My reply interspersed, and then probably some more below...
On 9/2/2014 3:56 AM, Mark C wrote:
Next week my wife and are taking a vacation to the Washington DC area. I
plan on checking out the exhibit where I have a couple of photos in
Annapolis - and that will be one afternoon or morning of our trip.
Otherwise I am anticipating a blend of urban / rural experience in
Washington DC, Baltimore and Maryland's eastern shore. We have one
wildlife refuge on the eastern shore that I really want to visit (if I
can figure out where it is).
What is the purpose of this vacation: taking pictures, sightseeing,
dining out, visiting exhibits? I mean, seriously... If you want to
wear formal and visit places, then most likely Sigma 135-400 will be
totally out of place... If you plan to stay mostly in DC, then I think
that DFA 100 macro would find relatively little use.
OK - so I am trying to travel light. The biggest impediment to that is
bringing backup bodies and lenses. When you travel - do you carry backup
gear or just trust to fate that everything will work?
I have a totally crazy idea in that regard. You could look up local
pro camera services and inquire about one of the following:
1. Can they lend you a Pentax gear (including specifics) in case you
need backups?
2. Can you get by Nikon gear (they most probably have it available)?
Although I've seen K3 fail on Stan not long ago, I still think that
the likelihood of this happening is very small. To have to haul so
much more gear just because, seems like too much hassle to me.
I am thinking of bringing (at a minimum) the K3, IR converted K10D, DA
17-70, Takumar F 70-200, DFA 100 macro and Sigma 135-400 zoom. All that,
except for the Sigma, fits in a nice little kit. I plan to also bring my
Q kit (original Q, fisheye lens, normal zoom, telephoto zoom, normal
prime, extension tubes) which all fits in a tiny little bag.
I would probably leave Sigma 135-400 behind... Instead, you could
bring Q, K to Q adapter, and get by DFA 100 macro for extreme
telephoto...
I will probably want to also bring a film body and normal zoom, and am
thinking of the Mz-S, sans battery grip, with FA 28-105 zoom. Or I might
satify the analog urge by bringing a Super Ricoflex TLR and a few rolls
of 120 film.
Do you really see yourself shooting film on that trip?
And then I'd like a fast lens so maybed the A 50mm f1.4 or FA 50 f1.7.
I'll probably bring the 40mm XR pancake in lieu of a body cap since it
is about the same size.
I'd probably vote for FA lens only because it is autofocus...
And then backups and add-ons - ideally I'd like to bring they K5 (in
case the K3 breaks), the DA 16-50 (in case the DA 17-70 breaks), Sigma
70-200 f2.8 as both a backup for the Takumar F and for a faster
telephoto zoom, and maybe an external flash because it might come in
handy...
I'd bring 16-50 instead of 17-70 to begin with. Same goes for Sigma,
although, I'd probably leave it behind because of its size and weight.
I am thinking of NOT taking the "backups and add-ons" though I will kick
myself if something breaks or malfunctions on the road. The fast 50
seems questionable and I might decide to skip the film gear...
Fast 50 would be helpful if you decide to take a night walk around the
Lincoln memorial and take some night photographs... I've done that
during one of my trips - highly recommended. Be advised that you
cannot use tripod in some of the areas...
This is not a trip of a lifetime but I'll be frustrated if something
fails along the way. I guess the Q kit is a backup for the overall kit
but as much as I like the Q kit it does have limits (slow AF, no eye
level finder, poor high ISO performance, limits on shallow DOF...)
Like I said above, Q plus adapter for telephoto stuff...
What do you do when you travel?
Let me see. Last time all four of us traveled to Europe the kit was:
Anat - W30, Galia - Ricoh GXR + 50 and 28 mm AF modules, me Ricoh GXR
+ two M-mount modules, one with 40 mm lens, another with 15 mm lens.
Result: wonderful 140 pages Blurb album, loads of great memories, no
weight-size concerns whatsoever.
Two years ago we traveled to USA. Galia took K-5, DA* 16-50, DA 21 and
DFA 50/2.8 macro. The big and heavy zoom was least used, though it
proved useful when we climbed up the hills of Shenandoah. I traveled
with Ricoh GXR and just one module - 50 mm AF. Result: 120 pages of
Blurb album :-) and just a tinge of memories of having to climb up and
deal with weight of K-5 and DA* 16-50 pulling us down...
Granted, I don't tend to take tele photos (my longest lens is FA 77),
the idea that:
1. I don't have to worry about which gear to choose each time I leave
the place where we stay.
2. I don't have to argue with anyone, including but not limited to
guards in all kinds of places, because my gear is very small and light
3. I don't have to worry for safety of whatever I'm leaving behind
seems like a great deal maker for me.
FWIW I *am* only taking one automobile but I also know I can always rent
one if the car have malfunctions (I actually had to do that once in the
past.)
You can rent a proper vehicle in DC area pretty much in no time, as
long as you're willing to produce your plastic money :-).
If I were going to travel like this, I would probably take K-3, DA*
16-50 and FA 50/1.7. I might take Q(*), D FA 100 and mount adapter. I
would very likely inquire about gear rental for backup.
(*) I have no idea what native lenses are good for Q, so I couldn't
possibly tell. But these are really very small.
HTH
Boris
