carrying your camera

[tkamiya]

I use multiple methods depending on situations....

I have a giant cooler in my trunk with soft cloths at the bottom. If I have to leave my camera equipment in my car for few hours, that's where it goes. I know, even in Florida, it's perfectly safe for few hours. There is NO ice in it, by the way....

If I'm *just* carrying a camera body and a lens, I either carry it on my shoulder exposed if it's going to be an active shooting day, or put it in a single camera case if I feel the need to protect it. If I have multiple "stuff", I might choose to use my small camera bag with 3 slots or a backpack. I have a giant multi-camera camera-bag but I never use it. It's too big, too heavy, and I don't have an assistant.

Cooler is a pretty good choice. It's rugged, cheap, and no one suspects there are expensive stuff in it.

One day, I was carrying my F100 with a pair of f/2.8 pro lenses in a public park. A lady walked up to me and asked, how much would something like that cost? She was well dressed and courteous but it made me nervous. I said, "oh, it's a film camera... it's worth nothing." I left that area quickly.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

My carry around camera is a Hexar RF. It has been over a year since anyone asked me about it or even looked at it. I have to thank all those "wanna be's" out there with their huge DSLR's and mega zooms for taking all the attention off of me! Seriously though, just take the camera you want. If someone is going to steal it, they will. It doesn't happen all that often anyway. Thieves will take an unattended bag but very rarely take it from your person.

 

[GRHazelton]

I have a Lowepro Mini Trekker, I think that's the model, for my Pentax 645 kit. Pretty heavy! For 35mm or - gasp! - digital I have the $35 backpack that Amazon sells. What a deal! For walkabout casual use I scored a little Lowepro shoulder bag for only $10 which has enough room for 2 lenses and a flash, plus some film, etc. One thing I would never buy is a bag proclaiming the camera name. Why advertise steal me?

 

[gone]

If you put your camera in a bag you are probably going to be screaming "I missed the shot", which is infinitely worse than being seen as a photographer.

 

[zackesch]

If you put your camera in a bag you are probably going to be screaming "I missed the shot", which is infinitely worse than being seen as a photographer.

That's one reason I’m giving a strap a shot. I Havn't used one in the past, but ill give it a go.

 

[cliveh]

The OP asks a very important question and I have probably been avoiding an answer to this post as I am not sure I carry mine in the best way. I tend to carry my camera in a camera bag, but when in an area I think there may be a picture I carry it around my neck or with the strap twisted in my hand. Having the camera ready, pre-focused and at the correct aperture/speed for the subject allows fast speed of use. Easy to say on paper, but when framing a composition with moving elements within the frame at speed, a million times more difficult to do in practice.

 

[mesantacruz]

i carry my cameras around my neck... as was mentioned before, i hate carrying stuff in the bag... especially when i put it away and take it out 5 times in a few minutes. I agree with the rest, camera bags of any kind, just bring more attention. backpacks bring just as much attention. And as long as it's not digital, or left unattended, i think you'll be fine.

 

[Peltigera]

I use Martin Crabtree's method - 6'5" and dressed like a peacock. Everyone notices me and no one bothers me. I couldn't be inconspicuous if I wanted to.

I carry my camera around my neck on a bright Pentax stap. I don't actually own a Pentax but it is the most comfortable strap I have come across.

My only camera I do not do this with is my Voigtlander Vitomatic II - it has no strap lugs so I just hold it in my hand. If someone was to be foolish, a Vitomatic applied to the side of the head will change their minds for them.

 

[benjiboy]

I carry my camera in my hand with a wrist strap, and have my camera bag over my shoulder.

 

[zackesch]

I went out yesterday with just my camera and strap, no bag, and it became a conversation piece. They were a bit shocked that it was film and that I developed it. The good word of film was spread.

 

[benjiboy]

If you go out with a camera just on a strap, it's a good idea to carry a plastic pedal bin liner in your pocket in case it rains.

 

[Peltigera]

Spoken like a true Englishman, Bejiboy!

 

[Mark Feldstein]

A black Domke canvas bag either naturally aged through years of use and abuse is my preference. A new one can be artificially aged by repeated machine washing to develop a stone washed look which garners less glances I think than a shiny ballistic bag of bright colors.

Domke bags are relatively unobtrusive, especially if you stay away from designer colors that scream camera gear. I usually have a water bottle and notebook visible so it looks more like a book bag than a camera sack. The dividers are also well-padded to protect the contents. I also take some gaffers tape and black-out the Domke name on the side flaps.

At one point when I seriously considered the same issue, I came up with using a somewhat worn diaper bag as being the last thing in the world some misguided thief would want to boost off my shoulder. [Please don't ask me if it would be scented or unscented, either one should do fine I think].
Mark

 

[GRHazelton]

If you go out with a camera just on a strap, it's a good idea to carry a plastic pedal bin liner in your pocket in case it rains.

I try to always carry a plastic shopping bag, just to be careful.

 

[benjiboy]

Spoken like a true Englishman, Bejiboy!

England isn't the only place in the World where it rains

 

[miha]

Depends. When used with a motor-drive, I like to carry it by just the wrist strap attached to the grip.

 

[BradleyK]

The camera system I happen to decide to shoot with at the time generally will determine my choice of bags. If I decide to shoot with the M6, I stuff the 35mm and 90mm Summicrons, and a couple of rolls of HP5/Tri-x in a well-worn khaki Billingham allegedly designed for Leicas; the camera, with a 50mm mounted on it hangs around my neck. If I opt to take out the Nikons for the day, I stuff what I anticipate needing in a decidedly soiled blue Domke F2; again, the camera (an F2/F3/F5/F6), with lens, hangs around my neck. With one exception, in Atlanta, GA, many years back, I have never been bothered by anyone. And Matt King can tell you about some of the denizens who inhabit East Van...

 

[summicron1]

don't worry about the value of the camera -- i regularly carry camera gear worth a coupla thousand around -- leica -- and even in san francisco's seamy section never had a problem -- usual care is advised, a closed bag, a strap around your wrist or neck, and so on ... but generally speaking crooks want cameras they can sell easily and old timey gear doesn't match that -- as to damage, cameras are made to be used, a good strap, a padded bag, your camera will be fine. Try not to trip.

worst happens? $400 won't even buy a low-end DSLR but it will buy you another Leica R body.

my preferred bag of choice is an old swiss army gas mask bag. Doesn't look at all worth stealing, and a leica CL looks like a cheap point and shoot.

 

[Mark Feldstein]

I know another shooter who takes a piece of piano wire and using black electricians tape, tapes it to the inside of his camera strap to prevent someone from cutting the strap, snatching the camera and running for the hills. He lost one to that technique in Italy several years ago. I guess it can happen.

 

[DWThomas]

I know another shooter who takes a piece of piano wire and using black electricians tape, tapes it to the inside of his camera strap to prevent someone from cutting the strap, snatching the camera and running for the hills. He lost one to that technique in Italy several years ago. I guess it can happen.

I don't recall the brand, but I've seen ads for at least one company that makes a series of straps and bags with embedded steel wire in them for defense against this sort of thing. And I don't doubt that cutting business happens, but some people are pretty loose in the way they handle and display their possessions; we're back to needing that 'situational awareness' mentioned above.

 

[zackesch]

Is this what your thinking of Dave?

Dead Link Removed

 

[DLawson]

England isn't the only place in the World where it rains

Of course it is.

There is no way that my Ohio back yard has had 3-4 inches of rain this week.
(Or as NOAA phrases forecasts, "except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.")

 

[DWThomas]

Is this what your thinking of Dave?

Dead Link Removed

That looks like it, yes.

 

[Chris Lange]

If it's not in my hands (which it is 99% of the time) I carry whatever camera I have slung across my neck so that it rests on the right side of my hip. This pertains to my Leica, my Nikons, my Rollei, and my Hasselblad.

I only take a bag if I'm carrying more than one body, or plan on picking up other things. My camera bag carries things that aren't cameras more often than cameras (water bottle, granola bars, matches, extra film, phone charger, etc.)