Off to the parks--but what do you carry with you?

[MassJester]

The sun is up, you've had your "Sticky Mickey" and you're ready to head into the parks. Wallet, watch and whatnot (wife and wee-beasties are optional) in the pockets.

Sure, you're going to take your camera, but what else do you carry with you for an entire day of walking about? Do you take:

• a second lense (a 3rd)?
• a monopod or tri-pod?
• camera case or just the lense cap?
• filters?
• A yak to

carry it all?

Just curious.

 

[boBQuincy]

Camera with walkaround lens
2nd lens, either wide angle or long zoom
monopod (only 3 oz)
polarizer
CF cards & battery

It's not that much really, about 3 lb for the camera & lens, maybe another 3 or 4 for the loaded bag.

 

[foto202]

LAst year I carried my Computrekker Plus AW backpack loaded. It was a bit heavy at times but we would rent a double stroller so my daughter would be on one side and my camera bag on the other. In my bag I carried the following... Canon 20D w/grip, 24-70 L, 70 200 2.8 L, 10-22, 50 1.4, 85 1.8 a 580EX. A few other little things. I am going to pick up the EF-S 17-55 2.8 IS this year so I will have a decent wide - med distance in one lens. The 24-70 is a great lens but just not wide enough at times.

 

[YEKCIM]

I carry all my junk in a "photojournalist vest". Plenty of pockets for lenses, batteries, park passes, water bottles, park maps, granola bars, OTC meds, you name it. Good weight distribution, too.

Will probably carry my D50 with kit lens around my neck, and one extra lens (50mm, most likely) in a vest pocket. Camcorder precludes carrying much more in the way of lenses.

~YEKCIM

 

[jann1033]

going on my past experience having not gone with dslr yet, just slr...
day one will be body with 28-135 IS on camera ( provided canon fixes it), what ever 200mm range zoom i get and 50mmf1.8 in bag with memory cards, batteries, lens cleaners, cp filters to fit lenses, maybe gorilla pod, tripod to put in locker( to heavy to lug)...husband will not fit in my pocket so he will have to walk

however by day 3 it will be camera with what ever lens i have been using the most, batteries, cleaning junk and cards in pockets. hubby will still have to walk

by day 6 it might be just me hubby and the passes

 

[MassJester]

LAst year I carried my Computrekker Plus AW backpack loaded. It was a bit heavy at times but we would rent a double stroller so my daughter would be on one side and my camera bag on the other. In my bag I carried the following... Canon 20D w/grip, 24-70 L, 70 200 2.8 L, 10-22, 50 1.4, 85 1.8 a 580EX. A few other little things. I am going to pick up the EF-S 17-55 2.8 IS this year so I will have a decent wide - med distance in one lens. The 24-70 is a great lens but just not wide enough at times.

Jumpin' Jehosophat--what did all that weigh?

 

[ndelaware]

I carry the camera by the shoulder strap and keep a second lens in a lens tube in the backpack we carry all our junk in. If I am taking the tripod I park it in a locker til it gets dark. No problem at all.

 

[cryssi]

I carry the camera by the shoulder strap and keep a second lens in a lens tube in the backpack we carry all our junk in. If I am taking the tripod I park it in a locker til it gets dark. No problem at all.

now that's a great idea...I wonder if we'll just end up like that...

we are planning to take our slingshot 200 packed with d200 with 18-70, 70-300 (if I can get one), and 50mm 1.8 if I can sneak it into DH's B&H shopping cart..., sb800, filters?, extra batteries, not sure what to do about the tripod... While the convenience of a vest sounds nice, incessant ridicule from DH and the sweltering august heat will prevent that.

 

[Delphis]

I almost always take my little Lowepro EX 120 camera bag when I go to the parks which fits both my digital camera/my mini-dv camera. In the front compartment I keep 2 blank mini dv tapes, an extra battery for my digital camera, and the remote for my mini-dv camera. I sometimes take a small, handheld, collapseable mono pod that (barely sticks out my cargo shorts pocket) if I'm gonna video a whole show.

 

[handicap18]

Last trip I carried my D50 with 18-70mm lens along with a 50mm f/1.8 and 70-300mm lens. Travel size tripod I kept in my backpack and also had a table top tripod that fit in my pocket.

Next trip I'll have all that plus probably another lens and speedlight flash. I have 1, and will be getting more, lens pouch that will hold my 70-300mm lens and will attach to my belt. The 50mm f/1.8 is small enough to fit in my pocket and I'll get a 2nd pouch to hold the 90mm f/2.8 macro lens. I have a vest that will hold most of my lenses, though I'm not sure if I'll use it on the next trip. Tripod will go in the bottom of the double stroller we'll have with us. Not sure if I'll bring the video camera. I may work out a deal with my brother-in-law where he takes all the video and I'll do pictures.

 

[Groucho]

Sticky Mickey? Not sure I want to know...

It's easiest for me to link to the thread which has a picture of everything I brought with me, most of which I carried every day. Every day I had a fully loaded camera bag, both camera bodies, and every lens except the 400mm (which never made it out of the room the whole trip), and either the monopod or the tripod (never both.)

The belt lens pouch was extremely handy. I had it relatively easy as we brought our stroller, so the monopod/tripod could go in there during the day, and since we had a young child, we never all went on a thrill ride at once, so I could always leave my camera bag behind... but I always had the DSLR and at least one alternate lens in the belt pouch.

I had a video camera but rarely brought it as despite its size, it's surprisingly heavy.

 

[handicap18]

The belt lens pouch was extremely handy.

Here is the link to the lens pouch I got. http://www.amazon.com/Accessory-Lar...1_1/102-7390669-7352143?ie=UTF8&s=electronics. I'm also thinking of getting the next size down for the 90mm and 18-70mm. I couldn't believe how really good it works/fits/feels.

 

[Groucho]

I'm not sure which I'd prefer, the Tamrac, or the Zing that I have. The Zing is more "soft-sided" (it's a foamy material but lies nearly flat when empty) whereas the Tamrac is more sturdily shaped, and the Tamrac has the zipper and flip-top, whereas the Zing has a drawstring - not as much protection against rain, but pretty good and quicker than a zipper.

Either one should definitely help lighten the load on your neck/shoulders, but someone buying their first one might prefer one style over the other, since they are different but not necessarily better than the other.

 

[pxlbarrel]

I carry my Rebel around my neck in a zoom toploading bag with the 17-40L lens and that bag also carries an extra battery, extra compact flash cards, lens cloth and little blower (the puffy ones you squeeze). If I know I'm going to use it (like at Fantasmic), I'll bring my 75-200 mm lens with me in a lens bag in my backpack. The backpack will also have a monopod in it. I might bring a lightweight tripod with me (it goes up to 4 feet) and if I do, I hang it from the belt of my fanny pack. I hardly notice it at all. And next trip, I'll bring my gorillapod too!

If I bring my better tripod, it stays in a locker until night fall cause it's too heavy and too big to lug around.

The backpack's gonna have all the usual stuff you bring into the parks (poncho, water, pins, etc.)

 

[jann1033]

question about the lens holders...looks like a good idea and i might actually wear one ( not quite as "dork like" as a fanny pack )don't they fly around a lot on rougher rides like tot? it looks like you have to thread them on something...could you use one of those mountain climber type clamp hook things to attach them ( since i never wear a belt ) to something like a belt loop or do they need the belt to be more stablized. in other words ....how much do they move around

pxlbarrel...is the brand zoom? would like to see what this is as i would like something that i could leave on the camera when i have it on for some protection

 

[Ratpack]

This is the bag I caryy around the parks. It is basically a top load case with the belt already attched. There are two lens cases that can be used or removed to fit what you want to carry. The lens cases can also be switched out for any of Lowepro's sliplock cases which hold other things such as phones, PDA's flash units and so forth. I usually carry my camera with 18-135mm lens and the 50mm 1.8 in one pouch and the 70-300 in the other. Hardly know I have it on while walking around and very sturdy even on the biggest thrill ride. But if you need to leave it behind while on a ride, simply undo the quick release buckle and off you go, all your gear removed in one motion.

 

[handicap18]

question about the lens holders...looks like a good idea and i might actually wear one ( not quite as "dork like" as a fanny pack )don't they fly around a lot on rougher rides like tot? it looks like you have to thread them on something...could you use one of those mountain climber type clamp hook things to attach them ( since i never wear a belt ) to something like a belt loop or do they need the belt to be more stablized. in other words ....how much do they move around

Jann, the one I have fits right to my belt. It is secured with both velcro and 2 snaps. So right now on one side I would have the lens pouch and the other side my cell phone. If/when I do get the other smaller pouch I'll probably put it on the right side next to my cell phone. The pouch doesn't flop around at all, it feels very secure.

 

[Groucho]

Jann, here's a shot of the Zing lens pouch. (Actually, mine is blue/black, but you get the idea!)

As you can see, it does have a clip to hook onto something if you want. I didn't try doing it that way, but it should be OK. The belt loop is sewn right to the pouch itself, so you must thread the belt through it when putting it on - that might make it a little trickier if you're attaching it to something like a purse strap (if the strap is too wide to use the plastic hook on.)

I've often wondered who designs women's fashions... so many bottoms with not even pockets, much less belts! How impractical! No wonder you ladies need to lug around those enormous purses.

 

[pxlbarrel]

pxlbarrel...is the brand zoom? would like to see what this is as i would like something that i could leave on the camera when i have it on for some protection

It's a Lowepro.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/im...439283-1587923?ie=UTF8&n=172282&s=electronics

Something like that.

I went touring around NYC last year with a traditional camera bag...and it was pure hell. I hated it. I was questioning my decision to go to a dSLR. Thankfully, the toploading zoom bag has made it a lot easier. It protects it when I'm not using it, still can hold memory cards, batteries and cleaning supplies (and a few pins!) and doesn't require a beast of burden to carry. Makes me really only bring the essentials.

 

[Groucho]

I had an Amvona holster bag similar to the Lowepro Zoom and was quite happy with the functionality. However, the construction was shoddy and it fell apart after 2-3 days of use. I'm sure the big-name bags won't have this problem. (I looked at the Tamrac version in person and the difference in construction of the belt loop was dramatic!)

The only downside is where you put the extra lenses, which is where the belt-mounted lens pouches fit in.

The only problem would be (if you're wearing it on your belt) if it'll get in the way on some rides with seatbelts and/or where you sit close to others. I didn't have a problem with the lens pouch but I think for a full camera bag, you'd probably want to take it off before getting on such a ride.