Small/tiny lens carrying strategy

coelacanth

coelacanth

Ride, dive, shoot.
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So here is another bag/pouch topic but a bit more specific to very small lenses.

I'm more and more getting into smaller, tiny classic/modern classic lenses for my on-land photography. Smallest being Summaron 35/2.8 and CV 28/3.5, longest being Elmar 90/4 (but it's very skinny).

I can easily carry these with my IIIg and M4-P, but those cheapo lens pouches I can find/have are bit too big, and also they need to ride in my bag kind of loose.

Anyone got good strategy, ideas, solutions for this? The most of lenses I got are barely bigger than a pack of 35mm film so love to save some space especially for traveling. Would be great to find a very small pouch, slotted case insert, or some sort of good space-saving yet secure enough way to carry them around.

I usually use Timbuk2 camera insert in non-camera bags or the Retro 5 to carry my kit.

Any good ideas?
 
Try looking at padded makeup cases at Goodwill or another thriftshop. Just something to keep them from banging around in your bag. Good luck!
 
Attach a secondary baseplate to your camera bottom (with tripod screw) which has a rear lens cap attached to it. The second lens attaches to this and always stays with your camera. There is room to attach 2 lenses to the bottom of the camera this way.
 
A company called Eastern Mountain Sports used to have either flannel-type bags with drawstrings - small - or padded foam covers that are used for the glass of a candle lantern. Either will work with a small lens. The padded one might well work with the Elmar, but would be too big for the Summaron. Hope this helps.
 
Hi Sug,

These days, I use a old ipad leather slip case rolled up to carry a pair of small lenses:

LensRoll-1.jpg


LensRoll-2.jpg


Donald.
 
I glue the rear lens caps back to back w/ epoxy and just used a small fanny pack when I was shooting film.

Gary
 
Climbers have pouches for talc power for their hands that attach to the belt have a draw string closure that might work well.

I used a small Leica hard bag for years for such a kit and loved it.

Domke made lens wraps that I love and I think someone makes them that use Velcro.

B2 (;->
 
For really tiny lenses like the Summaron 35 and CV 28, consider adding pouches to your camera strap, akin to those of a bandolier. I had sewn a couple to my A7's leather strap for a CV 28 and Serenar 35 - they really help me capitalize on the small size of those lenses. I believe Canon even made cases for their small LTM lenses, for them to be stored in such a way.
 
Great ideas so far guys. Thank you.

Joe, in never thought of that. Could be too big for my E39 sized LTM lenses, but probably great for XF lenses.

Donald, that's an interesting approach as well. I have a quite few of those gadget sleeves in my junk drawer and elsewhere.

Lantern glass cover/case is another interesting idea I never thought about.

Attaching to baseplate or strap approach is a bit scary to me and I want to keep the camera in hand as light and small as possible, but intriguing indeed.

With few other ideas around outdoor goods approach, maybe I should get my local REI and see if I can find something.

If anyone got more funny or serious ideas, please do share. :)
 
I use small ziplock freezer bags. They're dust and water-free, protect well enough when wound up around the lens, and I can see what's in each bag. When they get ratty, throw them out.

Before that, I took worn socks, clipped off the top, ribbed part, turned it inside out and seamed the bottom of it on the sewing machine, then flipped the seam back to the inside, and used those. They stretch to fit anything, yet hold it securely, and the lenses are easy to get out. If you want, you can color-code them by choosing different socks.
 
coelacanth said:
If anyone got more funny or serious ideas, please do share. :)
Click to expand...

The best way is to attach each lens to a body. That way they fill up the pouch better, no rear caps to fiddle with, no lenses to drop while changing, and they're always at the ready! It also keeps you from taking too many lens options with you! Perfect solution!

Slightly off topic, I've always found it funny when people (mainly DSLR types) say they put a tiny 50 (or similar) in their pocket just in case the light gets a bit low for the 24-70 zoom. My question is always, "what the **** do you do with the 24-70 monstrosity? It ain't fitting in the pocket!". To slightly tie it back to the OT, a custom pocket that fits a 3.5/28 for instance might not fit the 50 or 90 that came off the body. What to do now?

FWIW, I just let them swim in the largish compartment, but I rarely take a spare lens.
 
I am experimenting with some amazing material called poron xrd. Google it and check out the videos. This shock absorbing foam would be excellent as a bag liner or lens pouch liner.
 
Pockets. Pockets inside of the bag. Inner part of the bag with soft sides and two layers of padded material attached to opposite sides and bottom. To create the pocket.

It could be in the corner (diagonal). Main part with camera and lens, pocket with little lens and space behind of the pocket (corner) as another tight space for little lens.

I have one old Logitech bag with this design. Worked well with Leica and small lenses. All gear is separated, no time waste.
 
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