What's in your bag? For photographers that travel

[Radio8tiv]

Hi I have done a few trip now and was wondering what you use for photography on your travels? I have an ok setup but unfortunately I find it a little heavy now that I've been adding to my setup. So was wondering about other peoples setups and what bags are used to carry it all? Do people here use two bags, like one to cart the gear to the destination and then then select a smaller amount into a day bag? Or just an all-in-one solution.

Anyway my setup is an older Nikon d5100 (smaller body dslr) good for travel
Nikon 18-200mm zoom
Nikon 10-24mm wide angle zoom
Nikon 35mm prime
Various filters, extra batteries, charger, cables, lens pens, etc.
All fits neatly into a compact (but heavy all day) Lowepro 55aw



Sorry for for the quality pics but only taken on an old iPad

 

[Denali]

Man, I should get my husband on this thread. He's got his camera pack to a science now

 

[casanovawa]

I have a Canon 60D but wouldn't mind iupgrading to the 80D when it comes out and drops a bit in price, the 60D has been out quite a while and mine has quite a few miles and shutter count on it... (not mentioning the time it dropped on the cobble stones outside the hermitage Museum in St Petersburg!!!)

For lenses i carry a:
Sigma 10-20mm
Canon 15-85mm
Canon 70-300mm if i am going somewhere i expect to take shots from a distance (like in Kruger National Park or safaris)
But tend to just take the top two...
Maybe a couple of filters
An intervalometer because Canon kept refusing to build one into at least the mid grade cameras but sounds like the 80D will have one finally!

I also carry a smaller water proof FT 4 camera for underwater shots and panoramic shots.
My Sony mobile phone i use for shots where high resolution DSLR quality isn't quite so necessary and to easily upload to the web

I also have a contour action camera which i should use more but have actually used very little....

Along with all that means several battery chargers, a brush or two, cleaning cloth, and other paraphernalia.....

 

[exceladdict]

Also have a D5100 and am hardly an expert, but on my last major trip (TR of which linked below - 21 flights), I only took my D5100, a 35mm prime, two 16gb memory cards, a charger, iPad SD photo connector, and a spare battery.

Xperia Z2 took most of the non-dslr needed photos but that has now been replaced by a Nexus 6P.

The 35mm lens did make food-on-plane photos harder than usual and there were one or two occasions where I missed having a travel/zoom lens, but I didn't see enough need/have enough energy to carry my 18-55 or 70-300 kit lenses.

 

[Radio8tiv]

Also have a D5100 and am hardly an expert, but on my last major trip (TR of which linked below - 21 flights), I only took my D5100, a 35mm prime, two 16gb memory cards, a charger, iPad SD photo connector, and a spare battery.

Xperia Z2 took most of the non-dslr needed photos but that has now been replaced by a Nexus 6P.

The 35mm lens did make food-on-plane photos harder than usual and there were one or two occasions where I missed having a travel/zoom lens, but I didn't see enough need/have enough energy to carry my 18-55 or 70-300 kit lenses.

that 35mm f1.8 prime is a great lens and light, I love it for night time, but yeah it doesn't get close enough, that why I got the 10-24 for my upcoming NZ trip for good landscape and architecture shots

what bag are you using? I'm looking for another option, I was looking at the cosyspeed streetomatic but I think it's too small for my needs, however I like the idea of the weight on the hips instead of the shoulder/neck

 

[exceladdict]

that 35mm f1.8 prime is a great lens and light, I love it for night time, but yeah it doesn't get close enough, that why I got the 10-24 for my upcoming NZ trip for good landscape and architecture shots

what bag are you using? I'm looking for another option, I was looking at the cosyspeed streetomatic but I think it's too small for my needs, however I like the idea of the weight on the hips instead of the shoulder/neck

I was actually quite reckless on that trip and just used a backpack as I couldn't be bothered with a separate camera bag.

But normally a lowerpro toploader zoom 50 AW. It fits any of my 3 lenses and body (but not more than one lens unfortunately).

 

[Kaiser]

TL;DR: Less is more sometimes.

I'm a pretty keen photographer but I also prefer to travel with carry-on only. This forces some compromises in both photo gear and clothing but I have it pretty well sorted now after several longer trips. Here is my progression over the past 10yrs or so:

Started with a Nikon D40 6mp DSLR with the kit zoom 18-55mm in a small size shoulder bag. Being my first DSLR I had nothing to compare it to - so it n that regard it fit the bill and got the job done. Kit zoom little lacking on the ultra wide angle end.

Next trip I had upgraded to a Nikon D90 together with a Sigma 10-22 ultra wide zoon, a 50mm 1.4 prime and an 18-200 zoom. I reluctantly dragged this around in a Think Tank Urban Disguise 50 shoulder bag, which looks like an oversize laptop bag.
This was too big to fit into my 37L backpack, so had to be carried separately. The bag itself weighed 1.5kg empty and could swallow a massive amount of gear. This can be temptingly dangerous as you add more and more gear to the bag in order to "fill" it. Add the above gear plus filters, batteries etc and it was around 3-4kg - which got really tiresome, really quick when walking up to 10km a day around cities.

(Not my image) Photo credit: The Phoblographer - The Psychology of Photography


For my next trip, I'd upgraded to a Nikon full frame D700 SLR and I also took a 16-35 wide zoom, a 50mm 1.4 and an 85mm 1.4. I'd also brought a new backpack, the F-Stop Loka, seen below.

This bag includes the option of a padded internal camera/lens storage unit. I did not use one on myself, electing to wrap my lenses in t-shirts and packing a small, soft, crushable Domke canvas bag in top which I used once at my destination.

This bag was weather resistant, had a wide flat strap which made carry more comfortable - although there's no getting around the fact that carrying a full frame kit around isn't going to be that light - particularly if you were like me and were infatuated with using fast prime lenses.

A couple of trips in 2013, including backpacking/hiking in New Zealand - I took nothing but a Fuji X100s and a Go Pro. I didn't feel that restricted and boy was it liberating to not carry a bag around everywhere.

Fast forward to 2014 - and while I still had a full frame Nikon kit - I now also had a micro 4/3 kit - much smaller weight and size. I used my same carry on size F Stop Loka backpack, in which I put this small shoulder bag - a Lowepro Event Messenger 100

This bag was able to fit my Olympus OMD EM-1, a Samyang 7.5mm fisheye, 9-18mm zoom, 25, 45 and 75 primes - and still didn't feel that heavy.

For my upcoming trip in a few weeks - there will be a mix of hiking, travelling by train and car. From my past trips, I came to the conclusion that I didn't like having to carry a bag around all the time, no matter the size. As a result of this - I decided to purchase a pocketable camera that still packs a punch, the Ricoh GR. This will be my walk around camera, always there, no bag required, weighs 246grams and has a very sharp 28mm equivalent fixed lens with an APS-C sensor.

I will still take my Nikon SLR with a light weight 18-35 zoom for the landscape shots that I like to take - this will be wrapped in a t-shirt and in my backpack together with my tripod during transit. This usually lives on the back seat of the rental car while we are driving around. I have moved away from taking a multitude of fast primes for travel photography. While they certainly provide a distinct look with shallow depth of field - I found found that shallow depth of field normally blurs away any kind of context in the photos - and for me, travel photos are all about context. I want to be able to visualize the whole scene. This also forces me to focus more on good composition rather than rely on smooth blurry bokeh to create interesting photos.

Sorry for rambling on a bit. In summary - I've moved away from camera specific bags as I find them overpadded, oversized and heavier than they need to be. Cameras are so good these days that a pocket camera IQ is more than what most people will need. If you still want to take a DSLR, wrap it in your clothes

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Great thread!

I do the occasional bit of pro-work (usually some reportage for a magazine I work on), and for way too long have relied on my very humble Canon 500D. About to get a 6D (it was that or the 7D – but really want to go full frame).

If travelling, and not explicitly shooting for a job, I tend to try and go as under the radar as possible. Usually a tote over my shoulder with my notebook and whatnot, and the camera thrown in and hidden from sight until I need it. Been using a very cheap and small 50mm f/1.8 lens for years which has been a dream. Being fixed, it means there are a lot of shots I just can't get, but I always end up with much more interesting photos. I've managed to break it – finally – so looking at something similar to go with the 6D.

Big fan of the prime lens. With a lack of versatility comes much greater creativity.

For travelling with a larger kit, I really want to track down a Rimowa camera case for carrying-on, but they're not easy to find!

Interested to know: any other pro photographers out there? If so, what kind of cross-over is there between your leisure/travel photography and work?

 

[irv]

My camera bag is a Lowepro Flipside 500, good security as the zipper is up against your back. When I don't want to cart the bag around I use a Spyder Holster and a Black Rapid Strap, camera sits on the hip, the strap is just a bit of extra protection. My kit consists of a Canon 70D, a canon 10-22, Tamron 24 -70, the usual cords for charging, and cleaning accessories. I also carry a portable hard dive and a Ravpower card reader for back up each day.

 

[aaronm]

I have a Timbuk2 Snoop XS bag, just enough space for my 70D, two extra lenses and spare SD cards. I travel with the stock 18-55mm and 55-250mm lenses, and a 10-18mm lens. I have a soft packing cube in my checked luggage that is great for storing the assorted chargers/cables/electronics that I don't need outside of the hotel room.

 

[Quickstatus]

I use a Lowepro Pro Trekker 450AW

Fits into the overhead compartment of (so far)
A380 QF
B747 QF
E190 AA
A320 DL

Canon 5D
70-200 f2.8
16-35 f2.8
50mm prime f1.2
Lens hoods for above
2x extender
Filters x6
Speedlite 600EXRT and shoe transmitter

Watson double battery charger
Batteries
Memory cards
Wifi card
Iphone cable

Macbook pro and charger

Spare undies and socks
QF F amenities case

(Tripod is in skibag)

 

[Skyring]

I got rid of my Canon DSLR stuff. I had a 70D and a few nice lenses, but it's heavy and bulky, and I went mirrorless when I saw the Olympus OMD EM5.

Nowadays, I have an EM1 as my main camera. With a wrist strap and the 12-40mm ƒ2.8 it's not as chunky as a DSLR, but it's a sweet package to carry around and I can get excellent results, especially with the 5-axis in-body stabilisation. That goes in my carry on, along with the 40-150 ƒ2.8 lens, which gives me a bit of reach when I need it. I also take a small Manfrotto tripod in my checked bag.

If I'm just out walking, I have a Pen F with a pancake lens (20mm ƒ1.7 or the EZ kitlens) in a Crumpler pouch which fits onto my belt very nicely. It's what I take aboard, and I can hang the pouch up somewhere in my seatspace with a karabiner, so it's not eating into my carryon allowance.

Having two bodies gives me some backup. The F isn't weathersealed like the EM1, but it has the same IBIS, takes the same lenses, same batteries, and has a few goodies that the EM1 doesn't, such as 20MP sensor and the capacity to go 80MP with a multiple exposure thing, where the sensor gets shifted a half pixel between shots.

I carry this stuff in a Crumpler backpack, one with a single strap and a camera pocket, so I can quickly swing it around and access the camera. There's a strap and pocket on the outside for the tripod, room inside for the long lens, and enough for a light rainjacket, iPad, maps, a few bits and pieces. With a cover against the rain.

If I go out walking for a day, I like to have the bag, but if I'm just walking around within range of the hotel or whatever, the F on my hip or the EM1 in my hand is fine.

Incidentally, be wary of carrying cameras loose in cars. My wife and I hired a car in Scotland last year, and I had my light camera (an EPL7) on the backseat. We changed drivers, and when i took the wheel again, I cranked the driver seat down and managed to crush my camera underneath, which had rolled off onto the floor and under the seat. No real damage, just a cracked screen, but nowadays that's enough to make the whole thing fairly useless. I claimed the cost of repairs under travel insurance, but I only got a few dollars back after the excess.

 

[vetrade]

I use a Manfrotto Advanced Active Backpack II I ordered from B&H Photovideo, NY. Has a removable padded camera insert in the lower section which pivots downwards and outwards for easy access to everything when you unzip it. Plus it has padded dividers you can configure any way you want. Aluminium Minolta MX7 tripod (with quick release) attaches to the side and I take it all everywhere as carry on and find it's comfortable enough to carry even on day long hikes. Nikon D5300, Sigma 18-250 lens and circular polarising filter (I usually leave the 35mm behind these days). Plus my favourite piece of equipment is my Vello remote control - only $US32 (also from B&H). The Nikon equivalent was about $400!! When out and about MrsV and I can both be in all the pics using the remote - it's effective up to 100m - just fantastic. I just set up the camera on the tripod and frame the shot I want. Then we can take our time to pose for the shot before triggering the remote - none of this business of setting the timer and then sprinting to take up position before the 10 seconds is up!

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._mb_ma_bp_a2_advanced_active_backpack_ii.html

 

[HappyLogic]

TL;DR: Less is more sometimes.

In summary - I've moved away from camera specific bags as I find them overpadded, oversized and heavier than they need to be. Cameras are so good these days that a pocket camera IQ is more than what most people will need. If you still want to take a DSLR, wrap it in your clothes

Couldn't agree more. Instead of carting around a bulky DLSR and the lenses to go with it, I've settled on taking just 2 x Sony compacts. The HDX-90 is a versatile travel camera with a 30:1 zoom and can geo-tag it's shots, while the RX-100 has a 1 inch sensor, can shoot RAW and comes with a very fast F1.8 lens which makes it great for low light. Both cameras can do HDR and they both use the same type of battery - providing redundancy.

Between them they cover most photographic situations, but the best thing is that these cameras are easy to carry on a belt of around your neck, which means you are highly likely to have them handy when that "moment" arises. Also, they don't look like expensive gear. (Sometimes it's good to be inconspicuous!).

 

[exceladdict]

Couldn't agree more. Instead of carting around a bulky DLSR and the lenses to go with it, I've settled on taking just 2 x Sony compacts. The HDX-90 is a versatile travel camera with a 30:1 zoom and can geo-tag it's shots, while the RX-100 has a 1 inch sensor, can shoot RAW and comes with a very fast F1.8 lens which makes it great for low light. Both cameras can do HDR and they both use the same type of battery - providing redundancy.

Between them they cover most photographic situations, but the best thing is that these cameras are easy to carry on a belt of around your neck, which means you are highly likely to have them handy when that "moment" arises. Also, they don't look like expensive gear. (Sometimes it's good to be inconspicuous!).

We use the original of the RX-100 for work, I've found it surprisingly good for its price (for video too). That way it doesn't scare off people who aren't comfortable with a DSLR when they're asked to take photos.

 

[Archphoto]

Great thread!

I do the occasional bit of pro-work (usually some reportage for a magazine I work on), and for way too long have relied on my very humble Canon 500D. About to get a 6D (it was that or the 7D – but really want to go full frame).

If travelling, and not explicitly shooting for a job, I tend to try and go as under the radar as possible. Usually a tote over my shoulder with my notebook and whatnot, and the camera thrown in and hidden from sight until I need it. Been using a very cheap and small 50mm f/1.8 lens for years which has been a dream. Being fixed, it means there are a lot of shots I just can't get, but I always end up with much more interesting photos. I've managed to break it – finally – so looking at something similar to go with the 6D.

Big fan of the prime lens. With a lack of versatility comes much greater creativity.

For travelling with a larger kit, I really want to track down a Rimowa camera case for carrying-on, but they're not easy to find!

Interested to know: any other pro photographers out there? If so, what kind of cross-over is there between your leisure/travel photography and work?

Simple answer for you, not a lot sadly.

Usually when I'm on a shoot it's back-to-back assignments, with the "day off" spent in the air trying hard to catch up on lack of sleep. On the odd occasion that the team does get a day off (or even a half day!) we all go out and shoot different things.

I do remember being lucky enough to get 1.5 days when we were shooting in Japan; caught the Shinkansen to Kyoto, arriving late afternoon and checked into a tiny hotel. we had a great walk around shooting anything and everything - it was Sakura season and on this particular trip, we actually arrived in each city as it started. Truly amazing! Spent the following day in the lovely old part of the city and the temple and left early morning the following day to the next shoot.

And the other time that sticks in my mind was Beijing during the Olympics - we were all dead beat but wanted to get out and actually enjoy ourselves. Spent half day at The Great Wall and the night before we shot The Egg and Bird's Nest.

The kit is with us onboard at all times - and that can cause weight problems. Currently using a Lowepro Roller (Pro Roller x100 AW Camera bags, backpacks and rolling cases) that is much lighter than the previous one, but still weighs nearly 5kg empty!

Onboard kit comprises of the following:

Canon 5DMkII (tripod plate)
17mm f4 TSE
90mm f2.8 TSE
24-70mm f2.8
70-200mm f2.8
CF cards 8GB-16GB x 12
Card reader
Charger
Spare battery (2 more in the checked luggage)
Flash unit
Wireless trigger
Wireless receiver
Filters (minimum kit: polariser, ND, FL-Day, blue and grey grads x1 each) remained in checked luggage
Cable release
2 mini video lamps (Sony)
3 batteries for video lights
Charger for video lights
AA batteries (rechargeable x8) (Sanyo Eneloops)
AA charger
Small roll Gaffer tape

Checked luggage comprises:

Tripod
Tripod head (packed like it was an egg!!) MF804RC
Spare plate
Spare 5DMkII
8 video light kits (light, charger, battery, mounts)
Spare batteries for video lights (x8)
Full filter kit
Spare CF card reader
Spare release cable
Spare flash unit
Spare extension cable for flash
Spare wireless trigger & receiver
Reflector
Tiler's mirror
Various cards for fill
Blue-Tack
Screwdriver set
Spare tripod plate mounts x2
Gaffer tape x 4 rolls

Away from work, I actually shoot a truckload of film on some old (and not-so-old cameras) - I love landscapes and still life photography, along with architecture which I shoot for my job. (Oldest camera I use is from 1916 but it's sweet as.)

Even though we don't get a lot of "downtime", when we do, we do try our utmost to get out for a few hours, just to unwind and shoot some different things, or if it's been a *huge* shoot, just to get away from cameras altogether and chill out.

If something does pop-up, I'll use my iPhone, although I'm currently in the process of searching for a small rangefinder to jam in my pocket, to shoot for "Fun"!!:mrgreen:

 

[UP4014]

It's all about the optics...

I use Canon gear packed in a bag to suit where I'm going, from a Pelican through to a spinner 4 wheeler so it blends in and doesn't look much.

A use a "disposable" tripod, something cheap I can leave behind if it breaks or I run out of space for the return trip.

I also carry two bodies, sometimes three if I'm driving somewhere from home, but usually not less than two. I like the back up and have had them fail, sometimes after dropping !

Usually a wide angle, standard and a couple of teles.

 

[nodabs]

Most of my travel is for Video work so I have a bit of experience with camera gear and overheads. My standard kit as far as carry on is:

Thinktank airport takeoff roller case <----- love this thing
Canon C300 with Zacuto plate for Rails
Canon 70-200 2.8 IS II
Canon 15-55 2.8 IS
Canon 16-35 2.8
Canon 5dMkII
GoPro 4 Black
Sony Video Mic
Sennheiser Lav mic kit (forget the model but old and so far bomb proof)
Plus all the batteries filters and paraphernalia associated

All that fits in every overhead down to but not including a Dash 8 where the bag is protective enough that I'm not *too* nervous of premium hand luggage

My checked baggage changes depending on lights etc required but always contains
Primary Miller tripod
Manfrotto magic arm
Philip Bloom pocket dolly and timelapse rig
CF travel tripod
Rails weights etc for the shoulder rig
Grip kit

Regarding downtime while travelling for filming there really isn't a lot. At best I arrive the night before and get to have a wander around once shooting starts I'm generally only at a location for the time of shooting eg last week was in Dubbo

Day 1 landed @ 12.30pm onsite filming by 1.15pm finished onsite around 5pm download cards start editing etc in bed by 12am
Day 2 Call time 6am outside hotel travelling and filming until 5pm Download cards and was working on the previous project until 11pm
Day 3 7am Call time complete interviews and head to airport 8.30 for flight out

Basically every minute I'm costing my company money by being away has to be justified I still get to film in some pretty amazing places and see some pretty great things so not all bad

 

[irv]

Plus my favourite piece of equipment is my Vello remote control - only $US32 (also from B&H). !

I could of spent a couple of days wandering around B&H, photographers paradise. I use an app called DSLR Controller, it allows you to view through the camera lens up to about 30 Metres away, plus you can use it to time delay. So you can set the shot up, get in the picture, see how it is composed by looking at your phone, then say cheese