1 bag or 2 bags for equipment?

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Camera Fun

Senior Member
As my list of equipment increases, I keep outgrowing my camera bag. So after looking at some new larger options, I got to wondering about just getting a smaller second bag for some of my accessories as that would be cheaper than a larger new bag for everything. Does anyone use multiple bags? If yes, how does it work out for you?
 
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STM

Senior Member
I have one medium sized bag for just my Hasselblad equipment (1 body w/ prism finder, 2 backs and 5 CZ lenses, and another large bag and large backpack for my DSLR's and SLR's and my 17 Nikkors. The "beast" (600mm f/4 AIS Nikkor) is of course too big for all of them, so it gets carried in its beastly sized case!

As your equipment grows, you might consider a back pack arrangement rather than a regular camera bag.
 
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singlerosa_RIP

Senior Member
I have 3 bags now. I started with a Tamrac shoulder bag that currently holds my D7200 & 200-500. I have a Tamrac shoulder bag (Expedition 8) that can hold the trinity and a pro body, but only one body (no matter what). This year, I bought a Think Tank bag that can house 2 pro bodies plus a lot of lenses, 2 flashes and an iPad. And I have a car club backpack that I use occasionally when I only carry a camera and flash.

As your collection grows, you'll need more bags. And there's no perfect bag for all occasions. The good news is that bags are cheap compared to most other gear we buy.
 
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Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
I have my Pelican Hard case that holds all the camera gear and a different hard case that holds all the flash gear. I have more recently gotten a vest that I wear for walking around that can carry whatever extra lenses I might want for that particular walkaround. Works out pretty good for me. Backpacks throw my balance off to much to wear. (I am old)
 
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Blacktop

Senior Member
Don Kuykendall said:
I have my Pelican Hard case that holds all the camera gear and a different hard case that holds all the flash gear. I have more recently gotten a vest that I wear for walking around that can carry whatever extra lenses I might want for that particular walkaround. Works out pretty good for me. Backpacks throw my balance off to much to wear. (I am old)
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I bought a nice Lowpro backpack once. Used it once , then I realized I didn't like backpacks.

I just have a small Lowpro shoulder bag now. I am looking at the Think Tank bags now. Kind of like what Jim has, that holds 2 bodies and a few lenses.
 
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Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
Blacktop said:
I bought a nice Lowpro backpack once. Used it once , then I realized I didn't like backpacks.

I just have a small Lowpro shoulder bag now. I am looking at the Think Tank bags now. Kind of like what Jim has, that holds 2 bodies and a few lenses.
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I have a nice Lowepro Backpack. Used it for a while till I tore my rotator cuff and have to have surgery to repair it. That sort of stopped being able to even put the backpack on for a year.
 
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Blacktop

Senior Member
Don Kuykendall said:
I have a nice Lowepro Backpack. Used it for a while till I tore my rotator cuff and have to have surgery to repair it. That sort of stopped being able to even put the backpack on for a year.
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I hope it's fine now. Yea, backpacks just don't feel right to me. I feel I should be sticking out my thumb for a ride.:)
Shoulder bags for me, all the way.
Maybe if I ever get that 200-500mm lens that I'm dreaming about, I'll treat myself to a nice Think Tank.
 
Whiskeyman

Whiskeyman

Senior Member
I have shoulder bags, backpacks, hard side cases and a piece of rolling luggage that fits a set of Pelican padded dividers. I am currently looking for a large-wheeled jogging stroller to convert to carry camera gear, which likely means that it will carry a Pelican case or two. I seems that no matter what I buy to carry my gear in, I always seek a better solution. Problem is, the small bags are light and easy to carry, but don't carry all of the gear I usually want, and the large bags carry more of what I want, but end up too heavy to carry comfortably for long.

So, to answer your question, two. (At a minimum!)

WM
 
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Roy1961

Roy1961

Senior Member
Contributor
I am lucky, 1 backpack for all my gear, sigma (has its own case) is on my camera at the weekends, spare battery in my pocket, all I need for birding, going to try taking my flash tomorrow for shots inside bushes/under trees to see what happens? thinking of getting a flash extender.

Don I always fancied a vest, lots of pockets for things??
 
M

Moab Man

Senior Member
Many bags and a pull wagon. I configure for whatever I might be doing or if I have to prepare for a big shoot with a whole lot of unknown.
 
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Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
Roy1961 said:
Don I always fancied a vest, lots of pockets for things??
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This is the one I got. Amazon.com : Humvee Safari Vest Khaki XX Large : Photographic Equipment Bag Accessories : Sports & Outdoors
  • Made of 100-percent lightweight cotton
  • (21) pockets for ample storage space


​I typically carry 1 lens and sometimes 1 SB700 flash. I also have spare batteries for the flash and for the camera. Depending on where I am shooting I also have a walkie Talkie (Thank MoabMan for getting me used to having this with me) The pockets are big enough to carry my 70-300 in one pocket and the SB700 in another with room to spare for many other things. Recently been going into the factory I am shooting and found "The pit" which is only accessible by ladder so the vest is great for that. Flashlight in one of the pockets and headlight on my head. This is one place a backpack would never fit. The Pit is a bit of 1850 high tech where the creek was run through the building to turn a turbine that in turn turned wheels that turned belts that ran through the building that operated the equipment. Everyone should add a vest to their gear bag just for these times

12-01-15_0002-Edit-Edit.jpg
12-01-15_0007-Edit.jpg12-01-15_0009-Edit-Edit.jpg12-01-15_0021-Edit.jpg

Took 2 months to find the entrance to this.
 
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Bill16

Senior Member
Like my buddy Jim, I have a Tamrac expedition! Well actually I have three of them starting with my best the expedition 8X, the the expedition 8, and the expedition 5! I do have an older expedition 4, but it is just for my Nikon f4s mainly!lol :)
I don't wear them so far! I just use them to store and protect my gear, that is the gear that is not out on my tripods that is!:)
For walking I'm undecided between my different straps and spider holsters, a lot of the time! I'm trying to get my BR double harness set up for me, thinking it might be the most comfortable!:)

I must admit, the vest idea sounds cool, but I am chubby(fat) and don't need to accentuate it with a vest with pockets stuffed full all over it!lol ;)
 
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Daz

Senior Member
Im going to be going to a two bag setup, I will have my Peak Design Messenger for my camera and my walk around stuff and I will use my old Lowepro 17AW for the stuff like flashes and studio gear that I take on a mobile portrait session with me :)
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Moab Man said:
This is what I have, but in red. The unit collapses and I carry a 4" thick piece of foam to lay in the bottom so that my gear is not riding on the metal grid bottom.

Zenithen Utility Sport Wagon - SportsAuthority.com
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In the same vein, a lot of my adjunct faculty use these rolling crates. Being artists and having to go to two, sometimes three, different colleges all over town they need something similar to your rolling wagon. These crates fold into a "briefcase" sized package in a snap. Just another option for someone needing some portable storage.

Collapsible Cargo Crate.

41357LbjsOL._SY355_.jpg
 
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