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What's in my camera bag? An artist's vision is the most important component of creating images.
But one of the most common questions I hear is, "What
kind of camera do you have?" Well, I've used many different
kinds of cameras and equipment over the last 25 years. And I quickly found that no single camera is best for every situation. Each
has pros and cons, depending on the particular photographic situation. The equipment I choose
to use is highly dependent on the what, where and how of making images.
Current equipment...
So, how do you pack all this stuff?? Good question! I am constantly modifying the way I pack my equipment as I learn what works best for me. I currently have several methods of packing gear. The one I use depends on how far away from the road I'll be hiking and what equipment I'm carrying.
The Talus has convenient attachment points for other miscellaneous gear such as rain jackets, snowshoes, hiking poles, etc. The shoulder strap and waist-belt suspension system is highly adjustable and adequate to comfortably carry 30-40 lbs. for a day of hiking. This is my most frequently used method of packing.
Overnight Backpacking: I really try to reduce the amount of photo gear I take on overnight trips. This is not an easy thing to do! For more than 15 years, I used a Mountainsmith Frostfire in the backcountry. I recently updated that pack with an R.E.I. Mars backpack. And oh my, how backpack technology has been improved in the last decade!! It has two methods of access - the standard top-load, and a 3/4 U-zip panel. This makes access easy and convenient. It is large enough to carry tent, sleeping bag, pad, stove, food, bear vault, clothes, and other miscellaneous gear, along with my photo gear packed in the Lowepro Omni Traveler. And the R.E.I. Mars pack cinches down very well. Compression straps can reduce the size of the pack small enough to be used with just camera equipment and daily essentials. So once I establish a base camp in the backcountry, it can easily be used as a day-pack. The tripod straps to one side with the feet resting in the water bottle holder-pocket. And the Canon 30D goes in a Lowepro TLZ pack threaded on the chest strap of the Mars backpack. Just like my day-hiking arrangement, this allows for easy access to the digital camera while hiking along the trail. Other equipment I've used in the past...
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I
use large format for most of my landscape work. The 4x5 originals
contain incredible detail and sharpness. And I really enjoy the slow and meditative process of using a
large format field camera. It fits well with my photographic style.
I use the Canon
30D for travel photography and on-the-go
photos. I'm extremely pleased with the image quality, and feature set of
this camera. It seems to be the perfect companion to my large format
system.
Digital Only
Travel and Day-hiking: Due to the time constraints of a busy
family life, I've been increasingly shooting with only a DSLR. I've
struggled for many years (without success) to find a photo backpack well
suited for rigorous hiking. Some of my qualifications are: Light weight,
easy access to camera for trail snapshots, room for food, extra
clothing, survival kit, etc., water storage, method for carrying my
tripod. I've tried many, many packs from multiple manufacturers over the
years and I've never been quite satisfied... Until now!! The Lowepro
Primus has answers for most of my needs/wants. I've been using it for
about 6 months now, and I'm quite happy - the first time I've truly been
able to say that about a photo-dedicated backpack. This is a very
comfortable pack that I can wear on the trail all day. It easily carries
my DSLR with zoom lens attached, plus 2 other lenses and the usual
compliment of accessories. I use the top compartment for other trail
gear, which varies depending on the weather/season. The side access
works quite well, with a little practice. And the back pocket/flap is
well-suited for carrying a water bladder. I like the fact that access to
the interior is behind the harness. This keeps the harness off the
ground when the backpack is set down to get to other lenses or hiking
gear - nice in muddy/snowy conditions. I've even packed a small 4x5 kit
in the top compartment and digital in the bottom compartment for a
day-hike where I just couldn't leave my 4x5 behind. This pack looks to
be a keeper!
Vehicle, Travel or Really Short Hikes: I use a Lowepro Omni Traveler
which, in turn, fits into a Pelican 1550 hard-shell case. Included in the pack: Wista DX,
Rodenstock Sironar N 135mm
f/5.6 folded into the camera, Rodenstock Grandagon N 75mm f/6.8,
Rodenstock Geronar MC 210mm f/6.8, Rodenstock APO-Ronar MC
300mm f/9, Wista 4x loupe and
Sekonic L-508 light meter with quick-clips for attaching to a modified neckstrap,
home-made dark cloth (thanks to my wonderful wife), Lens Pen, Microfiber
Cleaning Cloth; Cokin P Filter Holder, 49 and 58mm Cokin Adapter Rings,
Singh-Ray 2 and 3 Stop Soft-Step Graduated Neutral Density Filters,
Cokin Polarizer, and Hi-Tech 81A and 81B Filters. There is extra room in
the Pelican case for 5-10 traditional film holders with half slide for panoramic images,
3 Graphlex 6-Sheet Grafmatic film holders, and/or Gnass Gear Quickload/Readyload Film File containing Kodak Readyload
single sheet holder, Kodak Readyload film, Fuji Quickload film, gray
card, and "Exposed" stickers. Other gear includes Litedisc gold reflector and translucent
discs;
Eagle Creek travel pouch containing lens wrench, screw drivers, small
wrench, hex wrench, bubble level, small tape measure for bellows
extension compensation, extra AA battery, and permanent pen; Gitzo 1228
MK2 tripod with Kirk BH-3 ball head, Bogen Tripod Apron and small elastic
stopwatch for
second counting long exposures. I also frequently shoot with a digital SLR, currently
the Canon 30D. I can sling the Omni Traveler and SLR over my shoulder,
hand carry the tripod and utilize a Columbia travel vest to carry
equipment short distances. 
Day-Hikes: All the above equipment, plus a survival kit, food,
water and extra day gear pack into the R.E.I. Talus 30 technical
daypack. The Talus is a panel-loader with almost a full 3/4 zipper, so
it also opens (almost) like a suitcase and offers fairly quick and
convenient access to gear. The pack carries close to the body and is
comfortable for all-day hiking and technical scrambling. An R.E.I. side
pocket pack accessory is strapped to one side, which is the perfect size
for the Justin Gnass Quickload/Readyload Film File, Graphlex 6 Sheet
Grafmatics and/or traditional film holders. The Gitzo tripod straps to the
other side. I store the Canon 30D in a LowePro Topload Zoom (TLZ) pack. I
thread the
chest strap of the backpack through the belt loop of the TLZ, so the
digital camera is carried in front, on my chest and is easily accessible for snapshots along the trail.
I use a Kirk arca-style plate on the Canon 30D so it can also be used
with the tripod. 
I used the Canon 300D for travel, on-the-go,
and family
photos for over 2 1/2 years. It's light, easy to use, and a reliable
camera. And produces very good image quality.
For
several years, I used this medium format rangefinder for travel
photography. I decided to move to digital mostly for the
convenience. This camera produced excellent results and was extremely
compact!
For
almost a decade I used Canon EOS 35mm equipment, exclusively, for
all of my photography. The EOS line have always been excellent,
durable cameras with a large selection of some of the finest
lenses ever made. But as my photography progressed and evolved, I
found that other cameras were better suited to my style and
subject matter.
