civilized ku # 288 ~ small is beautiful pt. 2
Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 11:12AM 
Xmas wreath / 1st snow storm ~ Au SAble Forks, NY • click to embiggenYesterday's civilized ku # 287 engendered a few questions, 2 of which are related:
1. Dennis Allshouse (no link provided) asked: how do you carry your equipment?
2. Mary Dennis asked : Why can't you just keep the cameras in a bag on the floor Mark? ...
re: camera bag - I usually carry my cameras (Oly E3 / Pentax K20D - both with battery grips) hanging from from my shoulder. They rarely see the inside of my camera bag, which is a Lowepro Off Trail 2.
I chose that bag because it is quite adaptable - it can be slung from a shoulder or belted around your waist. When I am walking / hiking around for extended periods, I use both methods together which makes it quite secure and giggle-free. In addition, both side lens pouches are removable for those times when I want to travel really light. I also like the fact that I do not have to open the main compartment in order to access the 2 lenses that I might want to change to most frequently.
I rarely bring the camera bag into a "fine" restaurant. The tables are usually rather small (for marketing purposes say, "intimate") so there is very little room on or under the tables. My fear is that a camera bag placed under the table will, inadvertently, make its way at least part way out from under the table with the result being that a server with a tray full of expensive wine and caviar .... you get the idea.
Mary Dennis also asked, re: camera bag-wise:
... Is it just too much of a hassle to pull them out when inspiration strikes? Or do just shoot like you breathe? Constantly and naturally?
Her question contains its own answer - the "inspiration" strikes way to often for me to be yanking the suckers in and out of the bag because I do indeed "shoot like I breathe ... constantly and naturally."
Mary also wondered if the wife ever gets tired of the constant camera. I can't speak for her but I do believe if she ever saw me without one, she might faint.
On the other hand, she does get tired of my new-ish hat - a black baseball-style cap with the Consorzio del Gallo Nero emblem on it. The wife seems to think that the constant-baseball cap (and tight jeans) are not age-appropriate for me.
However, perhaps the hat is deflecting attention from the constant-camera issue.
Reader Comments (2)
I carry my 5D2 with the 24-105 IS L just about everywhere I go. While I would rarely be in a restaurant that would have a wine bucket beside a too small table, I have little hesitation to plot down my overly large dSLR in the middle of a nice white table cloth. Like you, when seen without my camera, I have the same problem with the wife and fainting spells. That said, I am looking at purchasing either a G11 or S90 Canon. Why? Well....just because.
....forgot to mention, I don't need no stinkin' camera bag. While I own at least three of the damned things, usually only one is in service when I travel with the vechicle out and about in search of images, It resides in the rear of the SUV holding other lenses. That one is a medium-sized bag made by Calument.