Just Curious

[Rae]

When you carry your camera with you, is it in your bag with lens off? Or, is it out with your favorite lens on?

It seems like if you see a shot that by the time you take your camera out and put the lens on, your chance for the shot could be gone. At the same time, if you are driving, I can see where it could be an accident waiting to happen if the camera is out and a lens mounted to it. I mean, what if you had to stop suddenly. The camera could go flying, lens and all.

TIA

[Triglav]

Most of my time I wander around in a nature reserve close to my house. I have the camera on my tripod with the Canon 70-200 on. The reason is very simple. If I spot a deer, I don't have time to switch lenses. If I see a nice landscape, it will wait there quietly until I changed my 70-300 for my 18-55.

[wulf]

I've only got the one lens at the moment but I think that, even if I had a choice, I would carry it around with the lens I most expected to use in place - not least, that would be to minimise the times the lens comes on and off in potentially dusty environments.

Wulf

[Saralonde]

I don't carry it with me as much as I should, but when I do, I carry it with the lens on. Much easier to take a quick shot, less likely to expose the camera to dust while attaching a lens.

[alissasanderson]

Lens on. Typically when I go wandering, I don't even take the camera bag or tripod, even though I know I should. I leave them in the truck. Camera, and a beanbag for balancing it on. Sometimes I'll stick a spare lens in my coat pocket, but come spring even that won't be an option.

[mdwsta4]

one lens is always on. i don't see the point of carrying it around with the lens detached. not only that, i try to change lenses as little as possible for the situation. this helps keep dust and other debris off my sensor. i have cleaning supplies, but i'd rather clean it less often. changing lenses outdoors or in an area with more debris in the air only contributes to a dirty sensor.

[PnwGuy]

I drive around all day to homes and businesses and I take my camera with me. I don't get to use it every day (too busy or weather), but I have it with me.

I keep my walkaround lens on the camera in my Lowepro Slingshot 200 bag. I love that bag as it allows me to keep the lens on, and keep it in the bag in case I have to brake hard. I also keep my extra lenses in it just in case I have some time to kill and need them for specific shots.

I will admit that I do worry about my car being broken into so depending upon my travels for the day I will sometimes keep it in the trunk, out of view and temptation.

[Nicole]

I keep my camera in the bag with a lens on. Usually I consider what I'll be looking for that day and pick a lens accordingly to keep on my camera. Sometimes I'll keep one or two other lenses in the bag as well in case I want to use something different. Regardless though I always have a lens on the body so that if I need to pull the camera out, it's ready.

[carlthuringer]

Recently I've been caught at least 7 times in a row unprepared (within an hour) to take an amazing shot.
So the lesson learned: Keep that camera ready for the unexpected when you've got it on you, don't keep it in a bag.

[Rae]

Thanks so much everyone. Believe I will be taking my camera out of the bag and keeping a lens on it. I'm sure I will continue to worry about a sudden hard stop in rush hour traffic but....... Also, PnwGuy, going to check out that bag of yours.