versatility in your camera bag

[FrankS]

With the idea that cameras/lenses are tools which permit you to successfully tackle photographic purposes, I'd like to talk about what was in my camera bag on last weekend's car trip to visit relatives. I have a variety of gear to select from and I choose according to what situations I expect to encounter, and also (whimsically) just what I feel like photographing with at the time.

In a Domke 803 satchel type camera bag, I packed a Nikon F2 plain prism with 50f2 and 28f2.8 Nikkor lenses, a Leica IIIa with CV21f4 lens and ext. viewfinder, and a Hexar AF with its 35f2 fixed lens. Included in the bag was a small flash for the Hexar and a small Sekonic light meter, and extra bulk loaded HP5+ film. Oh, and a Contax Tvs with colour neg film.

I was very happy with the versatility of the gear that I packed and didn't ever wish that I had brought a different piece of gear. This is clearly not the bag of a one camera/one lens style of photographer. On a daily go to work kind of day, I have just one camera with me, but on weekends when there is time for photography, I prefer to maximize that photographic opportunity time with a more versatile "tool kit". I also knew that I would not be walking miles carrying this kit, although that would not have been a problem. On this trip I knew I'd be photographing using either my car or a house as a base.

Anyway, this kit provided me with a range of focal lengths and camera types/functionality to meet whatever situations I was likely to encounter. (I'm not a telephoto wildlife or sports photographer.) I'm not saying that my kit is the answer for everyone, just something that worked for me.

Your thoughts on packing a camera bag?

 

[kshapero]

Must of been a pretty big bag.
I usually go with an M3 and a Summarit 50/1.5, Elmarit 90/2.8 and also a CV 21/4 w/VF. Lots of film, usually Ilford XP2. Use my iPhone for the meter.

 

[back alley]

and for me...i would call this thread, 'confusion in your camera bag'...

too much stuff...i like 2 identical bodies with lenses attached and maybe another lens or 2 thrown in the bag.

for the coming summer shooting season my plan is one rd1 with the 21, the other with the 40...likely the 28 and 50 in the bag...

 

[FrankS]

One man's versatility is another man's confusion. 😉

Part of my enjoyment of photography, apart from the images, is the process, which includes using a variety of vintage/classic photography gear.

 

[back alley]

One man's versatility is another man's confusion. 😉

Part of my enjoyment of photography, apart from the images, is the process, which includes using a variety of vintage/classic photography gear.

i get confused and befuddled easily...i much prefer to keep it simple.

 

[FrankS]

Different syles/approaches - that's a good thing.

Yesterday I loaded film in an F3.

 

[kshapero]

Its all good. I won't mind my Nikon FM3a also coming along but my bag will not accommodate more than a body and 3 lenses.

 

[back alley]

Its all good. I won't mind my Nikon FM3a also coming along but my bag will not accommodate more than a body and 3 lenses.

time for another bag?

 

[wjlapier]

Once I have my second M7 it will be .58 M7 35 cron V4, and .85 M7 50 cron V3. Probably bring CV 21/4 and finder, Contax G 28/2.8 M, and the usual. I like to have a digital camera with me most times, so add the GF1 and 20/1.7. I also have the 803.

 

[dave lackey]

Frank,

Sounds like a good approach for a versatile weekend of shooting. Seems like the older I get, the simpler I need to be, so I am adding to my one camera,one lens kit for a little more versatility, but I am NOT using any of my film Nikons. For the first time, I am concentrating only on Leica gear.

One M3 body with 50mm lens. One R4 body with, hopefully a 28-70 lens in the near future and on the hunt for an 80 Lux. That's it.

There are days when I need digital and the Nikon D40 fits the bill as I normally get results equivalent to my long-departed D2X. But I keep it in a Nikon bag.

What I do NOT have yet is a decent bag for two bodies with lenses and maybe a spare lens or two. But, will probably go for the Billingham Hadley small?

Oh, why mix a DSLR into the mix? Because it is by far the cheapest way I can cover what I need to cover. For about $500, I can get a metered Leica that will cover all my wide-range, normal and short tele needs. Can't do that with just the M. Nor can I move into the 80 Lux territory with the M. The 75 Lux is twice as expensive as the 80 Lux.

 

[Gumby]

Your thoughts on packing a camera bag?

My thought:

Too much stuff = too much thinking = too much wasted time = too many lost shots.

I tend to pack rather compact and "focused". In each bag (most of my "systems" are pre-packed in separate bags) are the following:

- Body that is known to be in fully functioning condition
- extra battery, if needed
- hand-held light meter for incident and/or flash metering
- normal lens and slightly longer lens (50 and 90mm in 35mm terminology)
- lens cleaning material
- film.
- extra film.

IF planning on simultaneously shooting both color and B&W (and there must be a REALLY good reason for doing so), then another body or back (Hassy) or film holders (4x5).

IF shooting B&W, yellow and orange (maybe a red) filters

IF shooting architecture, a wider lens on the 4x5.

IF shooting portraits, soft focus filters or sof focus lens (4x5)

 

[Gumby]

... oh...

and in most of my 35mm bags is a small(er) electronic flash unit and spare batteries.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Frank,

I have a Domke 803 too. My question is how the heck do you fit that much stuff in there!?

I carry a simpler kit in mine because I need to be able to find stuff easily when i am out shooting. I just carry an M6 with a 50mm lens attached plus my 35mm, 28mm, and somtimes my 75mm lenses. All that goes in the main compartment. I keep my meter in one of the front pockets and film in the other. If I need more gear than that for some reason, I carry a larger bag so that stuff is still easily accessible without digging too much. I don't like doing so, it hurts my back and shoulders and legs because of weight. I have constant pain in my right leg anyway and have never been strong enough to carry heavy stuff very long. My medium format stuff is very heavy, which is why I never got into large format.

 

[raid]

Different people may have different ways to "best" pack a camera bag for photography. I would not get into setting guidelines on what equipment to pack. I used to carry a large and heavy Tenba full size camera bag with 6-8 lenses and two SLR bodies in the past.

I have in my small size Kipler backpack camera bag today the following:
Hexar RF + 35mm/1.4 Summilux
M6 + 50mm/2 Summicron
75mm/1.4 Summilux in a small lens case.

I switch around the 75mm/1.4 with a CV 25mm/4 depending on the outing.

 

[Gumby]

When travelling "heavy" I'll add a monopod or tripod.

 

[FrankS]

Thanks for your thoughts Ed.

I was expecting a variety of shooting situations so I packed accordingly. I packed the manual Nikon becuse I knew there would be time for relaxed contemplative photography all by my self. I packed the Hexar AF because I knew there would be opportunity for shots of people for which I wanted the quick auto functioning of the Hexar AF. The Leica IIIa was packed because it was still fairly new to me and it doesn't take up much space as a platform for the wide CV21 lens. That's my rational, anyway. It is interesting to hear how others think about such things.

 

[Gumby]

My medium format stuff is very heavy, which is why I never got into large format.

I can relate, but have two words to share with regard to LF gear: luggage cart. I use a "wheelie" luggage cart and my LF gear, although much bulkier, is a lot lighter to transport than any other system being transported in a traditional camera bag.

 

[FrankS]

Frank,

I have a Domke 803 too. My question is how the heck do you fit that much stuff in there!?

I carry a simpler kit in mine because I need to be able to find stuff easily when i am out shooting. I just carry an M6 with a 50mm lens attached plus my 35mm, 28mm, and somtimes my 75mm lenses. All that goes in the main compartment. I keep my meter in one of the front pockets and film in the other. If I need more gear than that for some reason, I carry a larger bag so that stuff is still easily accessible without digging too much. I don't like doing so, it hurts my back and shoulders and legs because of weight. I have constant pain in my right leg anyway and have never been strong enough to carry heavy stuff very long. My medium format stuff is very heavy, which is why I never got into large format.

Chris, I have a tall narrow insert in the middle of the bag, which creates a space on either side of it at the ends of the bag. A camera fits vertically in each space: 3 vertical spaces, 3 cameras. The 28mm lens in a lens bag is at the bottom of the space that held the smallest camera, the Leica IIIa. The flash, meter, and Contax point and shoot fit in the front pockets.

 

[dave lackey]

Thanks for your thoughts Ed.

I was expecting a variety of shooting situations so I packed accordingly. I packed the manual Nikon becuse I knew there would be time for relaxed contemplative photography all by my self. I packed the Hexar AF because I knew there would be opportunity for shots of people for which I wanted the quick auto functioning of the Hexar AF. The Leica IIIa was packed because it was still fairly new to me and it doesn't take up much space as a platform for the wide CV21 lens. That's my rational, anyway. It is interesting to hear how others think about such things.

At times a variety of shooting is desirable. A year ago, I went with my bag full of D2X, FA, M3. Why? To shoot comparisons between the three and it was a lot of fun. The FA was new to me and really more fun than my F3T ever was. The results of the FA with Kodachrome, the M3 with Film and the D2X was eye opening for me.

So, yeah, I will sometimes pack heavily but only if I want to enjoy the variety or have a specific project in mind.

Next month, I will be shooting a band promo and beginning a city street life documentary. I suspect I will need two film cameras and one digital to accomplish each task.

But, normally, I just carry the M3 with one lens and have fun!😀

 

[Gumby]

I was expecting ...

This, to me, is the real key to the question -- EXPECTING. I tend to think first before selecting a camera. My orientation is to think "singular" when packing a camera but ensuring that it will largely be a good choice for the kind of shooting I EXPECT to do.

Sometimes there are surprises, but I've never felt hobbled with a poor choice... except when packing only LF gear and then finding some fast action that would be nice to photograph. In that situation I rely on my photographic memory to have a perpetual recollection of the event. 😉