photosarah Loc: East Sussex, UK

I bought a chest of drawers from IKEA and fitted out one of the drawers with 5 layers of black foam. I cut circular holes through 4 layers to fit the base of each lens, so they sit upright and supported on their ends in the drawer, and I drew round my camera with long lens fitted and cut out that shape as well. I used one layer of foam around the sides, back and front of the drawer so that if ever anything moves (it never has) it will not get damaged. I have 1 DSLR, a bridge camera, a P&S and 6 lenses safely stored in that drawer. Then I bought a wooden, extendable drawer organiser from the stationary store, and placed it in the next drawer, in which I keep the chargers, USB cords, filters, batteries, etc. in the different slots. It works a treat. And the top drawer has other "stuff" like reflectors, instruction manuals etc. And the top of the chest of drawers already had a slightly "proud" back and sides, so when I use the top to put printed photos on it, they cannot slide off. It was a great buy. If you want to see how this works, let me know and I'll post photos.

Hankwt Loc: kingsville ontario

please do post some pics !!!

Bugfan Loc: Toronto, Canada

I deal with this issue with kits.

I have a standard case that I use for events and general photography. It has my Nikon D3 and four lenses taking me from 14 mm to 300 mm in addition to a radio remote and a powerful flash, an expo disk, a sekonic light meter and a few filters.

I have another bag that contains my D800, a powerful flash and two macro lenses. As an adjunct to that I have a separate case that contains all my other macro tools (bellows, extension tubes, ring flash, additional macro lenses etc.). And I have a macro flash from Nikon in its own case too.

I have a beginners bag that contains two lenses and a flash and my old D70s. I loan this to aspiring young photographers as I teach them the rudiments of SLR photography.

And I have a small bag with my D200, a charger, and a flash that I use only for travel.

Aside from that I have two long lenses in their cases, another case exclusively for chargers, a case for point and shoot cameras and a small case for all my cleaning gear for sensors and lenses. These are all stored on an Ikea shelving unit.

The tripods are kept separately as are the film cameras. The film cameras are rarely used so I don't keep them with my primary gear any more. The tripods are specialized with the exception of my favourite which is always available. They are stored away waiting for a special shoot before I need them.

What I like about this approach is that depending on what I'm doing I just grab one case and run. Each has what I need for a specific shoot. If a long lens is needed in any category I grab the appropriate one as I select the kit of choice. If I expect to be in a dirty environment I take along my small aluminum case of cleaning gear too.

I also have an empty photography backpack. Sometimes I just need a couple of lenses and a camera body, maybe a filter or two or a flash. This allows me to throw together a specific kit for a specific shoot. When I'm done the various gadgets go back into their respective cases.

That's what works for me.

BobEssner Loc: Missouri

I think I need to be a little more specific about what I'm looking for. I was envisioning something along the lines of a multi-drawer dresser that you might have in your bedroom. I would be able to lay my 5 stuffed camera bags on top but would have all the drawers available to somehow organize and sort my multiple lenses, flashes, adapters, extenders, SD cards, batteries/chargers, etc. My wife likes things to be neat and right now I have my camera bags sitting around in my computer room on the floor with 3 tripods, 2 monopods, copy stand, photography books etc. all out in the open. She's asked me to find a way to "hide" the "MESS" and truthfully I'd like to be better organized myself. I do have the contents of my bags kind of sorted by brand and accessories but most of my equipment is Olympus - with OM-1 and OM-2 bodies along with an array of OM lenses. I have 4/3 System lenses for my E-30 and E-5 and I have micro 4/3 lenses/adapters for my E-M5 and E-M1 - so basically most of these lenses can be used with adapters or not on 4 different digital bodies. I might want to use the 4/3 Macro lens on my E-M1 with the MF3 adapter but they are in different camera bags. I was thinking of taking all the lenses out of the bags and storing them in drawers in some sort of order - along with the adapters. I also have 2 super zoom bridge cameras with flashes, remote controls, and several pocket cameras and a 3D camera. It's even a challenge for me to decide which camera to use for leisure photography but then also to decide which lens/accessories to take along if I go for a motorcycle ride for instance. Does anyone have anything remotely resembling this type of set up for storage/organization that you could post a picture of or describe? My wife says I have too much "junk" - maybe she's right because I have 52 rods/reels to go fishing with too (but they are very organized!)

BobEssner Loc: Missouri

...

BobEssner Loc: Missouri

Sarah - is there any chance you could post a few pictures so I could visualize it better? I'm going to Google Ikea since I haven't heard of them before (imagine that!)

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

While you're 'Googling', look up tool box foam liners.
You can make customizable drawer inserts, intended for tools, but usable for anything.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

My lenses are all in a camera bag. The cameras are on a shelf behind me so I can get to them quickly. Accessories are in various plastic boxes: tripod parts, straps, filters, misc. Tripods are in a corner of the bedroom.

I keep a couple of P&S next to the monitor for quick shots.

photosarah Loc: East Sussex, UK

Here are some pics. It may not be the most efficient system in the world, but it gets my gear put away, kept safe and clean, and is immediately available whenever I decide to go out. I can see everything I have all together, and don't have to keep opening bags or cases to find what I need. You will see that in one of the camera/lens pics, there appear to be white blobs. They are desiccant silica-gel bags, which come with all sorts of items and when they do, I just add them to the the drawer in case any of the gear is damp when I stow it (unlikely, but better safe than sorry!) I hope this helps: setting up this way certainly simplified my life.

Camera/Lens drawer in foam


Camera/lens drawer & dessicant sachets


Wooden expanding drawer organiser


Bits & Pieces drawer 1


Bits & Pieces Drawer 2


Top of desk with protective surrounds


Closer look at the holes cut in the foam to support the base of each lens

BobEssner Loc: Missouri

Sarah - this is really close to what I have envisioned. Thanks so much for providing the pics - they help a lot. I do the same thing with the desiccant packets.

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

I actually have the opposite problem here in the desert southwest.
Our humidity is so low, I have to run humidifiers almost all year just to get to sleep.

photosarah Loc: East Sussex, UK

Glad to be of help. I was given the idea for the foam from someone on this forum about 18 months ago.

Anandnra Loc: Tennessee

I use a Lowepro 450 to store all my equipment at home. I have a couple more Lowepro sling bags of different sizes and also a backpack that I use to carry my stuff around.

Nick K Loc: Long Beach CA

Have you thought of a small gun safe? I keep all my gear that is not in my bag on one of the shelves in my safe. The smaller safes are relatively inexpensive now. The

rowandjr Loc: New Jersey

You ansered your delima Shop at yard sales for a dresser or dresser cabinet. Thats where i got mine $10