What's your shooting style for outdoor action?

[Tapeman]

What do you carry when away from your vehicle for hours?

Do you use a vest or a bag?

How much memory do you bring?

What precautions do you take to keep dust from the sensor when changing lenses?

Monopod or tripod?

I think I have most of the gear I'll need, but would appreciate input from experenced shooters.

[mjordan]

I shoot a number of action type events throughout the year that keeps me away from my van most of the day, if not all of it. Sometimes I have to park a ways away from the event itself so I don't go back unless I really need too.

Although what I carry changes, at the last large event I shot at I carried my 10D, 24-70 2.8L, 70-200 2.8L IS, about 6 batteries, about 4 gigs of CF cards, a Image Tank G2 data storage device, various other things for cleaning the lenses, plastic in case it rains, note pad, business cards, etc. I carry this in a Domke F-3X bag.

Once I get to the show, I put the 70-200 2.8 and it's carring bag onto my belt (saves on weight on my shoulder or neck) and which ever lens I don't have on goes in the bag. I put the Image Tank inside the now empty main bag compartment so it's easy to get to when I need to dump CF cards to it. All the extra batteries and CF cards are in the front end pocket where they are easy to get too.

I switch lenses depending on if I'm close or further away and I use common sense as to when I change them and I haven't had any problems with dirt. And I shoot at a lot of fairgrounds, horse arenas, open fields, etc.

It depends on available light if I carry either my tripod or monopod. I'll take one of them with me if I'm shooting inside of a horse arena or other large fairground type building because the light is usually less than ideal.

Mike

[CyberDyneSystems]

The best I can offer is a "nature hike"

Now that I travel with a big telephoto prime,. I take two lenses.

The 500mm is on a tripod slug over the shoulder. In the summer,. extra batteries and CF cards are in my cargo shorts pockets. I even put a 1.4X and an extension tube in my pockets :)

I have the leather bag that came with the 17-40mm f/4 attached to the tripod loaded with the lens,. and maybe a 2X tube in there.

[robertwgross]

What do you carry when away from your vehicle for hours?

Most commonly, when I am out to cover ten miles or so of nature trails, I am carrying only my camera in an over-the-shoulder holster with a single zoom lens mounted. I prefer to sneak up on wildlife.

On a longer trip, like backpacking for several days, I'll have more. Never more than about 20 pounds worth of camera gear.

Do you use a vest or a bag?

Neither. I use a vest only for weddings.

How much memory do you bring?

2.5GB in CF cards.

What precautions do you take to keep dust from the sensor when changing lenses?

Simple. Don't change lenses. I use one broad-range zoom as my workhorse so that I don't need to change so much.

If I am close to my vehicle, then I can do a proper sensor cleaning there. Also, if I am close to my vehicle, then I might have heavier lenses along to change. However, it is rare for me to carry a monster lens more than 5-6 miles with a tripod.

Monopod or tripod?

Generally and commonly, neither, unless I have the monster lens on.

---Bob Gross---

[Vegas Poboy]

My carrying choices depends on the events,
My choice for short distance bags is my Tamrac Velocity 7 (Parades, festivals scenic walks & Sports)

For longer distances I just purchased the Lowepro Rover AW II which I plan on using for Amusement parks & nature hiking. This is a pretty neat backpack. lots of room easy carry and spare cargo space

As far as the equipment goes again it depends on the shoot but most of the time Camera Batteries x2, CF cards 2GB, Light meter, 550EX and two extra sets of AA's. 28-70 f2.8 & the 70-200 f/4, with CPL filters
When needed the monopod & the 17-40 f/4

This handles pretty much everything I do for now, I'm sure in the near future more CF cards and the X1.4 extender will be added to the bag. When using the Velocity 7 I carry the camera outside the bag But they also have a bigger one on the market.

[SnJPhoto]

I carry all my gear in a Lowepro Mini trekker. I carry either my 35-350 L or 100-400 L mounted on the 10D. I tend to leave it clipped into the QR head on my monopod. I've thought of using a vest, but haven't gotten one yet. I usually cary 3-5 spare batteries, and about 3-4GB of CF cards. Granted I've nver had to use backup batteries, its more of a fear/what if issue. Generally I like to use the 35-350 L to get as many shots as possible, but if needed I also carry the 24-70 L. In the bag I keep the 550EX as well.

Scott

[KennyG]

What do you carry when away from your vehicle for hours?

Do you use a vest or a bag?

Both. Tamrac 614 Pro and a vest.

How much memory do you bring?

4 x 512 for my 1D and 4 x 512 for my 10D, plus a Flashtrax. I shoot RAW so space is always an issue.

What precautions do you take to keep dust from the sensor when changing lenses?

With two cameras I don't change lenses that often, but when I have to I do nothing more than make sure the 'new' lens has the cap off ready and keep the camera pointed downwards. I am not paranoid about dust!

Monopod or tripod?

Only use a monopod with my 300IS 2.8L or 500IS 4.0L Everything else is hand-held, usually with a 100-400L and 70-200L

Requirements differ depending on the sport. My needs are probably very different from yours. Oh, don't overlook that you will probably need to carry a snack and something to drink as well, which adds to the weight.