Do you also do this? (Overpack gear)

Irene McC

Legend
So today I went to an annual car-show. Previously, I've only found out about it after event when seeing photographs online.
This year people from our neighbourhood, who own a car that was being exhibited, offered me a ride and insisted it's high time I attend.
It's held over the two days of the weekend, Saturday being more modern cars and Sunday vintage.

Last night I charged batteries, stressed over what lenses to take, finally plumped for the X-T30 with 18-55 kit lens (good general all-rounder) and the Nikon Z fc with the TTArtisan 23mm f/1.4 on board and the TTArtisan 17mm in the bag.
It was quite a heavy bag to cart around, what with water bottle, spare batteries for both brands and other odds and ends.

In the event I shot 273 photos over the course of three and a half hours, all with the TTArtisan 23mm manual focus.
I'm very happy with the outcome and only wish I'd not bothered carting around everything else!

Will I learn from this? Probably not... kitchen sink comes along 🙂
 
So today I went to an annual car-show. Previously, I've only found out about it after event when seeing photographs online.
This year people from our neighbourhood, who own a car that was being exhibited, offered me a ride and insisted it's high time I attend.
It's held over the two days of the weekend, Saturday being more modern cars and Sunday vintage.

Last night I charged batteries, stressed over what lenses to take, finally plumped for the X-T30 with 18-55 kit lens (good general all-rounder) and the Nikon Z fc with the TTArtisan 23mm f/1.4 on board and the TTArtisan 17mm in the bag.
It was quite a heavy bag to cart around, what with water bottle, spare batteries for both brands and other odds and ends.

In the event I shot 273 photos over the course of three and a half hours, all with the TTArtisan 23mm manual focus.
I'm very happy with the outcome and only wish I'd not bothered carting around everything else!

Will I learn from this? Probably not... kitchen sink comes along 🙂
Guilty as charged. For a weekend trip I'll typically bring the EM1 3 with the 14-54 and 40-150 PRO and the 70-300 in and the EM5 2 with the 12-50 and the TTArtisans 25mm/2. Sometimes I'll bring the Panasonic 25 1.7 for indoors. And a tripod.

But recently I picked up the Olympus 14-150 4.5-5.6 II and haven't been using much of the other lenses. I took that along recently with the EM1 and the 25 1.7, the 70-300 (just in case), the little flash, no tripod, and found that I needed nothing else (in fact the 14-150 stayed on the camera all weekend). Now I'm laboring over whether or not, or what, I should sell.
 
In my experience, if I know what the venue offers as far as how crowded it is, how far from the cars or close you can get to them etc., I have come to rely on my 24mm lens. Now it becomes a choice of do I use a manual focus or an auto focus? Lucky for me my auto focus lens offer the ease of a quick switch to manual focusing. My Sony batteries last all day too so no need to carry a spare IF I remember to charge it up the night before.
The good old 24-105 is still an option if I'm feeling, uh, robust.
 
In my experience, if I know what the venue offers as far as how crowded it is, how far from the cars or close you can get to them etc., I have come to rely on my 24mm lens. Now it becomes a choice of do I use a manual focus or an auto focus? Lucky for me my auto focus lens offer the ease of a quick switch to manual focusing. My Sony batteries last all day too so no need to carry a spare IF I remember to charge it up the night before.
The good old 24-105 is still an option if I'm feeling, uh, robust.
is that a 24mm on a full frame or crop body? I found the 23 on a crop (ie equivalent to approx 35 in FF terms) to be quite perfect
 
So today I went to an annual car-show. Previously, I've only found out about it after event when seeing photographs online.
This year people from our neighbourhood, who own a car that was being exhibited, offered me a ride and insisted it's high time I attend.
It's held over the two days of the weekend, Saturday being more modern cars and Sunday vintage.

Last night I charged batteries, stressed over what lenses to take, finally plumped for the X-T30 with 18-55 kit lens (good general all-rounder) and the Nikon Z fc with the TTArtisan 23mm f/1.4 on board and the TTArtisan 17mm in the bag.
It was quite a heavy bag to cart around, what with water bottle, spare batteries for both brands and other odds and ends.

In the event I shot 273 photos over the course of three and a half hours, all with the TTArtisan 23mm manual focus.
I'm very happy with the outcome and only wish I'd not bothered carting around everything else!

Will I learn from this? Probably not... kitchen sink comes along 🙂
Yesterday I went to visit a town and museum. The evening before I packed a camera, three lenses and a small tripod.
That morning I came to my senses, removed one lens and the tripod.
And in the end I just used the X-T5 with one lens.

I am thinking about the new Fujifilm 16-55 though. That little extra wide angle compared to the 18-50 is compelling.
 
I used to do this for years and years. I seemingly overpacked, no matter what I was shooting, and at the end of the day I would stand there and look at it and wonder, what was a thinking?

Over the years, I slowly started downsizing my gear and quickly came to the realization that I simply did not need all that gear. Today, my everyday carry bag, whether I am shooting an event or just out having fun, is a Think Tank Mirrorless Mover. It is extremely small and holds my Ricoh GRIIIx, a Lumix LX100, and my Camp Snap toy camera. That's it. I stopped worrying about packing the right gear and started concentrating on shooting with what I have with me. Life is much easier now and a lot more fun. 😎
 
is that a 24mm on a full frame or crop body? I found the 23 on a crop (ie equivalent to approx 35 in FF terms) to be quite perfect
24 on a FF.
I don't have any crop cameras at the present time.
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This lens is quickly becoming my 'go to' for shooting cars.
 
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Other than heading into the CBD for work, I rarely get out and about, but I have been over-packing recently too. Nikon F, Bronica S and a compact digital of some kind (usually GM1, E-PM2, or E-P3). Definitely to much but I get FOMO when it comes to film-shooting and want to get through the frames! If I can get away from one 35mm and one medium-format, then I can reduce the weight (but I'm also aware that my ability/willingness to carry MF gear will reduce as I get older so need to make the most of it) 😂
 
For years I haven't carried a photo bag any more. Like Rick I'm using the Lumix LX100.2 as a small size (anorak pocket size) lightweight for most purposes that come along. I always cary this one woth me.
For special purposes I have the OM-D E-M5 with one of the following lenses (depending on what I'm going to photograph): 4/8-50, 2.8/12-40, 4/12-100, 2.8/60 macro or 1.8/75 . I always decide on a special focal length beforehand depending on the motifs I'm after. Very rarely I have two lenses at the same time with me. But if so, one will find its place either in the anorak or coat pocket or in a very small bag that does not look like a photo bag and has place for the small and excellent Manfrotto tripod (see attachment).
 

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Yes I often carry an excessive amount of gear, but I rarely carry two bodies for any format bigger than MFT.
My DSLR bag generally has 7 lenses & a flash as well as a few filters battery etc. Focal lengths cover everything from a 180 degree diagonal to around 750mm equivalent.
My main FF bag varies more but will usually have at least 5 lenses, and quite a few more filters as it's full spectrum converted so typically either wants an IR filter or a hot mirror...

Last time I took my 5x4 kit out I took 2 bodies & at least 6 lenses, but I knew I was staying within reach of the car 🙂

At least I do sometimes travel light my Nikon 1 bag only has 3 lenses, and the Pentax Q kit might have two bodies & a handful of lenses but it's still lightweight, if I'm not getting carried away with apted glass. Sometimes for events like car shows I'll only take a camera with it's kit zoom.
 
So today I went to an annual car-show. Previously, I've only found out about it after event when seeing photographs online.
This year people from our neighbourhood, who own a car that was being exhibited, offered me a ride and insisted it's high time I attend.
It's held over the two days of the weekend, Saturday being more modern cars and Sunday vintage.

Last night I charged batteries, stressed over what lenses to take, finally plumped for the X-T30 with 18-55 kit lens (good general all-rounder) and the Nikon Z fc with the TTArtisan 23mm f/1.4 on board and the TTArtisan 17mm in the bag.
It was quite a heavy bag to cart around, what with water bottle, spare batteries for both brands and other odds and ends.

In the event I shot 273 photos over the course of three and a half hours, all with the TTArtisan 23mm manual focus.
I'm very happy with the outcome and only wish I'd not bothered carting around everything else!

Will I learn from this? Probably not... kitchen sink comes along 🙂
Do I Also Overpack Gear? Short answer: nope! I have been taking photos for over 70 years. I have been there, read the book, seen the film etc etc etc! I now have one camera and one lens. Fujifilm X-T3 body & XF16-80 lens. Do I need anything else? Absolutely not, although I have just ordered an XF 35mm f2 (again), simply because I love that combination. And when I go out, I will have one lens or the other, and never a bag full of bits that I won't use!
But what would I know?
 
I have always worked with two bodies. Air shows, events, you name it - two bodies. Generally for those cases a longer zoom on one (70-200 or 200-500) and then a wide angle on the other for statics and close ups. Apart from that additional lenses in the bag. Never a tripod and sometimes a flash. Same for travel - two bodies everywhere has stood me in good stead.

That being said, I'm learning to teach myself to pare down.
 
I have always worked with two bodies. Air shows, events, you name it - two bodies. Generally for those cases a longer zoom on one (70-200 or 200-500) and then a wide angle on the other for statics and close ups. Apart from that additional lenses in the bag. Never a tripod and sometimes a flash. Same for travel - two bodies everywhere has stood me in good stead.

That being said, I'm learning to teach myself to pare down.
Irene, I've photographed the Beaumaris Concourse Car Show about 5 or six times now, and a couple of others.

I've generally found that one high quality zoom is adequate, but occasionally take two.

These have been:

FTs 14-54 MkII, on my E-510, E-30 and E-M1 MkI

12-100 on my E-M1 MkII

8-25 on E-M1 MkII

The last show I took both the 8-25 (then brand new) and my 12-100, just in case. I never used the 12-100, but will probably continue to take it along, as I have gotten some excellent shots with it in the past, at the longer FLs.

It's very tricky, and is really dependant on the preferences of the particular photographer, IMO.
 
I, too, have pared down...significantly.

Several years ago we were going on a long days hike in the Wasatch mountains at an elevation of 8000'. Rather than pack my G9 and PL12-60, just took my Sony RX100V4. Photos of wildflowers, a bull moose, deer and landscapes all came out spectacularly. These days I mostly take my Sony RX10V3, for distant bird shots, and Sony RX100V7 for everything else. Finally coming to my senses at 83 yo!
 
Every time..... Depending on the event I usually carry a 35mm camera and a digital Leica M-E, both with interchangeable lenses, and sometimes a medium format (or large format) in an uncomfortable bag.
I've learned not to bring too many options in lenses though because by the time you've decided what combo to use the moment is gone forever.

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I have always worked with two bodies. Air shows, events, you name it - two bodies. Generally for those cases a longer zoom on one (70-200 or 200-500) and then a wide angle on the other for statics and close ups. Apart from that additional lenses in the bag. Never a tripod and sometimes a flash. Same for travel - two bodies everywhere has stood me in good stead.

That being said, I'm learning to teach myself to pare down.
For airshows I'll nearly always have two bodies one with a super tele (typically to 750mm equivalent) and one with a normal to wide zoom. Our local show now has a twilight session & I'll go without the super tele for that.

When the red arrows come screaming towards you tightly grouped, then split into a fan there is little enough time for changing cameras - no chance of changing lenses 🙂
 
When I do my yearly trip to the American SW, I take only a Gx85/Oly 75-300/Pany 14/with wide angle convertor. My Gh6/G9II (or whatever I have at the time) and all my PL lens stay home. At home its either the G9II and PL100-400/Pany 14mm/Canon 500D macro filter or the Gh6 PL8-18 or PL 12-60/Canon Macro filter that goes. Over the years I know what I will use and at 75 and disabled enough to get a parking permit, weight is key.
 
I try not to, but I usually do. Luckily, it's not by a huge amount anymore. Were away in Portland for a week, took 2 small bodies that share the same battery (E-M10 Mk 3 and E-PL7) with 3 batteries between them. Had a 12-35mm 2.8 zoom lens, the DJI 15mm 1.7 and one manual lens (Rokinon 50mm 1.2). I used all 3 but I probably did not need the Rokinon with me given that I was with my wife for most of the time - so there was no time for slower manual focus photography - so it was not used that much.
 
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