Originally posted by gerardbaron K-1 II with 24-70 2,8
Nice kit but too heavy.
This is my second right arm muscle tear
1. One street Concert about 300 shots
2. Vacation in Europe 600 shots.
What do you think?
Should I buy a lighter camera?
But which one (none can beat the K-1)
Thank you for your answer.
That’s a difficult question to answer. I tend to travel light unless I’m on a dedicated photo trip and operating out of my car. For a while I used m43 as my lighter travel gear or a Panasonic LX-7 (my only camera on a two week trip to London and Paris in 2016). Then I got a Sony RX100 IV and found the quality to be close enough to the kit zooms on m43 that keeping that plus two other interchangeable lens platforms didn’t make sense to me anymore. I sold off my m43 and small enthusiast lx-7 gear and I have only regretted it because I love gear - it’s fun to tinker with.
M43 is small and very capable depending on what kind of output you need. I typically tended to keep a couple of slow zooms and a fast’ish prime with me when traveling (Panasonic 12-32 + 35-100 or 14-42PZ + 45-175, and a 20/1.7) and I also had some faster f2.8 zooms and primes. The Panasonic GX9 is small, light, and available in kit form with the 12-60 for about $800.
Apsc is another way to go but the weight savings isn’t as dramatic. The choices are numerous - I really like my KP.
Below I list out some body and lens options with the various formats including weight. The k-1 ii plus 24-70 can be dropped back a bit if the 28-105 works for you. That drops even more if the k-70 plus 18-50 works for your needs, but at ~ 980g that’s still heavy and larger than the m43 options but only by maybe 300g. Dropping down to the RX100 you land at about 300g total - and give up low light performance to a degree. At the wide end the f1.8 lens gives an additional 1 and 1/3 stops which offsets the noise to a degree. You give up control buttons. You give up dedicated Astro modes) you lose an ovf. You lose Pentax lens compatibility if the k-1 goes away.
K-1 II 1010g (w/battery & SD card)
D FA 24-70 787g
D FA 28-105 440g
(1450g to 1797g)
K-3iii 820g
K-70 688g
KP 703g
18-50 158g
16-85 488g
16-50 sdm 565g
16-50 PLM 712g
18-135 405g
(978g to 1532g)
EM1 III 580g
12-45/4 254g
14-42 EZ 91g
12-40/2.8 382g
(671g-962g)
GX9 407g
12-60 210g
617g
Sony RX100 Va
299g
I don’t know what a comfortable amount to carry is right now but with strengthening exercises you may be able to increase it some. Pick what you can carry and enjoy the hobby. Don’t punish yourself if it is too hard to carry the k-1.
---------- Post added 10-03-22 at 02:42 PM ----------
These are sample kits, many other options exist including a single prime or dual prime or prime plus zoom. I’m not out to prove any approach is better than another just to lay out options.