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Traveling with lenses


bencoyote

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Instead of going backpacking in the wilderness somewhere this summer, I'm going to go backpacking around Europe for a month and a half. I have a lot more experience in the wilderness of America than I have trekking around civilized places. ;-)

 

I've got 3 M lenses that I'm planning to take: 28 cron, 50 lux, 90 AA.

(someday my travel kit will be the much more practical a 35 lux fle, and 90 Macro-Elmar - but 28,50,90 is what I have now so that is what I'm taking)

 

Since I'm backpacking around, staying at airbnb, friend's houses, friend's parent's houses...and not going to be in one place very long minimal gear weight and volume is important. I'm not going to take a specific camera bag. What are people's suggestions for carrying lenses on the airlines, when walking around, and taking up temporary residence in misc places.

 

The leather storage cases are OK but I find them kind of unhandy. Plus the unpadded sides concern me when stuffed in luggage.

 

For just daily walking around unencumbered by my full backpack and in my carry on I was thinking of using one of those Peak Design Field Pouches https://www.peakdesign.com/product/bags/the-field-pouch/ sometimes. Around home, I often just drop 2 lenses and a spare battery into it and then stick it into a generic shoulder bag. 

 

Other times when I will have my whole backpack, I was thinking of wrapping them in Domke wraps and then just stuffing them wherever. For example if I think there is a chance that I might use it, then I would drop a side pocket of a backpack where you would put a water bottle or an umbrella. Or if I don't think that I'll use it, I'll tuck in among my clothes in my backpack.

 

What do you guys think? Is this too minimal? Good enough? What do more experienced travelers do for long trips where limits on the weight and volume of gear are likely going to be apparent.

 

PS I'm not worried about the camera at all because that will be in hand or around my neck all the time.

 

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For everyday use (outside of friggin Wall Street) I use a military-like sling bag. It holds two bodies, three lenses, a flash, and odd stuff in a compact way. It is like this one. They sell for about $36 USD. Excellent. The little pouch at the top holds memory cards and batteries. Perfect.

 

Since I got mine, other color schemes have come out. I am tempted to have them made in nice leather.

.

Edited by pico
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For everyday use (outside of friggin Wall Street) I use a military-like sling bag. It holds two bodies, three lenses, a flash, and odd stuff in a compact way. It is like this one. They sell for about $36 USD. Excellent. The little pouch at the top holds memory cards and batteries. Perfect.

 

Since I got mine, other color schemes have come out. I am tempted to have them made in nice leather.

.

pico - what is that bag - doesn't look like a max pack? Where did you get it?
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So much kerfuffle over bags! I went on a recent visit to the Azores. I wanted to take my M plus a selection of lenses; 90,50,35,24, plus a few accessories.

If you pack lenses into neoprene pouches then the whole lot fits neatly into the inner compartment of an 'Antler' back pack. GBP 45 from John Lewis.

 

Waterproof ... essential in mid Atlantic, lightweight, and loads of room for binoculars, travel documents, etc., etc.

 

No need for anything else. We walked for many kms or miles every day with no problems. Each to their own. :)

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Just back from 18 days in Europe, Domke F-5XB with MP/28 Summicron/50 Summilux ASPH/90 Macro-Elmar and 5 rolls of film (with extra in my pockets here and there). Perfect, very comfortable, wraps around your body. 

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So much kerfuffle over bags! I went on a recent visit to the Azores. I wanted to take my M plus a selection of lenses; 90,50,35,24, plus a few accessories.

If you pack lenses into neoprene pouches then the whole lot fits neatly into the inner compartment of an 'Antler' back pack. GBP 45 from John Lewis.

 

Waterproof ... essential in mid Atlantic, lightweight, and loads of room for binoculars, travel documents, etc., etc.

 

No need for anything else. We walked for many kms or miles every day with no problems. Each to their own. :)

 

Agreed so much kerfuffle over bags. I'm not interested in bags per se -- especially not a dedicated camera bag. I'm kind of more interested in suitable individual lens padding.

 

So am I gathering correctly that people think Domke wraps are suitable enough padding for fairly long term urban trekking? (Not counting the water resistant benefits of neoprene.)

 

Without buying anything new I have:

  1. The Peak Design Field pouch - nicely holds two lenses a spare battery, a lens pen, a lens wipe and that is about it. The padding kind of minimal but around home I usually just toss it in something if I think that I might need more than one lens.
  2. A collection of Domke wraps - Make your own compartments in whatever or just give it a little padding rather than having a lens bare in your bag or pocket. They are padding but is it enough? You guys have been doing this longer than me and do it more often. What do you think?
  3. LowePro DashPort cases - I bought these thinking they were lens cases and have used them as such for a couple of years until I happened to discover that LowPro doesn't consider them lens cases. I still use them for that but I think twice about how and the risks before doing so. I really like how they clip onto things. They are great that way. LowePro does have lens pouches however, even their smallest lens pouch 7cmx8cm is too big for everything except for my 90 AA. I love rangefinders and their wonderfully compact lenses!!! Plus their lens pouches don't attach to things as nicely as the DashPort cases. LowePro really caters to the SLR market and their stuff is generally way too big. They are barely getting their head around this new mirrorless thing. The problems with carrying gear are so much easier with smaller gear and when your rasion d'etre is to make carrying insanely huge pieces of equipment bearable then I can understand why they are having trouble.

 

Wisdom? 

Experience?

What works? What doesn't?  (When you're living for a few months out of a backpack, catching trains hither and yon and sleeping on couches and spare bedrooms?)

 

WWKD (What would Koudelka do?) How did he carry is stuff around?

Edited by bencoyote
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Often multiple cameras around his neck....  http://petapixel.com/2015/06/04/leica-crafted-a-one-of-a-kind-panoramic-s2-for-josef-koudelka/   Not much for packing....mostly interested in shooting and traveling light, according to various sources.

 

Jeff

 

Heh if I were only that lucky (and talented) ;-)

 

But you have the right idea now: "Not much for packing....mostly interested in shooting and traveling light, according to various sources." So while shooting traveling light how do I properly care for these wonderful Leica lenses? (Sleeping outside sounds fun. I might not do the bread and milk thing though.)

 

Is the idea of Domke wraps reasonable for long term use?

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My solution is to travel with the f-stop Harney Pouch.  

 

http://shop.fstopgear.com/us/harney-pouch.html

 

When travelling, I have a lot of extra gear to carry (not camera gear) --> gear for the wife, for the kids, etc.  For all that, I like to use a Go-Ruck backpack.  It is better suited for an urban environment in my opinion.   I though my camera and lenses into the F-stop pouch.   And it can sit neatly and safely in the backpack. 

 

  • If the wife goes shopping, and needs some space to put her stuff, the pouch can be attached outside the bag.  I can put the pouch on my belt.  I can Wear it like a man purse by adding a strap.   
  • If I am going out by myself, I can leave the heavy backpack at home, and just go out with the pouch by adding a shoulder strap

I really like this two bag setup because it is so adaptable to any situation.   

 

 

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I just chuck them on whatever bag I'm taking. I wrap them enough so that the lens caps don't pop off, other than that I don't lay then next to each other - to reduce long term rubbing.

If I had a domke wrap of use that, but usually settle for a sock or a beenie.

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I put my lenses into (Deuter as it happens) neoprene pouches (bought new for £2 each - a very good reduction from £12!) and the spare batteries/cards too. These simply drop into my day rucksack, of which there are as many choices available as anyone could want - simply try on to find one which fits/suits/works - I'm thinking of an 'air-flow' one next, to cool my back better ;) . Camera goes into a neoprene case (highly underrated) and likewise drops into the rucksack. If I'm really worried about impact damage then I use am old CCS small SLR camera case/pouch which offers excellent thick padding - beware when buying used ones, as they are no longer made, which must not smell musty, because if they do (and they often do) then they have been stored in a damp place and may be loaded with fungal spores. I leave lens caps behind to prevent loss (why can't they make them in a fluorescent colour?) but fit filters/hoods to the lenses as protection.

 

IMO the trick with carrying gear like this is not the bag/pouches/whatever, its being comfortable with it and being able to access it in a way that you feel comfortable and secure with. And when you get back take everything out and make sure that its all well dried before putting it away. One last thing is that I always carry a folded up dry bag in my rucksack and its big enough to put everything in that might be damaged by damp - just in case - cheap and effective insurance against and unexpected downpour (probably says something about where I live).

 

For everyday use ..... I use a military-like sling bag. 

 

FWIW I discovered on a recent trip that some countries don't allow the use of 'camouflage' type clothing, etc. - I'd never have thought about this and it didn't affect me but is worth checking up on!

Edited by pgk
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Two good soft (the hard ones take up too much space) lens bags hooked onto my belt (normal belt not a specialist one), camera hanging from my neck (optech neoprene case in my pocket for when I am not shooting and don´t want to worry about knocking it against something), EVF and spare battery in pocket.  That is what I do.

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For such travelling, I find I have two scenarios: travelling from A to B with all my stuff, and wandering around while most of my stuff is back at my hotel/house.

 

I try to have a bag for the latter which can be stuffed in the bag for the former. My travelling from A to B bag is an F-Stop Loka rucksack, which is light, complies with airline cabin bag regs, has an easily accessible compartment, and is a seriously good walking pack. My wandering around bag goes in the bottom of this (where it is accessed from the full length back panel). The latter bag varies, but may be:

- Domke F5XB.

- a custom leather bag I had made of similar capacity that gives better protection than the Domke (its padding is too thin IMO).

- a rough tough hemp shoulder/messenger bag with no padding, into which I put a Crumpler Haven bag. This combo gives space for guide book, water bottle etc.

 

It depends on how light you want to travel, but this (with a tub of clothes detergent) is good for 1-2 weeks in Europe.

 

Edit: Oh, and for protection of lenses while travelling by air etc. I was brought up to believe that a gentleman's private parts should be well protected from normal hazards. Anything which is good enough for them is good enough for my lenses. i.e. my underpants.

Edited by LocalHero1953
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For protection of lenses (when I don't bring with me a messenger), I use either Lowepro 8x6 cm or 9x9 cm lens cases. These cases are (relatively) small, they offer good protection and most M-lenses fit, 50Noct/75Lux/90Cron included. Perfect for hiking/climbing; no worry whatsoever about protection. And in case of downpour, I bring with me an Ortbieb dry bag. Just in case.

 

For hiking, I put an M- or SL-body, with an M-lens attached, in a Tamrac 5513 (perfect fit). I think the Tamrac is out of production now, but a search on the net might give a hit. And there might be cases out there of similar size.

 

My favourite gear for hiking - and a much used triple for urban shooting as well - is 21SEM, 50APO and 90Macro-Elmar. Two Lowepro 8x6 cm cases take care of two of the lenses, the third one is attached to a M- or SL-body in the Tamrac. The latter holds a spare battery and a few cards. A small, light-weight and very capable set...

Edited by helged
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...therfore - during outdoor activies - I add one (small) lens case on both ends of the Tamrac strap. In this way I have camera and lenses ready whatever I do, during straneous hiking, when climbing, skiing, for days or weeks. Very convenient. The Tamrac strap runs diagonally over one shoulder and it is fixed to the body by the backpack's hipbelt. Perfect for me - tested over many years. Others may have dufferent preferences, that's just fine...

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