Traveling with lenses

[Ecar]

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I'd check out the Lowepro Passport Sling - not a "real bag", light, keeps everything in one place, provides adequate protection and is soft enough that it can be dropped into a larger bag. And it's not too expensive.

Else neoprene pouches, taco-style wraps or socks should all be fine. I have a preference for pouches.

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[pechelman]

for outdoor activities such as mountain biking or backcountry skiing, I have found that a regular old neoprene beer coozie or two to be a great way to protect lenses inside a pack. Also a regular old winter beanie hat or something like that works quite well too as does a spare set of winter gloves (just stuff the lens in the wrist of the glove).  Use what you're already taking to pull double duty. 

 

Personally, I travel with a generic looking messenger bag, not at all designed for a camera, and then just remove my regular "around town" camera bag insert and throw it in there. Usually that's a f-stop shiabata but i've since upgraded to a small hadley.

 

The other thing you can do if you bring your regular camera bag insert, is to also bring your camera bag itself. I usually pack it full of socks and clothes inside my suitcase\backpack, so it takes up really minimal room, but then when I get somewhere and I dont need my bigger messenger bag for walking around, I'll remove the insert from the messenger and just walk around with the smaller camera bag. Bringing the camera bag itself also makes for a great way to segregate dirty\clean laundry. Just bring a plastic bag to line it so as not to not stink it up.

 

Also, I'd probably leave the 90mm for traveling light. 

[MaticB]

What about that: challenge would be to cover the whole adventure with just one lens! Let it be just 28 cron… that's what I'm doing in the last period (28 or 35)!

 

Matic

[menos I M6]

Your description sounds like a perfect match for the lens pouches I use for years.

 

I use FOR EVERYTHING LowePro Terraclime pouches.

 

They come in different sizes:

- the smallest just fitting a 35/2 without lens hood comfortably or a 50/1.4 E46 tightly,

- the medium sized one houses any Leica M lens except the largest ones (135/3.4 or something like the 135/2.8 or 90/2 v1) - a 90/2 E55 fits just snugly and a 90/2 AA isn't really bigger than that

- the large size fits a Leica M body without lens or very comfortably a 135/3.4

 

I use them to wrap lenses for traveling, or stand them open into a messenger bag as lens compartments, or hang them off a belt as quickly accessible lens pouches or use them to pack accessories or electronics during traveling like chargers, cables, batteries.

They are flexible, extremely durable, washable and offer some fusion when wrapped close - feels a bit like a lens wrapped inside a pair of thin running socks.

 

I would consider traveling without your 90/2 AA and pick up a 90/4 Macro at your first travel destination (fly in through Paris or Frankfurt - very close to Wetzlar - or any other big European destination with a Leica shop, and get a 90/4 there).

[jaapv]

What about that: challenge would be to cover the whole adventure with just one lens! Let it be just 28 cron… that's what I'm doing in the last period (28 or 35)!

 

Matic

One could just as well, or better, take a Q in that case.

Personally I think it is tying one hand behind your back for travel photography, fine for a day's outing, fine if you have the intention of covering one type of subject only, fine if you want to take just memory shots, but insufficient for the use the OP describes.

[jto555]

Another idea is a dedicated photrographers jacket (http://store.cooph.com or http://www.amazon.com/H2H-Utility-Hunting-Travels-Multiple/dp/B00VSXUKYE?ie=UTF8&keywords=photographers%20jacket&qid=1464344289&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1). You get the idea, just carry the kit in the pockets. Just pick a jacket that does not scream "photojournalist on the loose"!  

[bencoyote]

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Thanks for all the useful tips. I feel like I have a better idea of standard practice.

it took me years to tune my backcountry backpacking gear. This gives me a bit of a head start on doing it for urban travel.