What do you carry in your bag?

Andrew Moore

Andrew Moore

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Andrew
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This is one of those how long is a piece of string sort of questions so to make things easier to understand, please state what you do with your photography otherwise who knows why someone carries hundreds of bits of glass and a drone!

Forgive the image quality, it’s from my phone and my phones getting a little long in the tooth...

Up first we have my bag... an absolute beauty and one I will likely never change unless it falls to bits of course!

The Billingham Hadley Pro Large.

05DC9581-C050-4724-8BDB-8D6971221FBE.jpeg


This is quite literally a beast! It’s water resistant although it may as well be listed water proof as you can happily leave these in the rain or a puddle and your kit will stay all snug and dry!

What is it do o keep on this little beauty then? Take a look below and I’ll drop a list!

Inside the bag.

85FB7E94-11E3-4199-BEA1-7D12CB5260C1.jpeg


- Manfrotto 190Go with The Novo CHB-46 ball head. (Spare 391RC2 should it be required is kept in the car)
- Manual cable soft release
- Inspiration and cheat cards
- Manfrotto compact advanced monopod
- Sensor and lens cleaning kit
- Various filters
- Rode Videomic micro
- Fuji EF-X20 flash
- Fuji XPro2 with grip and soft shutter button
- Custom hand made strap with PeakDesign quick release (spare PD3 parts just in case of failure)
- Second cleaning kit with various cloths
- Spare SD cards, AAA batteries, power bank, cables, charge cables/bricks, hot shoe level and large USB Thimb drive
- Charger with spare Fuji batteries
- Fuji 18mm f2 with soft case
- Fuji 23mm f1.4 with soft case
- Fuji 35mm f1.4 with soft case
- Fuji 56mm f1.2 with soft case
- 2017 Microsoft Surface Pro with keyboard case and pen


So what do I do with all that gear (which all fits in that one carry bag) ?

- Basic video as and when for “shorts” as something to do.
- Street photography
- Snaps of strangers
- Landscape and wildlife
- Edits with a cuppa

What would I keep without question?
- I love my XPro2, that custom strap and the 23mm more than anything else there but having variety has its perks!

What would I change?
- I have an iPad Pro 12.9 2017... it has the keyboard case and pen as well as Affinity the same as the surface. I find the iPad more initiative but it’s lack of flexibility and cataloguing as well as the fussy nature of getting images on to it has kept the Surface Pro as the tool of choice. When Apple fix this the windows device will cease to be required.

So what do you lug around with you and why? What’s your favourite bit of kit and what would you change?
 
My Gosh, nothing like that for me.

I often use a cheap man bag with a camera and one lens...

Sony A7 fitted with a prime or 28-70mm kit zoom or
Panasonic MFT with a prime or zoom.
Spare battery.
A cleaning cloth.
Maybe a lens hood.

If I have the luxury of half a day out by myself I'll maybe take an old camcorder bag containing...

A7 with a prime fitted.
One or two more primes.
Spare battery.
Cokin filter holder.
ND/ND's, maybe a poloriser, maybe close up filters.
Maybe a lens hood.

I can't say that I have a particular favorite bit of kit. Sometimes I like a MF 35 or 50mm f1.4 but sometimes I prefer an AF lens, it depends on what/who I want to photograph and how. Mostly I have a subject or shot or maybe a way I want to take pictures in mind and that'll influence my choice of camera and lens. One thing I'd really like is a compact and good AF 35mm f1.8 for my A7. I have a nice compact MF 35mm f1.4 but a similar AF lens would be very nice too.
 
Landscape photography

I take

Nikon D810
Tamron 24-70mm G2
Zeiss 18mm Distagon
Nikon 70-300mm F4.5-F5.6
3 batteries
Nisi filter holder and CPL
Set of ND grads
10 stop Haida filter
Lowepro filter case
Cable release
A panoramic clamp to attach to my ballhead
Manfrotto 055 tripod and ballhead.
Cleaning wipes and other cloths
Rocket blower.
Berghaus Paclite jacket
Berghaus waterproof trousers
Mountain Equipment gaiters
Water bottle
Flask (occasionally)
OS map
Compass
Head torch
iPhone (with downloaded os maps)
Depending on the time of year - hat/gloves
Paracetamol/basic first aid kit
Flapjack or cereal bars.
Occasionally - walking poles.
Camera insert

All contained in a 50L Jack Wolfskin Hiking rucksack

It weighs a ton!
 
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My personal walkabout - I use for travel, street and live music, and anything I don't need to take my pair of Sony A9s and lenses, which go in a Peak Design backpack

Wotancraft Ryker Bag
Hasselblad X1D + XCD 90mm 3.2
Leica Q
PixaPro (Nikon compatible) Li-ion 350II
Spare Batteries
Lens Cloth

Personal Walkabout by dancook1982, on Flickr
 
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I mainly do landscape.
I like to keep my bag as small as possible and all my gear fits into a small Manfrotto backpack.

A72 + 12-24, 24-70, 70-300 and filters in the main compartment and a 10mm lens, A6300 body, RX100 Mk6 and batteries etc in the front pouch.



 
dancook said:
My personal walkabout - I use for travel, street and live music, and anything I don't need to take my pair of Sony A9s and lenses, which go in a Peak Design backpack

Wotancraft Ryker Bag
Hasselblad X1D + XCD 90mm 3.2
Leica Q
PixaPro (Nikon compatible) Li-ion 350II
Spare Batteries
Lens Cloth

Personal Walkabout by dancook1982, on Flickr
Click to expand...

That's just like my Christmas list :) :D
 
For me....

Wandering around town/cities/car meets then I have a Firetrap messenger bag with a perfectly fitting ICU insert. This would carry the A7, Voigtlander 40/1.4, FE85/1.8, a CPL for each plus rocket blower thingy/cloth, batteries...

Landscape/coastal is in a Lowepro Flipside 300. This would carry the A7, FE28-70, FE85/1.8 & maybe the CV40/1.4 if woodland is involved. CPL, ND's, 85mm HE Grad & holder, remote, blower, cloth, batteries, maybe a drink/snacks. Tripod on the back or carry.

Longer distance landscape/all day hiking I have a Manfrotto Off Road 30L. This carries all of the above camera gear plus food, flask, waterproofs, hat, gloves, spare socks, plus room to pack the coat/hoodie once it warms up. Really comfortable bag but not really able to carry the tripod on it.
 
I have a Canon 5D mkII and a Canon 50D, as well as five EF lenses
16 - 35mm f 2.8
24 - 105mm f 4
70 - 200mm f 2.8
300mm f 4
50mm f 1.4
I tend to use the 5D with the wide angle's for landscape, the 50D with the telephoto's for wild life, and the 50mm on the 5D as a walkabout lens. I hardly ever take both cameras out together, to heavy. All these lenses except the 50mm use 70mm filters, I have a skylight and a polarizer which goes in a pocket along with a couple of batteries and a cable release. I tend to use a been bag a lot, i do have a tripod - an old Bembo - I can't remember the last time I took it out of the house. I use a couple of Tenba BYOB bags to carry things in, they just go inside an ordinary rucksack along with what ever clothing I need.

Recently I've brought a Canon EOS 50M with 15 - 45mm and 55 - 200mm lenses along with a Sirui T-025X tripod as a very lightweight set up for traveling, I haven't been away with it yet but i'm really liking it.
 
For me it is more a question of weight than anything else.usually I only have my Tamrac system 6 bag for camera and 24-70 lens as well as camcorder and few bits and piece. This is my travelling bag

i also have a Tamrac Stratus 21 which can holds a lot more, ie 2 cameras and several lenses, but it is back down to this weight thing so only goes on location shots .
 
woof woof said:
My Gosh, nothing like that for me.

I often use a cheap man bag with a camera and one lens...

Sony A7 fitted with a prime or 28-70mm kit zoom or
Panasonic MFT with a prime or zoom.
Spare battery.
A cleaning cloth.
Maybe a lens hood.

If I have the luxury of half a day out by myself I'll maybe take an old camcorder bag containing...

A7 with a prime fitted.
One or two more primes.
Spare battery.
Cokin filter holder.
ND/ND's, maybe a poloriser, maybe close up filters.
Maybe a lens hood.

I can't say that I have a particular favorite bit of kit. Sometimes I like a MF 35 or 50mm f1.4 but sometimes I prefer an AF lens, it depends on what/who I want to photograph and how. Mostly I have a subject or shot or maybe a way I want to take pictures in mind and that'll influence my choice of camera and lens. One thing I'd really like is a compact and good AF 35mm f1.8 for my A7. I have a nice compact MF 35mm f1.4 but a similar AF lens would be very nice too.
Click to expand...

Thanks for kick starting the replies, I wasn’t sure if I had even posted the thread as I’d had no notifications!

A slightly lighter set up when your going all out but it’s nice to see I’m not the only one who’s gone a little mad..

The 35mm f1.8 with AF I think is a must if I had your kit as it’s basically my 23mm f1.4 when you consider dof and crop multiplier. I had an old mf 25mm that I played with to see if I was happy with the focal length before spending out but I am glad I did and I’m sure you would welcome the AF too if it’s already on your tick box or wants.

Birdy06 said:
Landscape photography

I take

Nikon D810
Tamron 24-70mm G2
Zeiss 18mm Distagon
Nikon 70-300mm F4.5-F5.6
3 batteries
Nisi filter holder and CPL
Set of ND grads
10 stop Haida filter
Lowepro filter case
Cable release
A panoramic clamp to attach to my ballhead
Manfrotto 055 tripod and ballhead.
Cleaning wipes and other cloths
Rocket blower.
Berghaus Paclite jacket
Berghaus waterproof trousers
Mountain Equipment gaiters
Water bottle
Flask (occasionally)
OS map
Compass
Head torch
iPhone (with downloaded os maps)
Depending on the time of year - hat/gloves
Paracetamol/basic first aid kit
Flapjack or cereal bars.
Occasionally - walking poles.
Camera insert

All contained in a 50L Jack Wolfskin Hiking rucksack

It weighs a ton!
Click to expand...

Rather your back than mine! That must weigh in at near twice what mine comes in at. I can see it’s a proper rucksack so it’s on your back at least.. you’ll stay fit even if you don’t come back with the photos you wanted!!

dancook said:
My personal walkabout - I use for travel, street and live music, and anything I don't need to take my pair of Sony A9s and lenses, which go in a Peak Design backpack

Wotancraft Ryker Bag
Hasselblad X1D + XCD 90mm 3.2
Leica Q
PixaPro (Nikon compatible) Li-ion 350II
Spare Batteries
Lens Cloth

Personal Walkabout by dancook1982, on Flickr
Click to expand...

I was saying up for that HB MF you have right there but with the newly announced fat XE3 by Fuji I’ll probs go down that route. How are you finding it?

Kiwi Paul said:
I mainly do landscape.
I like to keep my bag as small as possible and all my gear fits into a small Manfrotto backpack.

A72 + 12-24, 24-70, 70-300 and filters in the main compartment and a 10mm lens, A6300 body, RX100 Mk6 and batteries etc in the front pouch.



Click to expand...

That’s still a sizeable amount of kit. How come the three cameras?

LeeRatters said:
For me....

Wandering around town/cities/car meets then I have a Firetrap messenger bag with a perfectly fitting ICU insert. This would carry the A7, Voigtlander 40/1.4, FE85/1.8, a CPL for each plus rocket blower thingy/cloth, batteries...

Landscape/coastal is in a Lowepro Flipside 300. This would carry the A7, FE28-70, FE85/1.8 & maybe the CV40/1.4 if woodland is involved. CPL, ND's, 85mm HE Grad & holder, remote, blower, cloth, batteries, maybe a drink/snacks. Tripod on the back or carry.

Longer distance landscape/all day hiking I have a Manfrotto Off Road 30L. This carries all of the above camera gear plus food, flask, waterproofs, hat, gloves, spare socks, plus room to pack the coat/hoodie once it warms up. Really comfortable bag but not really able to carry the tripod on it.
Click to expand...

Carrying a tripod on the Billingham can be a pain too.. I’ve resorted to opening one of the legs, sliding it over the top handle and then closing it and locking it off so it doesn’t go anywhere. I’m sure there are neater solutions out there but having it dangle off of the side has given me some sore legs in the past.. now I just get a prod in the side from time to time.

OwenM said:
I have a Canon 5D mkII and a Canon 50D, as well as five EF lenses
16 - 35mm f 2.8
24 - 105mm f 4
70 - 200mm f 2.8
300mm f 4
50mm f 1.4
I tend to use the 5D with the wide angle's for landscape, the 50D with the telephoto's for wild life, and the 50mm on the 5D as a walkabout lens. I hardly ever take both cameras out together, to heavy. All these lenses except the 50mm use 70mm filters, I have a skylight and a polarizer which goes in a pocket along with a couple of batteries and a cable release. I tend to use a been bag a lot, i do have a tripod - an old Bembo - I can't remember the last time I took it out of the house. I use a couple of Tenba BYOB bags to carry things in, they just go inside an ordinary rucksack along with what ever clothing I need.

Recently I've brought a Canon EOS 50M with 15 - 45mm and 55 - 200mm lenses along with a Sirui T-025X tripod as a very lightweight set up for traveling, I haven't been away with it yet but i'm really liking it.
Click to expand...

I think you’ll be surprised at how quick the little canon mirrorless is. The lens range is a bit of a sore point at the minute though from what I’ve heard off of people.

realspeed said:
For me it is more a question of weight than anything else.usually I only have my Tamrac system 6 bag for camera and 24-70 lens as well as camcorder and few bits and piece. This is my travelling bag

i also have a Tamrac Stratus 21 which can holds a lot more, ie 2 cameras and several lenses, but it is back down to this weight thing so only goes on location shots .
Click to expand...

How are you finding the Tamrac bags?
 
Andrew Moore said:
I was saying up for that HB MF you have right there but with the newly announced fat XE3 by Fuji I’ll probs go down that route. How are you finding it?
Click to expand...

The image quality, colour, sharpness, and ISO - all amazing :) I also love the camera handling and design.

I use it a lot for live music, so it gets a damn good workout from me.

There are a couple of niggles that occasional make it feel like a prototype - but I'll keep this camera for a long time to come I think...
 
As little a possible here. I have 4 camera bags, 2 are only used for storage really, they're left over from my FF gear days, too big and bulky for my liking nowadays. I have a cheap messenger style bag that fits camera, 2 lenses and flash, I can also get a mini tripod, rocket blower, spare batts and cards in there.
 
nothing ,dont need a bag these days with MFT if it rains stick it in a carrier bag . simples init
 
sorry not to have replied earlier Andrew

The system 6 has been with me absolutely on every trip and fits well into overhead plane lockers although i keep it on the floor. They are well made this one i have had for many years and nothing broke,zips as good as new etc.

H5xP6Ex.jpg

Nikon D810 with grip+24-70mm lens and camcorder also 50mm lens. possible to get another lens in if this one not attached to camera, but not a 70-200mm lens

Tamrac Stratus 21 (roughly packed to give some idea) space underneath the D300 as well for another lens etc
2 cameras (one with battery pack) - sb900 flash gun- Nikon 70-200mm lens- tamron 90mm lens- Nikon 50mm lens- Nikon 24-120mm lens
5paJ893.jpg

Then tere is the side pockets and zip up on the top. Never had any problems with Tamrac so worth considering

For bigger shoots everything gets put into my 4 peli cases which takes everything
 
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dancook said:
The image quality, colour, sharpness, and ISO - all amazing :) I also love the camera handling and design.

I use it a lot for live music, so it gets a damn good workout from me.

There are a couple of niggles that occasional make it feel like a prototype - but I'll keep this camera for a long time to come I think...
Click to expand...

I was rather impressed with the IQ of the Fuji which I’d imagine is very similar. I just thought the Fuji SLR type body was a bit bulky when compared to the HB so always wanted to have a proper look down the route but it’s the cost that gets a little on the high side for me. The new Fuji one fits my style perfectly (how it looks etc) so it’ll be the one I may have a proper look for once I’ve handled etc at the photography show etc.

Raymond Lin said:
OP, how big is that bag? It fits a manfrotto 190 inside?! :p
Click to expand...

I have to take the head off but yea it fits! The 190 is the go with the shorter legs (it’s 4 piece telescopic rather than 3) so isn’t all that big really.

realspeed said:
sorry not to have replied earlier Andrew

The system 6 has been with me absolutely on every trip and fits well into overhead plane lockers although i keep it on the floor. They are well made this one i have had for many years and nothing broke,zips as good as new etc.

H5xP6Ex.jpg

Nikon D810 with grip+24-70mm lens and camcorder also 50mm lens. possible to get another lens in if this one not attached to camera, but not a 70-200mm lens

Tamrac Stratus 21 (roughly packed to give some idea) space underneath the D300 as well for another lens etc
2 cameras (one with battery pack) - sb900 flash gun- Nikon 70-200mm lens- tamron 90mm lens- Nikon 50mm lens- Nikon 24-120mm lens
5paJ893.jpg

Then tere is the side pockets and zip up on the top. Never had any problems with Tamrac so worth considering

For bigger shoots everything gets put into my 4 peli cases which takes everything
Click to expand...

Not a problem, I appreciate the reply! My dads looking for a good quality bag and keeps steering towards samsomite as the Billingham stuff is too hipster according to him! These look like the kind of bags he likes and from what I’ve seen they do look well made. I’ve just never met anyone with one who can provide and honest opinion but the guys at Wex seem to approve of them.
 
For wildlife from a hide. Think tank Airport Accelerator with 1DX2 and 500 f4 and either D850 with 200 - 500 or 5D4 with 100 - 400 MkII. Bloody heavy!!

Walkabout wildlife. No bag D850 and 200 - 500

Landscape. An old Lowepro with 5D4, Samyang 14mm, Canon 17 - 40, Canon 24 - 70 MkII and a few Lee filters.
 
I won't list what I take for a job because that's just everything but for fun, I try and limited to whatever fits into this.

It can fit 1 body, 3 primes and bits.

gNf0P6r.jpg


H0LcWv9.jpg
 
Here's my rather meagre bag and its contents
Panasonic GX9
PanaLeica 15mm and 25mm
Olympus 12mm and 45mm
Couple of screw on hoods, 37mm and 46mm (with retro rubber cap)
Strap (wrist and neck)
Lens pen,cloth and wipes
Spare battery and memory card
Card reader with micro usb plug to back up on tablet or phone

Bag is a Tenba BYOB 9 which gets carried in my rucksack along with all the other stuff needed for a day or longer out.
Just out of interest I weighed the bag and contents, comes in at 1498g or 3.3lbs

Bag.jpg
 
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My usual bag are either Lowepro Passport sling or a Lowepro Photo hatchback 16l.

I tend to take my Panasonic G80 with 12-60 attached and a 25mm and a 7.5mm fisheye.

If it's for a local walk it all goes in the passport sling with a Gorillapod 3k.

For longer walks I take the photo hatchback and I also take my Hitech Formatt 85mm filter holder, filters and a Giotto's carbon fibre tripod.

I am looking for a better backpack solution as I find the Lowepro a bit sweaty on my back, tempted to try a proper walking backpack with a Tenba BYOB insert.
 
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ian-83 said:
My usual bag are either Lowepro Passport sling or a Lowepro Photo hatchback 16l.

I tend to take my Panasonic G80 with 12-60 attached and a 25mm and a 7.5mm fisheye.

If it's for a local walk it all goes in the passport sling with a Gorillapod 3k.

For longer walks I take the photo hatchback and I also take my Hitech Formatt 85mm filter holder, filters and a Giotto's carbon fibre tripod.

I am looking for a better backpack solution as I find the Lowepro a bit sweaty on my back, tempted to try a proper walking backpack with a Tenba BYOB insert.
Click to expand...

Proper rucksack is my preferred option, something like an Osprey with a mesh frame that keeps it away from your back.
 
tijuana taxi said:
Proper rucksack is my preferred option, something like an Osprey with a mesh frame that keeps it away from your back.
Click to expand...

That and Lowe alpine ones I have been having a look at. Probably better built than a camera bag.
 
ian-83 said:
That and Lowe alpine ones I have been having a look at. Probably better built than a camera bag.
Click to expand...

Gregory are another brand worth looking at, if you like long days out get one with a dedicated space for a water bladder.
Don't have to fill them right up and more convenient than bottles, when you don't take one the space is handy for a tablet or laptop.
 
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