How Many Members Carry a Laptop in Their Camera Bag?

[Haldir]

Looking at camera bags lately, even the budget ones, the manufacturers seem obsessed with putting laptop divides in. For me, they take space away from what a camera bag should be,
a camera bag. This bag in the link from Amazon Basics looks really good value for money, especially for someone with basic kit, who no doubt it'll be aimed at. But why the laptop divide!
Get rid, increase the height of the main divides and put cut outs in to support camera and lens...So is it me being a fuddy-duddy, or does everyone carry a laptop as well nowadays?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AmazonBasi...ies-interior/dp/B00CF5OHZ2?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_3

 

[woof woof]

Not even when going on holiday. I put documents in the laptop/tablet section.

 

[toohuge]

I carry a laptop with me when I travel and usually use the pocket in my camera bag. The prime reason being - I usually, if possible, edit out the photos when I'm out and about as I don't like having a huge backlog when I return home. It's also nice if I see close family / friends that I can get the shots out quickly and share them, hopefully before I leave.

 

[wyx087]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AmazonBasi...ies-interior/dp/B00CF5OHZ2?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_3

This doesn't look too bad. You can keep a notepad or spare batteries in the tablet computer section. Also good for lens caps, light reflector, filters, SD card wallet, etc.

Same as toohuge, when going on holiday, I don't like having too huge () backlog of photos to process. This also ensures if unfortunate things happen, you still have a backup back at the hotel room. So I carry my 11inch MBA in my Hadly Pro as carry-on luggage.

 

[Tirpitz]

If i was covering a weekend long event i would take a laptop in my campervan.
it would depend on the event & how quickly files needed to be processed.
I have shot a live event where we were shooting JPEG & the images were being used as is, we were just going to the media suite during breaks in the proceedings & letting them download our cards. i think the images were then quicky weeded for the better ones, batch watermarked & uploaded to the news website covering the event..
But without such urgency i would shoot RAW & process on laptop in the evening

 

[Haldir]

Not even when going on holiday. I put documents in the laptop/tablet section.

That makes sense Alan...When I proposed to our lass, I carried the ring inside my camera bag all week waiting for that moment. That was a small cross body
bag, just big enough for a small camera and something special...

I carry a laptop with me when I travel and usually use the pocket in my camera bag. The prime reason being - I usually, if possible, edit out the photos when I'm out and about as I don't like having a huge backlog when I return home. It's also nice if I see close family / friends that I can get the shots out quickly and share them, hopefully before I leave.

That makes sense too toohuge. I can see the advantage for travel and holidays, it's almost like a camera bag becoming a suitcase. But do you leave the laptop where you're staying
when out taking shots? I do have a laptop back pack, not that I've used it, but I was surprised how much it weighed when I first put the laptop in with the weight of the power lead
etc and a few stationary items. Couldn't image trying squeeze all that in to a camera bag as well.

 

[DinkyDarwin]

I have never carried a laptop when out with the camera, but if I am out for more than two days I will have the laptop in the back of the van and sit in their in the evening editing etc.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

I have several bags and all were chosen because they have a pocket to take an iPad or small laptop. There are many reasons why I don't go far without one or the other. One is that I can back my images onto the device and that alone makes me happy to carry the extra weight.

 

[Haldir]

If i was covering a weekend long event i would take a laptop in my campervan.
it would depend on the event & how quickly files needed to be processed.
I have shot a live event where we were shooting JPEG & the images were being used as is, we were just going to the media suite during breaks in the proceedings & letting them download our cards. i think the images were then quicky weeded for the better ones, batch watermarked & uploaded to the news website covering the event..
But without such urgency i would shoot RAW & process on laptop in the evening

Now you're talking. I watched a YouTube video a while back. The lad was a landscape photographer and had a lovely looking camper van that he had had
built to make life easy.
Sounds very exciting being on a shoot like that. I can't remember what they're called now, but a few press lads used to carry these huge alloy cases for wiring
images. I'm sure they used to cost around £20,000, may be a lot more. Besides that and your camera gear, you needed developing equipment too.

 

[AZ6]

The only computer I'd travel with is an iPad (mainly for watching films on the 'plane/train really). I'm not going to be away for so long I'd need a 'proper' computer anyway. I do have a camera bag that has a laptop pocket, but I've only used it a couple of times, and not taken the iPad with me anyway. I'd hate to have the kind of life that tethered me to a computer wherever I went.

 

[davidy233]

Sounds very exciting being on a shoot like that. I can't remember what they're called now, but a few press lads used to carry these huge alloy cases for wiring
images. I'm sure they used to cost around £20,000, may be a lot more. Besides that and your camera gear, you needed developing equipment too.

Press guys still carry incredible equipment to wire images - I believe they are normally called mobile phones nowadays

As far as your original question. I nearly always have a laptop in the camera bag i have with me - if I'm photographing football then I need to send the images - if I'm on a business trip then I'll usually have to process and send images too, and I might need access to my image library to supply a client - if I'm on holiday then I'll usually be photographing wildlife and I'll edit the pics while the wife watches TV in the hotel late in the evening.

 

[Haldir]

I have several bags and all were chosen because they have a pocket to take an iPad or small laptop. There are many reasons why I don't go far without one or the other. One is that I can back my images onto the device and that alone makes me happy to carry the extra weight.

View attachment 276004

I like that Andrew. It gives me a feeling of traveling light but with everything you need to get images back to the picture desk...

 

[andrewc]

For some of my photo jobs I have to release images pretty quickly, so I take a laptop with me. Whilst normally I take my laptop bag, and set up in the back of my motorhome, if I'm flying overseas, laptop goes in camera bag in the cabin, and an overnight bag in the hold.

 

[Haldir]

Press guys still carry incredible equipment to wire images - I believe they are normally called mobile phones nowadays

As far as your original question. I nearly always have a laptop in the camera bag i have with me - if I'm photographing football then I need to send the images - if I'm on a business trip then I'll usually have to process and send images too, and I might need access to my image library to supply a client - if I'm on holiday then I'll usually be photographing wildlife and I'll edit the pics while the wife watches TV in the hotel late in the evening.

Our answer to laptops were couriers on very fast bikes, and I think some of them were faster than the wire system. Nothing bloody worst than an itchy biker stood behind you waiting for a roll of film though
So there's a pattern emerging, and they're very handy for travel/holidays/work, when all your gear is stowed away...

 

[tijuana taxi]

I have several bags and all were chosen because they have a pocket to take an iPad or small laptop. There are many reasons why I don't go far without one or the other. One is that I can back my images onto the device and that alone makes me happy to carry the extra weight.

View attachment 276004

Same for me, I take a tablet to back up on when away, usually a Samsung Tab S2 8" with 128gb micro SD card
Fits albeit tightly in the back of my Retrospective 5, doesn't add much weight either

 

[toohuge]

That makes sense Alan...When I proposed to our lass, I carried the ring inside my camera bag all week waiting for that moment. That was a small cross body
bag, just big enough for a small camera and something special...



That makes sense too toohuge. I can see the advantage for travel and holidays, it's almost like a camera bag becoming a suitcase. But do you leave the laptop where you're staying
when out taking shots? I do have a laptop back pack, not that I've used it, but I was surprised how much it weighed when I first put the laptop in with the weight of the power lead
etc and a few stationary items. Couldn't image trying squeeze all that in to a camera bag as well.

I leave my laptop and some lenses where I'm staying... I don't see the point in carrying the laptop with me out and about - but like others on here, like the reassurance that I can back up images immediately. Furthermore, as I find myself free in the evenings usually, if I edit out the photos and set them to upload overnight (most hotel wifi is sufficient for his) then I can wake up the next day with fully backed up images and ready to go again.
That said, there are times where I have travelled with most of my gear only to never take it out of the case / bag - that does happen!

I should add.... usually when I travel, I take my pelican 1510 for camera stuff and a backpack for my other carryon items - when I get to where I'm going, I usually leave the pelican and take what I need for the day in my backpack - so laptop etc stays in the hotel.

 

[DG Phototraining]

I can probably get a 17" lappy in mine

Never even considered doing so and never will, it's a daft idea

Dave

 

[Tirpitz]

I'd say much like anything it's down to the needs you have at the time...

 

[Haldir]

I can probably get a 17" lappy in mine

Never even considered doing so and never will, it's a daft idea

Dave

I'm beginning to see a couple of advantages Dave, certainly for work and may be photographic holidays, but even then I think I'd prefer to keep
everything separate...I just think having looked at so many bags over the past couple of weeks, that manufacturers have forgotten what a camera
bag is for most folk.

For me, this is what a camera bag should look like internally, and if you have to carry a laptop/tablet have it in a separate compartment like the larger bag.

 

[Raymond Lin]

Not on a shoot, or out shooting.

If i am travelling between A-B, i may have a laptop with me for more reasons than processing / back up photos but never on the day, it's pointless. If i am in a bind i can send it to my phone and edit stuff there at a pinch.

 

[Haldir]

Not on a shoot, or out shooting.

If i am travelling between A-B, i may have a laptop with me for more reasons than processing / back up photos but never on the day, it's pointless. If i am in a bind i can send it to my phone and edit stuff there at a pinch.

I downloaded SnapBridge a couple of weeks back Raymond thinking I was getting a D5600, and thought that would be handy for seeing images a little larger.
As it turned out I bought a D7000 so deleted SnapBridge, but haven't looked to see if there's an alternative way of using the phone to view images. Saying that,
I'm on Android 6 which seems a little out of date...

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

I do not own a laptop. but I do not even take my Tablet.
However a modern phone is pretty much a powerful pocket computer these days.
I have android 9.1 on mine which is enough for me

 

[Haldir]

I do not own a laptop. but I do not even take my Tablet.
However a modern phone is pretty much a powerful pocket computer these days.
I have android 9.1 on mine which is enough for me

I would like to upgrade the mobile Terry. I got all excited when I upgraded to Windows 10 (Wish I hadn't mind) and it said I could link to my phone,
until it found out it was Android 6...Thing is, I don't really use my phone that much, may be now I have a camera that might change if I see any benefits.

 

[Cockney]

I would like to upgrade the mobile Terry. I got all excited when I upgraded to Windows 10 (Wish I hadn't mind) and it said I could link to my phone,
until it found out it was Android 6...Thing is, I don't really use my phone that much, may be now I have a camera that might change if I see any benefits.

What's your problem with win10?

 

[Haldir]

What's your problem with win10?

It's made my laptop so slow Brian, nearly everything has become a real bloody chore. I upgraded the ram to 8 GB which is the maximum it'll take, and I saw some
improvements. I've deleted three Microsoft updates since January, one of which made it so painful to use, I hardly switched it on for several days. Even now using
Elements it's constantly buffering, and if I have a window open, I regularly get, Opera Not Responding...I had Windows 7 Pro for years with hardly any problems.

 

[AZ6]

What's your problem with win10?

My partner's TabTop™ updated itself to Win10, and it's been almost unusable ever since. I'm going to try to reinstall Win8 onto it. Cos at least it worked.

Ah, Microsoft. The reason I use Macs...

 

[swanseamale47]

I have occasionally carried a laptop, but normally only if I know I'm going to need it as part of a job, or need it for emailing stuff while I'm away from base.
I don't see the point of carrying more weight than I have to if I'm not going to be using it.

 

[Haldir]

My partner's TabTop™ updated itself to Win10, and it's been almost unusable ever since. I'm going to try to reinstall Win8 onto it. Cos at least it worked.

Ah, Microsoft. The reason I use Macs...

I keep thinking about going back to Windows 2007, I found it far more user friendly overall. It's just the lack of security updates that concerned me. I bank online, but other than that,
anyone who hacked my laptop would find it very boring

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

I keep thinking about going back to Windows 2007,

I've suffered under Windows since 3.1 and every new version seems to me to be yet another step closer to the pit.

Apart from that it's OK...

 

[hunnymonster]

anyone who hacked my laptop would find it very boring

Unless you use it for shopping or banking - in which case it becomes very interesting indeed.

 

[ancient_mariner]

I keep thinking about going back to Windows 2007, I found it far more user friendly overall. It's just the lack of security updates that concerned me. I bank online, but other than that,
anyone who hacked my laptop would find it very boring

So your laptop would be a PERFECT target then.

I carry a laptop with me when travelling - have a Manfrotto bag that combines camera & lens space & an external laptop pocket. I wouldn't otherwise though - who needs another 1.2kg?

 

[Haldir]

So your laptop would be a PERFECT target then.

I carry a laptop with me when travelling - have a Manfrotto bag that combines camera & lens space & an external laptop pocket. I wouldn't otherwise though - who needs another 1.2kg?

Unless you use it for shopping or banking - in which case it becomes very interesting indeed.

Point taken

 

[Cockney]

It's made my laptop so slow Brian, nearly everything has become a real bloody chore. I upgraded the ram to 8 GB which is the maximum it'll take, and I saw some
improvements. I've deleted three Microsoft updates since January, one of which made it so painful to use, I hardly switched it on for several days. Even now using
Elements it's constantly buffering, and if I have a window open, I regularly get, Opera Not Responding...I had Windows 7 Pro for years with hardly any problems.

Every 6 months win10 has a new version. If you're not on the latest issue win 10 will keep looking and downloading updates.
You're missing out on both functionality and speed.
Google win 10 media creation tool. Download and run it. Choose the option to upgrade to latest version. It will take a while to do but will skip all the interim junk.
It's practically a clean install but saves all your data and progs.

 

[Dangerous]

My partner's TabTop™ updated itself to Win10, and it's been almost unusable ever since. I'm going to try to reinstall Win8 onto it. Cos at least it worked.

Ah, Microsoft. The reason I use Macs...

I liked windows 7 at the time. Several friends bought new computers with Windows 8 and after a while asked me to upgrade them to Windows 7 which I did.
I waited a few month before moving to Windows 10 and would hate to go back to an earlier version. Had a few teething troubles in the first 12 months but since then no bother (except with 1909 which I got sorted in about 2 weeks).

I prefer a backpack to leave my arms free when out walking but my biggest problem is finding a way to carry a tripod with gimbal and mt 150-600 mm zoom and a full https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B019MI8I6S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 backpack.

 

[ancient_mariner]

This is the bag I use most of the time (there are others) which seems like it might do what you want:



https://www.manfrotto.com/uk-en/advanced-camera-messenger-befree-black-top-opening-mb-ma-m-a/

Cost me £30 with an offer - the £99 on the website is ridiculous. It can comfortably take a camera with zoom attached either horizontally or vertically (as shown) as well as plenty of lenses, tripod etc. And it has that external zipped pocket for a laptop that doesn't impinge at all on internal space.

I also use one like this quite a lot, but I bought a larger insert to make full use of the bag interior, since the original insert was a loose fit & wasted space.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/CADeN-Messenger-Waterproof-Photography-Crossbody/dp/B06XG11LZD/ref=sr_1_1?

 

[drsilver]

When I travel, I always take a laptop. But when I'm actively shooting, I never need a laptop. So, there is no reason for me to ever store the camera gear and the laptop together.

I carry my cameras in a Domke F-2 and my laptop in a Think Tank Artificial Intelligence bag. The TTAI bag isn't much more than a sleeve, fits in a backpack or duffel bag or suitcase, and I leave it wherever I'm staying. I try to keep my camera bag as light as possible and a dedicated laptop space adds weight and takes up room, even if it's empty.

 

[DG Phototraining]

I'm beginning to see a couple of advantages Dave, certainly for work and may be photographic holidays, but even then I think I'd prefer to keep
everything separate...I just think having looked at so many bags over the past couple of weeks, that manufacturers have forgotten what a camera
bag is for most folk.

For me, this is what a camera bag should look like internally, and if you have to carry a laptop/tablet have it in a separate compartment like the larger bag.

[/QUOTE

My 'Wedding' bag that I carry with me all day has 3 bodies, 5 lenses, 3 flashguns and assorted accessories - the last thing I want is a bloody laptop in there too lol

My 'fun' bag has 2 bodies and 3 lenses - sarnies and drinks - no room for a lappy

Dave

 

[KIPAX]

I'd say much like anything it's down to the needs you have at the time...

I take a laptop and the devide is a godsend But then again I usually have to send pictures to the paper or clients during a job ..so as said.. needs must

 

[riddell]

As others have said it all entails what you need for that particular job. I usually have 2 bags of camera kit, plus several lighting bags, so obviously I have a separate tablet / laptop bag as well. Generally I always take 2 tablets / laptops as you need a backup.

On some lightweight jobs, I actually stuff some camera equipment in the laptop bag, so I'm doing it the other way around ;-)

 

[steveb]

I have a backpack and 2 shoulder bags with laptop sleeves. My standard bag contains 2 D750 bodies with 24-70 and 70-300 lenses fitted, and usually a 2014 11" i7 MacBook Air. The MBA is light, has good battery life and it great for quick edits and uploading 10-20 images, although I wouldn't want to use it all day. If I'm traveling really light and not shooting in challenging circumstances, I'm trialling a Sony RX100 Mk7 and phone combination.