What's in the bag, Wellsy?
As promised, this week I'm taking you on a tour of my bag collection and explaining why I have so many.
And this is not the entire collection...add a large lighting bag, multiple small hardcases for things like Go Pros and accessories ...oh, and the case for the Phantom.
Ok, let's dive into it. First up is my Canon carry-on style case. This is the oldest ( a bag they released for the Sydney Olympics in 2000) and it's still rocking on. I use it primarily as my speedlight bag. It comfortably holds my flashes, triggers, Magmod modifiers, spare batteries, remotes and other assorted extras. Depending on the job, I will take what I need from this bag and work from a smaller bag.
Next up is the Pelican 1510c hardcase. This case complies with carry-on luggage dimensions...but good luck to you if you can get it under the restrictive weight limit for domestic travel once you put much in the way of gear in it (this is not a criticism of the case...a couple of bodies with lenses will pretty much blow the 7.5kg limit). This beast is practically indestructible...which is why it is home base for my camera bodies and lenses. It offers great protection, and as a bonus, has a roller system to make it a bit easier to move around. I use this as my portable locker...depending on the job I will take out what I think I am going to need and reload it into a smaller unit.
Let's downsize a bit. This is my lightweight leather satchel (man bag) that looks after my X100s and accessories. It's pretty rare for me to go anywhere without a camera and this little baby fits the bill perfectly. There is room for a phone, wallet, ipad, keys, drink ... and the Fuji.
Next up...my Think Tank Retrospective 30. This bag is really comfy to use. It has a soft, canvas feel, big deep internal divisions, a couple of sizeable front pockets and plenty of other smaller storage areas. It also boasts its own built-in raincoat. Fastenings are all velcro. A nice addition is the provision of "sound silencers" (flaps to cover the velcro) for those times (in the middle of a wedding ceremony) when you don't want the RIIPPP! of a velcro release. The one downer for me is that the laptop pocket won't quite handle my MacBook.
This one, the Peak Design Everyday Messenger, you could argue, is pretty similar to the Retrospective...and you would be correct. They are similar in size, capacity and both are shoulder bags. However, there are a few things about it that make it more user-friendly in some situations. Mine feels a bit "stiff" but that could just be from lack of use. The maglatch (main fastener on the front) is probably the best catch system I have used. Strong, secure, quiet and fast. The pivoting strap helps prevent tangles and the addition of a waist strap stops the bag swinging about. I found this invaluable when climbing over rocks etc looking for that perfect angle as it means you can have both hands free.. A tripod pocket within the top flap is also very handy. And it has a pocket that fits the MacBook. A very practical and stylish bag.
Lucky last is the Lowepro Fastpack BP 250 AWII. This is the go to if I need to carry a bit extra and possibly for some distance. The backpack design gives nice even weight distribution and the addition of hip and chest straps helps to make the load more comfortable. This is only a medium-size bag (I didn't want to be tempted to try to carry everything on my ageing back) but it has more room than either of the shoulder bags. The addition of a Peak Design Capture Clip on one of the straps allows me to easily carry two bodies and 3-4 lenses. A separate top section is suitable for filters, remotes or hiking essentials (like food). It also has room for the laptop and tripod.
So that's the bag collection. I hope all that made sense.
Another vital part of an efficient shooting system is how you actually carry the camera when it's not in a bag...when you are actually using it. It has been another quest of mine over the years, and another where I have adapted or adopted a number of different systems to suit a variety of shooting scenarios.
Sounds like a good topic for next week...catch you then.