[MaineNative]

My APS-C kit is a K-5 with either my 16-85 or 18-135, plus my DA 55-300 and DA 21 mm or DA 10-17. (3 lenses)

My FF kit is a K-1 with my DFA 28-105, my FA 20 mm and my DA 55-300 (crop mode). (3 lenses)

If I am doing astro photography, I add my Samyang 14/2.8 lens and leave the 55-300 at home.

-Wade

[Ed Hurst]

I never want to be without the optimum lens, so I am a lunatic! If I am definitely going for one, predictable shot that I already know well from previous experience, I take one camera and whichever lens is required (and tripod). Otherwise, I take as much as the trip allows me to carry. Often, I will walk up to a few miles with 645Z, DA25mm, DA28-45, DFA55, 6x7 75mm f2.8AL, DFA90mm, A120mm, FA150mm, 6x7 200mm and 6x7 300mm EDIF. If I have to walk a long distance, I will drop this by carrying 645Z, DA28-45, 6x7 75mm f2.8AL, A120mm (or FA150mm) and 6x7 200mm. Then, on special trips where I know it's required, I have other lenses I might take with me, such as the 6x7 400mm EDIF and the A600mm. Other wildcards include the 6x7 55-100, 6x7 135mm, 6x7 165mm f2.8. But those only come out when I know they are required and I have a means to transport them.

Basically, I go heavy on having what I need, even at the cost of mad effort. But as I age, and my back ages more quickly still, I am looking at compromising more often!

[SylvainB]

I perfectly understand that, Ed. This is why the bag is important... the more comfortable it is to carry, the heavier it is loaded. A kit goes with a bag.
When I take the 645Z, it is usually a shoulder bag with max 3 lenses. I try to have matching focal lengths, with gaps no more than 2x (ex : 28-45 -> 90 -> 150)
When I take the Hasselblad H for an important hike, it is 24mm + 50mm + 100mm + 150mm +300mm + filters + tripod. And packed in a F-Stop or Gitzo backpack than I can walk with for a long time. I can always drop (intentionnally) a lens at the last minute in the car before I go if I know I won't need it.

[Digitalis]

I like to keep it simple, 35mm, 55mm and 120/150mm lenses are a good place to start. Sometimes I'll include an extension tube if closer focusing is desired. I find the zoom lenses for the 645Z particularly the 28-45mm and 80~160mm make for a good pairing - though the AF on the 80-160mm can be iffy at the long end. I use the 75mm f/2.8 LS lenses in the studio a lot* though I find the 90mm f/2.8 Macro to be a better portrait lens on the 645Z.

* I wish Pentax would update the LS lenses.

[normhead]

I never want to be without the optimum lens, so I am a lunatic! If I am definitely going for one, predictable shot that I already know well from previous experience, I take one camera and whichever lens is required (and tripod). Otherwise, I take as much as the trip allows me to carry. Often, I will walk up to a few miles with 645Z, DA25mm, DA28-45, DFA55, 6x7 75mm f2.8AL, DFA90mm, A120mm, FA150mm, 6x7 200mm and 6x7 300mm EDIF. If I have to walk a long distance, I will drop this by carrying 645Z, DA28-45, 6x7 75mm f2.8AL, A120mm (or FA150mm) and 6x7 200mm. Then, on special trips where I know it's required, I have other lenses I might take with me, such as the 6x7 400mm EDIF and the A600mm. Other wildcards include the 6x7 55-100, 6x7 135mm, 6x7 165mm f2.8. But those only come out when I know they are required and I have a means to transport them.

Basically, I go heavy on having what I need, even at the cost of mad effort. But as I age, and my back ages more quickly still, I am looking at compromising more often!

10 years ago that was me. I haven't picked up my big pack that holds almost all my lenses except when I want to transport them to a different location, where it becomes my lens cupboard away from home. I load the smaller bags from the big bag now. Ageing sucks.

[Silent Street]

Four: 45mm, 75mm, 90mm and 165mmLS — covers the lot.

All up, 14kg. Any more (excluding lunch, Mars Bars and Lifesavers) and the camel's back will be broken...'

I'm cleaning out my pack today after discovering a bunch of March flies have made it their home after a few days in the wild scrubby hills. I thought snakes, torrential rain and falling trees were the worst of my problems. Evidently not.

[johnha]

My small bag will hold my 645D, FA33-55, FA45-85 and either the FA80-160 or the 67 200, I can also squeeze in the DFA55 at a pinch. This looks fairly discreet which is helpful if not everybody is a photo geek.

A slightly bigger bag allows more options and will take my A*300.

I have walked 5-6 miles (on the flat) with 2x P67, 2x prisms, 4 or 5 lenses plus accessories all wrapped up in a LowePro 400AW trekker backpack - which weighs 3kg empty. The backpack is heavy but the shoulder harnesses and waist belt are the same as a very good backpacking rucksack, making it very comfortable when loaded.

[monochrome]

I have three Domke F-4 bags on a closet shelf pre-loaded to grab and go:

• K-5lls | DA*16~50/2.8 + DA*50~135/2.8
• K-1 | FA31 + FA43 +FA77 + DFA24~70/2.8
• KP | DA21 + DA 40 + DA70 + DFA28~105

Otherwise I fill a backpack with whatever lenses strike my fancy or need for a given outing, and I always seem to take one lens more than I actually use.

[edom31]

Sometimes it'd be like:

You Tube

You Tube

[barondla]

I have three Domke F-4 bags on a closet shelf pre-loaded to grab and go:

• K-5lls | DA*16~50/2.8 + DA*50~135/2.8
• K-1 | FA31 + FA43 +FA77 + DFA24~70/2.8
• KP | DA21 + DA 40 + DA70 + DFA28~105

Otherwise I fill a backpack with whatever lenses strike my fancy or need for a given outing, and I always seem to take one lens more than I actually use.

Cool set ups. How do you decide which bag to grab?
Thanks,
barondla

[JensE]

Otherwise I fill a backpack with whatever lenses strike my fancy or need for a given outing, and I always seem to take one lens more than I actually use.

That's an amazing hit rate. It's most often two or three for me ...

[johnha]

I never want to be without the optimum lens, so I am a lunatic! If I am definitely going for one, predictable shot that I already know well from previous experience, I take one camera and whichever lens is required (and tripod). Otherwise, I take as much as the trip allows me to carry. Often, I will walk up to a few miles with 645Z, DA25mm, DA28-45, DFA55, 6x7 75mm f2.8AL, DFA90mm, A120mm, FA150mm, 6x7 200mm and 6x7 300mm EDIF. If I have to walk a long distance, I will drop this by carrying 645Z, DA28-45, 6x7 75mm f2.8AL, A120mm (or FA150mm) and 6x7 200mm. Then, on special trips where I know it's required, I have other lenses I might take with me, such as the 6x7 400mm EDIF and the A600mm. Other wildcards include the 6x7 55-100, 6x7 135mm, 6x7 165mm f2.8. But those only come out when I know they are required and I have a means to transport them.

Basically, I go heavy on having what I need, even at the cost of mad effort. But as I age, and my back ages more quickly still, I am looking at compromising more often!

That doesn't surprise me, like several Z shooters here, you'll often post 4 or 5 stunning images from the same location - all with different lenses...

[Jonathan Mac]

I'd probably average around six or seven, and probably my K-3 plus a film camera, which could be either 35mm or medium format.

However, over time I am learning to fight the "just one more lens in the bag" syndrome.

Here's a photo from 2015 of all the gear I took on one outing - four cameras, eight lenses, plus accessories. Four cameras is very unusual and only happened because I wanted to finish several films. I got all of this into my Lowepro hiking backpack.


The nine kilos of gear I carried around yesterday. I used virtually everything though. by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr

[FozzFoster]

I'm seriously floored how much gear people are claiming they carry with them on a hike.
I gotta show my wife this thread so that she can appreciate that I'm on the lower end of number of lenses to pack along on a trip...

[normhead]

I'm seriously floored how much gear people are claiming they carry with them on a hike.
I gotta show my wife this thread so that she can appreciate that I'm on the lower end of number of lenses to pack along on a trip...

That reminds me of visiting Niagara Falls and seeing a woman with a huge camera bag that was obviously taxing her strength. I went over to ask why she had so much gear. She pointed at a guy floating around like a spring breeze with a single camera and small lens on it, and said, "It's his, I just have to carry it."