Great equipment is prohibitive to frequent photography

Being an amateur, I look forward to taking photos as much as possible. Now that I have all of these great lenses, 1.) I'm afraid to always have my equipment with me for fear of theft, and 2.) it takes too long to get the camera setup. Photography is not fun anymore. It's great if I plan an outing of sorts, but getting a few shots in a few times a week is impossible.

Lately, I have been lugging everything around with me everyday, but it really is too cumbersome for a few quick shots. More unpacking/packing, attaching this/that, take a shot, then pack it all back again. I don't even use my 70-200 for fear I will be targeted for theft, and if I'm taking photos frequently, some folks will start to notice me regularly pulling this camera stuff out of my trunk.

Is it time for me to trade everything in for a P&S, and if so, what's a good one that would get me as close to my good equipment as possible? I appreciate the versatility of wide lenses. Is there a P&S on the market that can come close to the wide apertures and sharp shots?

Maybe there is no solution. Lot's of things I'd like to shoot requires some setup, sometimes tripod, etc. I just know the more I'm out with my stuff, the greater the chance it will be stolen. Just last night we went out to dinner. I wish I had my camera afterward to grab a shot. But then we went shopping, so it would be easy for someone to see me shoot with my equipment, follow me to meijers and break in to my car once I went into the store.

I thought I'd be all set once I had a kit together, but now it's too valuable to actually use.

Sam, why the need to lug everything with you for each outting? I agree that dragging all that stuff will kill spontaneity and the fun of the craft. You're letting the gear "get in your way" and it's enslaving you.

Instead, you should plan some of your shots in advance. Decide what lenses will best suit the venue or composition. I have a large rolling case that accompanies me for my wedding work, but I NEVER take it for street shooting, hikes, urban candids, or random projects. Instead I have a modest Tamrac holster that holds my 5D and one lens mounted, filter, memory cards and extra battery. It's relatively light, requires no setup, affords quick access and is very convenient.

Don't trade it all in on a P&S. Pick one body and one lens, plan the type of work you want to accomplish, presurvey the area perhaps, put all in a small comfortable bag and - take pictures .

Yep, narrow your kit into sets of kit.. for specific shooting tasks. Get bags for those different things. I have three different bags depending on what I shoot.

Also, get your stuff insured! Then you won't have concerns about things like theft, etc...

I guess it depends on the person. My and another POTN member when and shot at Rocky Mountain National Park a few weeks ago and I had two 1D bodies in my bag. One mounted with my Sigma 50-500 and the other mounted with my 24-105. I would just grab the camera I needed, shoot, put it back in my pack. Of course, I have the Ape Case 2000 which allows me that luxury and the weight of it is nothing for me. I hiked a few miles down one trail with that pack on and it didn't bother me a bit.

With the right pack, properly fitted to your torso, you should be able to have two bodies mounted with two difference lenses and be ready for anything. Just make sure you pick the two best lenses. With my 24-105 on my FF body I am ready for any landscape shot I might come across, and with my 50-500 on my 1D2 I am ready for wildlife or anything that requires some good reach. When we were in areas where there were a lot of photo opportunities I would just keep one of the cameras handheld.

That's why I got an S90. Good enough for random shooting and "just-in-case" stuff. Still have the good gear for planned outings.

I do think the interchangeable compacts like the Samsung NX and m4/3 were made for people like us, though. I am just waiting for it to mature a little bit before switching.

I used to take my 50d and my 50 1.4 with my wherever. Easy, light, etc. But that lens is too limiting. Actually, every lens is too limiting. Plus I don't plan shots. Of course I'll plan once I notice something that interests me. If I have to go back home to get a different lens, the moment is gone.

Maybe I should plan something to look for when I'm out? Or maybe I should go back to the 50 50 again and just deal with it. Or maybe a new lens... lol.

But yes, I do feel like a slave to my equipment, and my insurance company won't even touch camera stuff anymore. Well, they will for the price of a couple of nice lenses a year. Not worth it to me.

TGrundvig wrote in post #12469718
I guess it depends on the person. My and another POTN member when and shot at Rocky Mountain National Park a few weeks ago and I had two 1D bodies in my bag. One mounted with my Sigma 50-500 and the other mounted with my 24-105. I would just grab the camera I needed, shoot, put it back in my pack. Of course, I have the Ape Case 2000 which allows me that luxury and the weight of it is nothing for me. I hiked a few miles down one trail with that pack on and it didn't bother me a bit.

With the right pack, properly fitted to your torso, you should be able to have two bodies mounted with two difference lenses and be ready for anything. Just make sure you pick the two best lenses. With my 24-105 on my FF body I am ready for any landscape shot I might come across, and with my 50-500 on my 1D2 I am ready for wildlife or anything that requires some good reach. When we were in areas where there were a lot of photo opportunities I would just keep one of the cameras handheld.

I do that when I go hiking, not a problem. I have that belt system (forgot the name)... for the once or twice a year that I have time to do that. But everyday, stopping at a park after work because the clouds look cool, or seeing something on the way home from visiting family are the situations that come more frequently. The unplanned stuff.

Sounds like either you're over the DSLR thing entirely, or you're just having an 'ugh i hate this thing' moment, I've had those. Do what I'm going to do, trade in a broken $10 canon for a g11 for 250 bucks through the loyalty program. It'll be compact enough to fit in a purse, but allow you the option to set manually if you still want to.

samueli wrote in post #12469760
I do that when I go hiking, not a problem. I have that belt system (forgot the name)... for the once or twice a year that I have time to do that. But everyday, stopping at a park after work because the clouds look cool, or seeing something on the way home from visiting family are the situations that come more frequently. The unplanned stuff.

LOL....I get it now. Yep, you always need the lens you don't have. I was driving once and came across a Red Tail Hawk getting battered by three other birds. Of course, my 50-500 lens is at home. I would have had some great shots from that aerial battle. It went on for a few minutes and I was pretty close to it, just not close enough for the lens I had with me at that time. I shoot just about everyday of the week because of work, but my work does not require that I need my tele, so I never have it with me.

samueli wrote in post #12469733
I used to take my 50d and my 50 1.4 with my wherever. Easy, light, etc. But that lens is too limiting. Actually, every lens is too limiting. Plus I don't plan shots. Of course I'll plan once I notice something that interests me. If I have to go back home to get a different lens, the moment is gone.

What kind of stuff do you shoot?

Might want to just try walking aaround with a general purpose zoom instead of the prime if you say 50mm only is too limiting. Even many of the super-zoom lenses which are poor by traditional standards are still going to be better IQ than most point and shoots. You might find the trade-offs worth it, losing a little bit of lens speed and quality, but in exchange you get to cover all your focal lengths with one body and one lens.
Just another idea to throw out there though, the other advice you got is pretty solid.

samueli wrote in post #12469623
Being an amateur, I look forward to taking photos as much as possible. Now that I have all of these great lenses, 1.) I'm afraid to always have my equipment with me for fear of theft, and 2.) it takes too long to get the camera setup. Photography is not fun anymore. It's great if I plan an outing of sorts, but getting a few shots in a few times a week is impossible.

Lately, I have been lugging everything around with me everyday, but it really is too cumbersome for a few quick shots. More unpacking/packing, attaching this/that, take a shot, then pack it all back again. I don't even use my 70-200 for fear I will be targeted for theft, and if I'm taking photos frequently, some folks will start to notice me regularly pulling this camera stuff out of my trunk.

Is it time for me to trade everything in for a P&S, and if so, what's a good one that would get me as close to my good equipment as possible? I appreciate the versatility of wide lenses. Is there a P&S on the market that can come close to the wide apertures and sharp shots?

Maybe there is no solution. Lot's of things I'd like to shoot requires some setup, sometimes tripod, etc. I just know the more I'm out with my stuff, the greater the chance it will be stolen. Just last night we went out to dinner. I wish I had my camera afterward to grab a shot. But then we went shopping, so it would be easy for someone to see me shoot with my equipment, follow me to meijers and break in to my car once I went into the store.

I thought I'd be all set once I had a kit together, but now it's too valuable to actually use.

You've got some issues here that go way beyond just having too much kit. You really need to address your paranoia problems or you'll never be able to enjoy photography, no matter what kind of camera you have.

Have you thought about insurance on your gear?

I guess I shoot whatever the light at the time makes something look interesting. Landscape, buildings, animals when they are doing cool things. I like night shooting the most, but that adds to the theft paranoia. I do other things with oc flash and self shooting practice, but time is becoming limited for those setups. Right now I'm looking for true hdr opportunities. I like to play in post. If I have enough material, I can be happy playing in post for a long time.

I just recently missed some good bird action as well! I sometimes wish I had a full frame camera, then the 70-200 would fit most situations with a bit of foot movement when needed.

Oh well, thanks for all the suggestions!

When I'm out on the street or walking around. I only take 1 camera and 1 lens. And since I use primes, it's a really light setup.

JWright wrote in post #12469901
You've got some issues here that go way beyond just having too much kit. You really need to address your paranoia problems or you'll never be able to enjoy photography, no matter what kind of camera you have.

Have you thought about insurance on your gear?

lol. That is true. I've also made things worse this past year as well. I bought a newer car this past summer. I wanted a particular car, but the best I could find at the time is one that looks very unique and stand-outish with it's color etc., so now I'm never incognito. But yes, I'm paranoid carrying around expensive gear that's not in eye shot at all times and I don't enjoy photography anymore.