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07-23-2022, 09:55 AM - 1 Like   #1
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First Trip to Europe.

We managed to get relatively cheap flights from Boston to German in Mid August and My wife and 21 year old sone are traveling over for 8 days. In the past I have always traveled in the US or Canada and most always with either a my own car or fly and rent a car. We are taking advantage of the great rail service in Europe and traveling by train. This means houling very thing we have with us from stations to hotels and such, plus lots of walking for touring cities. My wife and I will each have a Pentax DSLR, a K70 and a KP. Now come down to how many lenses do we want to carry. Here is what we have avalable:

Pentax 16-85
Pentax 18-135
Pentax 55-300
Sigma 10-20
Sigma 24 mm ultra wide 2
Pentax 35mm 2.4 DA
Pentax 40mm DA
Pentax 50mm 1.7 F series
Pentax 70mm DA ltd

I have other lenses, but nothing I use too often or have not interest in carrying. While we would shore the use of the gear, I will do the carrying most of the lenses not on the cameras.

I also have a Q system with all the zooms.

Do I need a flash?

I do have plenty of batteries and SD card so that is not an issue.

Thanks,

Jim Fellows

07-23-2022, 10:06 AM   #2
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HI
My wife and I spent a month traveling in Europe and only used Rail and public transportation. Between cities, we took night trains so as to maximize our time. Most hotels are use to stashing your luggage till you check in so that you can get into the sightseeing. Keep the equipment to a minimum. A wide to moderate zoom plus the 55 to 300 should do it. A flash in many places is prohibited. I would have no problems just using my Q system. I have a complete system and unless you are going to do super huge enlargements is more than adequate for the trip. A good travel tripod that is compact is helpful, especially doing panoramics. I'm happy to chat more if you wish. denverclassic@gmail.com
07-23-2022, 10:33 AM   #3
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It depends on where you’re going and what your photographic expectations are. Are you going to be a tourist first and a photographer second?

When I travel like that, I tend to stay on the wide/normal end. With your combo, I’d suggest the 16-85, 10-20, and 55-300 as that covers almost everything.

I would not take a separate flash since both your cameras have them and many of the places you’d want a big one you aren’t allowed…

Have a great trip!

-Eric
07-23-2022, 10:43 AM   #4
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Take as little as possible gear wise and don't leave your luggage/camera gear unattended on the train, or it will "vanish" in seconds....


Phil.

07-23-2022, 11:34 AM   #5
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I find the electronic shutter the KP a very useful feature for silent shooting in cathedrals, churches, museums etc, so perhaps consider a quiet focusing zoom like the 16-85. It's also weather sealed for any rain you might encounter. One piece of kit I wouldn't do without, especially in the cities you may visit, is a mini tripod for nightime shots.
07-23-2022, 11:50 AM   #6
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Mini tripod is a must. Then I'd bring 10-20, 16-85, 55-300 and 35 2.4. What I normally travel with is a wide angle zoom (I use the 10-17 fisheye), a versatile standard zoom (I use the 18-135 but would use 16-85 if I had it available), and something cheap and lightweight for low light (I use the DA35 Ltd, or DA50). Since I use the 18-135 I don't bring a tele but as you have two bodies and the kit is split between two people, I would add it. Don't know your exact travel destinations but I'd expect to be using the sigma 10-20 quite a lot for tight spaces, even outside in the streets.
07-23-2022, 02:09 PM   #7
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Great advice from everybody. When everybody says a mini tripod, do you mean like a table top or just a small light weight regular tripod?

Thanks,

Jim

07-23-2022, 02:25 PM   #8
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I went to Paris and London in 2016 and took only a Panasonic LX-7. I was traveling with my elderly father-in-law, my mentally disabled brother-in-law, my wife, and our two children (16, 11.5). I also had two laptops and multiple kindle fires, usb batteries etc in my carryon. I had no room for more. The images were great and I care share some links to some of the SOOC jpgs here:


Years before I went when my wife and I were pre-children and I took my K100d Super the 50-200 and 18-55. That combo also worked well with the level of gear and time available. In retrospect a faster prime would have been helpful with that old ccd based sensor.

QuoteOriginally posted by jimfellows Quote
Here is what we have avalable:

Pentax 16-85
Pentax 18-135
Pentax 55-300
Sigma 10-20
Sigma 24 mm ultra wide 2
Pentax 35mm 2.4 DA
Pentax 40mm DA
Pentax 50mm 1.7 F series
Pentax 70mm DA ltd
With your gear I’d say if you plan two Pentax DSLR’s KP and K70 plus the 16-85 AND the 18-135 go so both of you have a good wide/standard/telephoto all around zoom. Then the 10-20 if you plan time in cities where the extra wide view would help. On top of this the 35 or 50 prime for lower light use makes for a good option.

The 55-300 is an option you could add to the gear load but the 135 end of the 18-135 is probably long enough.

Alternately take the Q and the zooms and add the KP and the 16-85, 10-20, 35 or 50. The 55-300 could be useful but I don’t know if it would be needed with the Q along.

Last edited by UncleVanya; 07-23-2022 at 02:31 PM.
07-23-2022, 07:19 PM   #9
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I reckon you could make do with just the 10-20 and 18-135. One on each body. An ultra-wide is extremely useful in European cities.

Anything after that is a bonus. Throwing the 50/1.7 and 70/2.4 in the bag would add almost nothing in weight and bulk but give you a couple of options when the light is low or you want more subject isolation.
07-23-2022, 08:43 PM   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by jimfellows Quote
Great advice from everybody. When everybody says a mini tripod, do you mean like a table top or just a small light weight regular tripod?

Thanks,

Jim
I have used a Manfrotto Pixi tabletop tripod, inexpensive and surprisingly sturdy. Naturally you have to accept limitations and use it in conjunction with walls, tables, rocks, whatever you find. However, it is significantly lighter than even the lightest "full size" mini tripods.
07-23-2022, 09:56 PM   #11
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Two shooters with two bodies? 10-20, 16-85, and F 50 1.7. Maybe the DA 35 f2.4 to add a second fast prime for the second body.
07-23-2022, 10:10 PM - 1 Like   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by Sandy Hancock Quote
I reckon you could make do with just the 10-20 and 18-135. One on each body. An ultra-wide is extremely useful in European cities.

Anything after that is a bonus. Throwing the 50/1.7 and 70/2.4 in the bag would add almost nothing in weight and bulk but give you a couple of options when the light is low or you want more subject isolation.
I’m with Sandy on this – in both his and my cases (I think) from experience travelling in Europe over a number of years. Most of the time, the lens on my K-5 or K-3 was the 18-135, but bear in mind the narrow streets and the spectacular interiors that often necessitate a wider view, for which the 10-20 is more than adequate. I sold mine when I bought my 8-16 and I’ve often regretted it.

Now that I have one to go with my K-3iii, I would think the 55-300 wouldn’t be too much of a burden for the occasional distant detail shot, or unobtrusive candid portrait – European people can be unexpectedly interesting in their dress and appearance.

PS – if you don’t already have one, I find that a sling strap eases the burden of carrying a DSLR fitted with even a modest lens by distributing its weight much better than a neck strap and the camera is always ready to hand.
07-25-2022, 08:23 AM   #13
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Based on the advice here and talking to my wife, she will take he 18-135 (her favorite lens) on here K70 and I am going to have the 10-20 on my KP. I will take along a prime or two as none of them are large or heavy. Once I am all packed I will make a final decision on the 55-300.

Thanks again.

Jim
07-25-2022, 09:00 AM   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by jimfellows Quote
Based on the advice here and talking to my wife, she will take he 18-135 (her favorite lens) on here K70 and I am going to have the 10-20 on my KP. I will take along a prime or two as none of them are large or heavy. Once I am all packed I will make a final decision on the 55-300.

Thanks again.

Jim
sounds like a winning plan!
07-25-2022, 12:37 PM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by jimfellows Quote
Based on the advice here and talking to my wife, she will take he 18-135 (her favorite lens) on here K70 and I am going to have the 10-20 on my KP. I will take along a prime or two as none of them are large or heavy. Once I am all packed I will make a final decision on the 55-300.

Thanks again.

Jim
Sounds like a good plan. When traveling light I like to take a wide/normal zoom for convenience, a fast prime for low light, and an ultra wide angle prime (but the 10-20 will do the job perfectly well). A tele zoom only comes along if I'm fairly certain I will need it (or if weight is not an issue).
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