cmc4214 Loc: S.W. Pennsylvania

I still have a flip-phone with a really crappy camera

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Like a bail-out bag.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

I go with what I need. At my age I can't load up. Ask yourself what do I need for the shots I'm going to take.
I have traveled Europe and Asia with one camera and 2 lenses (about 10Lbs). A 24-250 and 200-400.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I believe he was asking how one stores them when not in use.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

I keep mine in a backpack, ready to go all the time. My extra stuff on a shelf.
Went to a backpack recently as the weight on a sid bag was lulling me out of line and giving me pain.
Need to be carful as I'm 91.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

nervous2 Loc: Provo, Utah

Impressive, my friend. Very impressive. Far more order than my collection.

Timmers Loc: San Antonio Texas.

Any fire fighter will tell you this as the gods honest truth, what survives a fire is a refrigerator. More to the point, they survive the fire, and the contents remain unharmed.

Now even more, if you remove all of the old electrical and such from the old fridge it will meet and exceed all the requirements of a safe storage device fir flammables. The freezer can be used to place important papers, back up digital files. It can be anchored to a concrete floor. secured with some hefty locking options. Placed in the garage it will offer salability to a home as a built in, no cost, secure location for future home owners. You can even place it in the corner of a closet.

Thinks about an old fridge as a 'flammable' storage locker in the garage, You can even paint and put 'flammable' across the storage unit. Heads up, for the past 30 years the University of Texas has converted old fridges to flammable and other storage containers.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

DO NOT depend on a fireproof container for sensitive stuff. There are NO fireproof safes. A refrigerator is no better than that. Refrigerators might survive small fires but don't depend on it.

A refrigerator is an insulated box. The material used for insulation will have a lot to do with how well a refrigerator will survive a fire. Foam insulation is designed to keep normal levels of heat out and will not withstand elevated temperatures of a fire. It will melt and you will have just a metal box.

Take a look at your refrigerator. The door is sealed by a rubber/plastic strip, maybe with a magnet inside to hold it tight to the metal box. That plastic strip will be one of the first things to go in a fire, leaving your refrigerator unsealed against the outside heat.

It will also depend on the fire. A short kitchen fire is one thing. A house fire is something completely different. The laws of thermodynamics come into play here. A refrigerator MAY withstand a fire for a couple hours. A fire that persists for longer than that is not going to be kept out of the refrigerator. There is NO insulation that doesn't let heat through. The best that insulation can do is slow the rate of transfer of the heat from outside to inside. In a long fire, the heat WILL get into the refrigerator.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Are not most house fires burning for minutes. Let alone an hour or longer. Fire is scary and my greatest fear is that for more than photos. Perhaps a safe is best. Good thoughts on pros and cons of refrigerators

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Similar system. I have my everyday carry backpack that I fill based on shooting plans and a few big backpacks that are great for storage but still easy to grab and put in the car for trips. Since I shoot both Nikon FF and OM M4/3 I pretty much have a pack for each and one for lighting and accessories. Plus a smaller pack for my IR camera and filters.

Bill_de Loc: US

All this talk about fire should be a reminder to store photos and other documents to the cloud, or at least a second location. Refrigerators are for keeping beer cool. If they find a way to store that in the cloud ... WOW!

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MJPerini

Before I was a professional Photographer, I was a studio 'First Assistant' in a commercial studio in NYC.
It was my job to have every camera system packed and ready to go in a fitted case. Because we did location work as well as studio work, I was taught that the 'load out" was more important than the 'load in' When you wrap, it is often quick. So if every single piece of gear has to have an exact spot. If there is a spot open--something is missing, and you know what it is. Upon returning to the studio, no matter the time, the cases get emptied, equipment cleaned, batteries charged /replaced cords wrapped, cameras wiped down film inventory checked then everything back in the case.
I still do that. Even if you have one camera 2 lenses, a flash and a few wires it makes great sense. Good cases protect far better than shelves. You know the bag is ready to go
I do have several built in cabinets where I store older stuff & View Cameras etc , but those are in cases also. I even still have 2 film holder cases 10 8x10 holders 20 4x5 holders
These days I use several rolling cases from Think tank, their smallest roller for a single 5DIV 3 lenses 2 flashes reflector, batteries in sets of 2 , wires, pocket LED, flashlight, & a 4x6' white tarp, then 3 large rollers 2 for cameras & lenses 1 for strobe heads.
I have cases for Grip, strobe heads . The only cameras that are on display are favorite old cameras and one camera that is not 'case-able' (I still have my 11x14" Deardorff Studio camera on a 10 ft tall Bi-post geared stand) [I could never bring myself to sell it]
My point here is that whatever size your kit is, organized cases by function, always ready, always safe has been a 'Productive best practice' nearly forever. There is no chance you will 'forget something'.
Even my olympus TG-6 underwater camera, I bought a white soft cooler with a smaller front pouch pocket. The camera, ax lens, tiny under water light, TT tripod & Charger fit in the pouch and food and a change of clothes go in the cooler section for when I go to the beach.
I think of it as the ability to be ready and prepared on short notice is a professional trait.
It really works.
PS I still have several old soft side Dome bags that I use once I get to my location, to carry what I need.

Bill_de Loc: US

Thanks.

Someday I hope to learn how use at least one of them.

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