Selecting gear for travel with regard to both weight and versatility is a two-sided coin. First, there’s the “on paper” stage, which gets revised several times prior to departure so that travel will be ideal. Then there’s the reality stage, when one realizes that some aspects of the “ideal” paper version don’t necessarily work so well in practice.

Case in point: leaving behind the reliablility and spectacular optics of the 180/2X combo in favor of the somewhat lighter Lumix S 70-300mm. Optics and weight of the lens make it perfect for hauling around. Poor autofocus with the SL2 makes it almost like carrying close to a kilogram of dead weight. In bright light, it’s brilliant. In anything less it misses. And on anything near MFD, it balks.

Sometimes there’s nothing really wrong with a piece, except that it’s just not the right tool for its expected uses. The 75mm Summilux-M is without peer in low light and very sharp stopped down; but my 1990’s iteration washes out a bit in good light, making me wish I had a late ’70’s-early ’80’s copy.

Or a different lens entirely.

Which brings me to the upside of gear issues: they provide a great excuse reason to add new stuff while on the road.

Then there’s nothing left to complain about—except the weight.

SL2/35mm Summicron-M III . . .