Most camera enthusiasts, I think, understand the torturous process of deciding which camera to take on a trip. “Camera” turns into “cameras”, and lenses absolutely must range from fisheye to 500mm. Just in case. Filters. Flash. Film. And don’t get me started on bags.
A recent trip to Chattanooga forced me to travel light and make tough decisions. One digital camera, one film camera, one bag. I brought my trusty old Fujifilm X-T1 with a few prime lenses, and this Pentax P3. I hadn’t shot the Pentax before, so it was a bit of a leap of faith. The camera had been on loan to a friend while I was working on his Canon A-1, and he reported that it worked well for him.
Everything fit into my ThinkTank “Urban Approach 15” camera backpack, barely. That was a great bag for the plane ride into Nashville. It is strong, well padded and comfortable to carry. My laptop and iPad fit into the computer pocket and the camera gear went where is was supposed to go.
The backpack is not, however, my favorite for casual photo strolls around a city (despite its name). It would be better suited for a situation in which I am not reaching for a camera every few minutes. I regretted not bringing an over-the-shoulder messenger-type bag.
Previously I reviewed a Pentax P30, which is very similar in both appearance and functionality. I won’t repeat all of that stuff here, as the experience was nearly the same. Suffice it to say that the P3 performed admirably and served me well. When I hung the film to dry I was gratified to see consistent, correct exposure and perfect frame spacing. That always makes me smile.
On this trip I had overestimated my chances of getting out to shoot, and I ended up only exposing one roll of Kodak ColorPlus 200. Fortunately I have another Chattanooga trip coming up in about six weeks, so I’d better start thinking about what to bring.
