What's in your Camera Bag?

[Bell30012]

Getting ready for an upcoming trip in October, my DD13 and I have been getting our stuff together for the trip. I prefer the messenger type bag like a Cooper Slim for my photography EXCEPT when we make a WDW trip. This upcoming trip, I've got both of us new bags.

My DD13's new bag is a Case Logic CPL-108GY. I found it for $29 new on eBay. She's packing her Sony α58, the kit 18-55 mm lens and her Sigma 75-300 mm. She also has her Lytro camera and her GoPro Hero 4 Silver. The good thing about this bag is that her iPad (4th Gen, 138 GB, AT&T) fits well in the special zippered section. A dollar store raincoats.

My new bag is the Case Logic SLRC206. I also got mine new on eBay for $59. I'm packing my Sony α57. I am saving space for three lenses but have not quite decided on which three that will be, yet. I also will have my Lytro camera, my GoPro Hero 3+ Black, my Kodak PixPro 360, my Veho Muvi Pro (I clip this on the backpack strap and use it to record encounters.), I also have an ION The Game that a seven-year-old likes to use. I will have my short Gorilla Tripod. I will be packing my iPad Pro 12.9" and I imagine a lot of the time the iPad 3rd Gen of the 7-year-old. Two dollar store raincoats.

It's always a tough choice when deciding what to pack in the camera bag. I don't want to carry too much but I also don't want to wish that I had a lens, camera, or battery that I left at the Polynesian Resort. Each trip that we make, we theme in some way. We've had a Focus on Dining trip, we've had a Four Resort Split Stay trip, we've had a Every Ride - Every Park trip. We had a Pool Hopping around the World trip. Last trip was a 10 day trip that focused on Quick Service Dining and Snacks. This trip we are looking for a photography theme. My DD13 wants to put together a new coffee table book chronicling the trip. (The seven-year-old gets to be the model in many shots.)

 

[mom2rtk]

Very cool that your 13 year old is so enthusiastic and you can enjoy photographing the parks together!

I've wanted to encourage my teenage daughter to bring her DSLR to the parks, but I'm more than a little concerned she'll tire of it and want me to carry it. And that's just not happening since I have my own gear to contend with.

Staying at the monorail will give you a lot of flexibility to take breaks, and swap what's in your bag when you're back at the room. We did that a lot at DLR last year and it helped.

I generally have a rough idea of shows we're seeing each day and choose my lenses based on that plan. Some days I carry a long zoom, some days I don't. Some days I carry a fast prime, some days I don't.

Are you going to photograph the fireworks? If you don't want to fight the crowds, it's fun to shoot from the Ticket and Transportation center.

 

[havoc315]

Just packed 2 camera bags for my 11 year old son and me.
Nikon j3 with 2 lenses.
Sony a6300
Sony Zeiss 24/1.8
Sony 35/1.8
Sony 10-18
Sony 70-200/4
small Sony speed light
gorilla pod
Commlite Nikon - Sony adapter.
Nikon d750
Nikon 18-35
Tamron 45/1.8
Tamron 85/1.8
Nikon speed light.
chargers, extra batteries.

Still some time to possibly remove a couple items. May yet totally leave behind the Nikon gear.... I hurt my arm/shoulder, I'll see how it feels in a few days. Leave on Friday...

 

[mom2rtk]

Just packed 2 camera bags for my 11 year old son and me.
Nikon j3 with 2 lenses.
Sony a6300
Sony Zeiss 24/1.8
Sony 35/1.8
Sony 10-18
Sony 70-200/4
small Sony speed light
gorilla pod
Commlite Nikon - Sony adapter.
Nikon d750
Nikon 18-35
Tamron 45/1.8
Tamron 85/1.8
Nikon speed light.
chargers, extra batteries.

Still some time to possibly remove a couple items. May yet totally leave behind the Nikon gear.... I hurt my arm/shoulder, I'll see how it feels in a few days. Leave on Friday...

I was wondering how you were doing! It sounds like the jury is still out.

I hope your arm holds up and you're able to get the shots you want. Have a great trip!

 

[Bell30012]

Very cool that your 13 year old is so enthusiastic and you can enjoy photographing the parks together!

I've wanted to encourage my teenage daughter to bring her DSLR to the parks, but I'm more than a little concerned she'll tire of it and want me to carry it. And that's just not happening since I have my own gear to contend with.

Staying at the monorail will give you a lot of flexibility to take breaks, and swap what's in your bag when you're back at the room. We did that a lot at DLR last year and it helped.

I generally have a rough idea of shows we're seeing each day and choose my lenses based on that plan. Some days I carry a long zoom, some days I don't. Some days I carry a fast prime, some days I don't.

Are you going to photograph the fireworks? If you don't want to fight the crowds, it's fun to shoot from the Ticket and Transportation center.

My DD13 has been deeply into photography for several years. She got her first photo published in a newspaper at 11, front page! We may spend one night shooting the fireworks but if we do, we'll probably do it from the Top of the World Lounge. Last year, my daughter carried her own bag. Funny thing was she took around a hundred pictures with the Sony but shot a few hundred on her iPhone. Convenience.

 

[Bell30012]

Just packed 2 camera bags for my 11 year old son and me.
Nikon j3 with 2 lenses.
Sony a6300
Sony Zeiss 24/1.8
Sony 35/1.8
Sony 10-18
Sony 70-200/4
small Sony speed light
gorilla pod
Commlite Nikon - Sony adapter.
Nikon d750
Nikon 18-35
Tamron 45/1.8
Tamron 85/1.8
Nikon speed light.
chargers, extra batteries.

Still some time to possibly remove a couple items. May yet totally leave behind the Nikon gear.... I hurt my arm/shoulder, I'll see how it feels in a few days. Leave on Friday...

That's a lot of lenses. You must have big camera backpacks. Do you have a list of shots that you want to get while you are there? My DD13 is working on her list of shots, most of them seem to be in Epcot.

 

[mom2rtk]

My DD13 has been deeply into photography for several years. She got her first photo published in a newspaper at 11, front page! We may spend one night shooting the fireworks but if we do, we'll probably do it from the Top of the World Lounge. Last year, my daughter carried her own bag. Funny thing was she took around a hundred pictures with the Sony but shot a few hundred on her iPhone. Convenience.

That's awesome! My daughter wanted to take photography as an elective this year at school but got shut out. Hopefully next year when she's an upper classman. Congrats to your daughter!

 

[havoc315]

I was wondering how you were doing! It sounds like the jury is still out.

I hope your arm holds up and you're able to get the shots you want. Have a great trip!

Had a cortisone shot yesterday.... so hopefully by tomorrow I see real improvement. But it's sore just from me trying to lift the bag.
I added a 35/1.8 and small speed light to my Sony mirrorless kit, to make it "complete" if I skip the Nikon.

And thanks for the well wishes.

 

[havoc315]

That's a lot of lenses. You must have big camera backpacks. Do you have a list of shots that you want to get while you are there? My DD13 is working on her list of shots, most of them seem to be in Epcot.

Crumpler 6 million and 7 million, and packing them really tight.
Most of the lenses are very small. The only larger lenses are the 45/1.8, 85/1.8 and 70-200.

On any given day on the cruise or at Disney, I'll bring no more than 1 camera bag, deciding what to carry at any given time. I suspect I'll often skip any camera bag.
For example... Magic Kingdom... I carry the Nikon d750+45/1.8. I have my son carry the Sony a6300 with 35/1.8, and I carry the Sony 10-18 in a pocket. (I "borrow" the Sony from him for some shots).
Animal Kingdom, he carries his Nikon 1. I carry the a6300 with 70-200. I'll carry extra lenses, only if I decide to bring one of the camera bags.

So no, I don't exactly have a shot list. Whatever looks good at the time. I may pack the 10-18 and gorilla pod to take long exposures around Epcot one night. If I want to do family portraits one night, I'll pack the d750 with 85/1.8 and speed light. I'll try for dark ride shots, with either the d750 and 45/1.8 or the a6300 with 35/1.8. So I have a game plan, but not a shot list.

 

[Spork3127]

My last trip this past June consisted of the following...

Think Tank Street Walker Pro bag
2 Think Tank lens pouches with Think Tank belt
Canon 7DMII
Canon 8-15 fisheye
Canon 10-22
Canon 24-70
Canon 100-400 v.2
Canon 28 f/1.8
Canon 50 f/1.4
Induro CT213 tripod with Induro BHD 3 ballhead


I took it all to WDW but only certain lenses to the parks depending on which park. I always had the 8-15 and 10-22 in lenso pouches with the 24-70 attached. Took my tripod as well and lockered it until the evening. The only time I used the 100-400 was at AK and never used my 28 or 50.

 

[Bell30012]

I read on the forum here that tripods are no longer allowed except small ones that do not extend. Part of that attempt to eliminate selfie sticks. I'm just taking my Gorillapod.

 

[mom2rtk]

I read on the forum here that tripods are no longer allowed except small ones that do not extend. Part of that attempt to eliminate selfie sticks. I'm just taking my Gorillapod.

I don't think there's any consensus on the situation with tripods. I believe the website still says that tripods that will fit in a backpack are allowed.

 

[bob100]

Getting ready for an upcoming trip in October, my DD13 and I have been getting our stuff together for the trip. I prefer the messenger type bag like a Cooper Slim for my photography EXCEPT when we make a WDW trip. This upcoming trip, I've got both of us new bags.

My DD13's new bag is a Case Logic CPL-108GY. I found it for $29 new on eBay. She's packing her Sony α58, the kit 18-55 mm lens and her Sigma 75-300 mm. She also has her Lytro camera and her GoPro Hero 4 Silver. The good thing about this bag is that her iPad (4th Gen, 138 GB, AT&T) fits well in the special zippered section. A dollar store raincoats.
My new bag is the Case Logic SLRC206. I also got mine new on eBay for $59. I'm packing my Sony α57. I am saving space for three lenses but have not quite decided on which three that will be, yet. I also will have my Lytro camera, my GoPro Hero 3+ Black, my Kodak PixPro 360, my Veho Muvi Pro (I clip this on the backpack strap and use it to record encounters.), I also have an ION The Game that a seven-year-old likes to use. I will have my short Gorilla Tripod. I will be packing my iPad Pro 12.9" and I imagine a lot of the time the iPad 3rd Gen of the 7-year-old. Two dollar store raincoats.

It's always a tough choice when deciding what to pack in the camera bag. I don't want to carry too much but I also don't want to wish that I had a lens, camera, or battery that I left at the Polynesian Resort. Each trip that we make, we theme in some way. We've had a Focus on Dining trip, we've had a Four Resort Split Stay trip, we've had a Every Ride - Every Park trip. We had a Pool Hopping around the World trip. Last trip was a 10 day trip that focused on Quick Service Dining and Snacks. This trip we are looking for a photography theme. My DD13 wants to put together a new coffee table book chronicling the trip. (The seven-year-old gets to be the model in many shots.)

what's in my camera bag?
I don't even use a regular camera bag for many events and places. my camera and two lens fits in a small waist pack
www.flickr.com/photos/mmirrorless

 

[Bell30012]

I like the Cooper Slim for around the town photography or when my car is relatively close but when we go to WDW, it's a whole new animal. I have to think about everything I want to shoot that day. We shoot with Sony which has a translucent mirror. I haven't upgraded to mirrorless yet because my DD13 shares lenses with me. That goes away when I change to something different. I enjoy her enthusiasm for photography. Although most of her shots require her 7-year-old sister to pose, many times.

My DD13 is working on a shot list. She was hoping that I could find a few that others had used to use as an example. She thinks that it is unfair that she has to plan all her shots in a week, while those of you in Florida can just zip over to the park if the mood suits you to shoot something that you forgot. She already got a CM to give her the settings that he used to shoot Main Street Castle Photos on his Nikon.

 

[1Grumpy9]

I just packed my new bag for my upcoming trip the end of Oct. I got a Camsafe V8 for my Sony a57 with the kit lens and my sony 35mm, and my sigma 500-200mm lens. The front of the bag I can carry my wallet in the front, iphone, external charger for the phone, extra batteries, and my case that holds all my cards. The nice thing about this bag is that when I am not using it, I can "lock down" my zippers.

I have a Lowepro Slingshot 102 and I like it, but when I am walking around the parks and having it on my back it makes my back hot, so I am trying the new Camsafe. It is a crossbody bag and it shouldn't be as hard on my back during this upcoming trip.

 

[Bell30012]

I just packed my new bag for my upcoming trip the end of Oct. I got a Camsafe V8 for my Sony a57 with the kit lens and my sony 35mm, and my sigma 500-200mm lens. The front of the bag I can carry my wallet in the front, iphone, external charger for the phone, extra batteries, and my case that holds all my cards. The nice thing about this bag is that when I am not using it, I can "lock down" my zippers.

I have a Lowepro Slingshot 102 and I like it, but when I am walking around the parks and having it on my back it makes my back hot, so I am trying the new Camsafe. It is a crossbody bag and it shouldn't be as hard on my back during this upcoming trip.

Nice choice of cameras. I also shoot with the Sony a57, although my DD13 has the a58. This is my third Sony. I love them.

 

[1Grumpy9]

Nice choice of cameras. I also shoot with the Sony a57, although my DD13 has the a58. This is my third Sony. I love them.

Thanks!! I have loved it so far. I had an A300 and in 2011 I cracked the back screen. I tried to change it myself and broke another component inside and it would have cost as much to fix it as to get a new camera. I used my old Minolta DSLR until I had the money saved up and bought the A57. I have been looking though at getting an A77ii, but as long as my a57 works, I am not going to get rid of it.

 

[havoc315]

Okay..... I think I'm packed, leaving tomorrow. 7 day cruise, and 4 days at Disney.
2 camera bags for travel --- Cameras primarily for me, but my son will bring his Nikon J3 and perhaps use my cameras as well.
My arm is feeling strong enough, that I'm going to bring the full Sony A6300 kit, and partial Nikon D750 kit....

But I need some final opinions on what to bring with the Nikon.
For cruise excursions, I'm just going to bring the Sony A6300, small camera bag, and a few small lenses (10-18, 35/1.8).
For Animal Kingdom, I'm going to rely on the Sony A6300 plus 70-200/4.
For fireworks on cruise ship and on land, the Sony A6300 + gorilla pod (and probably the 10-18 lens).

Now that brings us to the Nikon D750:
Bringing 45/1.8 for dark rides, and for some walk around use. This "normal view" can replace the need for a 24-70 zoom in many situations, so I'm going to skip the 24-70.
I have room in my 2 camera bags to add 2-3 more lenses with the D750:
18-35 or 14/2.8? The 18-35 is the Nikon AF lens. The 14 is the Samyang manual lens. They are both very sharp. The 18-35 may actually be a bit smaller than the 14, but they are similar in size. They both can also be adapted to the Sony for dual use. The 18-35 could be a normal view lens on the A6300 (maybe bring it with the adapter on excursions).. on the D750 it gives a nice range from pretty ultrawide to approximately normal view. But the 14mm is true ultrawide, form some even more dramatic shots. Definitely not bringing both, but any opinions... the 18-35 or the 14? Or skip them both, since I have the 10-18 on the Sony?

Next.. for portrait type shooting... I can use the A6300 + adapter + 45/1.8 (effectively 67mm), pack a very small speedlight for the A6300... I can take wider portraits with the 45 on the D750... Or should I pack my 85/1.8? It's a rather large heavy lens. The quality is spectacular. It would probably also mean packing a mid-sized speedlight for cruise ship portraits.

So comes down to this --- I am packing the 45/1.8.
Other possible gear:
Nikon SB500 flash
Nikon 18-35
Samyang/Rokinon 14/2.8
Tamron 85/1.8 VC
(technically.. another option.. I still have my Nikon 85/1.8g which I've been meaning to sell. It's an excellent lens, much lighter than the Tamron, but lacks VC.. IQ is close).
One more option I mostly ruled out, the Tamron 24-70 (big and heavy... but then maybe I skip the 18-35 AND skip the 85.. and use the 24-70 for everything from semi-wide landscapes to semi-short portraits).

Any thoughts?

 

[O-so-good Disney Mama]

Hi everyone! Our point and shoot camera has broke and I am looking into a DSLR esp for our upcoming Disney trip but I have no idea where to start and I am feeling the time crunch! Any recommendations from you seasoned photographers on an entry DSLR that I can pick up quickly for the trip? Also don't not anything too crazy to carry. Thanks!

 

[Bell30012]

Hi everyone! Our point and shoot camera has broke and I am looking into a DSLR esp for our upcoming Disney trip but I have no idea where to start and I am feeling the time crunch! Any recommendations from you seasoned photographers on an entry DSLR that I can pick up quickly for the trip? Also don't not anything too crazy to carry. Thanks!

I love the Sony Alpha cameras. I use the a57, my DD13 uses the a58. One great thing about them is that Minolta Maxxim lenses are compatible. Since Minolta no longer makes cameras, they are pretty inexpensive to buy. We have picked up most of our lenses on Craigslist, at thrift stores, or on eBay. They'll come attached to a film camera but I'm after the lenses.