jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I don't remember the model names, but several makers have introduced rather pricey non-DSLR cameras with one lens permanently mounted, 35mm, I think. Obviously, people think there is a future in using just one lens. Come to think of it, I can't remember a time when I had more than one lens on my camera.

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

Jaacki, I would carry what I DO carry now... the Canon SX-50.
Possibly other Hoggers are tired of seeing me suggest this camera as often as I do, but so be it. For me, these days, it is the only camera I carry and it fills the need for all I want to shoot. Check out all the features and see if you don't agree. Just Google 'Canon SX-50'. Happy shooting!

bee7474 Loc: Selah, Wa

Buy a Canon SX 50 new off Ebay for around 350.00. You will be amazed.

anotherview Loc: California

Yes, put one lens of your choice on your camera, and walk around with it for a period of time, say, two or three months. You will learn your photo gear and its limitations.

Some swear by a prime lens for this exercise. They advocate getting closer by walking toward the subject.

Some (myself included) prefer a zoom lens because of its versatility owing to a range of focal lengths.

Unlike in the past, zoom lenses today rival prime lenses for sharpness and optical quality. So picking one or the other depends on your preference in relation to the subjects you will encounter.

My present choice for a walk-around camera and lens: Canon 24-105mm f/4 lens mounted on a Canon 6D. I also carry a circular polarizer filter, tethered lens cap, lens cleaning kit, and a spare battery in one camera bag. I can carry this bag around all day virtually everywhere.

If I needed a flash unit for artificial light, then my gear kit would expand accordingly. I now have one bag that carries nearly all I need to do flash photography.

Note that if you decide to go this route of one camera and one lens, you will find yourself ignoring the unending sales pitches for this and that "creative" gear.

Good luck.

Pinyon Pine, Capitol Reef NP

Photoman74 Loc: Conroe Tx

There is no correct or incorrect set of equipment, guide is what your shooting
but if I was after landscapes I would find spiders.
As a younger man I carried a Pentex 35 mm for quick shooting and a C330 for set up work. Lens Bag Tripod flash - Weight never considered, only did i get the image. Now my camera w/ flash and zoom lens - tripod weighs less than the camera bag did.

Jaackil Loc: Massachusetts

Thank You

bvargas Loc: Palm Harbor, Florida

My suggestion: Lumix FZ200 or Leica V-LUX 4. Same camera.
Excellent has 25-600mm Leica Lens w/f2.8 Constant Aperture all the way.
What more do you need. Also has Optical Viewfinder and swing out Rear Screen
One Camera/One Lens. Check it out. You will love it.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Two bodies, 16-35/2.8, 70-200/2.8. 135/2.0 and maybe the 400 too (depends on what I'm shooting), and a teleconverter. That may sounds like a lot to some, but not to me, hanging around my neck and over my shoulders.

MtnMan Loc: ID

The consensus early on answered the question: 18-55.

The rest is just random discussion.

nitrophil Loc: Dayton, Ohio

Mine is a Pentax K10d w/ a Tamron 28-300 f/3.5 zoom. It works great for me.

dynaquest1 Loc: Austin, Texas

Goodness....look who got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. No need to be so rude with your sarcasm...this is not that kind of site (I thought). The Nikon lenses that come with the D3100 are cheap kit lenses. If that is all you intend to use, why spend the money on an SLR at all. Recommendations for additional, better, extra cost lenses are not, IMO, out of line here. Has nothing to do with reading English. Now...go have another cup and lighten up...please.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I carry my 70-200mm if I'm off to just have fun but want my camera with me. If it did a lot of this I'd probably look for a lens with a bit more zoom like a 28-300 or something similar. I believe that Ken Rockwell carries something like this too.

Jschneir Loc: Santa Monica, CA

I am an 82 year old photo nut having been shooting with everything around. I too wanted to go simple and minimize carrying a bunch of stuff around. I gave up on dSLR cameras afew years ago when I sold my Nikon D90 and an assortment of lenses, went to mirrorless interchangeable lens stuff (Sony NEX 6) which I still have with a few lenses and find that I am shooting 90% of my pictures with a Panasonic FZ200. I can hear the groans BUT, it is really one camera that, at least for me, does it all. It has a constant F2.8 lens at 25-600mm with a very good EVF. yes, it does have a small sensor, but it does hold its own against my NEX 6 except under extreme low light.

As I point out to my photo students there is no perfect camera,there are all shorts of trade offs you must make and, at least for me, this one works best.

Jaackil Loc: Massachusetts

I don't think he was being rude at all. Actually I think he was right on point. I did say in my post I was happy with the range of lenses that I currently have. I am not interested at this time for numerous reason buying more lenses. I also said I don't want to go the point and shoot route. My question was given the equipment I currently have what would the suggestions be. While I do appreciate all of the posts and replies many have been off point leaving me to wonder if some even read the post at all or just jumped on to talk about their own equipment. I do realize the current gear I have is quite limited. However, it is what I want to work with, and I am happy with it. I am sure I would love all of the lenses people have told me to go out and buy as well as the other cameras that are much better than my D3100. However, I find even your post condescending with "The Nikon lenses that come with the D3100 are cheap kit lenses. If that is all you intend to use, why spend the money on an SLR at all." This may come as a total surprise to you but there are people who do not subscribe to the "you need the best gear to take the best pictures". I am not a professional, I take pictures for my own enjoyment and I am looking to improve my skills, the emphasis being on improve my skills not take the best pictures technology can buy. Thank You for your response

Don Shaw Loc: Denver

This may not work for you but I carry my wife's Sony Cybershot when out of an evening or do not want to carry my - favorite - Nikon D90 with various lenses. The lens I have on the camera at all times will either be the Nikon lens 18-55 or a favorite 28-200 which I consider a bit wide angle and good telephoto which you can crop later - I also use a 300mm lens when needed. I live in western CO (and Denver) and on a recent run - in the Corvette to Gr. Jct. with my wife driving, I took some pix with her Sony which I will post on pixbydon.shutterfly.com shortly - you will also find various other pix on there. If I can help, it is donlshaw@aol.com