Before I had this camera, I shot quite a bit of material with a Sony DSCP10. You can look at my flickr set for that camera to see some of them. I was pleased with the pictures that camera took, but I wanted some better low-light options, and to have a smoother set of controls so I wasn't spending 15 minutes arguing with the interface just to take a macro shot that might or might not actually be in focus once I got it onto the computer.
I got my Pentax K110D for my birthday last year. I wanted to K100D, and in fact that's what my wife thought she ordered, but she was mistaken. I thought about sending the thing back and getting the K100D, but then I started thinking how I've never needed stability control before, and damned if I need it now. There have been some times that I've wished I had it, but I'm going to have to get a tripod regardless, so most of the time I just don't let it bother me. I like to think that there's some sort of manly austerity to shooting with the most featureless equipment available, but then I look down and the dial on my camera and think about how long it's been set on full auto mode, and I find something else to think about.
The K110D came with a very middle-of-the-road P-DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 lens. It's a great all-purpose lens, but this summer I found myself wishing for a better zoom, especially on my trip to Mt. Rainier when I took this one:
I really wanted a better picture of that cave in the glacier, but my ass was whipped from a brutal hike the day before, and there was no way I was going to get the family up enough trail to make a difference. What would have made a difference? The lens I got for Christmas, a Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG Macro Telephoto Zoom. I have yet to really have an opportunity to find out what this lens is capable of, but I know I'm going to put it through its paces as soon as I can get out hiking this year. Even though it's heavy and large in size, it really will be a great hiking lens, since most of what I shoot is either macro or zoom on the trail. A macro shot that could have used a little more zoom:
I was also fortunate enough to get a camera bag to help me heft another large lens and other gear:
All of my gear in this bag is kind of heavy for hiking, but if I take out the K Mart lens, it should be just about right. I've gotten used to carrying a small camera bag with me on the trail, so having a backpack case should be no problem, even with the added weight.
