Originally posted by mom2mny I'm going to be vacationing in the mountains this summer. I will, of course, have my KP with me. I have the DAL 18-55 lens from my previous camera and the 55-300 PLM. What other basics would you recommend me taking with me. We will be hiking a lot. I hope to take photos of waterfalls, mountain landscape and wildlife. I'm also looking for a bag. I currently have a small shoulder bag that is a pain to hike with.
For day hikes I would suggest to look at your own comfort first. A light backpack that can take a large water bladder (or two) was an important factor for me. Easy access to the gear is less important on a hike, because when you get to a nice scenery you want to offload a bit anyway. I also have a sling over my shoulder type strap for the camera that I use when I want to have quick access to my camera..
Set a weight budget for your gear and a maximum weight you are prepared to carry. If the hike is going to be tough and temperatures are high you need more water than usual. I plan on one liter per hour. For a six hour hike that is already six kilograms. Then I decide if I'm going to take wide angle shots or medium or telephoto. My preference is medium range because then I can make do without a tripod.
For example my self imposed limit is 10kg total. Five to six kilos is for water and food. Four kilos for camera gear. I limit myself to one main lens and a second 'pacifier' or 'comfort' lens. Usually the pacifier lens is a wide angle that I rarely use then anyway.
Enjoy your vacation!!!!