How much gear do you carry?

frank · Sep 27, 2016

Let's say that you've got the day to head into the nearest city to take some pictures: some street/people and some urban structures and decay. What is your carry kit?

I'm still recovering from a hip operation a year ago and am slowly building up my stamina again. Today I packed my camera bag: a Dome 803 satchel style with what I thought was a reasonable kit and went out for a very short walk. The bag contained a Hasselblad SWC and a Rolleiflex TLR. It became too heavy and hurt my shoulder very quickly. I'm disappointed because I thought that this would be a viable kit for me. I even lightened the load by switching out a Hasselblad 500cm with 80mm for the lighter Rolleiflex. Now, I am out of shape and unused to carrying a camera bag for over a year, so I'm hoping to be able to carry this kit eventually. I don't want to exclude the SWC because it's new to me and it's capable of outstanding/dynamic images. I may replace the normal focal length camera option with my Perkeo ll folder for a while.

Would this kit be too heavy for you? What do you carry?

It's too bad I think that APUG's forum categories are so gear oriented and there's no natural subform for talking about doing photography. Am I missing something?

Rick A · Sep 27, 2016

My Zeiss Nettar 6x6 folder and a couple extra rolls of film. It all fits in my pocket.

summicron1 · Sep 27, 2016

I'd pick one or the other, especially if I was dealing with a sore hip. Two cameras doubles your chance of having the wrong camera out.

Maybe stick to the rollei around your neck and a light bag on the side, maybe even a butt pack, for film, light meter, phone, etc. If you prefer the hassy wsc, then put it on a strap around your neck, stick the folding 120 into the smaller bag.

But, really, for street shooting, one camera should be the rule. Focus.

frank · Sep 27, 2016

When I was primarily a 135 shooter, my preferred travel kit was 28 and 50 for its versatility.

CMoore · Sep 27, 2016

I am mostly a 35mm...Street/City/People/Industrial/Urban kind of a guy.
I use a back-pack with two bodies, one with color, and usually three lens...a 35-50-85.
I carry a small tripod a cable release and basic cleaning stuff and spare batteries.
Its heavy.
I am envious of the HC Bresson types that roam around with a OM1 and a 50mm lens and THAT is it.

winger · Sep 27, 2016

If I were going out to shoot street stuff and urban decay, I'd likely take what I took out in the woods today (light was bad, too sunny, just wanted to be out) - SLR with 28-110ish and P645N with 75mm, 45mm, and 120mm. All in a LowePro backpack. And a tripod. It's asthma season (ragweed, grasses, etc...) and I'm not in as good shape as I'd like to be. The backpack spreads out the load a bit and doesn't hold much more than I can carry. I think it's about 15 pounds as it was today (the 4x5 in its photobackpacker bag weighs in at 19-20lbs usually).
If my bad knee was giving me problems, I'd probably go to just the P645N and maybe only 2 lenses.

frank · Sep 27, 2016

No doubt a backpack is much superior at spreading out the weight carried. The downside is accessibility of the gear.

Truzi · Sep 27, 2016

Instead of considering lightening the load, think of distributing it. How you carry something can make a big difference. A back-pack is great to hike and climb with, but has the access problem you mention. I think some sort of safari jacket (lots of pockets) might be worth looking into, or waist/hip packs, as they all give easier access.

I'm a bit stubborn, so will carry what I want. I don't really have issues carrying weight, but last summer I did a little hiking in Hocking Hills (Ohio) with a hip-pack holding a couple lenses, a shoulder bag with my Bronica GS-1 & some backs, a Realist 45 and another 35mm around my neck, and a tripod in hand. This wasn't really heavy, but the shoulder bag was digging in and causing the biggest problem - even when I put the GS-1 around my neck and the Realist in the bag. I think the angle a should-bag pulls at is more the issue than the weight in it. You could also try slinging the bag lower - sometimes that helps.

frank · Sep 27, 2016

Truzi, I think you're onto something: separate the load. One camera over the shoulder, the other in a waist bag.

Dali · Sep 27, 2016

last Sunday, I had some spare time and decided to go downtown for street photography. As my Oly SLR is not back from repair, I grabbed my loaded FED3 fitted with an Industar-26, a Sekonic 185 meter in my pocket, that's all.

MF or 135, I would second Frank's advice to carry one 1 camera. It is better to limit the weight and maybe also the experience (no multiple lenses...) than being exhausted or in pain. Photography is a pleasure, let's try to keep it this way.

frank · Sep 27, 2016

Dali said:
It is better to limit the weight and maybe also the experience (no multiple lenses...) than being exhausted or in pain. Photography is a pleasure, let's try to keep it this way.

+1

Truzi · Sep 27, 2016

You can also bring a friend. On our bike outings, my best friend refers to herself as the "Sherpa" because she's the one who owns a backpack, so gets stuck carrying most of our stuff - like lunches, souvenirs, etc. (I got a bike-rack and bags so I can be the Sherpa from now on.)

R Paul · Sep 27, 2016

I have an rb-67, 65mm and 180mm lens, 2 backs, a vivitar283 flash, L-handle ,and maybe 5 filters in a Nova Sport 35l. Comes in at 17lbs. I've taken it on day trips, but later in the day I'm glad to put it down and take some pictures.

frank · Sep 27, 2016

I need a friend like that, Truzi.

I need to actually weigh my gear to compare numbers.

MartinCrabtree · Sep 27, 2016

An F5,28-85 f 3.5/4.5AF,70-210 F4 and SB.28 flash with a few rolls of whatever I'm into at the time. Sometimes the lenses are a 24MM f2.8 AIs along with a 50-135 F3.5 AIs both chipped for focus confirmation (and digital) use. All that goes into a LowePro Slingshot 200AW along with cell phone some cash and a nice cigar for the inevitable time spent waiting for inspiration.

Tom Taylor · Sep 27, 2016

I have 2 kits for urban street photography depending on my mood:

1. Nikon F6 with AF nikkor 35 - 70 f2.8D. Since I shoot 400 speed B&W film for street photography, a tripod is surperfulous and the FL spread of the lens is perfect for street photography. I usually carry the camera slung over the shoulder with the strap.

2. Pentax 645NII with Pentax 55 - 85 f4.5. This is a heavier kit than the F6 so I may or may not bring a Lowepro AW runner with Gitzo series 0 CF triopd. However the camera is so ergonomic shooting hand held with 400 speed film is no problem.

Sometimes I will also bring a 85mm Pentax soft focus lens for the F6 and a Pentax 120mm SF 67 lens for the 645. In these cases I will usually bring the backpack to carry the extra lens - especially for the 645 as the Pentax 120 soft is too large for the pocket.

Thomas

CMoore · Sep 27, 2016

So far...For Me..."access" has not been a problem. Using 17 seconds to make a lens change instead of 39 seconds has never been an issue.
What HAS been an issue is having to change a lens at all. If something is going to happen that fast, you either need a second camera with the correct lens, around your neck, or (probably) better, a zoom.

markbarendt · Sep 27, 2016

Any more I carry one camera with a lens mounted unless I have a darn good reason to carry more.

In your case I'd grab the Rolleiflex and zoom with my feet.

frank · Sep 27, 2016

markbarendt said:
In your case I'd grab the Rolleiflex and zoom with my feet.

Yeah, but the SWC is new to me and very cool. The question will be if the SWC is the only camera I take or which normal lens camera option to choose and add.

Doc W · Sep 27, 2016

frank said:
No doubt a backpack is much superior at spreading out the weight carried. The downside is accessibility of the gear.

If your gear is hurting your shoulder, then you need a backpack to put the weight in the right place. However, the type of backpack is really important. A standard "top loader" backpack is not very good for photography. All of my camera backpacks open up completely so they can be laid on the ground, open, with everything easily accessible. My MF backpack holds:
- Mamiya RB 67
- two lenses (sometimes I bring three)
- two backs
- small light meter
- spot meter
- 6-7 filters, most of which I never use, lol
- film (6-7 rolls, mostly b&w)
- notebook
- small odds and ends (like a blower brush)

I also carry a light tripod.

The whole kit is fairly heavy but it is a really well-designed Lowepro backpack and it distributes the weight well. I am no spring chicken (67 next month) and although I am in ok shape, I am no athlete, nor was I ever, but I can still carry this without too much trouble. If I were walking a lot, I might cut down a little and bring only one lens, one back

markbarendt · Sep 27, 2016

frank said:
Yeah, but the SWC is new to me and very cool. The question will be if the SWC is the only camera I take or which normal lens camera option to choose and add.

IMO stick to the SWC then.

RalphLambrecht · Sep 28, 2016

frank said:
Let's say that you've got the day to head into the nearest city to take some pictures: some street/people and some urban structures and decay. What is your carry kit?

I'm still recovering from a hip operation a year ago and am slowly building up my stamina again. Today I packed my camera bag: a Dome 803 satchel style with what I thought was a reasonable kit and went out for a very short walk. The bag contained a Hasselblad SWC and a Rolleiflex TLR. It became too heavy and hurt my shoulder very quickly. I'm disappointed because I thought that this would be a viable kit for me. I even lightened the load by switching out a Hasselblad 500cm with 80mm for the lighter Rolleiflex. Now, I am out of shape and unused to carrying a camera bag for over a year, so I'm hoping to be able to carry this kit eventually. I don't want to exclude the SWC because it's new to me and it's capable of outstanding/dynamic images. I may replace the normal focal length camera option with my Perkeo ll folder for a while.

Would this kit be too heavy for you? What do you carry?

It's too bad I think that APUG's forum categories are so gear oriented and there's no natural subform for talking about doing photography. Am I missing something?

That's probably the only time when I use Zoom lenses. Modern zoom from 35 to 70 millimeters Will do well met situation.

CMoore · Sep 28, 2016

I have this pack. It has been great. Very strong and lots of compartments. MUCH better than a shoulder bag.....if the situation calls for it.

https://www.amazon.com/Case-Logic-S...d=1475038579&sr=8-20&keywords=camera+backpack

Soeren · Sep 28, 2016

Many years ago id bring an OM1 28/2,8 50/1,8 and a 135/3,5. Camera over the shoulder and lenses + film in a small belt pouch. Switching to nikon F90x i tried a hip bag and then a shoulder bag but ended up with a back pack for camera, 3 lenses, film and accesories. Now I have a couple of F-stop packs, Tilopa BC and Guru and 5 ICU's. My RZ67PROII, 50 and 127mm lenses, meter and film fits in a Small Pro ICU. Adding a 180mm and extra film back sends the kit over in a medium slope ICU. My chamonix 45F1 fits in either the large pro or medium slope ICU depending on how much Ill bring for it.

MattKing · Sep 28, 2016

I use a single bag big enough to carry everything I need for the day, save my tripod.

When I set out walking, I take the camera and a fitted lens out of the bag.

I carry the bag with its strap on one shoulder and falling diagonally across my body, and the camera with its strap on the other shoulder, with its strap also falling diagonally across my body, so the two straps form an X across my chest.

You need longer straps, and its better to put the bag strap on first.

If I take a tripod, I carry it on my shoulder, with no camera attached.

This works for everything from 35mm to RB67.

Make sure the bag allows access without removal from your shoulder. Wide comfortable staps are a necessity.

How much gear do you carry?

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