What's in Your Bag?

[Steve Petermann]

I think it's interesting to see what people take with them when they go out. Golf websites have "What's in the bag" posts. Being a tools kind of guy, I like to visit the Cool Tools site that sometimes has posts "What's in the Bag" for all sorts of uses, including photographers and videographers.

So, I thought I'd show "what's in my bag" when I'm out away from my "stuff" or doing street photography. If I'm doing an "on location" shoot there's a lot more stuff "in the bag", but for other/street photography I have to limit myself to what I can comfortably carry. Here's some photos of what I carry:




My camera is a Canon 5D MarkIII. Here's what's on my belt: A Sekonic L-308S light meter that I'll use if I can. Although I try not to use it because its harsh light, sometimes I'll carry a YongNuo YN568EXII at night or for daytime fill flash. Also on my belt is a Samsung Galaxy Pro 8.4 tablet in a pouch I made. In my camera I have an Eye-Fi SD card that sends the photos to the tablet as I shoot. I like this for a better preview of the image than the camera LCD. I know it's a jpg but I still think it helps. I've calibrated it with the X-Rite i1Display Pro just for some better accuracy. Another reason for the tablet is that I can show the person(s) a large image. They love that! However, if I'm doing street photography, I'm very careful about doing that. I'll only do that if I've had an extended conversation with someone and get to know them a bit. It totally depends on my take of that person. Street photography does come with some risks so you have to be very careful.

The lenses I usually carry are a Sigma 50mm f1.4 DG, a Tamaron 85mm f1.8 DI VC USD, and a Canon EF f4.0 70-200mm L IS USM. If I think I'll need more of a wide angle lens I'll carry a Tamaron 24-70mm f2.8 USD Di. One lens will be on the camera and the other two in a ThinkTank Retrospective LC2. In that I'll also carry spare batteries, CD and SD cards. If I think I might be doing some longer exposures I'll carry my Sirui P-326 monopod.

I'd really be interested in what others "have in their bag" when you leave the house or studio, for whatever type of photography you plan on doing.

[rpcrowe]

What I carry depends on what I plan to shoot. Generally for travel and other "normal" subjects my basic kit comprises of a Canon 7D and a 7D2, 17-55mm f/2.8 IS and 70-200mm f/4L IS lenses. On long treks such as to Europe or Asia.I will throw in a 12-24mm f/4 Tokina because on a 1.6x crop camera, that lens is equivalent to a 19.2 - 38.4 mm on a full frame camera and could, if needed fill in for the normal angle zoom lens. (Note: I have never needed to use this lens for that purpose).

Now if I were expecting to do some wildlife, airshow or sports photography, I would delete the 12-24mm Tokina as well as the 70-200mm Canon lenses and add the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens.

I might take a tripod or might not. This would depend on my planned shooting. As an example, I would probably take a tripod for wildlife but, not for airshows.

I will take a monopod on virtually all my photo outings and will almost always take a pair of flashes. I have several slave Canon flashes available to choose from and either 7D camera can act as a master.

Depending on the length of the trip, I may take a charger for my camera batteries and my flash batteries. On short trips, however, I'll just carry an extra battery for each camera and an extra set for each flash.

I do carry a LOT OF MEMORY on every trip. Memory is light weight and I never want to be constrained in the number of shots I shoot.

I always carry a notepad and some photo business cards to hand out. Since I live in a Navy town, I have my retired rank on the card. When I was on active duty, there were only 12 Master Chief Photographer's Mates in the Navy at any one time...

[Steve Petermann]

Just curious, when you were on duty what types of photographs does a Master Chief Photographer's Mate take?

[tao2]

Only carry a small Lowepro bag. Normally one camera - one lens (nearly always a prime). Using digital (APS-C), ah'll take a 24 or 28mm manual lens or a 50/55/58MM and an AF zoom - 70/210 or 35/105 or 80/200. Very occasionally a tele extender - usually if ah'm testing a new lens, that's where the digital scores over film, free tests.... Shooting mostly film, ah sometimes take my 2 Minolta XD7s, one with colour the other B+W. Don't need memory cards, virtually never have flash. Micro cloth, couple of filters, spare film. A wee spirit level, spare button batteries in my jeans ticket pocket. Keep meaning tae buy a monopod, never gotten round to it. Can't remember the last time ah used a tripod.

[Ken MT]

Just curious, when you were on duty what types of photographs does a Master Chief Photographer's Mate take?

I suppose photographs of Master Chief Photographer

[Mike Buckley]

I always take one camera body, my three most commonly used prime lenses (35mm, 85mm and 180mm) and my wide-angle zoom (12-24mm). When I think I'll have a need for my 300mm prime lens, I'll also take it despite its weight. Add to that five polarizers, extra batteries and memory cards, a speed light, a pair of gloves if the weather is cold, a head band if the weather is hot, and what seems like hundreds of small accessories such as a pair of filter wrenches, flash light, modifier for the speed light, rocket blower, Hoodman loupe, etc., etc. If I'm going to use a shutter speed that prevents hand holding the camera, I'll also take my medium weight tripod.

[rpcrowe]

Just curious, when you were on duty what types of photographs does a Master Chief Photographer's Mate take?

Master Chief was the rank which is an E-9 or equivalent to an Army or Marine Corps Sergeant Major. There are basically nine enlisted ranks in the U.S. Military E-1 through E-9.

Photographer's Mate was my rating or job field. As far as what kind of photography I did, it was really a mixed bag over the years. I worked in several general photo labs and ran one, at the Naval Weapons Evaluation Facility. I worked in two reconnaissance programs and I spent two tours of duty in the Pacific Fleet Combat Camera Group. I was a combat cameraman during the first tour and spent 26-months in-country Vietnam shooting just about everything all over that country. My duties during the second tour were mostly administrative. I was a detachment officer in charge in the Philippines and was training officer and operations officer in the USA.

An unfortunate reality in the military is that when you become more senior in rank your job becomes more administrative and leadership oriented and less hands-on work.

Some guys liked this while many photographers, like me, regretted the loss of hands-on work.

[tbob]

Two Nikon D700 bodies both with Pin Out remote triggers attached One has a 16-35 mm attached, the other has a 70-200 mm.
50 mm f2.8
200mm Macro lens
2x extender for telephoto
Apple iPad with the app to trigger the Pin Out remotes
Really Right stuff carbon fibre tripod and ballhead ( two sets of spare feet: one with claws for rocks and one with spikes I use on logs
Several Allen keys to tighten things as needed
Polarizing filters (4 to fit all the lenses)
Cleaning cloths

Probably more gear than is rational,but I never know what i will be shooting when I set out of a morning so I opt for maximum flexibility.

[Didace]

"Master Chief Photographer's Mate"

Your wife was in the Navy?

[Saorsa]

Which bag?

Light kit - Nikon 1 system. V1, V2 6.7-13,10-30, 30-110, 70-300mm, 18.5 SB-N7 All fit in a small bag with my Leitz ELPROs for macro work.
Day bag - Nikon D750, 18-35mm, 24-120mm, 60mm Micro, 70-300mm

Bigger bag adds D7100, SB-800.

Big Lens Bag Nikkor 70-200mm VR and 200-500mm VR.

Road Trip - All of the above plus 50 and 85mm f1.8, 105mm Micro and whatever else is laying around.

Basically, I have lots of stuff and pack what I think I will need for the day or trip. Most of the time the day bag does the job.

[Shadowman]

One camera and one lens, I wish.

[Black Pearl]

On a day-to-day basis when I'm out with the dog I tend to just sling the Fuji over my shoulder and go out with one lens - could be absolutely anything depending on my mood when I pick it up. My iPhone is always in my pocket so that gives me other choices and I often pick up a tripod.

If I'm going out specifically to take photographs or just for a day out where I might want a bit more focal length choice I have either a Billingham Hadly Pro which I can fit the X-T1 with my two zooms and two primes in or a slightly smaller Courser which will take a couple primes of a couple of zooms. The Hadly is my main bag and that specific sized kit is the reason I switched from the Nikon gear to a mirrorless system. I do have a couple of larger Lowepro shoulder bags and I also have a Lowepro Backpack that will pretty much take all my main kit including a pair of flashguns.

The Billy and Courser are the ones I enjoy owning and using though...

[John 2]

I have a Backpack (now never used), a Courier bag and a small Tamrac camera bag. I don't use any of them on a day to day basis except as luggage.

The Courier bag will hold all of my Fuji gear including accessories in the car boot (trunk) if that's what I need (UK Travel). The Tamrac will take the camera with 18-55mm fitted plus 55-200 Tele and two other lenses, usually an 8mm fisheye and a 14mm WA plus remote/filters/spare battery/ folding table top tripod that doubles as handle, and is used as hand luggage for abroad.

When I'm actually taking photographs, I rely on jackets chosen for the size of their pockets i.e. a normal outdoor winter coat and sleeveless multi-pocketed Gilet. Like Robin, I migrated to Fuji as much as anything, because of the smaller footprint of the X series and so I carry the 18-55mm on the camera for general purpose work. If I decide that I need other lenses, the 55-200 tele goes happily in one side pocket and two other lenses (in their soft bags) in the other.

Which other lenses depends on where I'm going. Fisheye for opportunity shots, 10mm/14mm for architecture or landscape, 23mm/35mm for street etc. If I feel I might need filters, spare battery and remote etc. they go in the breast pockets and the tripod in the map pocket.

I find that this leaves me relatively unencumbered in using the camera. The only exception to this arrangement is if I want to use the 100 - 400mm for wildlife, trains or motor sport etc. in which case it replaces the 18-55mm on the camera.

I can't remember when I last used my carbon fibre tripod other than for photographing my wife's pottery but it resides permanently in the boot of the car together with a couple of bean bags (one large, one small) which I use quite often.

[Sergio M.]

Since I've been doing mostly street photography for over a year now, all I carry is my 5D3 with the Voigtlander 40mm prime lens attached. The camera has two memory cards installed. I also carry an extra battery and lens wipe in my pocket, and if it looks like rain, I have a protective covering for the camera which easily folds up and also fits in my pocket.

Sergio

[Steve Petermann]

If I'm going to make a quick trip somewhere, instead of my normal street gear I'll take my Fujifilm X-30 in a fanny pack that I keep by the door. One nice feature it has is a swivel screen so I can shoot from the hip and still frame the shot well.

[ionian]

I have a bag addiction but I've cut down recently and just use two - my Billingham f5.6, an older model that I managed to pick up cheap and in great condition. This holds a surprising amount considering its size, but my usual kit is the EM1 with Olympus 12-40 f2.8, and then my Sigma 30mm f1.4 and sigma 60mm f2.8. If street shooting I'll take the samyang fisheye as well, if inside I'll take the small meike flash.

I also keep my GX7 with the pancake 20mm f1.7 handy at all times.

If I'm out for photography and not sure what to take, I'll use my lowepro sling which can hold both cameras and most of my lenses.

The beauty of micro four thirds is that I can carry practically everything comfortably as it's so small.

[Manfred M]

I have several bags and I will custom pack them for what I am planning to shot that day.

My favourite bag (that is in need of replacement) is my old Kata camera backpack, which holds one camera body, a few lenses and accessories. I got used to it back when I needed a cane to walk and found the satchel style bags difficult to use and found this style works well for my photography style.

For heavy duty shooting I have a Domke rollaboard carry on case (looks like cabin baggage with dividers for camera gear) that lets me take along a lot more gear along (but I have to be careful to not exceed my weight allowance when flying). I also have a large Lowepro video bag that I sometimes use for stills. Add to that a couple of large hard-sided Pelican cases to transport the studio lights and the cases for the tripods...

[Glenn P]

Thanks Steve. I've been meaning to take a "what's in your bag" shot for a long time now so thanks for being the impetus to get it done.

When I'm out this is what I carry. It's always packed and ready to go. I like to have what I need on hand as I'm never completely sure just exactly what the next situation will call for. Plus bringing a bunch of gear gives me flexibility and peace of mind. I grab my bag knowing that I've got what I need to get the shot and don't worry about having forgotten something.

I'll park my bag somewhere and work out of it changing out gear as I need it. If I don't have an easily accessible space for my bag or if it's a LONG way from the stage I'll wear a photo vest.

[Steve Petermann]

Glenn, very nice bag of stuff! I do have a few questions. I recognize most of it but not sure about a few items. What are the two small items just above the ColorChecker? Also, is the big item between the two sets of spare batteries a battery pack for the flashes? And is that a laser pointer or a brush to the right of the ColorChecker? Also I'm guessing the object on the top right is a light modifier. If so, how and when do you use it?

I've just started using a ColorChecker and was wondering what you use it for. Do you make a camera profile for the different shoots or is it just for white balance?

[ccphoto]

I only carry what I need for the outing that day. If it is strictly wildlife (mostly flying birds) or action shots (surfing, etc.) coupled to my Nikon D810 I take the 200-500.

If landscape, the 17-35 Tokina, the 50mm Nikkor, and a tripod.

If just dinking around in an urban environment, just the 24-120.

I do not shoot flash anything, nor do I do portraiture or studio work of any kind - at least for a while longer - so I have no need of the batteries, reflectors or softboxes. I'm really pretty simple. I have three bags, all ThinkTanks from a large one that carries everything to a courier for the midrange and a singular one strictly for the 810 and the 200-500.