What would you choose.... for your minimalist photo equipment list ?

Ben-G · 02-23-2020, 10:19 AM - **1 Like**

31, [43], 77, k-1.

**monochrome** · 02-23-2020, 10:47 AM - **1 Like**

Revisiting this thread. Here are my new thoughts, having finally decided to cut back to FF lenses and just a few film cameras. Minimalist suggests every item should be useful in multiple ways.

K-1 | KP (I don't think I need to upgrade to K-1ll and K-new)
The Princesses (FA Limiteds)
D F 24~70/2.8 or FA*28~70/2.8
FA* 80~200/2,8
FA* 300/4.5
DA 1.4x AW AF Rear Converter

KX | MX| LX | MZ-S
My collection of K-series prime lenses. Using legacy lenses is a significant part of the hobby.

Come to think of it, that's a rational Pentax Gear List for a hobbyist.

Originally posted by monochrome

Maybe I’m going through the inevitable jettisoning of ‘stuff’so many of my friends have recently experienced. Right now about 1/3 of all the gear I’ve accumulated is on a table. I keep finding things and either putting them on the table or adding them to my gear list here. As my gear list grows, so rises my discomfort with what I have accumulated.

I could never actually do this (it would involve selling the K-1 and all the lenses), but in reality I could do 90% of the images in my Catalog the last 12 months (whichever camera and lens I used) with the KP, DA21, DA40 and DA70.

Minimalist Kit (which is already in a Domke F3x):
KP without battery grip
HD DA21/3.2 Limited
HD DA40/2.8 Limited
HD DA70/2.4 Limited
AF360FGZ w/ diffuser
One extra battery

SSGGeezer · 02-23-2020, 10:49 AM - **1 Like**

K-1 with the SMC DA 40 and my D FA 150-450 for long shots. I took this out on a hike yesterday and it was mostly the 40 on the camera. (Not much wildlife around the park I was at.)

Marcel K · 02-23-2020, 12:54 PM - **1 Like**

On a hike I often travel light and only take 1 or 2 lenses: da15mm or da35mm macro combined with dfa100mm macro or da300mm. For normal fov i often just use my iphone6 😬

**ChrisPlatt** · 02-23-2020, 01:27 PM - **4 Likes**

Countless Pentaxians had only a K1000 with 50mm f/2 lens...

Chris

lesmore49 · 02-23-2020, 02:20 PM - **2 Likes**

Well, since this thread was started awhile back, I've found my new minimalist gear, a Ricoh GR ll. I like it a lot, had it for almost a year now and it has lots to recommend it as a general purpose, everyday carry around.

To begin with it's very light, however although it's lightweight...it is of robust build. Magnesium alloy body, I believe...tough, although I do take very good care of it. It is of small dimension...about the size of a cellular phone, which is also another advantage. Given that similar appearance , I think a lot of people assume that is what it is, a cell phone.

It is a fixed lens camera, a wide angle equivalent 28mm...but at F 2.8...it is relatively fast. BTW, great little lens, images are quite sharp. I also find that a 'fastish' wide angle is a good focal length to have, if all you have is one lens. Back in the days of Eisenstadt, Cartier-Bresson...one lens...usually a 50, sometimes a 35mm...seemed to be enough, for the most part.

I'm finding the same, my slightly wider than 'normal' lens, the 28 wide angle seems to be 'enough' for the most part...and if I want to get a closer up shot...then I just walk closer to the subject...and if I want to get real close...walk close up and use the macro feature of the GR. Yes, all these years of having zoom lenses, have spoiled me...letting the zoom do the walking...but as my wife points out, I could do with the exercise.

Lastly, but of great importance the GR has a large ASP-C sensor...in a very small camera and I find I can enlarge images with similar quality...to the same extent as a good and much larger, ASP-C DSLR...such as my K-5.

So, in a nutshell...high quality, solid build, top quality lens, very small and light and given these last two qualities...it fits into a small Vanguard brand camera pouch bag...attaches to my pants belt.

An important minimalist key...is the ease to which one (in this case me) can carry a good camera around during my daily life.

To paraphrase a common axiom among photographers:

'As some say the best camera to have, is the one with you...and when that one with you, is of top quality like a GR...then even more so.'

**Kerrowdown** · 02-24-2020, 05:27 AM - **1 Like**

Just stumbled across this thread, for me K1s with five "Ladies" ("Good Lady” Pentax-A 20mm F2.8, "Special Lady” Pentax-A 50mm F1.2, “Sweetheart” Pentax-A*85mm F1.4, "Lady Luck” Pentax-A*135mm F1.8, "Gorgeous Lady” Pentax-A*200mm F2.8 ED) all in Billingham, together with Gitzo, RRS Ball Head and Platypod and then I'm good to go.

**dipo 1** · 03-05-2020, 02:23 PM

Pentax Spotmatic with super Takumar 50mm f1.4 or a 55mm f1.8.

gatorguy · 03-05-2020, 02:48 PM

I keep a Sigma 17-50 and a Pentax 50-135 on camera or in a sling bag, plus two extra batteries (shortish story: More than once one of them was the dead battery I removed in a prior shoot) a blower and a couple of SD cards by the credenza near the front door ready to go. That's probably as minimal as I want if I'm headed to a potential photo op. With that said I almost always have one of my cameras with lense under the rear seat of my truck "just in case" even if my minimal travel gear is at home.

Wasp · 03-07-2020, 11:48 AM

Originally posted by Kerrowdown

Just stumbled across this thread, for me K1s with five "Ladies" ("Good Lady” Pentax-A 20mm F2.8, "Special Lady” Pentax-A 50mm F1.2, “Sweetheart” Pentax-A*85mm F1.4, "Lady Luck” Pentax-A*135mm F1.8, "Gorgeous Lady” Pentax-A*200mm F2.8 ED) all in Billingham, together with Gitzo, RRS Ball Head and Platypod and then I'm good to go.

A minimalist like me!

**Kerrowdown** · 03-07-2020, 12:52 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Wasp

A minimalist like me!

If l know what I’m going into I’ll need less...

normhead · 03-07-2020, 01:13 PM - **1 Like**

K-3, DA 18-135 and DA 55-300 PLM. If low light is a possibility I'd throw in my DA*55 1.4, and if the DA 55-300 was going to be on the camera al day, I might thrown the 21 instead of the 18-135.
I like to make full use of my sensor.

Nothing gets you more resolution than tight framing.

**robgski** · 03-28-2020, 06:32 PM

I prefer to travel light, sometimes it's a job requirement, so I try to pick the right gear for most situations and make the best of what I have.

I travelled for 6 months with only a K-5, a DA 40mm XS, and an 18-135mm WR, no real issues. I used some very small but powerful pocket torches for lighting, but rarely needed them.

I've spent several weeks travelling in the US with a K-1, FA 24-90mm IF AL, and a 17mm Takumar FE. Once in a while I might have wished for the 28-105, but overall I had what I needed to get some very pleasing images.

**ChrisPlatt** · 03-29-2020, 08:03 AM - **2 Likes**

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

FreeSpirit9 · 04-07-2020, 06:23 AM

K5 with the Sigma 18-35 1.8
Its like having a28mm a 50mm and everything in between in one fabulous lens. 😁

02-23-2020, 10:47 AM - 1 Like	#47
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Revisiting this thread. Here are my new thoughts, having finally decided to cut back to FF lenses and just a few film cameras. Minimalist suggests every item should be useful in multiple ways. K-1 \| KP (I don't think I need to upgrade to K-1ll and K-new) The Princesses (FA Limiteds) D F 24~70/2.8 or FA28~70/2.8 FA 80~200/2,8 FA* 300/4.5 DA 1.4x AW AF Rear Converter KX \| MX\| LX \| MZ-S My collection of K-series prime lenses. Using legacy lenses is a significant part of the hobby. Come to think of it, that's a rational Pentax Gear List for a hobbyist. Originally posted by monochrome Maybe I’m going through the inevitable jettisoning of ‘stuff’so many of my friends have recently experienced. Right now about 1/3 of all the gear I’ve accumulated is on a table. I keep finding things and either putting them on the table or adding them to my gear list here. As my gear list grows, so rises my discomfort with what I have accumulated. I could never actually do this (it would involve selling the K-1 and all the lenses), but in reality I could do 90% of the images in my Catalog the last 12 months (whichever camera and lens I used) with the KP, DA21, DA40 and DA70. Minimalist Kit (which is already in a Domke F3x): KP without battery grip HD DA21/3.2 Limited HD DA40/2.8 Limited HD DA70/2.4 Limited AF360FGZ w/ diffuser One extra battery Last edited by monochrome; 02-23-2020 at 10:59 AM.

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02-23-2020, 10:19 AM - 1 Like	#46
Ben-G Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Posts: 171	31, [43], 77, k-1.

02-23-2020, 10:49 AM - 1 Like	#48
SSGGeezer Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Indiana, U.S. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,845	K-1 with the SMC DA 40 and my D FA 150-450 for long shots. I took this out on a hike yesterday and it was mostly the 40 on the camera. (Not much wildlife around the park I was at.)

02-23-2020, 12:54 PM - 1 Like	#49
Marcel K Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 82	On a hike I often travel light and only take 1 or 2 lenses: da15mm or da35mm macro combined with dfa100mm macro or da300mm. For normal fov i often just use my iphone6 😬

02-23-2020, 01:27 PM - 4 Likes	#50
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,694	Countless Pentaxians had only a K1000 with 50mm f/2 lens... Chris

02-23-2020, 02:20 PM - 2 Likes	#51
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,343 Original Poster	Well, since this thread was started awhile back, I've found my new minimalist gear, a Ricoh GR ll. I like it a lot, had it for almost a year now and it has lots to recommend it as a general purpose, everyday carry around. To begin with it's very light, however although it's lightweight...it is of robust build. Magnesium alloy body, I believe...tough, although I do take very good care of it. It is of small dimension...about the size of a cellular phone, which is also another advantage. Given that similar appearance , I think a lot of people assume that is what it is, a cell phone. It is a fixed lens camera, a wide angle equivalent 28mm...but at F 2.8...it is relatively fast. BTW, great little lens, images are quite sharp. I also find that a 'fastish' wide angle is a good focal length to have, if all you have is one lens. Back in the days of Eisenstadt, Cartier-Bresson...one lens...usually a 50, sometimes a 35mm...seemed to be enough, for the most part. I'm finding the same, my slightly wider than 'normal' lens, the 28 wide angle seems to be 'enough' for the most part...and if I want to get a closer up shot...then I just walk closer to the subject...and if I want to get real close...walk close up and use the macro feature of the GR. Yes, all these years of having zoom lenses, have spoiled me...letting the zoom do the walking...but as my wife points out, I could do with the exercise. Lastly, but of great importance the GR has a large ASP-C sensor...in a very small camera and I find I can enlarge images with similar quality...to the same extent as a good and much larger, ASP-C DSLR...such as my K-5. So, in a nutshell...high quality, solid build, top quality lens, very small and light and given these last two qualities...it fits into a small Vanguard brand camera pouch bag...attaches to my pants belt. An important minimalist key...is the ease to which one (in this case me) can carry a good camera around during my daily life. To paraphrase a common axiom among photographers: 'As some say the best camera to have, is the one with you...and when that one with you, is of top quality like a GR...then even more so.'

02-24-2020, 05:27 AM - 1 Like	#52
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,819	Just stumbled across this thread, for me K1s with five "Ladies" ("Good Lady” Pentax-A 20mm F2.8, "Special Lady” Pentax-A 50mm F1.2, “Sweetheart” Pentax-A85mm F1.4, "Lady Luck” Pentax-A135mm F1.8, "Gorgeous Lady” Pentax-A*200mm F2.8 ED) all in Billingham, together with Gitzo, RRS Ball Head and Platypod and then I'm good to go.

03-05-2020, 02:23 PM	#53
dipo 1 Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 374	Pentax Spotmatic with super Takumar 50mm f1.4 or a 55mm f1.8.

03-05-2020, 02:48 PM	#54
gatorguy Moderator Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,092	I keep a Sigma 17-50 and a Pentax 50-135 on camera or in a sling bag, plus two extra batteries (shortish story: More than once one of them was the dead battery I removed in a prior shoot) a blower and a couple of SD cards by the credenza near the front door ready to go. That's probably as minimal as I want if I'm headed to a potential photo op. With that said I almost always have one of my cameras with lense under the rear seat of my truck "just in case" even if my minimal travel gear is at home.

03-07-2020, 11:48 AM	#55
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,661	Originally posted by Kerrowdown Just stumbled across this thread, for me K1s with five "Ladies" ("Good Lady” Pentax-A 20mm F2.8, "Special Lady” Pentax-A 50mm F1.2, “Sweetheart” Pentax-A85mm F1.4, "Lady Luck” Pentax-A135mm F1.8, "Gorgeous Lady” Pentax-A*200mm F2.8 ED) all in Billingham, together with Gitzo, RRS Ball Head and Platypod and then I'm good to go. A minimalist like me!

03-07-2020, 12:52 PM - 1 Like	#56
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,819	Originally posted by Wasp A minimalist like me! If l know what I’m going into I’ll need less...

03-07-2020, 01:13 PM - 1 Like	#57
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	K-3, DA 18-135 and DA 55-300 PLM. If low light is a possibility I'd throw in my DA*55 1.4, and if the DA 55-300 was going to be on the camera al day, I might thrown the 21 instead of the 18-135. I like to make full use of my sensor. Nothing gets you more resolution than tight framing.

03-28-2020, 06:32 PM	#58
robgski Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,799	I prefer to travel light, sometimes it's a job requirement, so I try to pick the right gear for most situations and make the best of what I have. I travelled for 6 months with only a K-5, a DA 40mm XS, and an 18-135mm WR, no real issues. I used some very small but powerful pocket torches for lighting, but rarely needed them. I've spent several weeks travelling in the US with a K-1, FA 24-90mm IF AL, and a 17mm Takumar FE. Once in a while I might have wished for the 28-105, but overall I had what I needed to get some very pleasing images.

03-29-2020, 08:03 AM - 2 Likes	#59
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,694	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

04-07-2020, 06:23 AM	#60
FreeSpirit9 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Queensland, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 557	K5 with the Sigma 18-35 1.8 Its like having a28mm a 50mm and everything in between in one fabulous lens. 😁