What' in your "to go" kit?

Bigmonstertruck

Bigmonstertruck

Member
Local time
1:30 AM
Joined
Jul 29, 2013
Messages
17
When you go out to shoot for fun (as opposed to professionally) what do you take with you? Mainly, how many and what focal length lenses? I seem to always have too much stuff with me. By "too much stuff" I mean I end up spending too much time and attention on my equipment and can lose focus on the art.
 
I have a couple of John Hedgecoe's books. The sample kit included in one of them is absolutely ridiculously packed: checklist, tripod, tripod screw, grey card, notepad, table tripod, cable release, instruction manuals, screwdriver, stapler (??) adhesive tape, modeling clay, scissors, pins, meter battery, clamp, film, meter, camera, flash, hoods, four lenses and included cases. I've used a number of these on location shoots, but they don't come with me most days.
Obviously it depends on what you like shooting, but for me as a street shooter:
M body, 35/50/90 lenses, a couple rolls each of 100, 400 and maybe high-speed film. Maybe a flash or X100 if I think I'll be out after dark.

The tripod and cable release only go if I intend to do night architectural photography.
 
I grab whatever catches my fancy, which is mainly one camera and lens. Sometimes I feel adventurous and bring a second lens, or else carry a second camera.
 
Lately I have a CV R3M with a CV 21 mm and EVF, 40/1.4 and and old Leica LTM 90 mm. Plus film, a microfiber cloth and a couple of mini cigars and matches. ready set, go.
 
I always-ish keep a small shoulder bag (The Think Tank Retrospective 5 - approx. 15*20*25cm (6*8*10", for the metrically challenged)) on standby, stocked with the following:

-M4 and Zeiss Ikon ZM
-Three lenses: 35&50 Summicrons, 90 Tele-Elmarit.
-The usual filters - yellow, orange, light&dark red, 3-stop ND.
-A few rolls of Tri-X (always), a roll or two of Provia or Adox CMS20 (occasionally) or Portra 160 (very rarely).
-Lens cleaning cloth and brush.
-A Sekonic 358 light meter
-Spare batteries for the Sekonic and Ikon.
-A pencil and a small notebook.

-Cable release and small gorillapod (stuffed in coat pocket if I expect to be out shooting while light is low-ish.)

If I REALLY wanted to go light, I'd probably leave the M4, Sekonic and the 50 at home.

Seeing as I used to carry an F5 with a couple of lenses in the past, the above kit feels incredibly compact. More seasoned RF users may shrug overbearingly. :)
 
Ive gone as fancy as 2 cameras and 2 lenses before, lol.

For the last 2 years it's been 1 camera and 1 lens at a time.

My smash and grab kit is OM-2sp, 50/2 Macro, extra batteries and film.
 
For fun I take either a Rolleiflex, Rolleinars, lightmeter and film. Sometimes I'll take a 35mm camera (Nikkormat/F2/M4P) with a single lens.
If I shoot 4x5 it's the camera, tripod, lightmeter, and 150mm, 90mm, 75mm lenses and darkslides with film.
 
Tower 46 with minifinder, W-Nikkor 1.8/50mm and Tanar 2.0/50mm and two rolls of film. And always the iPhone 4S with Light Meter, Velaclock and Simple DOF apps.
 
Odds are at a minimum I'll pack the M9 w/50mm Summicron, depending on where I'm going that will change.

Options include:
Vivitar Flash
15mm f/4.5 Voightlander
24mm f/2.8 Elmarit
35mm f/1.4 Voightlander MC
50mm f/1.4 Nikkor-S.c
50mm f/2 Summar
90mm f/2 Summicron
M6 TTL & film

On rare occasions I might include my Visoflex III with either 65mm or 200mm. Or 135mm Hektor f/4.5. Believe it or not, I really like the 135mm and 200mm for landscape shots.

In most cases I take 24/50/90 with 24mm aux viewfinder, and extra batteries, and thats it. I suspect that if I had a current Leica 35mm (either the Summicron or Summilux), that I'd mainly pack 35/90.
 
I wander the Haight-Ashbury with an ancient Yashica model 35 for color shooting and a Sekonic auto leader hanging off my neck, or a Retina IIC with 50mm and 80mm, a few filters and a Kodalux meter for B&W street shots.
 
An M8 and 24 Elmarit and a 40/1.4 Nokton in the other pocket of my knapsack. If I have pushable b&w film lying around, then the M2 and a tabbed 50 Summicron.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom