when you are packing: OK, when you go off rambling like I've done in St. Augustine today, lots of walking, how do you carry your gear? What do you carry, lens, tripod, flash? Have been...

deanna_hg Loc: So. Alabama

OK, when you go off rambling like I've done in St. Augustine today, lots of walking, how do you carry your gear? What do you carry, lens, tripod, flash? Have been times I would have liked my off camera flash. Do you have the 'photographers vest'? I have a backpack camera bag but think things could be simplified. Suggestions???? :?

snowbear

For me, it depends on what I'm going to be doing. When I went to DC for the cherry blossoms earlier, I had a backpack with both bodies and four lenses (two attached, two stowed). I left the tripod home. If I'm just running around the home area, I'll usually just grab a body and maybe a second lens.

Wanda Krack Loc: Tennessee, USA

It varies. Sometimes I take a backpack, sometimes fit everything into a vest, and sometimes am able to fit everything into a pocket. It all depends on what I expect to be shooting and what lenses I anticipate needing. Last week I took a short hike with some family into unknown woods to shoot some wild lady's slippers that were in bloom. I only took one camera back, one 105mm lens, lens cloth and extra battery and card, camera hanging off shoulder. For around a town, where I would anticipate wanting the camera quickly for shots, I would probably do something similiar. I'm still trying to find/make a system of carrying the camera (lens attached) in such a way as to leave my hands free, but camera at ready.

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

Round neck: Leica M9 and one lens (35/1.4 or 50/1.5), or 2 cameras and 2 lenses (75/2 on the MP, though the second body might be in a very small Billingham bag). Possibly another lens in a pocket (15/4.5, 18/2 or 21/2.8). Spare batteries and memory cards, film for the MP (if carried), lens cleaner. That's it. No tripod, no flash.

But that's just me. I want to work quickly and unobtrusively, and to spend more time taking pictures than wondering which equipment to use, or setting it up. My wife often carries one camera, one lens: Alpa 12 S/WA with 35/5.6 lens and 6x9cm back. And a tripod!

Cheers,

R.

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

Wanda Krack wrote:

. . . I'm still trying to find/make a system of carrying the camera (lens attached) in such a way as to leave my hands free, but camera at ready.

Why not a neck strap?

Cheers,

R.

Wanda Krack Loc: Tennessee, USA

I don't like the weight around the neck. Never have been comfortable carrying the heavy (and sometimes heavier lens) around the neck. Now if I could come up with a pouch, that distributes the weight toward the shoulders/hips, I would use the neck strap as just a 'back-up', with no weight on it. I've tried various things, and even made one of my own, but I don't have it perfected yet. But, for around town shooting, I usually take my camera, with an attached 18-200mm lens, and the support for just that lens(polarizer, cleaning cloth, extra battery and card). Only if I anticipate low light conditions do I carry a tripod.

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

Wanda Krack wrote:

I don't like the weight around the neck.

Ah... That's why I use Leicas and small, light primes. The Alpa is quite heavy, but a well-designed strap makes things easier: Alpa's own is excellent. With heavy DSLRs, an OpTech neoprene strap really does make the camera seem lighter.

Cheers,

R.

Glenn K

Wanda Krack wrote:

I'm still trying to find/make a system of carrying the camera (lens attached) in such a way as to leave my hands free, but camera at ready.

Cotton carrier. Works for me (but it looks a bit weird to the civilians).

Glenn K

deanna_hg wrote:

OK, when you go off rambling like I've done in St. Augustine today, lots of walking, how do you carry your gear? What do you carry, lens, tripod, flash? Have been times I would have liked my off camera flash. Do you have the 'photographers vest'? I have a backpack camera bag but think things could be simplified. Suggestions???? :?

Backpack, sling bag, Cotton Carrier, Think Tank Belt with TT and/or LowePro attachments, or camera alone. Depend on the situation. With the exception ofthe first two, and the last, you can do combinations.

deanna_hg Loc: So. Alabama

Thanks y'all. I really need to come up with a plan. Of course going without my flash makese think of my iso and practice low light shooting however I have a 50mm 1.8 and a 70-300mm but I've mainly 18-105. I don't 'plan' anything other than taking photos.

nikon_jon Loc: Northeast Arkansas

I like my sling bag. I have a Zeikos (not top of the line by any means) but it does the job. When walking you can push it around to your back, if you need access, you can swing it around to the front very easily. I carry my camera with lens affixed, a 55-200mm lens, and an older Nikon 20mm AF lens. In the top compartment, I carry spare batteries, flash, and other stuff. On the front is a pouch that I carry extra sd cards in.

Now, don't get me wrong. When I travel I usually carry about half a photo store with me. But when I am packing, I leave everything else locked up in the trunk of the car.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

It depends on where I ramble. Outdoor hikes for landscapes or indoors for parties or get-togethers means I will have a tripod, one extra lens, flash, an extra battery, and card, brush, microfiber cloth. The only thing that gets a bit unwieldy at times can be the tripod. Everything else can fit in a small camera bag or larger waist pack.
Urban photowalks, zoos, as an example, I usually take a monopod, two extra lenses, all of the above in a small back pack. I have not found a need for a vest. I do not have a sling bag, but they are pretty popular. I would probably prefer a sling bag over a larger camera bag.

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

What ever I carry it always turns out that
1 - I should have brought something else and
2 - Why did I bring this?
I tried several time to "carry it all" but soon learned it wasn't worth it.

gym Loc: Athens, Georgia

If I'm going on an extended day trip into any wilderness area away from the beaten path, I take the usual things already listed here. In addition, BECAUSE it is off the beaten path, I also take a S and W .380 tucked inside my belt.

You just never know what kind of animals you'll run into out there - both two and four legged.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

gym wrote:

If I'm going on an extended day trip into any wilderness area away from the beaten path, I take the usual things already listed here. In addition, BECAUSE it is off the beaten path, I also take a S and W .380 tucked inside my belt.

You just never know what kind of animals you'll run into out there - both two and four legged.

I just take someone I can out run. Lol