What's in your camera bag?

[NathanFranke]

I need a new camera bag, because my current ones suck. I need to know how big I should go, because I don't want to spend more than I need (Thinktank retrospective 30 is $190, and I might not need that much space). What do you carry in your go-to bags?

I have 3 camera bags. One is a huge backpack with a bunch of film stuff-2 slrs, a tlr, several toy cameras, film, a light meter, etc. It's big. It's heavy when full. I currently use it for storing all my film stuff because if I actually used it, it would be inconvenient. I'd have to stop, take it off, find a flat place to put it, unzip everything, get what I need, and then reverse the process every time I need to change gear or swap filters, lenses, memory cards, etc.

I have two others that are much smaller. They can hold one slr, and one short-ish telephoto lens or one small lens and one speedlight snugly. Things are tight. Both have pockets for all the other stuff-sd cards, filters, cable release, etc.

In my pipe dream, I carry one slr, one or two lenses, a speedlight, and a gorillapod. If necessary, I can carry a spare body and a spare speedlight for actual jobs where I need the extra gear. I want one bag that can do this.

Am I wanting to carry too much gear? Is there a smaller bag that can carry that?

Out of curiosity, what's in your own bag?

[autofocus]

When we go out on a job, we believe it's best to have redundancy. We have a fairly large Tenba bag that, fully loaded, weighs in around 30+ lbs. 2 DSLR bodies, 6-8 lenses, 2 speedlights, extra batteries, various filters, 2 radio triggers, a Sekonic meter, bunch of CF memory cards, and cleaning cloths. Outside the bag: 1 lightstand, 1 small softbox, 2 large reflectors and 1 small reflector/gray card combo, occasionally a step stool and props...phew! Sometimes we'll use a collapsible push cart to haul it all, and sometimes the photographer's assistant lugs it...and that be me

[Niresangwa]

We take 3 bags out with us...

The main bag, a backpack holds the 3 bodies & their lenses, I also have 4 other lenses in there as well as a bracket and the stupid little stuff like cards.

The secondary, a messenger bag, holds the 3 flashes, wireless gear, mini-pod, extra batteries and the video light.

The third bag is just the transport bag for the beauty dish, the flash and bracket for it, and the monopod I use as a boom. Once the BD is put together, this bag becomes the storage bag for extra lights I won't be using, and #2 just holds stuff I will use (usually a 200mm prime, and the second flash and minipod).

We leave the brolly and tripods in the car. Don't use them on location and really only see the light of day at wedding receptions.

I've toyed with the idea of a larger pelican hardcase that rolls, but really until I really need it, I don't want to get one..

[Bronksman]

Starting as an amateur in photography, What should one have in his bag?
I have a Nikon D5100 16.2MP DSLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm & 55-200mm VR Lens. I also have 2 batteries and a couple of SDHC 8 Gig cards.

What can you recommend for starters to had to my bag for my new hobby?

Thanks!

--------
Michel aka Bronksman

[scootermcq]

Main Bag

Here is what I will carry to a typical wedding


2 D300's
17-50 f2.8
80-200 f2.8
50 f1.4
6.5mm f3.5
18-200 (back-up)
2x SB900's
2x SB600's
Gells
Flash Modifiers
Stroboframe w cord
100 Gig of CF cards
Hyperdrive (onsite card back-up)
Assorted Filters (ND, CPOL etc)
40 rechargeable AA
Dozen Disposable AA
2 Spare Camera batteries
External Battery packs SB900
Wireless Triggers
LCD Loupe
Cloths & Cleaners
(Above is in Pelican Case)
3x Strobes
2 Stands
1 Extendable Light Stick
3 x Brolley Boxes
2 x Convertable Umbrellas
Extension Cords
Vagabond II
(Above in light case)
Large Reflector
Large Diffuser
Tripod (Probably never get used)
Blackrapid Double
Lowepro S&F belt with pouches

Change of Shirt
Cooler with water & snacks
Pack of Smokes
Asprin

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by Bronksman

Starting as an amateur in photography, What should one have in his bag?
I have a Nikon D5100 16.2MP DSLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm & 55-200mm VR Lens. I also have 2 batteries and a couple of SDHC 8 Gig cards.

What can you recommend for starters to had to my bag for my new hobby?

Thanks!

--------
Michel aka Bronksman

As a hobby, nothing more for now. As your hobby grows, and the type of photography you are most interested in evolves, you may want to add to your lens collection accordingly. A speedlight is always a good investment along with the quintessential, ever popular fast 50

[OsmosisStudios]

Depends on usage.

Here's the *general* breakdown. The lovely thing about all this is that it's modular, so I can adjust it any way I want/need.

How It's Packed - a set on Flickr

Generally speaking the big backpack gets taken on a shoot, loaded with 2 bodies (D300s, D80), 4 lenses, 3 speedlights, cables and filters, a laptop (with power cables, card reader, etc). I attach my tripod to the back of the bag and fold my softbox down (if I have to) to fit inside. I'll then have a smaller bag with a lightstand, swivel head, umbrella, and other accessories.

[TNH]

Originally Posted by NathanFranke

Out of curiosity, what's in your own bag?

I just took a look in my camera bag, and all I keep in my bag is my camera, charger, and two lens cleaning cloths. Just the basic stuff that I need for survival!

[NathanFranke]

What I'm getting is that for paid gigs, you carry everything. What about when you're shooting for just you? Do you already have all this stuff in the car? Or do you have a smaller kit for that?

[Phoenix_Jackson]

Earlier I'm okay with Canon's generic bag. Body, and the 3 kit lenses with it. Extra pockets that I didn't really use. But I'm really not so comfortable with shoulder bags. What's keeping me on using Canon's is how accessible the lenses are.

I'm using Kata 3n1 now. I walk around (sometimes for a whole day or more) and shoot for my self. It's stuffed with the body, 4 lenses, extension tube, battery charger, filters and hoods, memory cards, extra batteries (along with my phone's), remotes, cleaning kits, some packet tissue, and a spare t-shirt, all of them in the camera compartment. Foldable umbrella, 2 MP3 players, 2 cellphones, GPS (looks more like a 5" tablet), plastic bags, maps (subway and bus routes), wallet, small medicine kit, strings and rubber bands, and still have some space on the personal compartment. Pockets only have spare socks (always need them when travelling in a country where you have to take off your shoes in almost all restaurants).

It's a nice backpack since I can convert it to a sling very easily. I only have 3 issues with it. Can't attach a tripod (so I have the Bazooka for that), doesn't have a compartment for a laptop, and changing lens is a bit more struggle than Canon shoulder bags.