How do you carry your stuff?

[MarkBarbieri]

For those of you with DSLRs and a lot of gear, how do you usually carry it about? How about at WDW?

I have a DSLR (with portrait grip), a 50mm lens, a wide angle zoom, a large mid-range zoom, an f2.8 telephoto zoom, an external flash, a polarizer, a closeup filter, a remote shutter release, cleaning supplies, extra CF cards, and a tripod. Obviously, I don't carry all of it every time I take out my camera, but even a subset can be a pain to carry. I still haven't found the perfect solution.

When I don't intend to walk around too much, I bring a large shoulder bag. The good thing about this is that I can easily change lenses without having to take it off. The downside is that it weighs a ton and makes my shoulder sore so I set it down a lot.

When I'm hiking, I put my gear in a small backpack. It makes it really easy to carry, but it makes it hard to get at the gear.

When I can travel light, I just wear an accessory belt and hang everything I need off of it. On those days, I just wear my camera round my neck or carry it by the hand strap.

BTW, if you've never tried a hand strap, you should. They are wonderful.

When I'm out canoeing, I use a waterproof case for all the gear. It's heavy, awkward, and a nuisance to get in and out of, but without it I'm nervous about my gear the entire time.

For WDW, I usually just carry two zoom lenses (plus the tiny 50mm) and either stuff everything into a belt pouch or hang them from an accessory belt. It looks really dorky, but then I look pretty dorky without it anyway.

 

[Furgus]

I have heard a lot of good things from a bag like this. I got my DSLR after Disney, but the next time I go back, I will have one.

Lowepro Slingshot 200AW

Tamrac Velocity 7


The Lowepro is about $80 and the Tamrac is about half the cost.
I have not heard a great deal about the Tamrac stuff, and I use Lowepro.

For my normal day I have a Lowepro Nova 2 AW. JUst got into DSLR like I said, so not much gear right now

 

[landmark]

We use a tamrac expedition 4 for trips. Inside I will have my D70 with one lens on and then usually my SB800, 50mm and my 24-120 mm VR. I can also fit the video camera in the bag as well. It can get heavy at the end of the day *if* the camera is in it but I usually have the D70 around my neck and DH is usually the one carrying the bag.

This setup is preparing to take it's third trip and has worked out very well. The only thing we haven't figured out how to carry around well is a tripod.

 

[handicap18]

Last trip I carried around my D50 with 18-70mm lens around my neck. In my backpack I had the 50mm f/1.8 and 70-300mm zoom. The camera also goes in the backpack when going on rides. Remote shutter release comes in a pouch that attaches to the camera strap. Extra battery and media cards in my pockets. I also fit a small table top tripod in my pocket and a travel tripod fit perfectly in my backpack.

I also sometimes use a camera hip back that can hold 2 lenses and body w/lens or 1 lens, 1 external flash and body w/lens.

I did find that by the end of the trip I kept one lens in my front pocket as it did start to become a pain when wanting to change lenses. I have since purchased a vest (my vest is actually a fishing vest, but it was $12, and works fine). It can hold 2 lenses or 1 lens and external flash and tons and tons of other gear with plenty of room to spare. It is very convenient to have the lenses right there and easy to get to.

 

[fitzperry]

I recently bought the Lowepro Slingshot 200 that Furgus mentioned. I also looked at the Tamrac sling bag, but didn't like it as well, because it didn't seem like it was much more accessible than a backpack, which I already have. The Lowepro is nice--pretty easy on the back, and you can just swing it around to get stuff out of it without taking it off. I wish there were a "150" version because the 200 is a little large for my needs, but the 100 was too small. Guess I'll just have to buy more stuff to fill it up.

 

[0bli0]

i have about 7 different bags and 2 different vests that i use, depending on the location and what i'm bringing with me. today at the zoo, i had my Lowepro street & field vest/belt with the 75aw. i had 3 lenses with me in pouches and the monopod in the pram. this is the same vest i use for sports.
otherwise i generally use my crumpler karachi outpost backpack.

 

[grover]

you mention a handstrap..what type do you have???
thinking of picking one up.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I use the Canon E1 Hand Strap. I love it. I use it more than I use the neck strap.

Keep in mind that you need a camera with a portrait grip to use it. It won't work with a Rebel or D30/D60/10D/20D/30D series camera without the portrait grip.

And for a shoulder strap, I love to use a neoprene strap.

Another great strap that I have is something I got at a birding store. I don't recall who makes it. It goes around both sholders and holds the camera to my chest. It doesn't bounce around nearly as much that way. It doesn't work real well for larger cameras or lenses though.

 

[Marinerbaby]

I carry my 5D with a 24-70 L lens and hood around my neck. I have a zoom that I didn't use often, extra memory cards, flash, and filters that I carry in a bag on the stroller. I made a nice camera bag using the Mickey Mouse Disney luggage and just buying the insides at a camera store to "stuff" it with. Everything fits nicely inside. I like have a Mickey camera bag and all of the one's they sell at Disney are way too small.

 

[MICKEY88]

I find that a vest works best for me, everything I need is right there easily accessible..

 

[mhutchinson]

I keep my 20D and walk around lens around my neck. Last trip the walk around was a 28-135 IS, this time I am going wider with my 24-105 IS. I am also bring my 70-200 and a couple primes and wallet of CF cards in a Lowepro Nova AW. Still haven't decided if the 17-40 will make this trip or not, if it does it will ride side saddle in a Lowepro 1W.

Mike

 

[Groucho]

The problem with that Tamrac Velocity is that it looks like you're stuck with it hanging off one shoulder no matter what. I tend to move the strap from just around the neck, to off one shoulder, to the other shoulder, then diagonal like a sling, then diagonally the other way. It usually means that by the end of a day, my neck and shoulders are all equally sore and tired.

For the moment, along with rescuing my old lenses, my new DSLR has given a new life to my old boxy Tamrac camera bag. It's not ideal but pretty good... has room for about three lenses on the bottom with the camera lying above, with room for a quite long lens attached. There's also a zippered front with pockets for filters, etc. It had a bag on the inside of the cover for film canisters, attached with snaps and velcro, but I yanked that off. Don't need that any more!

I refuse to wear a "fanny pack" and am considering looking at vests before the next trip. I suspect that no matter how you're set up, you'll end up looking fairly dorky, so the trick is to balance dorkiness with functionality, and a vest might work the best - with a cheap backpack to toss stuff in when going on a ride.

For carrying a tripod/monopod, you just can't beat a stroller, but I'm not sure if it's worth having a child just for that purpose! A backpack that could store a folded *pod in one side and have compartments for a camera/lens on the other might be ideal, but I don't know if such a thing exists - it probably does but I haven't been paying any attention.

 

[Furgus]

Anyone have any links for vests? I am interested in seeing some good ones to see if they fit my need.

Thanks

 

[mhutchinson]

... I tend to move the strap from just around the neck, to off one shoulder, to the other shoulder, then diagonal like a sling, then diagonally the other way. It usually means that by the end of a day, my neck and shoulders are all equally sore and tired.

I end up doing similar with my Lowepro Nova 3, swapping shoulders and the works. Between it and the weight of my dSLR setup I end up the same way by the end of the day, evenly tired.

I refuse to wear a "fanny pack" and am considering looking at vests before the next trip. I suspect that no matter how you're set up, you'll end up looking fairly dorky, so the trick is to balance dorkiness with functionality...

Funny you say this, I also have a Sideline shooter which works awesome and keeps the load off the shoulders with no strain on the back. But I was banned from wearing it by the entire family in the parks (or for the most part anywhere public) due to the dorky factor. But watch out when I am on a hike and taking landscapes

Mike

 

[MICKEY88]

Anyone have any links for vests? I am interested in seeing some good ones to see if they fit my need.

Thanks

vest

vest2

I have 3 vests, I bought one from lapolice gear and the other 2 from procameragear on ebay....

they all are made by the same company, in all of my searching I did not find a better deal,some people sell tactical vests or fishing vests as photography vests, they will not work nearly as well, my vests have 2 pockets made just for lenses...

 

[Groucho]

Funny you say this, I also have a Sideline shooter which works awesome and keeps the load off the shoulders with no strain on the back. But I was banned from wearing it by the entire family in the parks (or for the most part anywhere public) due to the dorky factor. But watch out when I am on a hike and taking landscapes

Well, part of me is questioning just how much I need. When I'm local, I don't mind carrying my old Tamrac bag. At WDW, I suspect that I'll be using the 50-200mm the vast majority of the time, and occasionally will switch to the 18-55 or maybe the 28mm prime for more light (but it's manual-focus so no "quick" shots.) I won't be carrying an extra flash but maybe have a tripod and/or monopod. If I had a little extra money, I'd carry a 1.4 50mm too but I doubt I'll have that by the next trip.

Most of the vests/bags aren't going to be any help with the *pods, so those'd have to do in a backpack (or slung off a belt, which wouldn't work well in a crowd.) The question is, how much do I really need for just the two extra lenses... and honestly, the 28mm probably won't get much use so it could be left behind if necessary. I'm thinking that maybe a small padded bag will work for the lenses, just make sure that the caps are on tight and toss that in the backpack along with the pods and whatever other crap I'll want for wanding the World.

I'll have to dig out one of the bags and give it a shot... another option is maybe a messenger bag (or "manpurse" if you're feeling cruel!), possibly if your *pod isn't too large, it'd fit in there and you could also squeeze in a few other things, as long as you can keep everything safe. The problem again is that you're stuck with a single strap - at least a backpack spreads the load on two shoulders at once.

I guess this is one of those situations where a PnS has a clear advantage.

 

[jann1033]

someone recommended a canon backpack ( amazon around $35) which holds everything and works great but full i can barely pick it up..add the tripod and i can't pick it up...so hubby is the pack mule but by day 3 of vacation( vacation not even to wdw where this would have happened after day 1 probably) i was taking my camera, minus bag, with 28-135 is lens attached, then in the binocular bag( , binoculars around hubby's neck or in the camera bag in the room ) my 18-55mm( actually used it for Charleston Sc historic district) or 50mm, depending on where we were going....so now i guess i will be looking for a smaller bag to go with my bigger bag...insert "smilie-tearing-out-hair -looking-for the-perfect-bag" here... since evidently nothing is important enough to hubby or me to be weighed down carrying the equipment we need to do it..insert "really-lazy smilie" here