What's in your walking around kit?

alamo5000 · 07-03-2013, 08:46 PM

Over a period of about a year I have done a fair bit of trial and error. I have bought lenses and tested all sorts of things... of course if money were no object I would buy a ton more things...but over time my carry around bag has actually gotten smaller. When I am walking around the streets or going to places I carry a DA 15mm, DA 21mm, DA 40mm, F50 f1.7, and a DA 70. That's it. I have one K-5 body, a few spare batteries, a few spare SD cards, a lens pen is also nice to have in the bag for a quick dust off....

On occasion depending on where and what I am planning on doing I will carry a Tamron 70-200mm. (eventually I would like to get the longer primes that are available but for now I am learning with what I have)...

One thing I would like to add to my walking around kit is a second camera body. I have had a couple of times when I had X lens on the camera and a shot presented itself that I would have liked to get with Y lens...and swapping out was not an option because the action more or less was over before a swap could happen anyway...

I think a little kit like I have so far would work out great for travel. I can walk around all day with what I carry and it's no hassle at all. So far the main weakness in my system is the lack of the second body...

I started out using zoom lenses but now after making the switch over to primes I am hooked. As of late I do not carry a tripod around either. Given it would be nice if I could find a good one that was light and easy to carry around... but what I have now seems to be pretty good. It's light, easy, and if something messes up it's generally me not the camera.

I am essentially trying to hone my travel kit so I can get the right stuff and the right bag so I can carry my stuff as carry on if I take a flight and also be able to walk around with it all day if need be without having some huge bag of stuff with me.

I would like to hear any ideas or suggestions of things I could potentially add to my bag...but also I would like to hear what YOU carry around when you are out walking around on a day to day basis not really knowing what (if anything) you might run into...

**jatrax** · 07-03-2013, 09:15 PM

In my go bag:
k-5
DA 12-24
DA*16-50
DA*60-250
DFA 100 macro WR

In my light bag:
K-01
DA 21 Limited
DA 40 Limited
FA 28-105 f/3.2-4.5

SyncGuy · 07-03-2013, 09:17 PM

It's either sets in my bag:

K30
A28
A50
A100

or

K30
K28
K55
K105

alamo5000 · 07-03-2013, 09:21 PM

One body or two? (both of you--and everybody else that chimes in)

calsan · 07-03-2013, 09:26 PM

Any combination of either 1 or 2 my lenses!! Never 3 or 4.
I normally use a 1 lens kit as follows: 15 (city), 55-300 (birds), 35 (people, flowers).
So I think of my lenses as city, birds or people/flowers and pack accordingly. Will add second lens if there's a decent chance of needing it. For work I normally use the 10-20, but don't use much for fun, as it's a real neck breaker. If it's raining, then 18-55 comes out. 17-70 and 50 1.4 don't see much love.

One option for you would be to consider a point and shoot added to the bag. So if you have the 70-200 on and a wide angle shot comes up, the p&s is ready to go. They often weigh less than even the DA21.
But you can always just take the shot with the lens you have, just a matter of rethinking the compositional possibilites. A few times with my 15 on, I've wished I had my 300 with me, but took the shot in a different way and they frequently turned out more interesting by including more.

WA-surfer · 07-03-2013, 09:32 PM

Body 1: K30 + DA18-135mm
Body 2: K30 + DAL55-300mm (will leave this t home if not expecting telephoto)

Plus primes: DA15, DA40 and FA77 limiteds

(May take Sigma 10-20mm as well)

civiletti · 07-03-2013, 09:40 PM

sigma 8-16
tamron 17-50
A50/1.4
A50/2.8
DA70
Kiron 105
Tamron 300/5.6
Tamron 500/8
Tamron 2X

scratchpaddy · 07-03-2013, 09:46 PM

On hikes, this is my kit:

Body 1: K-5 IIs with Vivitar 13mm f/2.8 (rebadged Samyang 14).
Body 2: Sigma DP2 Merrill.

The Sigma is a compact with an APS-C sensor and a fixed 30mm lens.

If you're interested, here are the pictures from the first hike I took with this combo:

Parker Creek Trail - scratchpaddy's Photos

Docrwm · 07-03-2013, 10:02 PM

Really depends a LOT on where I'm going and what I'm doing. Concert tonight with a VERY strict camera policy - Q + 02&06. Soccer for my son - K-5IIs + Tamron 70-200/2.8 + Sigma 30/1.4. Museum the other day - K-5IIs + DA15 & FA43. My DA18-135 is ALWAYS in my bag if I take my K-5IIs and will be outside. And there are other situations.

stevebrot · 07-03-2013, 10:25 PM

It depends on the day. Today (no photos taken

) it was a FED-2 with Jupiter-12 35/2.8 attached (loaded with Fuji Acros 100) along with the phone camera (Samsung Infuse 4G) for color.

Steve

pakinjapan · 07-03-2013, 10:41 PM

It depend on where I go. for city K5 + DA15. If I go out of town, K5 + DFA100wr + FA35 and / or + DA15.
I do not even have a camera bag yet. just a small body bag that help me carry everything.

carrrlangas · 07-03-2013, 11:07 PM - **1 Like**

Wait a minute! "walking arround kit" sound like for casual photos, or just in case, or taking photos is not the main reason.

Originally posted by alamo5000

DA 15mm, DA 21mm, DA 40mm, F50 f1.7, and a DA 70. That's it.

That´s it?! 5 lenses for walking arround?

If walking arround, I´ll take the K-5 + a prime or two maybe, depending on where and why.

If "walking arround", aka travelling:
K5 + DA10-17 + DA16-50 + FA80-320 + F28 + F50

Originally posted by jatrax

n my go bag:
k-5
DA 12-24
DA*16-50
DA*60-250
DFA 100 macro WR

Jatrax, how´s the overlapping between DA12-24 and DA16-50? I went with DA10-17 for this fear

aglet · 07-04-2013, 12:06 AM

It depends where I'm going..
But lately, I'm having so much fun with a K-5 IIs + 16-50/2.8 that it's the first thing I reach for.
It's a bit heavy, but versatile enough. I found a small padded bag that just barely fits it and is quick to access.
It's taken the place of my other go-to, hit-the-bricks-kit which was a Canon 60D + 15-85mm; this gave me a bit more reach but I love the crispness and texture-capturing ability of the k52s much more and its much cleaner raw files have many advantages in post. With it, I've never muttered, "I wish I had the Canon with me." .. unlike the inverse scenario.

ASa · 07-04-2013, 12:08 AM

If I'm just goin around for a random walk, I usually take the 15ltd and 40ltd. If I had the dough I'd get the 77ltd as well, and that would be my perfect walk around kit. If I know I need a bit more reach I'll take the 50-150, but it's one heave piece of equipment compared to the ltd primes

Oh yeah, and just a single K10D

tclausen · 07-04-2013, 01:09 AM

Always with me in briefcase is the Q+01.

Just for a "walk around", say a stroll in the park or next to the river, I'll typically go K-01+31mm over the shoulder. I may stick the 70mm in a pocket, it's so tiny.

Otherwise, I will "dress for the event", also in terms of what camera gear I bring.

07-03-2013, 08:46 PM	#1
alamo5000 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 2,962	What's in your walking around kit? Over a period of about a year I have done a fair bit of trial and error. I have bought lenses and tested all sorts of things... of course if money were no object I would buy a ton more things...but over time my carry around bag has actually gotten smaller. When I am walking around the streets or going to places I carry a DA 15mm, DA 21mm, DA 40mm, F50 f1.7, and a DA 70. That's it. I have one K-5 body, a few spare batteries, a few spare SD cards, a lens pen is also nice to have in the bag for a quick dust off.... On occasion depending on where and what I am planning on doing I will carry a Tamron 70-200mm. (eventually I would like to get the longer primes that are available but for now I am learning with what I have)... One thing I would like to add to my walking around kit is a second camera body. I have had a couple of times when I had X lens on the camera and a shot presented itself that I would have liked to get with Y lens...and swapping out was not an option because the action more or less was over before a swap could happen anyway... I think a little kit like I have so far would work out great for travel. I can walk around all day with what I carry and it's no hassle at all. So far the main weakness in my system is the lack of the second body... I started out using zoom lenses but now after making the switch over to primes I am hooked. As of late I do not carry a tripod around either. Given it would be nice if I could find a good one that was light and easy to carry around... but what I have now seems to be pretty good. It's light, easy, and if something messes up it's generally me not the camera. I am essentially trying to hone my travel kit so I can get the right stuff and the right bag so I can carry my stuff as carry on if I take a flight and also be able to walk around with it all day if need be without having some huge bag of stuff with me. I would like to hear any ideas or suggestions of things I could potentially add to my bag...but also I would like to hear what YOU carry around when you are out walking around on a day to day basis not really knowing what (if anything) you might run into...

07-03-2013, 10:02 PM	#9
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Really depends a LOT on where I'm going and what I'm doing. Concert tonight with a VERY strict camera policy - Q + 02&06. Soccer for my son - K-5IIs + Tamron 70-200/2.8 + Sigma 30/1.4. Museum the other day - K-5IIs + DA15 & FA43. My DA18-135 is ALWAYS in my bag if I take my K-5IIs and will be outside. And there are other situations. Last edited by Docrwm; 07-04-2013 at 09:19 AM.

07-03-2013, 10:41 PM	#11
pakinjapan Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Tokyo Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,041	It depend on where I go. for city K5 + DA15. If I go out of town, K5 + DFA100wr + FA35 and / or + DA15. I do not even have a camera bag yet. just a small body bag that help me carry everything. Last edited by pakinjapan; 07-03-2013 at 10:47 PM.

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07-03-2013, 09:15 PM	#2
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	In my go bag: k-5 DA 12-24 DA16-50 DA60-250 DFA 100 macro WR In my light bag: K-01 DA 21 Limited DA 40 Limited FA 28-105 f/3.2-4.5

07-03-2013, 09:17 PM	#3
SyncGuy Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 821	It's either sets in my bag: K30 A28 A50 A100 or K30 K28 K55 K105

07-03-2013, 09:21 PM	#4
alamo5000 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 2,962 Original Poster	One body or two? (both of you--and everybody else that chimes in)

07-03-2013, 09:26 PM	#5
calsan Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,549	Any combination of either 1 or 2 my lenses!! Never 3 or 4. I normally use a 1 lens kit as follows: 15 (city), 55-300 (birds), 35 (people, flowers). So I think of my lenses as city, birds or people/flowers and pack accordingly. Will add second lens if there's a decent chance of needing it. For work I normally use the 10-20, but don't use much for fun, as it's a real neck breaker. If it's raining, then 18-55 comes out. 17-70 and 50 1.4 don't see much love. One option for you would be to consider a point and shoot added to the bag. So if you have the 70-200 on and a wide angle shot comes up, the p&s is ready to go. They often weigh less than even the DA21. But you can always just take the shot with the lens you have, just a matter of rethinking the compositional possibilites. A few times with my 15 on, I've wished I had my 300 with me, but took the shot in a different way and they frequently turned out more interesting by including more.

07-03-2013, 09:32 PM	#6
WA-surfer Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 118	Body 1: K30 + DA18-135mm Body 2: K30 + DAL55-300mm (will leave this t home if not expecting telephoto) Plus primes: DA15, DA40 and FA77 limiteds (May take Sigma 10-20mm as well)

07-03-2013, 09:40 PM	#7
civiletti Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oregon Photos: Albums Posts: 1,435	sigma 8-16 tamron 17-50 A50/1.4 A50/2.8 DA70 Kiron 105 Tamron 300/5.6 Tamron 500/8 Tamron 2X

07-03-2013, 09:46 PM	#8
scratchpaddy Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Phoenix Posts: 3,361	On hikes, this is my kit: Body 1: K-5 IIs with Vivitar 13mm f/2.8 (rebadged Samyang 14). Body 2: Sigma DP2 Merrill. The Sigma is a compact with an APS-C sensor and a fixed 30mm lens. If you're interested, here are the pictures from the first hike I took with this combo: Parker Creek Trail - scratchpaddy's Photos

07-03-2013, 10:25 PM	#10
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	It depends on the day. Today (no photos taken ) it was a FED-2 with Jupiter-12 35/2.8 attached (loaded with Fuji Acros 100) along with the phone camera (Samsung Infuse 4G) for color. Steve

07-03-2013, 11:07 PM - 1 Like	#12
carrrlangas Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Joensuu (Finland) Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,761	Wait a minute! "walking arround kit" sound like for casual photos, or just in case, or taking photos is not the main reason. Originally posted by alamo5000 DA 15mm, DA 21mm, DA 40mm, F50 f1.7, and a DA 70. That's it. That´s it?! 5 lenses for walking arround? If walking arround, I´ll take the K-5 + a prime or two maybe, depending on where and why. If "walking arround", aka travelling: K5 + DA10-17 + DA16-50 + FA80-320 + F28 + F50 Originally posted by jatrax n my go bag: k-5 DA 12-24 DA16-50 DA60-250 DFA 100 macro WR Jatrax, how´s the overlapping between DA12-24 and DA16-50? I went with DA10-17 for this fear

07-04-2013, 12:06 AM	#13
aglet Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Alberta, central Posts: 99	It depends where I'm going.. But lately, I'm having so much fun with a K-5 IIs + 16-50/2.8 that it's the first thing I reach for. It's a bit heavy, but versatile enough. I found a small padded bag that just barely fits it and is quick to access. It's taken the place of my other go-to, hit-the-bricks-kit which was a Canon 60D + 15-85mm; this gave me a bit more reach but I love the crispness and texture-capturing ability of the k52s much more and its much cleaner raw files have many advantages in post. With it, I've never muttered, "I wish I had the Canon with me." .. unlike the inverse scenario.

07-04-2013, 12:08 AM	#14
ASa Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Tampere/Helsinki Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 218	If I'm just goin around for a random walk, I usually take the 15ltd and 40ltd. If I had the dough I'd get the 77ltd as well, and that would be my perfect walk around kit. If I know I need a bit more reach I'll take the 50-150, but it's one heave piece of equipment compared to the ltd primes Oh yeah, and just a single K10D

07-04-2013, 01:09 AM	#15
tclausen Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,397	Always with me in briefcase is the Q+01. Just for a "walk around", say a stroll in the park or next to the river, I'll typically go K-01+31mm over the shoulder. I may stick the 70mm in a pocket, it's so tiny. Otherwise, I will "dress for the event", also in terms of what camera gear I bring.