What's in Your Bag?

Krosya

Konicaze
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Feb 15, 2006
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I was thinking, it would be interesting to see what mrmbers here use the most - I know many people have many different cameras, but what do you use most? What do you grab as you go out? Whats your favorite and why? I'm sure there was a thread like this or similar, but I want to see updated version. So, anyone willing to share?

I'll start. I'm as much of a camera equipment junkie as a next guy (gal), yet I find that some cameras are more of a shelf ones and others are sitting right by the door for my to grab as I go out or ride in my car full time.

So, my "take me with you camera" - well actually are two : Welta Weltax folder with Xenar 2.8 lens and coupled RF. Old, good , reliable. And after I cleaned and adjusted it - it delivers very good results. It's a bit heavy, but still compact enough to carry around.

Second choice, or better as much or a choice - Balda Super Baldax with coated Baldanar lens. Again, coupled RF , great lens, even lighter, smaller and more portable than Welta. Just delivers a little different feel to photos. Also was adjusted and calibrated by me and works great.

And I always keep a Voigtlander Bessa R 35mm RF in the car with either Industar, or Summitar 50mm lens attached, just in case I forgot to bring my MF camera and I come across something worth taking picture of.

So, there you have it. Hope others will join me in this little research - just for fun.

George
 
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George, often for me it's the camera most recently back from CLA, or the more recent purchase that gets grabbed on the way out. Or the most recently acquired lens dictates the camera to be grabbed. Also I'll "rotate" through less used cameras to keep them exercised. But it's notable how I keep coming back to the Minolta CLE and Bronica RF645 for RFs and to the Pentax LX and 67 when I feel SLRish. I've never had a "car camera".
 
For the last two months, I've been traveling with my Linhof 4x5" Tech V exclusively. Tomorrow I'm headed back home, and the Technika is off to Marflex for a few small repairs and some routine maintenance.

My usual "briefcase camera" that I've got most of the time when I'm not particularly photographing is a Voigtlander Perkeo II 6x6 folder with a shoe-mount uncoupled rangefinder.
 
My favorite vacation kit: Fujica G690BL + 100mm f:3.5 + 50mm f:5.6 + 180mm f:5.6 + meter + polarizer. Great for landscapes!
 
and also a small notebook and pen,spare film(tmax 100 and 400 usually),small flash I never use,cable release,multitool and tabletop tripod I use once in 3 months or so. monopod when tele is used.
 
My "car" camera (truck camera actually) varies each week. This week it is a Kodak Retina IIA. Last week it was a Rollei 35S. The week before that a Minolta Autocord. Yashica GT, Canon QL-17, Zorki 4, Olympus RC, Olympus OM-1 have all been carried.

My go to bag for when I absolutely have to get the photo, contains a pair of Nikon F3HP with MD4's and a few AIS lenses.

My "good" rangefinder bag contains a Canon P with 50mm f1.8, a Canon P with VC 35mm f2.5, and a Contax IIa with a 21mm f4.0 Biogon.

Wayne
 
When I'm on the road specifically for photography purposes, everything comes along -- 4x5, medium format & 35mm. Otherwise, it depends upon the amount of available time that I think I may be able to devote to photography. As time decreases, so does the film size.

My favorite go-everywhere, on-demand kit is my Mamiya 7II (43, 65, 80 &150) -- all in a LowePro Orion waist bag. Quick, light and a relatively big negative (or in my case, transparency).
 
My car/train/walk to work/take to the beach camera is a Kiev 4a with a Menopta 53/1.8. It works well and I don't mind if I forget it in the office for a weekend or if it gets rained on or knocked around. I rarely keep it in a bag though - just a camera strap.

Otherwise - in the bag...Leica M3 with a DR Summicron, late-model Summicron and a 90/2.8 Elmarit, (second version, I think.). With that, a Canon P with a 50/1.4 Nikkor.

At the moment, the DR Summicron is at Golden Touch and the Canon P and Nikkor are at Essex for cleaning, lubing and adjusting. I'm looking for a screwmount 35 to go with the Canon when it returns.
 
I tend not to carry a bag. I have my Canon P around my neck with one lens (most of the time it's the 50/1.5 because it's the fastest I own), film in one pocket and my meter in the other.
 
The contents of my bag vary from day to day... I'm in the mood for panoramas today, loaded it up with the Xpan 2 and the 45mm. Space for one more so the R-D1 got thrown in too, with a Zeiss 35/2 thrown on for good measure.
 
My Bag

My Bag

My small Lowepro bag currently consists of Mamiya 6, 75mm and 50mm lens, sekonic L-508 light meter and i carry my manfrotto tripod in the car all the time. A pen and note pad is handy too, lens cloth also. Though im begining to feel all i need is the 75mm lens as it is for me the perfect coverage lens with great compression. If i trusted the M6 light meter i would'nt need a hand held one.
Less is more in regards to equipment for me.
 
Either a Kodak Retina IIa or a Kiev 4am with J12. They fit nicely in the pocket so I'm more likely to have one of them with me.
 
I've intentionally downsized recently, so I'm taking the Canon P w/ 50/1.8, film, and depending on my destination and weather, my new Gossen Digisix. Waiting on a 35/3.5 Summaron (friday, I hope) which will travel along as well.
 
My main camera is a Leica M3 with 50mmDR and 35mm. When the need arises I use a 200mm with visoflex.
Lately I've been using a Kiev 4a with 35, 50, 85, and my latest lens the 135. All Jupiter lens.
I seldom use a bag. Instead I wear a vest. That way I can carry what I need without the shoulder strain of carrying a bag.
As you can see by my sig I have several cameras which all get used.
 
I am very fickle when it comes to what camera I take with me but if I were guess I'd say I tend to take my Leica M3 and Summicron 50/2 with me most of the time.

Yes, the best rangefinder camera ever made :)
 
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