How many lenses do you take when out photographing?

normhead · 02-21-2020, 08:25 PM

Originally posted by pres589

Let's pretend for a moment that money didn't enter into the equation, like you could do a 1:1 trade at a shop; would you keep the DA* 200 if you could straight across trade it for the new 70-210? Have you thought about that one?

Seems like a 28-105 and 70-210 combo would be really sweet with a full frame camera and not too shabby with a crop body (throw in a DA 21 or DA 15 with the crop body just to get some width back if you like)

I can cover the whole zoom range K-1 28-105 and 70-200 with the K-3 and 18-135 when hiking. Too match the DA 18-135 and DA 55-300 you'd have to throw in the 150-450 on the K-1.
The DA*200 I bought mainly so I'd have something when my DA*60-250 was being repaired, obviously the 70-210 is a better back up for that lens. But there are times ƒ2.8 is a wonderful thing, I have 50 2.8, 100 2.8, 200 2.8 and 300 2.8. The DFA 70-210 for the DA*200 would leave a gap there. Currently I have The HD DA 1.4 TC and the F 1.7x AF adapter giving me lots of flexibility inside those 100mm gaps, but they can't cover a 200mm gap if I go from 100 2.8 to 300 2.8.

You really have to look at your whole lens environment to make these decisions. In the scenario you suggest, the DFA 70-210 sounds like a good one. But in the 2.8 scenario it's not so good, at least for me. Someone with 2.8 zooms might see things totally differently, but all my 2.8 lenses are primes.

Aaron28 · 02-21-2020, 09:10 PM - **1 Like**

there is only 2 lenses anyone ever needs to pack.....dal 18-55 & dal 50-200......anything else is overkill and ridiculous !! or FF fa28-90 & fa80-320.....

Sandy Hancock · 02-22-2020, 12:18 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by barondla

I'm thinking perhaps 3 lenses.

If we're getting that restrictive, from my current kit I'd probably go for 35/3.5, 55/2.8 and 80~160/4.5

tuco · 02-22-2020, 08:16 AM

With my Pentax 67, I take my 67 gen 55/4 and 105/2.4 the most from my other choices of 45/75/90/165/300/600mm lenses. And I use the folding hood.

**pres589** · 02-22-2020, 08:31 AM

Originally posted by Aaron28

there is only 2 lenses anyone ever needs to pack.....dal 18-55 & dal 50-200......anything else is overkill and ridiculous !! or FF fa28-90 & fa80-320.....

I really hope this is one of those ironic joke posts.

**RICHARD L.** · 02-22-2020, 09:17 AM - **2 Likes**

Just kidding, but no serious photographer wants to be found dead with an 18-55 mm and a 55-200 mm combo ... lol!

normhead · 02-22-2020, 09:23 AM

Originally posted by RICHARD L.

Just kidding, but no serious photographer wants to be found dead with an 18-55 mm and a 55-200 mm combo ... lol!

I saw that kit in pawn shop with a KS-1 for about $250 USD.
There was no sale. I essentially sold my 2 18-55s to someone who could resell them to someone who could use them. I do miss having one for comparison tests. But I'm not buying one for that.

I hate buying stuff if it means I'm going to have to dispose of stuff. And having a KS-1 to play with might be worth $100. It's a step down from the K-3 or K-1, so it would be amusement value only.

**barondla** · 02-22-2020, 09:57 AM

Originally posted by RICHARD L.

Just kidding, but no serious photographer wants to be found dead with an 18-55 mm and a 55-200 mm combo ... lol!

I have the 18-55 and 16-45. The 16 is far better optically. However, there is one place the 18-55 shines. It has no hotspot doing infrared.

Thanks,
barondla

tuco · 02-22-2020, 10:14 AM

Originally posted by Bassat

I believe I am considered an oddity. I take one lens out with me. ... I see more opportunities for the gear in my hand

I can relate to that. I go out with a fixed lens camera a lot. And when I just forget about what pictures I can't do and concentrate on the ones I can, it often makes it easier to find pictures.

Of course I'll see something now and then and go, dang, I wish I had a different focal length or even a different camera! But I also can experience that feeling when I'm more equipped with gear on an interchangeable lens system too. So, you know, it's all a balance of what you want carry and your expectations/use of your captured pictures.

Aaron28 · 02-22-2020, 11:45 AM

Originally posted by pres589

I really hope this is one of those ironic joke posts.

ha! i'll leave a hangin'......

normhead · 02-22-2020, 12:11 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Aaron28

ha! i'll leave a hangin'......

I used to use an 18-55 and Sigma 70-300. I have lots of great images taken with "inferior" glass.

If you have a great scene with great light you can get great images with a "poor" lens. If you have poor light, poor composition and a top flight expensive lens you can't get a good picture despite what you've spent. I won't even say the value of my images taken with more "pro" lenses are hard to look at now that I have many taken with better glass. As long as the glass suits the subject, price has nothing to do with it. The images taken with those "cheap" lenses still stand up today. If they were good then, they're good now.

**monochrome** · 02-22-2020, 01:18 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by normhead

I used to use an 18-55 and Sigma 70-300. I have lots of great images taken with "inferior" glass.

If you have a great scene with great light you can get great images with a "poor" lens. If you have poor light, poor composition and a top flight expensive lens you can't get a good picture despite what you've spent. I won't even say the value of my images taken with more "pro" lenses are hard to look at now that I have many taken with better glass. As long as the glass suits the subject, price has nothing to do with it. The images taken with those "cheap" lenses stills and up today. If they were good then, they're good now.

My first lens, bought with my K10D, was the original DA55~200. In bright light at f/8 that lens was sharp, colorful and made great photos. In any other light it was challenging.

sculptor666 · 02-22-2020, 01:41 PM - **1 Like**

if it's a place i know well, and i know what i'm likely to see, can be two cameras, two lenses.

if it's an all day affair where i could see anything, two cameras and 4-5 lenses, flash, tons of batteries. not uncommon for me carry 20+ lbs.

Jonathan Mac · 02-24-2020, 04:13 AM

If I were going for a hike I'd take significantly less gear than shown in the photo I posted earlier. The last time I did a long hike (six hours in total) I took the K-3, 21mm, F 35-70mm, 18-55mm kit lens plus 645 with 75mm lens. I really regretted it on the way back down and ended up not getting a single good shot with the 645.

These days I would take the K-3, 16-85mm and probably 35mm Limited and for film either a compact or a light SLR with a single lens.

For a photography day around town, which I don't really have time for any more, I would generally be more film-oriented. The last few times I've done it has been with a 35mm SLR and a few lenses, mostly primes, plus one of my Fujifilm bodies with an adapter for whatever mount I was using for the film stuff.

For example:

Vivitar 17mm f/3.5
Vivitar 28mm f/2
Pentax M 35mm f/2
Pentax M 50mm f/1.4
Pentax M 85mm f/2
Pentax K 135mm f/2.5

The only one of those I'd describe as heavy would be the 135mm, which would also be the most likely to be left at home as I so rarely use anything that long.

**gofour3** · 02-26-2020, 08:42 AM

Originally posted by Bassat

I believe I am considered an oddity. I take one lens out with me. I prepare for the shoot I am expecting to have, and getting the photographs I expect to get.

That's what I do when I'm going out shooting with one of my 6x7 bodies, I match a (1) lens to where/what I'm planing to shoot. Since I usually only shoot one roll (10 exposures) per outing, having a 2nd or 3rd lens with me is not necessary.

Phil.

02-22-2020, 10:14 AM	#69
tuco Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pugetopolis Posts: 11,025	Originally posted by Bassat I believe I am considered an oddity. I take one lens out with me. ... I see more opportunities for the gear in my hand I can relate to that. I go out with a fixed lens camera a lot. And when I just forget about what pictures I can't do and concentrate on the ones I can, it often makes it easier to find pictures. Of course I'll see something now and then and go, dang, I wish I had a different focal length or even a different camera! But I also can experience that feeling when I'm more equipped with gear on an interchangeable lens system too. So, you know, it's all a balance of what you want carry and your expectations/use of your captured pictures. Last edited by tuco; 02-22-2020 at 10:19 AM.

02-22-2020, 12:11 PM - 1 Like	#71
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by Aaron28 ha! i'll leave a hangin'...... I used to use an 18-55 and Sigma 70-300. I have lots of great images taken with "inferior" glass. If you have a great scene with great light you can get great images with a "poor" lens. If you have poor light, poor composition and a top flight expensive lens you can't get a good picture despite what you've spent. I won't even say the value of my images taken with more "pro" lenses are hard to look at now that I have many taken with better glass. As long as the glass suits the subject, price has nothing to do with it. The images taken with those "cheap" lenses still stand up today. If they were good then, they're good now. Last edited by normhead; 02-23-2020 at 06:11 AM.

02-24-2020, 04:13 AM	#74
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,894	If I were going for a hike I'd take significantly less gear than shown in the photo I posted earlier. The last time I did a long hike (six hours in total) I took the K-3, 21mm, F 35-70mm, 18-55mm kit lens plus 645 with 75mm lens. I really regretted it on the way back down and ended up not getting a single good shot with the 645. These days I would take the K-3, 16-85mm and probably 35mm Limited and for film either a compact or a light SLR with a single lens. For a photography day around town, which I don't really have time for any more, I would generally be more film-oriented. The last few times I've done it has been with a 35mm SLR and a few lenses, mostly primes, plus one of my Fujifilm bodies with an adapter for whatever mount I was using for the film stuff. For example: Vivitar 17mm f/3.5 Vivitar 28mm f/2 Pentax M 35mm f/2 Pentax M 50mm f/1.4 Pentax M 85mm f/2 Pentax K 135mm f/2.5 The only one of those I'd describe as heavy would be the 135mm, which would also be the most likely to be left at home as I so rarely use anything that long. Last edited by Jonathan Mac; 02-24-2020 at 04:20 AM.

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02-21-2020, 08:25 PM	#61
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by pres589 Let's pretend for a moment that money didn't enter into the equation, like you could do a 1:1 trade at a shop; would you keep the DA* 200 if you could straight across trade it for the new 70-210? Have you thought about that one? Seems like a 28-105 and 70-210 combo would be really sweet with a full frame camera and not too shabby with a crop body (throw in a DA 21 or DA 15 with the crop body just to get some width back if you like) I can cover the whole zoom range K-1 28-105 and 70-200 with the K-3 and 18-135 when hiking. Too match the DA 18-135 and DA 55-300 you'd have to throw in the 150-450 on the K-1. The DA200 I bought mainly so I'd have something when my DA60-250 was being repaired, obviously the 70-210 is a better back up for that lens. But there are times ƒ2.8 is a wonderful thing, I have 50 2.8, 100 2.8, 200 2.8 and 300 2.8. The DFA 70-210 for the DA*200 would leave a gap there. Currently I have The HD DA 1.4 TC and the F 1.7x AF adapter giving me lots of flexibility inside those 100mm gaps, but they can't cover a 200mm gap if I go from 100 2.8 to 300 2.8. You really have to look at your whole lens environment to make these decisions. In the scenario you suggest, the DFA 70-210 sounds like a good one. But in the 2.8 scenario it's not so good, at least for me. Someone with 2.8 zooms might see things totally differently, but all my 2.8 lenses are primes.

02-21-2020, 09:10 PM - 1 Like	#62
Aaron28 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,131	there is only 2 lenses anyone ever needs to pack.....dal 18-55 & dal 50-200......anything else is overkill and ridiculous !! or FF fa28-90 & fa80-320.....

02-22-2020, 12:18 AM - 1 Like	#63
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	Originally posted by barondla I'm thinking perhaps 3 lenses. If we're getting that restrictive, from my current kit I'd probably go for 35/3.5, 55/2.8 and 80~160/4.5

02-22-2020, 08:16 AM	#64
tuco Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pugetopolis Posts: 11,025	With my Pentax 67, I take my 67 gen 55/4 and 105/2.4 the most from my other choices of 45/75/90/165/300/600mm lenses. And I use the folding hood.

02-22-2020, 08:31 AM	#65
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,529	Originally posted by Aaron28 there is only 2 lenses anyone ever needs to pack.....dal 18-55 & dal 50-200......anything else is overkill and ridiculous !! or FF fa28-90 & fa80-320..... I really hope this is one of those ironic joke posts.

02-22-2020, 09:17 AM - 2 Likes	#66
RICHARD L. Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Quebec City, Quebec Posts: 6,575	Just kidding, but no serious photographer wants to be found dead with an 18-55 mm and a 55-200 mm combo ... lol!

02-22-2020, 09:23 AM	#67
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by RICHARD L. Just kidding, but no serious photographer wants to be found dead with an 18-55 mm and a 55-200 mm combo ... lol! I saw that kit in pawn shop with a KS-1 for about $250 USD. There was no sale. I essentially sold my 2 18-55s to someone who could resell them to someone who could use them. I do miss having one for comparison tests. But I'm not buying one for that. I hate buying stuff if it means I'm going to have to dispose of stuff. And having a KS-1 to play with might be worth $100. It's a step down from the K-3 or K-1, so it would be amusement value only.

02-22-2020, 09:57 AM	#68
barondla Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: midwest, United States Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,714 Original Poster	Originally posted by RICHARD L. Just kidding, but no serious photographer wants to be found dead with an 18-55 mm and a 55-200 mm combo ... lol! I have the 18-55 and 16-45. The 16 is far better optically. However, there is one place the 18-55 shines. It has no hotspot doing infrared. Thanks, barondla

02-22-2020, 11:45 AM	#70
Aaron28 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,131	Originally posted by pres589 I really hope this is one of those ironic joke posts. ha! i'll leave a hangin'......

02-22-2020, 01:18 PM - 1 Like	#72
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by normhead I used to use an 18-55 and Sigma 70-300. I have lots of great images taken with "inferior" glass. If you have a great scene with great light you can get great images with a "poor" lens. If you have poor light, poor composition and a top flight expensive lens you can't get a good picture despite what you've spent. I won't even say the value of my images taken with more "pro" lenses are hard to look at now that I have many taken with better glass. As long as the glass suits the subject, price has nothing to do with it. The images taken with those "cheap" lenses stills and up today. If they were good then, they're good now. My first lens, bought with my K10D, was the original DA55~200. In bright light at f/8 that lens was sharp, colorful and made great photos. In any other light it was challenging.

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02-22-2020, 01:41 PM - 1 Like	#73
sculptor666 Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: PA Photos: Gallery Posts: 675	if it's a place i know well, and i know what i'm likely to see, can be two cameras, two lenses. if it's an all day affair where i could see anything, two cameras and 4-5 lenses, flash, tons of batteries. not uncommon for me carry 20+ lbs.

02-26-2020, 08:42 AM	#75
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,090	Originally posted by Bassat I believe I am considered an oddity. I take one lens out with me. I prepare for the shoot I am expecting to have, and getting the photographs I expect to get. That's what I do when I'm going out shooting with one of my 6x7 bodies, I match a (1) lens to where/what I'm planing to shoot. Since I usually only shoot one roll (10 exposures) per outing, having a 2nd or 3rd lens with me is not necessary. Phil.