What you use to carry your equipment.

[boBQuincy]

boBQuincy, are you saying us photo buffs are kinda dorky? Now thats funny, I dont care who you are.

No, no, oh no....
I'm just saying that *I* look pretty dorky with all the stuff I carry, so by the principle of mathematical induction maybe, just maybe, someone with at least as much equipment as that might look kinda' sorta' dorky. Maybe...

This all started when we were at WDW and I saw someone wearing a photographer's vest and mentioned to DW "look at that dork in the vest". She replied "and look at the dork next to me with the big camera bag, monopod, etc...". Now that DW carries a Rebel Xt and a $5M bag I wisely refrain from mentioning it!

 

[Master Mason]

Does anyone carry a small notebook to write down notes on the settings used. I have a heavy duty tripod and a light weight one, which one is suggested. I love my heavy duty, because I can attach the quick shoe on it and pop my camera on and off. But it is bulky and takes up space. Any suggestions?

You should be able to get that info from the EXIF data, so you don't have to write it down anymore.

 

[Groucho]

I agree with MM on using exif data for that, though I can see the value in writing down some "lessons learned", like "try such-and-such with +1.0 exposure compensation" or something like that.

That's an intesting little clamp/head over in the upper left hand corner. Who is the manufacture of that?? Looks lighter than the Bogan clamp I use.

That's a Clamperpod with a little $10 Giottos ball head on it. Clamperpod sell a mini ball head, too, that looks more of less identical. And you're right, it weighs virtually nothing. 2 ounces according to their site - but it's pretty sturdy, for being so light. The trick is to get a secure connection to your camera - the $10 ball head is a bit overwhelmed but mostly usable, I think the Clamperpod itself could handle a larger ballhead easily, but I haven't tried.

As for the bag itself, maybe I'll take a shot of it "fully loaded" - the new bags all seem to be more padding inside than actual room for equipment. I'm amazed at how much I can fit into this old one, which does still have some good padding.

Also, the 400mm in the pic has the sunshade extended and is at max zoom - it can shrink down a bit smaller than that.

 

[Groucho]

OK, here's pretty much how my bag looked at WDW.

The lower left is a flap that is normally down. That's where the DSLR sits. Underneath is the remote shutter release, Clamperpod, and camel hair brush.

In the middle, there's the Pentax 50/200mm in the rear (sitting inside its inverted lens hood), the Zenitar 16mm fisheye, and underneath that, the Sigma 28mm.

On the right, there's the "kit" Pentax 18/55mm resting on top of the K1000 35mm camera, with no lens attached, just a body cap. (Yes, once a twice, something resting on top would trip the shutter - I tried to get into the habit of not winding the film on the last picture I took before putting it away.)

There's also a removable velcro/snaps film bag that I had attached to the bottom of the top cover. When I'm not shooting film, I leave it at home.

The front flap holds the filters, SD cards, batteries, and the quick-release for the big ball head, when it's not attached to a camera.

When closed up, it's not too big - there's a Dining Plan brochure for reference.

If I had a proper small scale, I'd weigh it. It's really not too awful, and the Op/Tech SOS strap helps a lot, too.

Once or twice, I carried a small miniDV camcorder in there, too - now THAT made it feel heavy!

I looked at a few newer bags but I couldn't find anything that could hold as much and take up so little space. It looks a little haphazard in the photo, but things are actually pretty secure and it'd take a heck of a bump to actually do any damage to anything inside. The whole thing can be zipped up, too, if I want to make it truly weather-resistant.

 

[cryssi]

Piece o' cake.

Everything but the tripod, monopod, and the 400mm lens fit into the Tamrac bag.

Actually, the 400mm was squeezed in once, but never used. That's the "sixth" lens.

holey moley!

 

[cryssi]

that doesn't really look that bad...of course you're probably a heckuva lot taller than I am...

 

[Pixeldust Fairy]

You should be able to get that info from the EXIF data, so you don't have to write it down anymore.

Duh! your right, my elevator did not reach the top floor on that one. I think the main reason I keep the notebook is, that it helps me remember what my lighting situations are and what I thought was the best exposure and such.

 

[Corey10112]

I don't have a lot of camera gear for my digital camera so I throw everything in the diaper bag we use for my son. I find that it has plenty of padding with all of the clothes and diapers inside and we take it everywhere so the camera is always handy. It may be cheap, but it works.

 

[DueyDooDah]

I too have gone with the vest. It takes the weight and distributes it more evenly on the shoulders and even allows it to be redistributed when you need to. It also works great when traveling as a free carry-on bag. Instead of bringing the bag, which I would never check, I carry my equipment in the vest and am still allowed a carry-on and a personal item (in the US, traveling thru Europe is a different story.) It's pretty easy going thru security, too. Just take off the jacket and drop it in a tray.

Here's my vest.

I found a review on this item by a National Geographic photographer that recommended this one for it's weight and versitility. It even has counter-weight compartments in the back to help offset the weight of the gear. It's very well thought out and comfortable.

 

[ColleenS]

I like Crumpler's "Million Dollar Home" series. The $4M is good for a Rebel, the $5M works well for a Rebel and extra lens. I usually wear it messenger style and it has been on all the wild rides at WDW (except Mission Ralph) with no problem.

Another Crumpler fan here. I have a $5 mil and a $7 mil that I carry depending on what I need to take with me. I *love* them.

I can't believe I've never heard of Crumpler before. I thought I had thoroughly researched when I was buying a back pack.

I was looking at the $5M Home and was wondering if it would work for the Rebel with the 24-70 on it? Together the camera and lens measure at about 7.5 inches long. Would I be able to fit it in and have room for a smaller lens?

I really want a bag that will fit inside my regular backpack. Any suggestions?

 

[Steve's Girl]

I can't believe I've never heard of Crumpler before. I thought I had thoroughly researched when I was buying a back pack.

I was looking at the $5M Home and was wondering if it would work for the Rebel with the 24-70 on it? Together the camera and lens measure at about 7.5 inches long. Would I be able to fit it in and have room for a smaller lens?

I really want a bag that will fit inside my regular backpack. Any suggestions?

I have the $5M bag and here is what I fit in it quite comfortably:
D80 with 18-200 VR attached
50mm prime lens
SB600 flash
these all fit in the main compartment, then I have various other things in the pockets - memory cards, batteries, lens cleaning stuff, etc.
The D80 is a good size camera, so I think you will have plenty of room for the Rebel with the lenses you mentioned.
The $5M bag does fit inside the regular backpack I use for a carry-on bag.

 

[Pixeldust Fairy]

I too have gone with the vest. It takes the weight and distributes it more evenly on the shoulders and even allows it to be redistributed when you need to. It also works great when traveling as a free carry-on bag. Instead of bringing the bag, which I would never check, I carry my equipment in the vest and am still allowed a carry-on and a personal item (in the US, traveling thru Europe is a different story.) It's pretty easy going thru security, too. Just take off the jacket and drop it in a tray.

This is a great idea. Last year it was a mess going through security with all the stuff I had. Opening every bag. Thanks for the tip

 

[fairestoneofall]

I have a Canon bag that carries two bodies, my lenses and my external flashes, plus everything else.

However, I have a child still in a stroller, so I kept the bag in his stroller basket. I carried my camera across my chest/over my shoulder all over at WDW and it went on every ride except EE, BTMR and Space Mountain.