Sports/Wildlife/Active Photographers: what do you carry?

[sk66]

If you are a photographer who has to move around a lot and carry a bit of gear with you, I need your input.

I'd like to know what you carry, how you carry it, and for what type of work.

For example when I'm out doing wildlife/birds I generally carry 1 body, monopod/tripod, 300-800mm, 70-200mm, 1.4/2x tc's, Flash/flash extender, maybe the 24-70 or 14-24 for opportunity shots, + a few odds/ends (i.e. lens brush).
I generally carry this w/ 300-800 tripod/stock mounted and the rest in a Think Tank Speed Racer (overloaded) or a vest.
Neither carry solution is great and I'm considering contracting a company to make my PSV (photographers survival vest) design.

The initial cost outlay is too great for a "one off" so I am considering marketing the products.
2 vests (a "larger"one and a smaller "harness" style, both in black/tan) and an assortment of pouches for specific purposes (i.e. lens/body pouches, also in black/tan). I would be able to sell competitively with "similar" products from LowePro/Think Tank etc

Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

If I do this I will probably also pursue manufacture of my "sniper stock" as a "system" (base stock + accessory components).

It's a risk, and not an insignificant investment to startup......but doable I think.

[kirbinster]

I like to travel light so I typically take my D300 with Sigma 30mm f/1.4 lens and a small high velocity tranquelizer gun - this let's me get really close for great shots

All kidding aside, I am not a pro so I either take my D700 with 2x TC and 70-200 f/2.8 VR or one of my DX bodies and my 24-300 VR lens. I find that for most cases I am better off without my tripod or monopod as I can manuever around better and take that quick shot with no set up time.

[SwissJon]

Anything that balances the load of my gear so it's not all on my back while I'm out hiking, allows me easy access to tripod, camera, 70-200 2.8 and 24-70 2.8 and my new 150-500 and makes it easy to change the lenses in the field is going to get my money.

My only concern about your idea is that you appear to be reinventing the wheel. The products you're suggesting are all available on line all ready in one form or another.. Whether it be high quality products from the likes of Lowepro, or cheap throw away stuff from China on ebay.

I don't want to sound all doom and gloom, but I have this horrible feeling you're going to lose a signifiant amount of money simply because the market is already flooded.

[sk66]

Originally Posted by SwissJon

Anything that balances the load of my gear so it's not all on my back while I'm out hiking, allows me easy access to tripod, camera, 70-200 2.8 and 24-70 2.8 and my new 150-500 and makes it easy to change the lenses in the field is going to get my money.

My only concern about your idea is that you appear to be reinventing the wheel. The products you're suggesting are all available on line all ready in one form or another.. Whether it be high quality products from the likes of Lowepro, or cheap throw away stuff from China on ebay.

I don't want to sound all doom and gloom, but I have this horrible feeling you're going to lose a signifiant amount of money simply because the market is already flooded.

No worries..gloom/doom is fine.
I want to be realistic about this.
There are a lot of options out there...problem is I've tried most of them and none REALLY suits me. My idea is to make it configurable so it can suit anyone, and can be reconfigured to suit various situations.

[RichardTaylor]

For birding etc and I like to travel light it will be a Canon crop body + 100-400 lens + a monopod. I will have a Canon G11 P&S or any 'scapes that catch my eye.
Carrying solution is a Domke vest. Enough pockets for the P&S, Rain gear, water bottle, snack etc.

Dawn/dusk shoots.
It will be two bodies +24-105 and a 100-400. and a tripod. I use a Think Tank harness system with two holsters at least. I carry the tripod over my shoulder. I may have my Domke vest over the harness.

If I am carrying a lot of gear (hiking?) it will be a backpack solution (but not when on the beach etc.). I will carry my tripod over my shoulder.

For shooting motor sports trackside (road racing) any vest will not work as you need to have your media/safety vest visible at all times. I again use the Think Tank harness system as I can put the media/safety vest over the top of it.
I will usually have two bodies and a 100-400 + a 70-300 or 70-200 lens ((for back up) as well as water bottles, snack and wet weather gear etc if the forecast is for rain. I will be using a monopod.

I think the Thank Tank solution is a good one for me as I can configure it for individual shoots, The only changes I make is a carabiner for attaching the monopod if need be and on really hot days (40C or 100+F) replacing the think Tank water bottle holders with Lowero Lens cases as the padding keeps frozen water bottles frozen a lot longer.