably my snake bite kit Probably my snake.

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07-10-2009, 12:09 AM	#27
Jimfear Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 576	I see I have kind of the same philosophy as Canada_Rockies... I'm not too concerned with weight so I take the lot. The same kit I always carry with me when I'm out shooting. And understandably it also weighs a lot. The bag weighs in at almost exactly 5 kg and that includes: - Pentax LX - Pentax KX - Sigma 16mm FE - Cambron 18-28mm - Vivitar 28mm - Pentax 35mm - Pentax 50mm - Pentax 135mm - Vivitar 200mm - Pentax 70-210mm If I have room left I also take the tripod. It weighs close to 3 kg bringing the kit to a nice 8 kg of solid camera. I have never understood the concerns with weight, a little extra exercise doesn't hurt anyone, does it?

07-10-2009, 02:20 AM	#28
roentarre Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11,783	I took my Da 15mm ltd, 21mm ltd and 55mm f1.4 ltd. Good set of lenses to bring to any hiking. Lens gallery

07-10-2009, 03:42 AM	#29
EricT Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 484	I usually just bring my DA* 16-50. Decent wide-angle, OK macro performance (~1:4) and fast for when the light starts fading. Oh, and the weather-sealing has saved me a lot of times. If Pentax ever releases a small 135mm limited, I'll probably buy that as well for this purpose. I'm looking for an M 100 or M 135 as well until then.

07-10-2009, 07:36 AM	#30
mtngal Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Wherever I’m Parked Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,003	An interesting question and interesting answers. I haven't done an 8 hour hike in a very long time, but 4-5 hours isn't all that uncommon for me. I've done it both ways - going minimalist and regretting not bringing some lens and taking everything but the kitchen sink and feeling very squashed by the time I got back to the car. Up until yesterday I had my kitchen-sink kit set to: K20, DA 55-300, A*300, DA 12-24 and Viv 105mm (if it's a really short hike I add a 50mm 1.4, flash and a reversing ring). The Viv etc. is only because I love macro so much, if it weren't for that it would get left at home. Minimalist kit is K100, DA 55-300 and DA 12-24.