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04-07-2020, 07:33 AM   #61
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QuoteOriginally posted by ChrisPlatt Quote
Countless Pentaxians had only a K1000 with 50mm f/2 lens...

Chris
Quite right. That is exactly all my wife had at first with her K1000. In the late '60's, early '70's my complete photographic gear consisted of my Pentax S1a , 50mm F 2 Takumar 55mm F2 and hand held Sekonic light meter.

---------- Post added 04-07-20 at 09:36 AM ----------

QuoteOriginally posted by ChrisPlatt Quote
Pocket camera - Minox 35ML, Olympus XA2 or XA3 etc. - in jacket inside chest pocket.
Before I started working nights about 15 years ago this was my "daily carry"...

Chris
Me too. Daily carry through the '90's and early 2000's was my Olympus Clamshell 35mm. During work days I carried it in my briefcase.

05-02-2021, 08:27 PM - 1 Like   #62
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Minimalism by camera and lenses, minimalism by weight, and some restraint with costs

I took a few years off from digital photography (actually quite a few), as I suffered a stroke, and trying to use my Nikon D7100 camera setup became quite frustrating. I took a year off photography altogether, then I decided to get into medium format film photography, after stumbling across a great deal on a Mamiya 645 camera system at a garage sale.It was by far the most interesting camera I have ever used, and I learned a lot while doing so. It was a real bear to haul around, but I had a van then, which made transporting it a lot easier.

I am in a city where it is almost impossible to get film developed, as the one decent camera store and film processor closed down last spring. I stopped using my Mamiya 645 setup a year ago, and recently sold it to a photography student. I bought a used Pentax K-50 camera with two kit lenses a month ago, and have since purchased three more lenses for it. The weight of all of my Pentax gear is roughly the same as my old Mamiya 645 camera body with an 80 mm lens. By weight, my current camera system IS fairly minimal by weight, but quite broad in coverage with very good performance for the money.

The camera and lens package I list now is in fact the camera and lens package I am building, as funds permit. I have the K-50 camera body, the SMC Pentax M 50mm f/2 lens, and the Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM lens. The Pentax DA 35 mm f/2.4 lens has been shipped, and should arrive by the end of this week. I will try to find a good deal on a new HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE lens by late summer, but would "settle" for a minty used HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED WR lens if the price was right. The SMC Pentax-DA 70mm F2.4 Limited lens will be my last lens purchase, because I don't do much portrait work. Everything should fit in my Manfrotto Messenger bag, but if I need a bit more room, I also have a Think Tank Digital Holster 20 v2.0, which is very comfortable. This setup isn't minimalist in terms of focal range, weight, or overall performance. It IS fairly minimalist in terms of cost (compared to a brand new camera/lens setup) and that counts for a lot.

Final note: I could pass on the HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm altogether, and still be quite happy.
05-03-2021, 04:05 AM   #63
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My idea of travelling light, without any particular type of photography in mind, I would carry my K-70 and Sigma 18-300mm lens, plus a small filter bag on my belt.
05-03-2021, 08:25 PM   #64
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I Want A Redo

My last post on this thread wasn’t as minimal as it could be, so let me have a do over:

Pentax K-50 camera body, Sigma 10 - 20 mm EX DC wide angle zoom lens, Pentax DA 35 mm f2.4 lens, HD Pentax-DA 55 - 300 mm f4-5.8 ED WR telephoto zoom lens, two batteries, two 64 GB memory cards, a Think Tank Hive Mini Filter case with an assortment of filters, a decent CF tripod with ball head, a Think Tank Pixel Racing Harness v3.0, and a Think Tank Digital Holster 20 v2.0 camera bag on a Think Tank Pro Speed Belt v3.0 belt.

This would allow me to get out for the whole day in comfort, take photos of a wide range of subjects, and increase the odds of getting more “keepers”, and not break my bank account.

05-04-2021, 05:58 PM   #65
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The most minimalistic kit I have ever used for travel is a K-S1 and DA 21, plus a FA 35-80mm in backup. The K-S1 and 21mm limited is about the smallest DSLR setup I have for general photography and fits in a small travel pouch. Using the DA 40mm would make it even smaller but I find the 21mm a more useful walk around focal length. The 35-80mm stayed in the suitcase, unless I knew I would need the extra reach that day. It also provided a backup for the trip should the K-S1 develop aperture issues.
05-05-2021, 02:40 AM   #66
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A7, M20/4; A50/1.4; M85/2
My 'still loyal to Pentax' minimalist setup

Otherwise 'absolutely small package'
A7, Voigtlander 12/5.6; Canon ltm 50/1.4; Canon ltm 100/4
05-05-2021, 05:06 PM   #67
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I've found my DA 40mm XS and K-5 or K-1 to be my minimal kit for weeks at a time.

05-07-2021, 06:34 AM   #68
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for my minimal list, i'd use the following:
Pentax K1 or K1mII
31mm f1.8
sigma 85mm f1.4

if it has to be pentax gear, then replace the 85 with the pentax 77mm.
with the pentax k1, i can always crop in using the crop sensor option and be even more versatile.
06-22-2021, 05:47 PM   #69
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QuoteOriginally posted by lesmore49 Quote
This is my thinking and this us what I would choose...and why ?

I was thinking the other day about my 1951 35 mm, Leica 11f rangefinder with it's even older 50mm Leitz Elmar F 3.5 collapsible lens. I've had this great little combo since 1981 and used it a fair amount over the years. It still works well, no problems ever.

I have some accessories for it, including my old Vivitar 285 HV flash that works well for flash pix...I just plug in the cord camera to flash. The old Leica doesn't have a light meter, but I have three...all Sekonic, and two work well, one doesn't as mercury batteries are no longer available.

I have thought if I had bought a 28mm or 35 mm Leica lens and maybe the 90mm Leica lens...that would give me wide angle, normal 50 and moderate telephoto 90mm. I would need nothing other than this equipment (no super telephoto) for 95% of my photography.

Got me to thinking. I started 'good' photography in 1968, bought a Pentax S1a, 35 mm SLR, with a 55 mm Takumar lens (standard) F2 and a 10 dollar Sekonic light meter. I eventually got a small Honeywell flash and a 135mm F 3.5 Takumar lens. All this by 1972-73.

It's now 2018 and of course like many of you out there, I acquired a lot of camera equipment over the past number of decades.

But did I need to ? Nope, not really, even though I'm a camera/ photo enthusiast. I think I would also add a Takumar 35mm F 2.8 or F 3.5 into the mix and I could of got by quite nicely right up to the digital age....with my old basic Pentax S1a.

If I were going to do the minimalist thing now, I would use as my...one... camera body.... a Pentax K-1, my 4o mm F 2.8 Limited (kind of close to what Eisenstadt and Cartier-Bresson liked as their single lens...a 50mm 'normal' Leitz.) and perhaps my 28-105 or the Pentax 24-70 F 2.8. A Pentax 360 flash, battery grip to house my large hands and extra battery and that would be it.

I do take wildlife photos and use my Sigma 150-500 lens...but wildlife photography requiring a super telephoto.... constitutes maybe 5 % of my output. So I might or not keep the Bigma. If I'm thinking minimalist and being a purist with my question and thread...than the Sigma would go.

Or if I won the lottery, a new Leica rangefinder body, 28mm Leica wide angle, 50mm normal, 90mm moderate telephoto, Metz flash.

That is it, no other photography equipment. I think I could do the overwhelming majority of my photography with one body and 2-3 lenses and a simple flash. Either Pentax K-1 or Leica.

If you went minimalist in photography equipment...what would you choose and why.... for your minimal list ?


* Disclosure: I love using all my old equipment, both film and digital. Like Oliver Twist I always want more. In real life I couldn't bear to rid myself of any of my equipment as it is all valued and I enjoy using it. But for the sake of this thread, just ignore my disclosure.
Easy. The kit that goes with me on the bike (pedals no motor) is a Pentax LX with a Pentax 35-105mm A lens.
Just got a slightly larger “trunk bag” for the bike today - I’ll see how it works out, maybe add the KX with a 135 prime lense for B&W, and a 35mm prime or maybe a 28 for whoever needs it
06-22-2021, 06:55 PM   #70
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QuoteOriginally posted by rvandenbrink Quote
Easy. The kit that goes with me on the bike (pedals no motor) is a Pentax LX with a Pentax 35-105mm A lens.
Just got a slightly larger “trunk bag” for the bike today - I’ll see how it works out, maybe add the KX with a 135 prime lense for B&W, and a 35mm prime or maybe a 28 for whoever needs it
One of my favourite lenses of all time, is my Pentax A 35-105 Macro zoom. Had it since December , 1984, after a wonderful write up by Popular Photography magazine and it was my go to lens from then till 2007. Still use it, as some call the 'stack of primes'. Built like a tank, produces great images, albeit heavy....
06-23-2021, 01:35 PM   #71
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Another A 35-105 user here and it's easily my most used, so a minimal kit would be the 35-105 and my K-7. Just wish it was all lighter!
06-23-2021, 03:34 PM   #72
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If I carry a K-70, Sigma 17-50, and Pentax 50-135. It covers about anything I'd typically require in a go-kit, and with very good glass.

Last edited by gatorguy; 06-24-2021 at 08:57 AM.
06-24-2021, 08:28 AM   #73
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K70+70 Ltd.....if I won the lottery, probably the K70+70 Ltd.
06-27-2021, 06:52 AM   #74
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Olympus OMD-EM10 II and my M Zuiko 9-18 lens.
That's about as minimalist as I get on digital.
It's a tiny yet quite capable combo I can stash anywhere.
Now if I'm only limited to a Pentax choice it would be my KP and HD DA 20-40 Limited !
06-27-2021, 03:09 PM   #75
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K3 with 15,31,77 and100 macro with 1.4 converter for 140. K01 usually rides along with 21 and 43.

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