A Carry Around Street Set Up ?

I building a light street shooting set up. Not for people shots but grab shots of architecture, landscapes, things of interest and just stuff (if you know what I mean).

I'm using a K200D with battery pack and I'll be using a 18-55mm (new version) attached and a 55-300mm or 50-200mm in the bag. The bag is a Domke F-5XB, so its small.

My question is do you think I'm better of with a two lens set up or a 18-250mm single lens set up as far as image quality goes, and which of the two long zooms would you choose. Image quality is important and lack of CA is an issue, but so is a light and small footprint.

Thanks,

wll

1. I personally do not like 50-200 (extremely bad bokeh in some circumstances).

2. But I do not like zooms at all. ;-)

====

So, I would take one mega-zoom 18-250. And some primes.

Besides you do not have wide angle - for city sights it's a must! Consider something like Da 15 ltd. Zoom is really good pentax 12-24mm too.

Believe me - to walk with small camera (I do not understand grip users too - I even bought one for myself, and still do not understand why ;-) and smal fixed lens - it is quite easier to cary in hands, to take pictures around you, to walk on market with camera in one hand etc.

Usually, when you have fixed lens on camera, you are concentrating on that specific focal lengh and hunting for compositions for that specific style - your style (wide, tele or between) and it is easier to frame and find some interesting shots at the end.

wll said:

I building a light street shooting set up. Not for people shots but
grab shots of architecture, landscapes, things of interest and just
stuff (if you know what I mean).

I'm using a K200D with battery pack and I'll be using a 18-55mm (new
version) attached and a 55-300mm or 50-200mm in the bag. The bag is a
Domke F-5XB, so its small.

My question is do you think I'm better of with a two lens set up or a
18-250mm single lens set up as far as image quality goes, and which
of the two long zooms would you choose. Image quality is important
and lack of CA is an issue, but so is a light and small footprint.

Thanks,

wll

Click to expand...

wll said:

I building a light street shooting set up. Not for people shots but grab shots of architecture, landscapes, things of interest and just stuff (if you know what I mean).

I'm using a K200D with battery pack and I'll be using a 18-55mm (new version) attached and a 55-300mm or 50-200mm in the bag. The bag is a Domke F-5XB, so its small.

My question is do you think I'm better of with a two lens set up or a 18-250mm single lens set up as far as image quality goes, and which of the two long zooms would you choose. Image quality is important and lack of CA is an issue, but so is a light and small footprint.

Click to expand...

Much depends on your taste, the 55-300 is the best of the lenses you mention, but the others are decent too, but outclassed by heavier zooms or smaller but more expensive primes.

You should look up dimensions, weight and prices and see if you favour some combination. I would suggest getting the 18-250 and in the future adding some nice compact primes.

--
Tom - http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/tomvijlbrief

Vaards said:

Usually, when you have fixed lens on camera, you are concentrating on
that specific focal lengh and hunting for compositions for that
specific style - your style (wide, tele or between) and it is easier
to frame and find some interesting shots at the end.

Click to expand...

See this page and all the "A Day in ..." series. They were all taken with a K10D and two Pentax pancakes - 21mm and 70mm.

http://www.pbase.com/m3photo/florence

--
m.

shooting is strolling around town. Little is planned. I carry four lenses with three in my pack and one on the camera. I have a 12-24, 17-70, 55-300, and a 35mm f/2. Which one is on the camera when I leave home depends on whether on not I'm anticipating anything specific. The 35mm goes on the camera is I'm out late and need a faster lens.

I don't use a camera bag. I have a daypack that also carries a book to read, lollipops for kids and doggie treats for dogs, first aid stuff, and miscellaneous camera accessories like extra SD cards and a beanbag.

My lenses are in neoprene bags in the largest compartment.
--
Patrick T. Kelly
Oaxaca, Mexico

You could rent the 18-250 and see how it works for you. I actually did that and loved it but I wanted a little more at the top so I got a 55-300. But it really was nice having that range.

Unless finances are an issue - I'd drop the kit zooms (all three of them) and buy primes. Better IQ, smaller, lighter, better in low-light... etc. etc. etc.

-Mouse

wll said:

I building a light street shooting set up. Not for people shots but
grab shots of architecture, landscapes, things of interest and just
stuff (if you know what I mean).

I'm using a K200D with battery pack and I'll be using a 18-55mm (new
version) attached and a 55-300mm or 50-200mm in the bag. The bag is a
Domke F-5XB, so its small.

My question is do you think I'm better of with a two lens set up or a
18-250mm single lens set up as far as image quality goes, and which
of the two long zooms would you choose. Image quality is important
and lack of CA is an issue, but so is a light and small footprint.

Thanks,

wll

Click to expand...

--
Hardly education
All them books I didn't read
They just sat there on my shelf
Looking much smarter than me
The Mouse Gallery
http://s214.photobucket.com/albums/cc130/AMMouse/Pentax%20K100D%20Super/

If you insist on two zooms I'd recommende the DA17-70 and the DA55-300 both have great IQ and I feel that it makes sense to have a slight overlap in the ranges so you can avoid having to change lenses so often... One thing to remember though, the DA55-300 has quite a large "footprint". Also for street shots you might consider getting the Sigma 10-20 or the Pentax 12-24, as wideangle is nice to have... But there's alot of possibilties out there, let your wallet help you decide too, as there's decent glass out there if you are willing to except slower lens..

Regards

Brent
--
Changing light gives me the possibility of seeing the world from a new
perspective.
For me photography is a tool for capturing these insights, for reflection and
sharing.