What do you carry with you when you go out to photograph?

I always end up taking everything. I mean, when I go out for a walk on my own with photography in mind rather than going out with a specific shot in mind.
I often try to reduce what I carry but find it very difficult. I always take a tripod for instance. I always take the 16-50 as its my standard lens but I cant leave the 12-24 behind in case I want a wide angle.
The 50-135 is perhaps the least useful for outdoor stuff but it does have its uses also the 100-300 I rarely use on a general walk but if I just happen to need it.
For example my best ever shot taken on the 16-50 is heavily cropped, if i had the 100-300 with me it wouldnt have been a problem.
The filters, wel I cant possibly do without them and the shutter release of course, what about the flash gun in case a bit of fill-in is required?

Actually i dont usually take the flashgun but perhaps I should.

Oh and I had forgotten about the newly required macro, what if i come across a niceclose up possibility?

So, my question is, how do YOU rreduce the gear you take with you?

Steve

If I go to something specific I only take with me what I need.
I've trip planned to an auto race the 3rd and I will probably only take the DA*50-135 with me.
That's also the lens I take with to family visits with the DA40 for the bit wider shots.

On walks I can only take the DFA100mm macro with me and since I've only that lens with me I only look at things I can photograph with that lens.
If I take everything I don't look for things to photograph but simply photograph what looks pretty...

I don't know if you've a prime lens (every one should have at least one) but if so take only that with you how hard it might look.
Just do it and experience the freedom of one focal length and you might be able to take less the other time.

Have a small bag, so I simply cannot fit too much in there. Also I have back and shoulder problems, so can't take too much weight anyway.

Take different gear on different days to make it more interesting. Nevermind if you're not always equipped for everything. It's not the end of the world if you miss something.

I usually have a good idea what lenses I'll want before I go out anywhere so I tend to carry the camera with one lens attached, spare battery and memory card in one pocket and usually (not always) a second lens in another pocket or pouch (depending on the size of lens).

Going for a gentle stroll around town or the countryside? The DA35 Macro is on the camera and the D-FA100 Macro is in my pocket.

Going to a show or exhibition? The DA35 Macro is on the camera and the DA12-24 is in a belt pouch (too big for pockets!).

Going to a party or BBQ with people shots? The FA43 is on the camera and the FA77 is in my pocket.

In fact for pretty much any scenario I have a one or two lens solution. Accessories such as remotes, flashes and tripods rarely leave my house unless I'm pretty certain in advance I'll need them; at which point I make up a camera bag bundle. I also use a small bag if it looks like rain when I'll take the DA18-55 and Tamron 70-300 (neither of which is waterproof, but both have withstood heavy soakings without complaint and are cheap enough to be expendable).

Of course there are times when I wish I had brought a particular lens or accessory with me, but as my photography seems to follow fairly narrow patterns then it's not all that often.

It's a good question! I always have a nightmare deciding what to take. If I'm out on my own specifically looking to do some nature photography I will usually have my K-7, 16-50, 50-135 and 300mm lenses, as well as 100mm macro plus polarising filters, and a flashgun - and ideally a tripod although often I get away with a gorillapod... I use a lowepro rucksack - think its called a primus AW and it's very comfy and will take a lot of stuff.

When I try and slimline my kit I normally end up with something like, sigma 70-300mm and 40mm ltd., or (as I did today), sigma 10-20 plus 40mm and 70mm ltd. The ltds are great as they are tiny and weigh little - but I only have two (). Normally just stuff the lot into a little backpack and away I go.

Sometimes it's good to just take a single lens and live with that... in that case I normally end up with the 40mm ltd as it is so small and light.

Regards

Mat

I think most keen photographers have the same problem. I must admit I usually go prepared for everything and use a large Billingham bag.
However, for when I am weight conscious, I use a smaller CCS bag and take; Pentax K20D with Pentax 17-70 attached and in the bag; Sigma 10-20, Pentax 55-300, Memory Cards, Batteries. This set covers most things and I am rarely disadvantaged.

Almost always 21/30 or 35 (not both)/70 usually plus the 10-20 although I find I'm using it less and I lust after the 15. The Ltd lenses are so compact and light they just beg to be used.

Then if required I'll take other lenses.

If in doubt basic kit in messenger bag on shoulder plus extras in camera bag in the boot.

If it's a real walk about then 21/35/70 one on body one in each pocket of fleece.

I may as well set a cat amongst the pigeons. You're always at a disadvantage when using a zoom; it's the quickest way to stifle creativity IMO. (Santa brought me flame proof trousers so I know no fear).

Mike

As little as possible. Apart from any specialised lenses if, for example, I went shooting birds at Martin Mere, then the basic kit for an exploratory photo walk is:

K20D
16-45mm
55-300mm
40mm
Another lens - could be 12-24mm, 100mm Macro, 80-320mm or something I'm testing.

The best pictures are to be found in the most awkward spots (generally) so the lighter I travel the better I like it.

Hmmmmm ........

Interesting topic this

So far I only have the K-x and its 18-55 lens and of course my flash .....

Photomonk was reminding me the other day about forward planning / packing for the camera - and I ended up thinking along these lines

Camera

Lens - 18-55 on the camera and [ once it's here ] the 50 -200 in my bag

Flash - my Metz 48

Batteries - set in Camera and spare set , set in Flash and spare set

Cards - in camera and also spare 4GB cards too

Notebook and pencil

PLASTIC BAG / s - well my camera is not weather resistant and my bag / bags do not have weather covers for them - so it's a big one to cover the bag and smaller ones to protect my gear .

Strikes me this is plenty to be carrying around - not only that my small bags [ yes 2 of them ] won't actually take more - the bigger new one will but then who wants to go walk-about-with a largish backpack ? The new Bag is really intended for travelling when on holiday and when I really do have to have my lappy with me as well .

I don't. When it became necessary, I bought a bigger bag. Now all I need is a stronger wife to carry it.

When she can't manage the full payload, I take:-
K20D + grip, DA12-24, DA*16-50, DA*60-250, DA*300, F 1.7x AF T/C, FA100mm Macro, AF540FGZ + Stofen Omnibounce + Lumiquest Softbox, AF160FC.

Accessories include, grey card, tripod, IR remote (in grip), water.

All this tucked into a Lowepro Fastpack 350. My other bag is a Tamrac Expedition 7+.

I have a separate belt pouch with light meter, spare batteries, cards, level, cable release, torch, knife, Arctic Butterfly, cleaning cloth. This prevents me from having to keep swapping these items between bags, and I always know where they are at all times.

PS: I was only joking about my dear wife.

Some good ideas here.
I Stefans idea of taking just a specific lens and then working with that is a sound one. I dont have a prime lens yet apart from the 50mm macro (which i have not used and to date am not sure how to use it)but i would like to try a few primes though cost has so far stopped me splashing out.
I am sure as mikew stated it can help creativity rather than just shooting what you see.

I've been trying to take less kit, as I feel it makes your creative side work a bit harder. But it really depends on what you're shooting. For example, an air show would see me with my 18-55 and 100-300, as I'll want wide angle for large aircraft on the ground and the 300mm for the air displays.

A stage show or concert will be either my 28-90mm or my 135mm, depending on how far I am from the action. Primes are much better for this as they tend to be sharper at wider apertures, unfortunately I have something of a gap between 55mm and 135mm in primes which the 28-90mm covers.

Museums, probably the 18-55mm as you often can't get far away from the subject without capturing items you don't want, such as people, benches, signs, etc.

For general walk-around use I like the old A series primes, especially the 28mmm and 50mm I have. The 50mm is nicely compact and a joy to use, I've not tried the 28mm out properly yet but it seems decent so far. Both are half as long as the zoom and can handle low light very well. The 28mm works out as a 42mm on digital, so not far off the classic 50mm focal length.

If I can only carry around one lens, I make it my DA 50-200. I'm constantly surprised by the image quality, and it's construction makes it very light. As someone else mentioned, the relative cost of the lens means I'm not overly worried about it getting rained on, or bumped about. Only issue I have is that the lens could be faster for shots on a cloudy day...

As an example, I'm going skiing next week, and only have room for two lenses in my backpack - it's going to be the 50-200 and 10-17 fisheye.

For a single day out,two bodies, three lenses. For a weekend, it could be quite a lot depending on where I go and what I'm looking to shoot.

Regards

I usually take most of my gear (K20D, 12-24, 17-70, 60-250, 50 & 100 macros, Metz 54 flash, cards & batts etc.) with me in my "moderately" (:wink large Billingham 307 bag and my Giottos CF tripod plus head lives in the car boot in an old Jessops tripod bag.




I also have a Flipside 300 backpack, the large (huge!) National Geographic shoulder bag, a couple of smaller bags, a top loading holster and some waist bags, but don't use them that much. They are all either up for sale, or shortly will be.

I find that I can fairly comfortably carry the Billy slung across my body for considerable periods and it's very easy to work from, but my tripod bag is less convenient, so I'm considering either some tripod straps for the Billy (but that may make it very awkward), or maybe a tripod sling strap with a soft sleeve to protect it from scuffs and scratches but I haven't found one yet. Any suggestions?

I also have a ThinkTank shoulder harness which I can use if I need to carry the Billy like a backpack, it's ugly but it works.