How much gear do you carry?

[Frank53]

During a recent trip to Scotland with a Hasselblad, 3 lenses and 2 backs, I decided I'm getting too old for this (63) and when I got back, I found a Fuji GA645Zi, which I plan to take on coming trips. The 55-90 zoom should be enough. As I like wide, my Veriwide 100 will probable be in my suitcase for emergencies.
Regards,
Frank

 

[Theo Sulphate]

I've mentioned before that I like to travel light - this refers to minimal equipment rather than minimal weight.

I take just one camera and one lens. No other accessories. Filters? If I want to use one, it's on the lens. Rarely, I'll take a meter. Even more rare is to take a tripod.

 

[Leigh B]

I spent many decades shooting 35mm slides, both Ektachrome (which I processed myself) and Kodachrome.
Although I also shot B&W, the slides defined my shooting style and permanently etched it into my brain.

I always shoot with the idea that the image on film is exactly the final image that I want.
Consequently, I have a huge assortment of lenses.

In 35mm I can get by with a selection of high-quality zooms.
This is a walk-around / street scene / press kit that I can use everywhere.

My MF kit is a traditional Hasselblad with the full set of lenses from 40mm through 350mm.
Most of these fit in a large Hasselblad carry case, with a couple in shoulder-strap cases.
While I can carry this to a location, that is usually not very far from where I park the vehicle.

For LF (4x5, 5x7, 8x10) I have about 20 lenses, not all of which are usable on all formats.
These I carry in a backpack, with a few specials in individual cases.
LF is a vehicle-based adventure for me, limiting my shooting location to a small radius from the van.

Here's the 4x5 backpack with 14 lenses, some being in the closed top pocket.

I usually use a good tripod for MF, and absolutely always for LF; seldom for 35mm.
The Majestic LF tripod doubles as a jack stand for changing the oil in my car.

- Leigh

 

[R.Gould]

For MF I take either one of my TLRs orange B1 filter and lens hood and Euromaster, plus a Rolleinal 1 and a pocket full of film,or one of my many Folders, orange filter film and euromaster, for 35mm sometimes just a fixed lens camera, riged or folder or my Leica IIIf plus 35,50,80 and sometimes 135 lens, or my ambi sillette or werramatic each with a full set of lenses, all are lightweight and fit int a small lightweight Billingham hadley bag, the werramatic and two lenses in their own cases I carry on a sholder strap with the camera aroun neck, plus euromaster film and orange filter, I never ever carry a large heavy bag and haven't for at least 7 years

 

[benjiboy]

A Canon F1, with 35mm f2 lens fitted,with 24 mm f2 and Tamron SP 17 mm f3.5 lenses all in a small Lowe pro Stealth shoulder bag, and possibly my Manfrotto Be free lightweight travel tripod.

 

[benjiboy]

I learned in the military a long time ago that you need to consider not just how much weight you could carry for a days march, but when you arrived at the destination and was engaged in combat would you still be in a fit physical state to use it.

 

[benjiboy]

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?

Have you considered getting a wheeled camera case Frank, I have a Peli 1510 https://www.calphoto.co.uk/product/Peli-1510-Carry-On-Case-with-Dividers-Black-/118-373N and find it great for urban photography.

 

[removed account4]

hi frank

maybe a pen ft, 1 lens and a few rolls of film
or a graflex series D slr and a couple of bag mags with 12 sheets in each .
or a delmar box camera with a handful of sheet film holders
i woudln't bother with a tri/mono pod and just shoot everyting hand held.

 

[sepiareverb]

For 35mm Two M bodies with a 28 and 50 or 35 and 50, occasionally I'll bring a 90 or the 28.

MF, A Rollei FX and FW or the FX and the SWC/M. Tho since getting the 667W I suspect I will bring that most often.

Both kits fit easily in my A&A bag.

My usual city camera is the Ricoh GR-D however, with a T2 or T3 for film.

 

[frank]

Good ideas, thanks Ben and Bob.

 

[Luckless]

I ran into a tourist this summer who took an interesting approach to no longer being able to comfortably lug a heavy camera bag around all day. He got himself a bike and a large handlebar storage bag.

He didn't really ride the bike all that much, but mostly just walked it everywhere and let the bike take all the weight. Had a nice little chat with him, and found out that he preferred the bike over other things because it was easy enough to move around, but also didn't really attract any attention. Anyone passing him by would just assume that he had stopped for whatever reason, and he felt far less self-conscious than lugging other kinds of carts along. The large tires made getting it over rough ground fairly easy, and also put all his gear nicely at waist level while still being stable while carting around rather than having to bend down to keep the weight low enough to allow a normal cart to be stable.

 

[guangong]

I always carry a Minox 8x11, a Minolta 16 or some such camera for the unexpected shot. For strolling about the city as you describe I would take a 35 rf or a folder such as my super ikonta b (people on street don't take folders seriously).I am in the habit of carrying a billingham bag with other stuff besides a camera, such as a small sketch pad, a book, etc. however, I have put a rollei tlr or hassy with an 80mm Sonnar or 60mm accompanied by a Kilfit 150 ( very light lens) in my bag. I prefer mobility to lugging equipment.

 

[BMbikerider]

When I am on my motorcycle I carry what I think I may need for that day. However, this year when I travelled from UK to Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland I took my Nikon F6 and a lightweight 28/70. In my bag I also had my 20/35 and 70/300 plus about 15 rolls of 35mm colour film. In the 12 days I was away I used the 28/70 most of the time with the exception of 3 or 4 exposures where i used the 70/300. The 20/35 was surplus to requirements. I had no room to take a tripod.

Now I have moved up to medium format (645), I don't know what I will be able to get away with under similar circumstances. When I drive to go somewhere to walk, I may think about investing in a lightweight backpack, where I can have compartments for lenses, films and possibly a small flash gun. My tripod, a Manfrotto 55b is a bit of a weighty beast, but it is fitted with a 'rifle sling' so can be carried quite comfortably over a shoulder.

I don't really like medium format zoom lenses and with a Bronica 645, the range is limited so not a great loss.

 

[frank]

I took this kit in my motorcycle tank bag on my trip around the US. (see link in my signature)

 

[bunip]

Hi Frank
as the problem is your hip I don't believe a backpack, a shoulder bag or anything else you'd carry over your hip will be of any help. You should look for something light to bring with you with your camera bag (full of everything you think necessary) on it. I don't mean a bicicle, as Luckless reports. I sometime use a shopping foldable trolley (only the structure without the shopping bag) with my usual camera bag on it. If you balance well weights you can attach it to your belt walking with the trolley beside and following you. In this way I went many times to Venice for few days shooting all around the city with my mamiya press with lenses, two 6x9 folders and one 35mm body with lenses. My aluminium trolley (12 euros) has rubber wheel and is safe for not much gear shaking when you bring it around; it's less than 1Kg. You can choose between hard wheels and no fatigue (more shake on your bag) or softer wheels with a bit more friction but more dampen.
Ciao

 

[frank]

Bunip, yes! A collapsible shopping cart is a great idea. Light weight and inexpensive too. Ben's rolling pelican case would be great because you could also sit on it, but they are expensive.

 

[removed-user-1]

I have various knee and hip injuries that present themselves unexpectedly, especially if I carry a lot of gear. I've learned to keep it light.

I'm mostly a 35mm shooter. So, when out and about, it's always one camera, and either a standard zoom lens (25-50 Nikkor) or a wide and a normal, depending on which kit I'm carrying. If I really want to keep it light I grab my Yashica Lynx 14e.

 

[markbarendt]

Frank, what are you afraid you are going to miss if you take just your SWC?

 

[bunip]

"Ben's rolling pelican case would be great because you could also sit on it, but they are expensive."

Google "shopping trolley with seat" and you're done!

 

[frank]

My mother has a walker ...

Mark, sometimes wide is too wide. But I take your point. I guess I just like the idea of having a wide and a normal lens.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

I took this kit in my motorcycle tank bag on my trip around the US. (see link in my signature)

View attachment 164343

How were these used - for what situations? I assume you were using a variety of film.

 

[benjiboy]

I wish I had a £ or even a $ for each pound of photographic gear I have lugged around in my life that I haven't used, but although I'm still in good health now I'm getting to an age when I just can't carry the equipment I would like to any more and like Frank with his hip problem I have to consider more carefully what I carry on a regular basis and have to be smarter in choosing what I carry and it's amazing sometimes what good pictures one can shoot with minimal equipment if you make your pictures suit the lenses you have with you by considering more carefully the viewpoints you use and your compositions.

 

[frank]

120 wide angle, 120 normal, 135 wide angle, 135 normal, 135 compact, all 400iso B+W

 

[georg16nik]

I keep it as light and simple as possible: camera, lens... 1kg (2pounds) max.
Mostly manual 35mm RF, occasionally some light SLR like Pentax MX or the Ricoh XR flavors.
Once a year I get the MF bug... so a Voigtlander or Zeiss folder works for me.

No Hassy, Mammy, Pappy or LF traktors.
If I need heavy optical gear I would go into astronomy and buy a telescope.

 

[Sirius Glass]

On one hand I carry what I think I need and what I can handle without strain. On the other hand there are times when I will carry all the Hasselblad equipment in a pack in the car and only take just what I need for that time out of the car.