For those of you with a lot of equipement

[Sp00ks]

I am starting to acquire more equipment than I can easily carry. I was just wondering how you handle yours. How do you store it in the home, what is your bag situation? I have a stealth reporter weighing in at around 30 lbs without the laptop. My freaking shoulder goes numb, that can't be good :)

How do you store your stuff at home and what kind of bag(s) do you carry when going out to shoot? When I go out with an intended place to shoot, I never know where I will end up as the moment strikes. I always have the fear of needing something I left at home.

Thanks,

[primoz]

For home... well... most of stuff is laying on my desk, under desk, in drawers, floor etc. in office :) Yes I'm thinking of buying some biiiig and unfortunately expensive Pelican boxes, so I can put stuff there, when not in use.
For going around, I have Lowepro Nature trekker, Sideline shooter with Domke pouch and Domke F2 bag. So normally I pack stuff I need (no not everything I own :)) into any of those bags and go with it. Since I shoot mostly sport, 95% of time I use Sideline shooter or when shooting alpine skiing, Nature Trekker (since I ski down the track, and backpack, with 300/2.8 on monopod and over the shoulder, is perfect for this).
Once you shoot a bit more, you know what you need with you, so you forget about "taking more with you just to be sure" :) And if you forget something... well you find new ways how to do something with equipment you have :) It always work... as long as that "something you forgot" aren't cameras or batteries :)

[dicktay]

I have a Canon 350D and a whole pile of lenses etc.
My tripod and monopod is always in the car.

I have Kata R-102 (backpack) which is normally loaded with the camera (with battery grip), Canon 70-300 IS lens, Canon 17-85 IS lens, Tokina 12-24 lens. Two 580 EX flash units. Spare batteries & filters etc.
If I am not sure of what I will be shooting then this is the bag I will take when in a town or city

I also have a Stanley 26" (65CM toolbox). This holds a 70-200 F4 L (non IS), Tokina 100 F2.8 Macro, Tamron 18-200, Tamron 17-50 F2.8 along with Canon primes 24mm F2.8, 50 F1.8 & 35 F2 as well as lens hoods etc.

If I am shooting something specific I have a whole pile of camera bags to cover almost every ocassion and will load them up with what ever I need for the job. As Primoz says spare batterys & cards are the first things that go in the bag along with a "standard" zoom.

Some examples:
(1) Motor racing. Where I may need wet weather gear/water/food etc it will be a Lowepro Rover AWII. With just standard zoom + 70-300 IS lens and the monopod attached with a caribiner. Camera will have the battery pack attached.
For the drag racing the 70-300 will be repaced by the 70-200 and leave the monopod in the car.

(2) For an overseas vacation. it will be a Tamrac adventure 7 as a cary on with just the Camera (without grip). 17-85, 70-300 and Tokina 12-24. I don't take a tripod. The Adventure 7 doubles up as a day pack for hiking etc.

(3) In cities with my family where I don't want to look like a photographer, It will be a Tamrac 3536 which is good for the camera (no grip) and the 17-85 IS lens along with a 580ex flash.

(4) If it is a formal occasion, likle a graduation, and am not 100% sure of what I will need it will be a Tamrac Pro 5 which will hold the camera and all the gear that normaly in the Kata R-102

(5) If I want to look like Rambo I have a Lowepro AW85 with harness which will hold a whole pile of gear, and external waterbottles, and is extreemly comfortable to wear.

If I just want to travel light I have a number of holster bags like the Kata H-14 (great for the camera with a battery grip) or the Tamrac 5684 which is my favourite city bag when travelling overseas. Good for just the camera (no grip) and 17-85 along with the usual spare batteries etc. Very comfortable & secure when used with a belt & chest strap.

[Mark_Cohran]

At home the equipment goes in my Haliburton case - in the field I try to take only what I need with me and use either a Lowepro Slingshot 200 AW or a Slingshot 300 AW.

195413

Mark

[cosworth]

Pelican 1650 here. It contains a chinese knock off lowepro trekker, scrim, stands etc. I take out the backpack and it can take my interfit lights.

The wheels are great for ferries and/or aircraft/airports.

[ssim]

At home the equipment goes in my Haliburton case - in the field I try to take only what I need with me and use either a Lowepro Slingshot 200 AW or a Slingshot 300 AW.


Mark
Holy crap Mark you are way too organized!!:D:D

[ssim]

I have one room in my house which is dedicated to just my gear. It is lockable and is always locked even when I am at home. I don't need anyone else seeing what is in there.

I have a number of different cases and backpack type bags. Depending on what I am doing or going I load up these with what I need. Sometimes I need one bag, sometimes more. I rarely carry a backpack while shooting unless it is very light. I tend more to load up my shooting jacket with what I need and leave anything extra in the vehicle. It is amazing at how much you can fit in one of these jackets and it is much more comfortable to carry that way.

I am in the process of making a custom drawer system for the back of my SUV that will hold alot of smaller articles while on the road. I tend to go on rather lengthy trips so I take along alot of my stuff, sometimes almost all of it.

It takes awhile to get a system down but this works for me. I very rarely ever have gear laying around the house where visitors could see it.

[Mark_Cohran]

Holy crap Mark you are way too organized!!:D:D

Twenty years in the submarine force does that to you. There's not a lot of room for storage on a sub, so you learn to organize and pack tight. :)

Mark

[Glenn NK]

I am starting to acquire more equipment than I can easily carry. I was just wondering how you handle yours. How do you store it in the home, what is your bag situation? I have a stealth reporter weighing in at around 30 lbs without the laptop. My freaking shoulder goes numb, that can't be good :)

How do you store your stuff at home and what kind of bag(s) do you carry when going out to shoot? When I go out with an intended place to shoot, I never know where I will end up as the moment strikes. I always have the fear of needing something I left at home.

Thanks,

I think I could get your gear into my bag; mine fits with some spare room.

[Woolburr]

At home the equipment goes in my Haliburton case - in the field I try to take only what I need with me and use either a Lowepro Slingshot 200 AW or a Slingshot 300 AW.

195413

Mark

That is some serious organization there Mark. Even for a bubblehead!!!

[PacAce]

Twenty years in the submarine force does that to you. There's not a lot of room for storage on a sub, so you learn to organize and pack tight. :)

Mark

20 years in a sub? Heck, you should have been able to fit 10 more lenses and another body in that case, then. :mrgreen: :lol:

[Woolburr]

Dang Leo...I thought I was being too cold-blooded for a moment...

[tracy]

i have a s3is , s1i3 with added lenes (wide,tele,close up and fish eye). tripod and grab my bag and i'm out the door.

[Sp00ks]

Thanks guys, that gives me some ideas. I do have a Porter Case that I forgot about and I don't think it has ever been used. I could store my gear in that and use my Stealth for everyday. In a pinch I could take both cases and throw them in the car. Or pick up a smaller bag for just day trips might be the ticket.

[Mark_Cohran]

20 years in a sub? Heck, you should have been able to fit 10 more lenses and another body in that case, then. :mrgreen: :lol:

Dang Leo...I thought I was being too cold-blooded for a moment...

All in good fun! :)

[TheChemist]

Get a backpack with a waist strap. If you can fit all of your gear in one, the weight will feel a ton lighter.