Two cam bodies to Europe, or just one?

Decisions, decisions. K-30 with DA17-70 is definitely going. The DA15mm ltd also goes to get wider interior shots. CPL's for both and a 2-stop ND to blur waterfalls in Plitvice Nat'l Park. Then, for urban and dinner shots, probably the 21mm ltd to get rid of the big zoom and have a smaller rig in-hand. And then of course the 40mm ltd gets onboard because it's so damned small, especially having replaced all the ltd caps and hoods with old style Pentax F 49mm pinch caps for faster filter attachment (no unscrewing, and I don't want to lose those nice ltd caps in Europe). Okay. Then is it so much more a of a stretch to take the K-01 with a body cap, because I can pack the yellow brick just about anywhere for the road, and have the option of a spare k-mount body in case something happens to Big Blue (my blue K-30), and have the option of shooting the less intimidating yellow brick? The additional option is for hiking -- having the 15mm on a body full-time while the 17-70 is on the K-30.

The choice is between the second body (the K-01) or the FA 135mm, since the longest reach without it is 70mm. What would you do?

I would rather be safe than sorry. I would take the K-01 for backup. You could crop those 70mm shots later if needed.

If the trip is any good at all and your main purpose is not photography, I'd take the K30d +17-70 and forget about it. Seriously what do you need the 21 or 40 for. They're just going to be extra bother, weight, take up room in your day pack. Or do you want to leave half your lenses in the hotel all day? Not smart, you never know if they'll be there when you get back, and thinking about that can be a drag. Maybe, maybe I'd throw in the DA15, but no way in heck a second entire body. The DA 15 isn't *that* much wider than 17mm. Try them and see if it really makes a huge difference to you. I might actually tend to take the DA15, DA 40, k-01 and leave the rest behind!

Matt

Unless the trip is specifically a photography trip, I'd go with the "less is more" rule. Dragging around a ton of kit is not my idea of fun, and doesn't tend to go down well with the people you're with either.

For my next trip into France I intend taking my single focal length Fuji X100 and that will be it. Last two trips (Paris, Rome, Venice and environs) were with one micro four thirds body (GF-1) and two primes (standard and portrait).

I'd take the K30 and 17-70 plus one fast prime for indoor or low light shots and leave it at that if i was in your shoes.

I'd take the k-01, the 15 and 40mm in a belted case.

I disagree with some of the others here, especially the idea that photography should just be an afterthought on a trip. Well, I guess I should clarify what I mean by disagree... everyone has to make that determination for themselves. It's not up to us to tell you what you should value on a trip. I'm just saying that it's not as absolute as some folks have made it out to be. For me personally, I don't have to have one single purpose for a trip. I can enjoy time with my family, along with other things, AND enjoy photography on the same trip. I don't see the need to choose only one.

As far as what lenses to take, if you're only going to get one chance in a lifetime to photograph some of your destinations, why not use the best lenses you have? Especially since the 15, 21, and 40 don't really need much space at all.

And to your actual question -- one or two bodies. I guess that depends on what you expect to be shooting. In most situations, I would think you could get by without the 135, unless you're looking for architectural close-ups or distant landscapes (maybe at the park you mentioned). It sounds like you could put the 17-70 on the K-30, and have the K-01 to use with the Limiteds. Then you have two different kits for different situations on the trip.

Whatever you choose, have a great trip!

--
-- Joe S.
Why do they call it a "building"? It looks like they're finished. Why isn't it a "built"? ~ Jerry Seinfeld
http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/josephschmitt

The less-is-more recommendations are certainly on-point, especially the part about worrying about the gear in the hotel room if you don't have all of it on your person at all times. It has to be the K-30 versus the K-01, however, because I do have trouble seeing optimum CPL filter polarization on screen versus through the OVF in bright sunlight. Good points about leaving both the K-01 and 135mm behind. The 18-135WR would have been optimal, but I found the corners too soft and returned it for the 17-70, which is mo' bettah. The 15mm, 21, and 40 will also go because they are just too easy to carry and will be less intimidating in groups of people.

Again, thanks for the comments.

Marktax said:

Marktax wrote:

The less-is-more recommendations are certainly on-point, especially the part about worrying about the gear in the hotel room if you don't have all of it on your person at all times.

Click to expand...

Most hotels have safes, either in the rooms or at the front desk.

sbc said:

sbc wrote:

I would rather be safe than sorry.

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In my experience, "better safe that sorry" makes for a heavy load. I have learned to take the least amount of stuff I can get by with ... and a credit card. :^)

Unless I'm on a photo specific trip I leave the Pentax at home and travel with an M43 (currently Panny G5) and kit lens.

Joe

I live in europe and have recently been on to three trips. Prague and Vienna a year ago, Brugge, Gent and Bruxelles a month ago and Hamborg returned yesterday..

Europe is no big problem, it's safe relatively clean with great public transportation, compact easy to get around in cities, except the Mega cities which I avoid mostly.

So just take what you feel comfortable with carrying for an outing where you live..

It's not like things suddenly double in weight in size just because you are Europe..

I like my setup; DA15 21, 70 ltd the FA 43 limited, and one telephoto the M200 F4 for architectural details, street, subject isolation is great at F 5.6 at that lens.

I even take my Gitzo tripod because I like to do night photography and sometimes if the light is bad or boring during the day you can rescue your photo taking by going out at night..

I don't use zooms, but if I wanted a quick snap zoom setup I'd perhaps take something like the MX-1 with 28-105 mm range it would be just fine..

My hotel room in Hamburg had a Safe. I think you could trust the front desk to take care of your things in hotels that don't offer this safe in the room service.

You are going to Europe, may as well take photo's lots of photos, I just took 1000 photos over three days in Hamburg! after eating out, museums, boat rides shopping are all expensive and just hanging out gets boring, You have the equiptment so photogrphy on your trip is one of the few things that is free! So go out and photograph, even if you don't get a series of winning photographs you will gain valueble experience, in places where you can't blame the subject matter for bad photo's. And the memories and things that you didn't have time to digest mentalyl as you move from place to place can be studied and enjoyed when you return home.

A back up camera? If it's a long trip you could leave the camera with a relative or friend that could Fed Ex it out to you if there is a problem. The K01 is not that big so if you are worried just take it along.

For me it isn't an issue of having too much gear as long as the total setup isn't too bulky It has to fit in a carry on. Note I checked my gitzo tripod in its bag alone sent to bruxelles as an ood size package and it arrived safe and sound. Weight is not a problem for my setup.. Stand erect and don't let things pull you down to avoid neckstrain, perhaps get a fancy balck rapid camera strap...

Good luck on your travels..

--
Reflections, understandings, discoveries and intimations..

I'm thinking of getting an additional Battery so I have three batteries with me.

I'd consider upgrading my cards to the fastest type. I have about 6 8Gb cards 4 type 6 and two type 10, Just take lots of cards with you. Even if you can back up to a laptop if you don't format your cards and just filling up say ten cards they will also function as an original extra back up on the go..

Unless you are doing video I don't personally think it's such a good idea to have huge amounts of pictures on one 32 Gb card. If it fails it's too risky. For me the 8 GB cards for raw files is a nice balance.. SD cards are easy to find in camera and phone shops but are expensive..

I don't travel with a Laptop btw..

Decades ago on a trip to New England during the peak of Fall color the trip was just ruined by having the shutter jam on my SLR (not a Pentax). I had left my backup at home.

Now I always take a back up with me. On a major trip to Europe I would make certain I took another body.

A good pocket P&S is better than getting no picture at all. For weight and bulk I would consider taking one SLR with a good walk around zoom and a P&S camera for backup and times when the SLR is not practical.

Often times an SLR gets in your way. If I didn't have the P&S I would certainly consider my K-01 with 40mm as a backup.

But that's what I would do. My first trip to Germany many years ago I took way too much gear and hated it the whole time. Really bogged me down. Over the years I learned to be happy with as little as possible for traveling.

I would consider the K-01 to be an excellent backup option.

I think you will be surprised how little you will need anything longer than 70mm.

That's very cogent advice, thanks for taking the time. It's indeed a trip where I want to get a lot of pictures, without getting on the nerves of my companions. I'm in large city hotels only a few nights, otherwise it's small hotels in rural areas. Hiking, biking, kayaking all in the mix. The carbon gitzo is definitely going. And a dry bag.

Going to Prague and Budapest- don't want to hijack this thread but if anyone has advice esp for nighttime send me a PM.

I think camera failure is an overblown worry. I personally have never had it happen. Maybe it happens once in a lifetime?

i'm taking my k-01 with 17-70 and 35Da2.4 and my new toy 8mm fisheye. And my travel tripod. That's it.

I like to travel light And not worry about every what if scenario.

Good question.

My options relate to what I plan to shoot, the weight I can carry. For European cities I cover most of your distance with the Pentax 18-135. There are times when this is the only lens I will take -- works fine inside, outside in daylight, and outside with illuminated structures. If the flowers are blooming and insect and abound, I take my Pentax A 200 macro. A macro can be a lot of fun in the right environment. Finally, there are times when I think that there will be opportunities to capture more distant objects, there I take a 300mm with a tc (in my case a Sigma zoom).

Hopes this helps.

John