How many bags/packs do you have?

[gr82bart]

So reading Murray's and FrankB's thread made me look at my bags and packs and I came to realize just how many I have! I realize that I have different cases, packs and bags for different purposes and methods of travel.

For street photography I'll bring my Kata GDC 904 camera bag and bring a monopod.

I haven't used any of my Nikon F4e gear in a while, but I have a Kata R-103 backpack for that. It can hold the camera, 3 lenses, a flash and other accessories. I actually bought it for my Nikon D2X gear, since it has a laptop compartment - that's where I put my film! I like the Kata pack since it also has a tripod carrier attachment.

For travel by car into a studio or location shoot - no hiking involved - I'll bring all my Hassey gear in two Optex hard cases. Make up goes into a MAC hardcase, props, clothes and other accessories would go into one of several 100L Rubbermade tubs.

For hiking, I'll attach my tripod to the Manfrotto N402 Quick Release Strap and use Kata W-92 GDC waist pack, since I'd like to travel light in this case. Believe it or not, that waist pack can hold my Hassey and two lenses!

I'll also use the Kata W-92 with any of my toy cameras.

For business travel by plane where taking photos is not the primary reason, I use the LowePro Micro Trekker 200 which carries my Hassey and 3 lenses.

For travel where studio/location photography is my primary purpose, I recently bought the Kata OC-84 GDC roller carry on which can hold my Hassy and one SLR gear. This let's me carry on my film, cameras, flashes and lenses, while everything else can go into checked luggage using Optex hard cases if I am bringing lots more gear or I'll just throw it my suitcase if it's just a reflector and tripod.

I haven't done one of those travel to go on a hike thing yet, so I'm not quite sure what I'll do in that situation.

All my lighting equipment fits into a Speedotron AirCase. My stands, softboxes, umbrellas and stuff all go into a huge grip bag. If I have to fly somewhere and need lighting equipment, I'll rent it there.

All my Nikon lenses came with their own hard cases. And I have several small pack and bags. I haven't found an easy way to carry my reflectors. For my Pentax 110 gear, one set goes with a small Tamrac Expedition backpack, the other goes into a dedicated Pentax 110 hard case.

Plus I have all my old Lowepros bags from when I was in university. And in highschool, I had Tamrac bags for my Pentax equipment. All that's somewhere in parent's basement.

I haven't thought about bringing "everything", so that's a good question Frank. I'd like to see what others have to say about that.

So, several threads asking what cameras do you have; I'll ask what bags, packs, cases do you have and for what purpose?

Regards, Art.

 

[Steve Smith]

Far too many and I hate all of them! When I am out walking I end up carrying the camera and an empty bag. Sometimes now I don't bother with the bag.

Steve.

 

[David Henderson]

Two. A Lowepro Omni Trekker for my Bronica, which holds a body and five lenses, backs, filters etc. And an ancient Jessops Billingham look-alike that holds my Mamiya 7ii and three lenses. I also have a Pelican case into which the Omni-Trekker fits on the increasingly rare occasions when hold baggage allowances and hand-baggage restrictions coincide to mean that I want to check my equipment.

I'm a grab and go type of photographer. I don't want to agonise over what sort of bag to take with me, so both these bags are permanently packed. I take no pride in ownership of equipment ( and that includes cameras as well as bags) and regard them as tools. I may have a spare body and another lens/hood for the Bronica in my film bag.

I think there may be another couple of bags somewhere in the garage, but in general if I find myself with something I'm not using they're on eBay pdq.

 

[Soeren]

Still only one, a Lowe Pro Rower AW. No good for long treks. Wont hold all my gear comfortably and its difficult to access the equipment. Though I want a Tamrac Expedition 7 or 8 I can't afford new gear for the moment so it will have to do.
Cheers
Søren

 

[FrankB]

As stated elsewhere a Lowepro Nova 2 for my 3 lens 35mm outfit and a Nova 4 for my 3 lens TLR outfit, plus a Manfrotto 055 ProB on an Op/Tech shoulder strap in either case.

However I also have a Lowepro TLZ1 holster bag for a 35mm with an attached zoom and a few small accessories (a great little bag, but one I hardly use now as my needs have changed).

Another little item is a Lowepro Rezo 30 belt pouch which is just the right size for a Rollei 35 in summer use when I don't have a jacket pocket available. The front pouch takes a tiny red filter and a lens cloth, but is too small for a spare roll of film (that's digital camera pouches for you! :rolleyes: )

I am (as you may have noticed!) a fan of Lowepro bags. I also have a PDA case made by them and even a laptop bag. Construction on all items is top notch.

The "take it all" need expressed elsewhere should be taken in view of the fact that I generally get as close as I can to the shoot in a vehicle and then walk in usually to a maximum of about three or four miles (each way), albeit usually on broken ground and (knowing my luck) very uphill, usually in both directions...

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Oy, at least 15 or maybe 20.

I have about a dozen Perrin leather cases, which I really like. If you like Fogg or Billingham, you'll like Perrin cases (well, maybe not some of the later ones), which can be found on the used market at a fraction of the price. The nice ones are all California saddle leather with heavy stitching. They don't have the flexible divider systems of modern bags, but they do have bags that are nicely set up for, say, a 4x5" press camera with grip or a 6x9 folder.

Then I have a big Crumpler for my Technika, a knapsack for the 8x10" Gowland, ScopePak for the birding kit, various 8x10" holder cases, a couple of f:64 cases for the 35mm kit and part of the Bronica kit, a Tenba TTP tripod case and a Lightware light stand case, and a generic lighting case--lots of bags and cases.

 

[kjsphoto]

I custom make my own bags to fit my needs

 

[fpjohn]

Hello:

One to twelve in use. Best choice(s) IMHO are soft lunch and beer coolers. A complete Century Graphic kit can fit under the shoulder. No more than ten dollars CDN.

yours
Frank

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[timbo10ca]

I've got a Lowepro F&S deluxe belt with a couple pouches and lens cases. I love the modular system- it can be made into a small camera bag for out-and-about. My system fits only one 35mm camera and 3 lenses though. I recently got a Lowepro Dryzone 200, but haven't taken the tag off yet. I wanted a bag that I could throw *all* my gear in to take to the cabin/on a trip, and then use my belt if I go out for a specific purpose. I also go on the water alot (including in a canoe), so the 100% waterproofness is a huge selling feature. I can get all my gear into it, but only if I add some of my pouches to the waistbelt (it's also modular), so I don't consider it quite big enough. I think I've decided to keep it though, because the next bag up in size (the ProTrekker) only gives me another 9cm in height. The SuperTrekker would be perfect, but it's almost twicw the price. Neither of these 2 bags are waterproof either.
Then there's my hydration pack, which isn't really for cameras, but works well for a small system if I pack it with something to stop the equipment from banging together.

 

[reellis67]

Too many, and not enough! I have belt pouches, shoulder bags, hard cases, and just about everthing in between. In my defense I have to say that each is for a specific set of equipment, and each does serve its purpose. I couldn't easily get rid of any of them without getting rid that the equipment that lives in them.

- Randy

 

[mikebarger]

Currently my main bag is a tenba P995, it's big and will carry the hasselblad 500 with a lens and back plus three additional lens, pentax V meter, three addtional backs, with four big pockets for film, cleaning supplies, filters, etc.

Use a Tenba P595 for Nikon, and a large no name bag for sinar F, use a little tamrac for four mounted 4x5 lens.

I'm looking for a backpack for better balance when climbing around hills/mountains in eastern TN/western NC. My balance isn't what it used to be with a large shoulder bag swinging around :rolleyes: .

Mike

 

[Travis Nunn]

I have 3 bags in total. For my 35mm gear I use the LowePro Nature Trekker AWII. It holds all of my 35mm gear and is really comfortable on hikes.

For my RB67 Gear I use a Kelty Redwing 3100 and cases that I got from Photo Backpacker. Its a really useful system and its great on hikes (with or without cameras).

For my Mamyia 645 1000s with 2 lenses I use an old Targus camcorder bag. Its really small but its perfect for what I need.

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

The Kelty Redwing 3100 is one of my favorites too. APUGGER Kevin Saitta makes and sells nice filmholder cases, etc., etc. as well

 

[jovo]

My P67, meter, and three lenses live happily in a Lowepro Mini Trekker.

BUT!! Schlepping the 4x5 became a real issue. Until 2 months ago, my only LF camera was a Toyo/Omega monorail which I carried sans case, on its tripod, over my shoulder resting on the darkcloth with a Sundog shoulder bag that held about 9 filmholders and some filters. The meter was in a holster generously given to me by Peter Schrager (a pugger of long standing). After two miserable experiences in the "gunks" trying to haul that kit up steep grades for long distances, I finally got myself a Shen-Hao field camera and I leave the T/O at home.

So...I've got the Shen and an Adorama spot meter in a Tenba shoulder bag, and about 10 filmholders and two lenses in another no/name shoulder bag, and the darkcloth embraced by shoulder borne straps for a kit that leaves my hands free and the bags carried bandolier style over both shoulders. I've now only got to carry the B/M 3001 'pod with 3047 head in one free hand. I like it better than a backpack because I never actually have to take it off. I can access everything at waist level. The Lowepro backpack has to be set down which subjects it to whatever is on the ground, and to whomever might walk by and swipe something while my attention is glued to the viewfinder (yes...that happened once and a $600+ lens was stolen just behind my back).

 

[bjorke]

I just bought a huge Lowerpro AW650 so I can carry my kit AND a big honkin' laptop in the same bag. Carrying it right now and the combo weighs a TON... or so I thought until I took all the photo kit out and realized that no, it's just the #^%&*%!!! Dell that weighs a ton :/

I have a Tenba "journalist" bag that I've had for nearly 30 years (orange - they still make them in gray, these days). It's had the crap beaten into it (literally) and I just keep washing it and it's my Velveteen Bag.

I have several sizes of Domke, a little Crumpler, and a Canon-branded "breifcase" base that I just use to store stuff, it's weird as a camera bag (no easy way to pull stuff out while walking with it), and an ancient Nikon bag that I think I got at a junk sale. SO that's... at least eight bags with stuff circulating among them.

I often pack a small Domke or the Tenba flat and empty in a suitcase, and carry the gear on-board planes with a much larger bag. Then when shooting I reduce to the small bag (or just my coat, anorak, which I bought for its many large pockets -- I can easily carry my Contax+3 lenses or Canon+2 lenses+strobe along with several rolls of film and batteries)

 

[PatTrent]

Either 6 or 7, depending on how we define them. I mostly use them for storing/holding gear, and travel light when I'm actually photographing.

 

[BradS]

Only two....

A Lowe Pro micro trekker 100 fro the 35mm kit of the day and a Lowe Pro Mini trekker for the 4x5 field kit.

 

[Jim Charles]

3 I think. My lowepro backpack for storage. A small lowepro for a small digicam.

And my favorite, my Domke f-3. best bag...ever.

 

[DWThomas]

I've lost count -- maybe seven or eight. Currently I have my Canon A-1 and four lenses stored in a Lowepro Micro Trekker. It keeps that stuff together and is a handy way to load the stuff in the car for a vacation trip. However, I have never used it to go out and shoot, I usually use a fanny pack or small shoulder bag and carry a subset of the gear. I think my tombstone might say "still looking for the perfect camera bag." I've had (still have) an assortment of shoulder bags of varying size and quality. I think my problem is that my gear and my photo goals change faster than I can find the perfect bag of the moment.

And now I'm wrestling with medium format; my latest is a sort of small messenger bag I got at REI and installed some foam padding in for use with the recently acquired SQ-A, but after a few uses, I'm not overly happy with it.

Several makers have fairly elaborate websites with all sorts of specs, but I have trouble finding local dealers where I can see the stuff hands on. A number of nearby places carry Lowe and Tamrac, but usually don't have much selection.

DaveT

 

[Lee Shively]

I think eight or nine right now--maybe more. Padded nylon bags (Lowepro and F64) for transporting and cotton canvas (Billingham and Domke) for carrying stuff around. I also have a couple of photo vests--one a heavily padded nylon affair (by Leonard Lee Rue) that makes me look like the Michelin man on steroids and an old Banana Republic photojournalist vest I bought nearly 20 years ago. The Banana Republic vest still gets regular use.

 

[mtbbrian]

I have two right now, but only need one..
I have a Tamrac backpack, from the Expedition Series I'd like to sell.
I'll make anyone a great offer on it.

When I got my RF, I bought one of those Manfrotto National Geographic shoulder bags.
It's a great bag.
Brian

 

[copake_ham]

For years I had one camera (a SLR) and one bag which carried the camera and a few prime lenses.

Life was simple.

Then I discovered RF and eBay; and then MF and eBay; and then the SLR "race to digital" and eBay and now I have all kinds of cameras and all kinds of bags!

Camera bags are becoming tribbles! They're all over the place and keep multiplying. Add to that the few Lowepro packs "I had to have" coupled with "well, bigger is better" and I can't figure where to put all these damned bags anymore!

I have one of these LowePro super trekkers that doesn't fit in anything, not a cabinet, not a closet etc. It's almost as big as my car!

 

[naturephoto1]

I probably have way more than I need. I probably have at least 10 or 15 soft and hard sided cases that I use for various equipment. However, I am finding that I am now using more of the bags placed in my true mountaineering/hiking backpacks. additionally, I did purchase a new Think Tank Backpack specifically for air travel.

Rich

 

[Steve Smith]

I can't figure where to put all these damned bags anymore!

You could get a big bag to put them all in!

Steve.

 

[benjiboy]

Did That

You could get a big bag to put them all in!

Steve.

Hi, Steve, I did that, years ago I baught the largest Billingham bag, it takes all my gear( 2 mamiya TLR bodies 4 lenses 2 Canon bodies and seven lenses,) the only problem is it's so heavy I have difficulty picking it up to get it over my shoulder, and after a few steps I start walking in circles, so I use it very rarely to take out of my house, I just store the gear in it.