How do you carry your camera?

[BruceN]

Now, I'll admit that I like my MF and 4x5 gear, but when I'm headed out the door and NOT going somewhere specifically to take photos it's always my OM gear that I automatically grab and throw in the truck. Until now I've always carried it in a Lowepro Rover AW II. Recently, though, I've begun to worry that I might occasionally throw something on top of it, or that the vibration from the crappy dirt roads I'm always driving along might have a detrimental effect. Last Christmas I received a gift certificate redeemable at a local camera store. Great, right? The problem was that said local store sells only digi-stuff. After digging through pretty much everything they had I found the answer - a large Promaster aluminum case. After fitting (some of ) my OM 35mm kit I simply stuffed the Rover II pack under the truck seat. Now I can use primarily the hard case and if I want to hike somewhere I can load the Rover accordingly. What does everyone else use to protect their gear from the everyday knocks?

Bruce

[reellis67]

Man, I have so many bags of different sizes it's not even funny anymore. I use padded bags of the standard variety for all my stuff, but no hard cases. They look nice, but I don't need that kind of protection, or weight, most of the time. Mostly, mine are the larger shoulder variety, but I have a few smaller hip shooter style bags as well. It just depends on how far I'm going, what I'm shooting, etc...

- Randy

[Troy Hamon]

My workhorse is a LowePro ProTrekkerAW (I think...one size down from their largest backpack). That's what I take when I go on a trip where photography is the main purpose (and I'm including trips that are just to the local docks...). I can load all my Mamiya RB stuff in there, and my Widelux, and still have room for an extra hat and pair of gloves. In a pinch, I can load most of my Mamiya stuff, the Widelux, and a 300 mm F2.8 attached to a Nikon. But...no room for the hat or gloves in that case.

When it gets tight for space or we're taking a family trip, I take my LowePro Orion AW, a hip bag with daypack attachment. This can take a one-lens RB outfit or a Widelux/Holga outfit or a 3-lens 35 mm outfit. That goes with me on more flights than the larger bag, partly just because it is less to worry about.

I have some hard cases, and I don't use them much for travel. Partly because they don't have backpack or shoulder straps, and no way am I checking my camera gear. But I find them extremely helpful for organization. I've been thinking that I might get some of the divider sets for Pelican cases and see if they go nicely in a shallow Rubbermaid tote...it's the dividers I like best of all...not the Pelican cases...

But, I do take full-on Pelican cases happily whenever I'm on a raft trip. That sweet feeling of security...

[bjorke]

BIG COAT with big pockets. I can carry my Contax, three lenses, a strobe, 10 rolls of film, plus on occasion a small DSLR and a normal lens. Always gets a laugh when I go through airport checkpoints & I start unloading it.

[unohuu]

depends on what i am shooting for the day. Tamrac Superlight 5 for Maxxum 600si and 28-70 lens with flash and Olympus XA That leaves room for a notepad and filters.

Tamrac shoulder bag for Maxxum 7 w/VC-7 grip; Tamrac small backpack when I want the 70-210 and/or the 300mm with either 7 or 600si.

Tamrac topload zoom for 7 and any long lens.

Tamrac small topload for Yashica Lynx and Olympus or Vitomatic ii.

Most of these bags were 2nd hand purchases. The smaller topload zoom purchased at resale shop for $3.

Luke

[Dracotype]

One faux leather shoulder bag, filled with my Canon TLb, light meter, extra roll of film, one cokin red filter (maybe), and cable release. That is it.

Drew

[argus]

Too many bags over here.

I mainly use the Lowepro AW4 for 35mm, it will fit my Minolta, Mamiya ZM Quartz, 2 additional tele lenses and some filter stuff.
It gets quite heavy for a shoulder bag sometimes.

For the 5x7" I bought a 35 Euro travel case with 2 wheels, long handle and - most important - backpack straps. It also has a padded back. It will fit the 5x7, 4 lenses, 8 holders and additional small stuff.
I was looking into this cheapskate solution because Lowepro bags with wheel basis and backpack carrying system are way to expensive for me right now.

G

[roteague]

I have a Lowpro Omni Trekker, I carry it everywhere. It's been to Europe, Jordan, New Zealand, Australia and all over the US. A great bag, in fact, I getting ready to order a new one.

[grahamp]

The 5x4 camera with a couple of lenses and around ten film holders and associated accessories lives in a California Innovations 50-can cooler with it's own 2-wheel cart. My medium format stuff is usually packed into a small cycling handlebar bag designed for cameras. I make up a bag with whatever I want on the day.

[Schlapp]

I have a lovely FUJI cycles bag that i use for just about everything camera wise. it was free, it's big and doesn't look like a camera bag either.