Gear Storage

What do you guys store your equipment in?

Ive outgrown my lowepro nova180 (50-135 wont really fit in) and need something else to store all of my gear in. (id rather it all be in the one bag / rucksack).

Ive been looking at the Tamrac Expedition and Lowepro Vertex series but need some inspiration.

It will need to be able to fit a DA* 300.

I use a Lowepro Photo Hatchback 22 normally when out and about. (thats a bit small for the larger lenses though. They do fit in the top section though)

To avoid fungus problems, storage is best on open shelves with lots of air circulation.

As for bags for carrying the kit, look at all the good makes such as Billingham, Lowepro, Tamrac and so on and just see what suits your style.

I didn't know that, thanks.

On the bags front what do people use to carry the 300 with other kit?

I just bought this Tamrac rally 6 bargain... link

Due to the bag being slim but tall it holds my 300 DA * F4 nicely alongside K5 with 18 - 135 WR DA facing down in middle. On other side of camera I currently have the cheap 50mm F1.8 borrowed off my son. Large zip pocket on front and slip pouch at back. Very comfortable padded shouder strap. Cheaper in this colour

One issue with getting a bag big enough for all your kit is that it'll be very/too heavy to carry, if, like me, you suffer severe LBA.

I resolved this initially by leaving all my Pentax kit at home and buying a Fuji X20 as my 'go to' camera.

I have since bought smaller bags in which I store sets of lenses based upon, or enabling, more 'focussed' (sorry!) use.

All by DA Limiteds, for example, fit into a OpTech 4901012 Accessory Pack 11 (link), together with 100 and 50 macros, my DA and DA* zooms fit comfortably into a LowePro Nova 200 with one camera body, batteries,a flash gun,etc, another camera body with 17-70 attached fits into a LowePro Nova 160, a DA* 300 in a ThinkTank Digital Holster 20. You get the idea.

The concept, which works well for me most of the time, is that breaking up my kit into smaller 'bite size' bags makes them easier to carry as I can better distribute the weight, plus I just grab the appropriate bags dependent upon what I intend to shoot. Now the Fuji doesn't get out so much.

Lens buying addiction needs to be accompanied by lens selling. I'm at the bottom of my curve BUT the new bag does hold a 300 F4 for Cyprus next week with room for a tablet,a Kindle and a bottle or two of drink int he sde pockets.

Yes, I do this. I never keep lenses or cameras in their cases unless I'm taking them out on a shoot or in transit

This is most of my main kit in the Lowepro Pro Runner 350AW Photo Backpack I bought a couple of years ago



The two big lenses are the 100-300 F4 in the middle section and the 70-200 in the side section - the 150-500 will also fit in the centre section.

OTOH - very heavy to carry all this lot but just possible for me as the 350AW is actually very comfortable to wear.

For other journeys and holidays I use a Lowepro Photo Hatchback 22 (that's the one with access to the photo section from the straps side so it can't be plundered so easily) plus a cheap holster case that holds a body with attached 18-135 or 10-20 lens and some spare cards and batteries in the side pockets. (Both of these cases are sprayed grey to make them less conspicuous!)

PS - excuse the bare feet but I had just come in from work and was in the process of changing clothes when I remembered to take the photo