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How much is too much?


casimir_artmann

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How much stuff is resonable to carry on a day-tour?

 

A Nature Trekker backpack with primes covering 24-400 mm, two bodies,

flash and Bogen 3021 tripod. Without film this this package weights

25 lbs.

 

When out in the nature, I usally walk a mile or two from the car

before reaching a resonable view, and then continues by feet.

 

Just added a 400/5.6 prime and tripod, and my load was up 8 lbs. I

think that I should stop adding more weight, in order to be fully

mobile.

 

What is your load?

 

Regards Casi

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You first need to ask yourself why you need ALL your lenses for one hike. That seems like an awful lot of gear to carry around. I just took a trip to Yosemite in May and here's what I did: Had the Lowepro Trekker packed with all the gear - 2 bodies, 6 lenses and accessories. For each day's hike, I took from that pack and transferred just what I needed to the Lowepro Beltpack. That, plus tripod and film was just enough for one day. Worst case scenario - you could always go back to the car if you are missing something. I'm re-visiting Yosemite in October and plan to use the same method for packing equipment.
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I carry a similar set of lenses etc often, at about 10-17kg (22-37lb) total (including pack) depending on whether I carry longer lenses or not and whether I need rain gear or not. With a good pack that fits well it is not uncomfortable to wear for a whole day, 5-20km or so. With my previous cheap pack I would not carry more than 4-5kg, and after a days' outing even that felt rather uncomfortable.

 

Of course I don't *need* all these lenses and accessories, but I enjoy having the choice to use which lens I want when I want. Sometimes I use every lens I carry. And surprisingly often I return not having used any.

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On a day walk I would take one SLR body (I discipline myself to only use one film at a time, and if the camera should fail - which it never has - then I lose a day's shooting). I don't use flash for nature/landscape. I would usually take 24mm, 50mm, and either 135mm or 200mm primes. I have a 300/5.6 which I occasionally take - that's my longest lens. I also carry a Cullmann 54001 tripod (a little under 2 lbs). Plus filters, hoods etc. The emphasis is on space and weight saving, though I don't have any really heavy lenses.
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Like Brian, when I travel, I bring backup camera bodies. But during a hike, I usually don't bring more than one body. None of my camera bodies has ever failed (except that my Nikon F4 doesn't flash sync any more, but otherwise it still works fine after many years).

 

For hiking, usually 2-3 lenses such as a 17-35 and a 80-200 will get the job done. Typically we are talking about landscape situations and wide angles are more important. I have to admit that I cannot carry a 500mm/f4 and walk for miles; usually there is no need to do so anyway.

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600 f/4, 300 f/4, 28-135, 18-35, 80-200 2.8, EOS 3, EOS A2, 550EX flash, flash bracket, and better beamer, wimberly head, Gitzo 1500, teleconverters, miscellaneous filters and gadgets, all in a Lowe Pro super trekker.

While this sounds like a lot, I usually use most of it. the 600 for birds, the 300 for bird flight photography, the 38-135, and the 18-35 for scenics. (while my focus is on birds, the bird often are in scenic locations). The only one that doesn't get much use is the 80-200, but every time I leave it, is when I end up needing it. And two bodies so one keeps the 300 f/4 on it ready for flight photos.

All together including the pack this is around 50 pounds. The upside is I've been able to cancel my gym membership.

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I haven�t thrown my bag on a scale, but I usually try to take the minimum possible. I started out as an �outdoorsman� who then started taking photos, so enjoying the hike itself is important to me. I found that when I brought everything I owned (just in case), I was invariably unhappy because of the load, so I try to go as light as I can. My standard �hiking� kit: One body, 18-35mm, 50mm, and 80-200mm (and a carbon fiber tripod). I will modify this depending on what I think I might shoot. For example, if I think there�s a good chance I�ll need a flash (like for insect close-ups), I�ll bring one; otherwise it gets left behind. If I plan on shooting mushrooms, I�ll make sure to pack a macro lens, but be less concerned about bringing a wide-angle, etc. There are, of course, many times that I wish I had brought another lens, but that disappointment is usually offset by my being happy hiking around, and not exhausted from hauling all my stuff. I�ve never had a body go out on me, though I did have one of the legs of my Bogen 3001 break off while backpacking in the Weminuche Wilderness in CO last year. Now if I had brought an extra tripod. . . .
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25 pounds is not excessive nor is 1 to 5 miles. As others has said, it depends on the circumstances and the terrain and what you know about area. When I do carry a full pack (similar to yours) plus a large lens, I usually carry the larger lens separately as on a belt pack. You can certainly get quality pictures when traveling light.
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When I travel (by automobile only these days), I carry at least 3 camera bodies and 8 lenses. When I hike, I take much less.

 

Not long after I bought my Photo Trekker AW, I hurt my low back. The backpack now makes for good storage of equipment but I don't carry stuff on my back anymore. I use an L.L. Rue KangaRue vest on some hikes and carry two bodies and 20-35mm, 70-200mm, 400mm and extenders along with the other necessities, including a Gitzo 1340 or a Bogen 3021. I also sometimes use a Lowepro Off Trail (or Off Road, I don't remember the model) carrying one body mounted with a 70-200mm, a 24mm and 35mm plus 1.4x and 2x extenders along with film, filters, etc., and maybe an old Banana Republic PJ vest if I need to carry a lot of film. With this bag I use a monopod or even no camera support. I've even been known to carry a very basic Rebel 2000 with a couple of Canon consumer zooms when in minimal minimalist mode.

 

I don't know what these outfits weigh but less is certainly more when taking long or strenuous hikes.

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Everybody's strength and shooting style is different, so there is no one "right" amount of stuffs to carry. Essentially, if you are carrying so much equipment that it is hindering your shooting or hurting your back, you are carrying too much. In these days, a few good zooms can go a long way.
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I hate leaving things at home...I always think I'll need them.

 

My present kit comprises of EOS 3, 20mm F2.8, 24-85, 70-200 F4L and 300 F4L IS lenses with a 1.4X TC and a 430EZ flashgun. However, if I am wondering around a city then I will tend to leave the 300 behind (the 70-200 + TC makes a perfectly usable 280mm). If I'm going birding, I can leave the 20mm, and usually the 24-85 as well. I very rarely carry the flashgun.

 

The real problem for me is that my kit weighs a considerable proportion of my own body weight (a mere 105lbs or 48Kg). I had real problems with shoulder bags, and so moved to a CCS belt system. This is not ideal, since the belt is not padded at all, and I have had bruised hips several times from wearing it all day. I intend to replace it with a Kinesis belt which should solve that problem. The belt system avoids back problems and also makes the load less noticeable. However, sometimes it can be a pain in the neck, and I intend to get a smaller photo backpack as an alternative.

 

Certainly I have too much. And presently I want to add yet more (Power booster, 24mm and 35mm primes, 2X TC) without replacing anything. It will just be more too much....

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As M. Huber advised, this is certainly a fact. A friend and associate, who photographed for AP for years (winning a Pulitzer, by the way), was forced to retire due to his back. Most of the photographers I worked with who are older than me and now retired, suffer from back pain. After carrying a lot of camera gear in a shoulder bag for 17+ years, I now have chronic neck and left shoulder pain. This on top of a recent low back injury.

 

If you want to keep photographing in the future, be good to yourself today. While I thought I was bullet proof in my youth, it's no picnic to find yourself at a relatively young age with an early onset of limitations directly related to the accumulation of wear and tear.

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My Lowepro Nature Trekker AW with my gear and tripod weighs in at 22 lbs. On a recent trip to Alaska I shoulderd the load with ease. I can add on external pouches, etc. on the Lowepro, but I had my kids along to haul water, food, jackets, etc. Would I want to carry much more? Probably not in rugged country-for short trips where I knew what I wanted to photograph I would return to my Lowepro belt (Orion AW) and settle for hauling my tripod in my hands. But, with a true mounaineering pack suspension (as the Lowe series has) weight can more eaisly be carried!
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IMO, any place worth photographing is worth visiting twice. I limit what I carry in my photo backpack by scouting the location I�m planning to photograph the day before an early morning shoot or during the midday before a late afternoon shoot.

 

When I�m scouting the location I might bring with me a small P&S 35mm camera, or nowadays, my Nikon digital P&S. Sometimes I�ll carry my Nikon N70 with the Nikkor 24-120mm zoom lens attached depending on the mood I�m in and the length of the hike to the shooting location.

 

In any case, I usually bring with me a small notepad with me to write down notes on what to shoot, where to shoot it, and with what lens. By traveling very light when I�m scouting a location, I am able to check the photo opportunities from many vantage points and angles.

 

I can then pack with confidence just the cameras, lenses, and accessories (including flash and filters) I need for the location I had just scouted. I usually end of carrying a tripod, two camera bodies, usually no more than fours lenses (sometimes only two), my flash and my filters, in addition to the film, spare batteries, and some other small photo accessories.

 

Then when I�m come back in the late afternoon or early morning for the actual shoot, I don�t have to waste any precious time finding the locations to setup my tripod, and I�m all set and ready to start firing away.

 

Travel as light as possible and you�ll enjoy photography more.

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All depends upon a lot of different factors, like, how fit you are, how dedicated

to getting that shot you are and how you are actually carrying the camera

equipment.

 

For a long days walk forget about shoulder bags completely and look at either

dedicated camera back packs or mountaineering backpacks. I have a large

capacity Lowe Alpine backpack which can carry all my camera gear with ease

and I can strap my Gitzo 1348 to the side of the bag as well, plus have plenty

of room for spare clothing, food, maps etc, which are important items that don't

seem to rank very highly in the design of a lot of the specialised camera back

packs.

 

There is always a temptation to carry all the gear that you have, just in the off

chance that you might just need it. But, if you do that, you will end up

compromising how far you can walk, simply because you are carrying too

much weight. This can also have safety implications if you are climbing

mountains as the weight of a back pack filled with camera gear can tip your

balance off when ascending/descending. I would always advise the use of

trekking poles to anybody carrying heavy packs over rough ground. If you're

not used to the idea it might seem strange at first, but they take a lot of the

strain off of your knees and give you a lot more stability and security; much

less chance of slipping or stumbling.

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Take your load for a walk. Then tell us how far you got with it.

 

Why 2 bodies? Why a lot of primes? Why film? Why not LF, if

you're shooting landscape?

 

I usually carry a 50 lbs. backpack for a couple of weeks (with

gear and all). If you're going away from civilization for 14 days you

need that much weight in food and such. It's a lot of pain, but I

know how to endure pain.

 

You're talking about 25 lbs. for a 2 mile day trip. Your shoulders

have hardly started to complain by then. It's just a day! Does it

matter how much you're carrying?

 

What do you use to walk, before carrying on by feet? ;-)

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