How much gear do you carry?

Ko.Fe. · Sep 29, 2016

Frank, you'll be back to normal soon, I'm sure!

I'm in Moscow, visiting parents. I have very small digital. To have backup images and because one of my daughters asked for as many pictures as possible. This is one exclusion I have to make. On my regular trips to other towns, cities I have one Leica and lens. M4-2 and Summarit 35 2.5 this time with me.

I would like to make short trip to NY city and have only M4-P and 28 Elmarit.

I did several day trips to Toronto this year and practiced in street photography each time for couple of hours. Just Leica and one lens. If I want to be me it is 35mm. If HCB - 50. Now I have 28 to try GW style. I did tried VM with rolleicord, but it is not my cap of tea.

benjiboy · Sep 29, 2016

frank said:
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.

It is quite expensive Frank but I find it tremendously useful not only to use in the field but to store my cameras and lenses in at home because it has two stainless steel re-enforced holes that lets you lock it with two padlocks that will discourage thieves, and it's also the size that most airlines will allow you to carry on.

frank · Sep 29, 2016

When I plan to be out walking, I realize that I'm limited to only one MF camera, which will be the SWC for now, and a D camera (Fuji mirrorless)

benjiboy · Sep 30, 2016

I think I've got a good cheap solution for your problem Frank one of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shockproof...5267709&sr=1-482&keywords=camera+bag+dividers in a wheeled shopper trolley and that shouldn't be too expensive.

Stephen Weston · Sep 30, 2016

Not so many years back I use to take pretty much all of my Nikon gear out on trips with me all packed into a big Billingham shoulder bag. By the time I was ready to go home my back and shoulders would be killing me. Holiday prep I could spend as much time choosing what gear to take as my wife packing her 'Just in case' clothes. Now days I am not that stupid. If I don't just take my Rollie and some film and meter it will be either an M6 or M7 Leica. I use to think if I didn't have the a wide, telephoto, super zoom etc I may miss something but to be honest once I was there I just enjoyed taking photos with what ever was on the camera. Nine times out of ten I haven't needed any thing more than a standard. Given the choice it would be the Rollie everytime but I do like cameras so I'll live with making the odd choice every now and again.

M Carter · Oct 1, 2016

If I'm going out really looking for shots, it's the RB, tripod and a couple lenses. Not - to me - a "walking around" kit.

I really enjoy the little Minolta HiMatic. I figure the best camera is the one you have with you, and it's a no-fuss thing that I think is just silly-good-looking in its retro way, and that lens is a baaaaad MF (cue Isaac Hayes voice). Thought whenever I print, I always miss the 6x7 neg.

I'd like to do a photo trip to Ireland or Scotland next year (I do lith primarily so a great place to go I think). Probably would put together a back-packable RB kit, get a carbon tripod, and find myself either an old 6x6 or 645 folder in good shape, or possibly a newer RF (mamiya 6 or 7, Fuji??) if I feel like spending that kind of cash.

mooseontheloose · Oct 1, 2016

Frank, I feel for your problem. Almost a year ago I had a very bad herniated disc in my back, followed a month later by some very painful sciatica down my right leg. It took a long time for me to heal from both (just this past summer to be exact). Whereas before I had no trouble carrying shoulder bags or backpacks (photo or other gear), any weight on my shoulders, even if it was just my wallet in an otherwise empty bag, became painful in less than 2 minutes of walking. So I ended up using a wheeled soft briefcase for work, and occasionally photo outings. When my back and leg started getting better, I could carry more weight on my back using a backpack, but I found myself having to limit myself to one camera only - which was either my Minolta Autocord, or my Nikon FE with a 28 and 50mm lens. In a way it's been good - it was like being a poor student again with only one camera and a couple of lenses. Now I could carry more if I wanted to, but I'm trying to stay simple. For photo trips of course I would bring as much gear as I could carry and take what I needed on a daily basis, but for local walk-around photography, simple (and lightweight) is best.

John_Nikon_F · Oct 2, 2016

I rarely go out with more than one camera and lens (surprisingly, most of my photography on my last roll of film was done with a 50/1.8 Nikkor AI on my FM2n). If I'm going on a roadtrip where I'm planning to be shooting, I'll load up a couple or three bodies, and some glass into the Domke, then have the D Nikon with its lens packed separately. The D body usually winds up coming along with whatever film body I'm bringing with me. This weekend and coming week, it's the F3P, currently with the aforementioned 50 attached to it. Roll of Ektar 100 loaded. Back when I owned a 500c/cm, I found that it wasn't bad at all with an 80/2.8 and an A12. I do wonder if a 2000FC/M or FCW with the 80/2.8 F lens and a w/l finder might be lighter than the 500 with the old school C or CF 80/2.8... Would be a little more compact, that's for sure.

-J

waynecrider · Oct 2, 2016

I'm down to a 35mm body and at most 2 lenses, 1 normal and one wide. After reading a recent thread in another forum on point and shoots and seeing some nice results, I believe I'll get one for the city stuff, perhaps something like a Contax T2 or some other higher end camera. I do have a habit of covering lot's of ground so lighter is better.

frank · Oct 2, 2016

waynecrider said:
I'm down to a 35mm body and at most 2 lenses, 1 normal and one wide. After reading a recent thread in another forum on point and shoots and seeing some nice results, I believe I'll get one for the city stuff, perhaps something like a Contax T2 or some other higher end camera. I do have a habit of covering lot's of ground so lighter is better.

I hear you! It's just that I've been seduced by medium format and would suffer "format let down" with 135.

guangong · Oct 2, 2016

Frank, the only real solution for us is to get a young, pretty and strong girlfriend to carry our stuff. Of course, if wives find out we may no longer be allowed to go out at all.

frank · Oct 2, 2016

One of those would come in very handy.

Theo Sulphate · Oct 2, 2016

I'd recommend a medium format folding camera, but I know you like wide angle shots - I think the folding cameras all have a ~75mm focal length.

frank · Oct 2, 2016

Thanks, Theo. A folder can be the solution for the normal lens option, along with the SWC. I have a Perkeo ll that will do. It's both lighter and smaller than a Rolleiflex. Almost as cool.

faberryman · Oct 2, 2016

I am recovering from a tear in a lower disc and was still able to spend a day walking around SF with an Olympus OM4 mounted with the 40mm f/2. I had a 24mm f2.8 and 85mm f/2 in a fanny pack with some film.

frank · Oct 2, 2016

faberryman said:
I am recovering from a tear in a lower disc and was still able to spend a day walking around SF with an Olympus OM4 mounted with the 40mm f/2. I had a 24mm f2.8 and 85mm f/2 in a fanny pack with some film.

Yeah, but with me it's MF.

rayonline_nz · Oct 3, 2016

I didn't take the RB67 not even strategically for the few nights. It was after all a family trip, in a busy large city during summer under 35 degree celsius weather taking public transportation. Even the other kit was too much. It was a reminder to me to be realistic. With other people take one body and don't take that 70-200mm. Even take the tripod out only on a few nights after coming back and picking it up. If I was going to take more gear it really has to be a photography focussed trip away from the cities into the smaller towns and rural.

F100, 18-35, 50 and 85 with a FM2n for b/w film is maybe the most I would take. The SB800 flash gets large also almost weights as much as a body.

I could actually skip the 50 or the 85 as well. Don't need both. I could skip the 2nd body but it is nice to have a b/w film body. Travelling with others esp, it is tempting to not shoot film.

benjiboy · Oct 5, 2016

guangong said:
Frank, the only real solution for us is to get a young, pretty and strong girlfriend to carry our stuff. Of course, if wives find out we may no longer be allowed to go out at all.

I wouldn't dare, I'm not afraid of not being allowed out but spending the rest of my life without my "wedding tackle" is another thing

ac12 · Oct 7, 2016

Now that I qualify as "senior citizen," a LOT less than I used to in college.
Weight is now a significant consideration, whereas in college a 20 pound camera bag on my shoulder was not a problem.
Getting old sucks.

I would select the kit depending on how far I plan to have to walk, and thus CARRY everything. Going down in weight:
- I would carry a Nikon F2 or F3 SLR (no motor drive) with a medium zoom (35-105 or 28-85). I might also carry my 24mm. One body + 1 or 2 lenses.
- Or an Olympus OM2 with a 50 and 24mm lens. One body + 2 lenses.
- Or even lighter, a 35mm P&S.
If there was a need to take a longer lens, I would consider adding it to the kit, but would do a re-evaluation of the kits.
Example1. I may decide to take the OM2 + 3 lenses (24+50+135) rather than a Nikon + 3 lenses (24 + 28-85 + 135 or 24 + 35-105 + 200)
Example2. Or reconfigure the Nikon kit and take the 28-85 and a 135.

One of the advantages of the digital age is, the used film gear has dropped in price so much, that I can get more gear than I otherwise could afford.
In the film days, I could not afford to have 2 different 35mm camera systems.

I also have 3 different tripods, of different weights. Heavier one get used at home or close to the car, again the weight issue. Medium and lighter ones are used for longer walks or traveling. I also select a 3-way or ball head based on walking distance, the ball head being lighter than the 3-way heads. My tripods are older metal ones. I have not replaced the heavy metal tripods with a lighter carbon fiber tripod. It's on the shopping list.

ac12 · Oct 7, 2016

benjiboy said:
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.

Having been on a vacation where I carried marginally too much gear, I can say that this statement is correct.
If you are physically too worn out, you may not be able to think of the shots to take, much less take the extra steps to go take them. Plus when you are tired, you are more likely to drop your gear (busted gear, and $$$ trip to the shop).
And heat will wear you down faster and more, than in a cooler climate.

LAG · Oct 8, 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?

Excuse me Frank

Perhaps the question is not the Kit, but the way you carry it. Use a bag with wheels. You (all) can make fun of me, but a shopping troley is fantastic! (and health comes first in the backpack) Use rattles on it, or a safety rope tied to your wrist, not to lose it when your eyes are looking elsewhere.

Get well soon!

frank said:
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?

I agree

narsuitus · Oct 8, 2016

If I wanted to carry a lightweight medium format photographic load for shooting street/people and some urban structures and decay, I would carry my medium format Fuji rangefinder with a normal or wide-angle lens, a hand-held light meter, and a few rolls of 120 or 220 film. If I thought I might need a tripod, I would take a tabletop.

Sirius Glass · Oct 8, 2016

I cannot carry cameras in a camera bag any more. The bag pulls my spine to the side and causes back pain. I only use backpacks for carrying camera equipment and I keep the weight balanced.

frank · Oct 8, 2016

Simple solution for me to be able to carry 20lbs of gear is for me to loss 20lb of body weight!

ac12 · Oct 10, 2016

frank said:
Simple solution for me to be able to carry 20lbs of gear is for me to loss 20lb of body weight!

+1

How much gear do you carry?

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