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12-05-2009, 12:43 AM   #1
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Thought Experiment - what would you carry?

I will be going on a month's holiday in a week or so. Perth, Rottnest, Margaret River, Albany Kalgoorlie, self driving road trip etc traveling with non photographer beloved wife. Lanscapes, scenics, family groups, perhaps some wildlife.

I will also be visiting inlaws for considerable lengths of time and so not an exclusively photo tour. I don't want to carry all my gear but travel somewhat light and low key but have flexibility.

Laptop is a 160Gb Netbook for downloads and storage (not processing)

Camera K20D
Take Vert grip or not for extra battery and card storage?
Neck strap or Hand grip?
External flash?

Bag choices: Average sized shoulder bag, AW200 Sling, Naneu Pro K3L?
Airtravel to WA is necessary. Naneu doesn't conform to carry on restrictions
Mount: Tripod, Trekpod or nothing?

Lens Choices:
Tak 35/3.5, 50/1.4, 50 macro/4, 105/2.8, 135/3.5, 200/4
M 50/2
DA 16-45, 50-200

Vivitar K28/2.8 CF
Tokina ATX 80-400
SK 360/5.5

I have some ideas but just wondered what my fellow pentaxians would do???

12-05-2009, 01:22 AM   #2
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Here's what I would take:

K20D w/Hand grip
AW200 Sling

Lens Choices:
DA 16-45, 50-200, Vivitar K28/2.8 CF
12-05-2009, 02:45 AM   #3
axl
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Ok,

from your list:
K20+grip+tripod+AW200
DA16-45+Tokina 80-400 + Tak50/1.4

BR
Peter
12-05-2009, 03:12 AM   #4
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QuoteOriginally posted by Arjay Bee Quote
...traveling with non photographer beloved wife...
K20D + DA 16-45 & 50-20, no grip, no flash, no notebook, just enough sdhc.Too many hardwares will only ruin the fun.

12-05-2009, 03:24 AM   #5
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K20D
DA 16-45
50-200
Your favourite prime.
tripod
extra batteries
extra sd cards (lighter than carrying a laptop)
12-05-2009, 03:38 AM   #6
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Combination of the two replies above:

K20D 16-45 50-200 50/1.4 sd-cards and extra batteries.
No tripod needed for 200mm
No in-between-evaluation of pictures needed, so no notebook.
12-05-2009, 04:43 AM   #7
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ummmm.....folks...he has a NETBOOK not a notebook PC so weight and size are not really an issue there. I am sure the netbook needs to go in order to have web access and other things like maybe some paperwork, etc...

As for the camera gear:
K20D (not sure about grip, but if you have it and prefer the way the body handles then use it)
Tripod just in case...leave it in the car or room or wherever if you are not in the mood. Getting a heavy duty Gorilla Pod might be a nice option there...but not trying to spent your cash. Perhaps a combo of a Gorilla Pod and the TrekPod might be nice and light, small and give somewhat of a tripod work around if yours is kinda big for travel.

28mm (or the 35mm whichever is your fav between the two)
50/1.4 (night/low light/DOF fun..ya got it so why waste it?)
16-45 (no brainer here)
50-200 (just to keep the longer end simple)

When I am out I use both the neck strap and my hand strap (Camdapter leather) so whatever you prefer. If you only want one then the neck strap because it frees your hands when necessary w/o having to set the camera down or put it back in the bag.

As for the bag, whatever holds everything and leaves room for odds and ends you might pick-up for your day trips. You know, like lunch, water, a paperback, whatever....if you can't carry it on then don't use it for camera gear.

Just don't over think things...if you try and get just the right set , you will always worry that you chose the wrong gear...shot with what ya have and have some fun...

12-05-2009, 05:26 AM   #8
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A lot of suggestions already Arjay.
I'd go simple if you're looking to stay low-key.
No need for grip, but take extra battery and card.
Small shoulder bag won't fit camera + another lens, so it'll have to be the AW200.
Add the 16-45 on camera plus fast 50 and 50-200 and I'd say you've got a basic kit that'll do portraits, landscapes and a little telephoto reach.
Enjoy the holiday.
12-05-2009, 06:39 AM   #9
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I think most people have hit it pretty good

the 16-45,and 50 -200 are a must and will be the two main "go to " lenses for travel

THe 50mmF1.4 is also a good idea for low light and portraits, where it may be better than either of the sooms at 50mm.

I would also take the 50mm macro.

WHat I think is missing is something longer. But here my opinion may differ from most people, since I have some different options, but you should look for something that can get you to 400mm at F5.6

I don't know where you will be staying and how secure it is, but you don't have to carry everything with you all the time. Just be able to take it when you want to.
12-05-2009, 07:06 AM   #10
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Original Poster
Thank you for the well considered responses everyone.

The split in responses is very similar to the two trains of thought I have at the moment:

20D no grip, no tripod, 8gb of memory,
netbook (for net access as noted above, 25cmx19cmx3cm)

Three lens setup.

Either
For small, light and easy
Viv 28, M50 (items k and KA mount) and 105 with adaptor (no real wide angle)

or for wide range and AF
16-45, 50-200, M50 - No adapters to fiddle with but some loss of speed

or a bit weightier
16-45, 80-400, M50 - The Tokina is heavy but I will be mostly working out of car

The shoulder bag would neatly fit any of these set ups.
The Aw200 would not fit the netbook in with the zoom setups so well but has room to spare with the primes.
The Naneu is overkill for this trip - would be ideal for a trek in the bush though.

Any more ideas?
12-05-2009, 08:56 AM   #11
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My biggest emphasis is take the tripod; I always regret not taking mine.
12-05-2009, 10:01 AM   #12
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I took a two week trip recently so my advice is based on what I didn't use. The 50mm macro did not get used, and the one time I needed it, I wasn't carrying it. IMO a decent macro shot takes more time than I wanted to use. I took a Takumar 105mm f2.8 to redo one particular shot; otherwise it was unused.

The 16-45 handled almost everything. For telephoto, I used a Pentax-F 70-210, similar enough to the DA 50-200. I knew in advance that I wouldn't really need to go beyond ~200mm. If not, you could use your Tokina. I brought a 50/1.7 and that was fine for filling in the gap between 45mm and 70mm. Maybe the gap between 45 and 80 is too big.

I would bring the flash for possible family pix. I brought all my SD cards and used a netbook for backup. Airline travel and tripods are incompatible for me, and tripods also take time to set up, so like the macro, they might not be worth the trouble. I don't have the grip or your bags so no comment there.
12-05-2009, 10:41 AM   #13
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I came back from a trip to Japan and tried to go all primes. If you are not touring by yourself or are with a group, it might be best to get a good zoom for most of the shots and some nice primes for those fancy shots. I loved using my primes but half the time i was left behind by my group as I was trying to change lenses.

If I go back, I'm thinking of going with a belt back and 2 cameras!!! For me, this should solve my issues

Also, I'm not sure how strong you are, but i found carrying the netbook with me heavy, especially when including my camera and especially when its all day. Keep in mind I was using a messenger bag (so all on one shoulder), and Japan was 30 C! I left the netbook in my locked luggage and just carted around my camera.

I would go... backpack or belt pack (so you don't kill one or both shoulders) and your second option:
"16-45, 50-200, M50 - No adapters to fiddle with but some loss of speed"
12-05-2009, 10:47 AM   #14
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For me the defining moment is getting on the plane so I'd travel very light.

- Camera with neckstrap
- 16-45 and 50-200
- Trekpod
- Smallest bag the above will fit in

I'd say skip the macro unless you're absolutely certain there will be macro shots to be had that you can't get at home. I'd skip everything requiring an adaptor. I enjoy shooting with flash but I've never used one for any of the mentioned scenarios other than for fill for family snapshots. Finally, heavy is the enemy of travel so I'd skip the grip. To go beyond my list above I'd buy one of those full-gear backpacks that are sized as carry-on. Add in your luggage and you'll have your hands full as it is.

Have a nice holiday, by the way.
12-05-2009, 10:52 AM   #15
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K20D, grip, handstrap (if it works with the grip, otherwise, no grip) 50/1.4, 16-45, no flash, no tripod, no netbook
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