Brians Hot Tub: How much gear can you fit in there? View after 2 years

[photographicsafaris]

Let me start by concluding: I am in awe of this bag, and after two years of use it has become more

useful.

<p>

This is a list of gear together with a photograph of how much stuff goes into the bag. My main use for

"Brians Hottub" is predominantly for the transport of the majority of my gear on my person either on

my mortorbike when going to weddings or portrait sessions or as my Airline carry on bag. When they

give me hassle with weight allowances, I just put the large body and lens around my neck, put another

body and lens into a "duty free" plastic bag and job done... I will never understand airline luggage

allowances!

<br>The tripod travels in the hold. When flying I choose between my 70-200f4 and the 100-400, as I

normally cant justify carrying both.

<p>

<br>List of gear in the Bag:

<br>Canon EOS 1Nrs

<br>Canon EOS 3

<br>Canon EOS 5D

<br>Canon 17-40 f4L

<br>Canon 28-70 f2.8L

<br>Canon 70-200 f4L or 100-400L with lens hoods

<br>Canon 50 f1.4

<br>Canon 100 f2.8 Macro

<br>Canon 1.4x extender

<br>Canon remote release

<br>3x BP511 batteries

<br>Canon LC4 wireless release with adapter for EOS 5D & 3

<br>Canon 550ex flat under 70-200 lens

<br>Canon 550ex folded

<br>Canon Flash foot

<br>Quantum battery pack with battery adapter

<br>Flash bracket with off camera flash cord Home made

<br>Portraflash 5in1 reflector

<br>Portraflash umbrella silver/white

<br>Portfraflash swivel mount umbrella head

<br>Omni bounce flash diffuser

<br>Hotshoe spirit level

<br>4x AA spare batteries

<br>1 CR5 spare battery

<br>Cokin P series mount

<br>Cokin Graduate Neutral density filter

<br>Step up rings 67-72, & 72-77

<br>Moose 77mm Warm Circular polariser

<br>Manfrotto Tripod and 141 head

<br>Manfrotto Super clamp

<br>Generic ball head

<br>1Gb Compact flash High speed

<br>2GB Microdrive

<br>4Gb Compact flash slow speed

<br>20Gb Premier (Vivitar) Portable media player/ photo storage (can also record video and store for

flights also has radio)

<br>-----------------------------------

<br>Total Weight: 18kg (39lbs)

<p>

And what does it all look like spread out?<P>

<center><img src=http://www.photo.net/bboard/uploaded-file?bboard_upload_id=41113984></center>

[photographicsafaris]

You know I resized it to 45mb and 510 wide.... what gives?

<p>

Anyway, to continue There are 5 main features to this bag that make it stound out from

the crowd.

<p>1> Such as its waterproofness, I use mine on my motorbike and can attest to its

never yet having got my camera gear wet, and I have ridden through alot of rain (never

with the bag through a storm yet) But also hiked around and up Mt Snowdon for three

days without a drop of water ingress and Wales is wet.

<p>2>The fact that taking it off to open it you dont have to lie the part against your

back, on the ground is great, particularly in Africa with the paper thorns, which you always

overlook, and those four sided star thorns. This is a god send. Also the back padding is an

inch thick, very breathable and has an air channel, Ideal for when you run up Mt Longanot

with all your gear, it efficiently reduces perspiration.

In short the Rucksac is very comfortable, long lasting and the ergonomics are great.

<p>3>The external straps to accommodate other bags, one on the shoulder is ideal for a

small bag to hold a point and shoot camera, for quick snaps, Currently I put my wifes little

Nikon P2 inside a tamrac bag there (this however is not waterproof as I discovered on

Snowdon) Then there is the side straps for the tripod, one leg through the top strap and

all three legs through the bottom strap.

On a Motor bike I strap the two tripods across the back seat and put my mono pod in the

bag loops with no external attachments of locks and as yet it has not fallen through or

given me any problems at all.

Lastly I have a film holder to accommodate two extra films on the bottom of one of the

shoulder strap.

<p>4> The ability to use it as an all in one Digital Camera bag complete with 17 inch

Laptop*

<p>5>Oh and the best feature, it can swallow all your gear and be taken out of the bag

to have a breathable holder for your camera equipment without the worries of stuffiness

and lack of ventilation, I find this inner bag feature indispensable.

<p>

As a side note here, I find the 70-200 a much better lens for walking through the bush in

Africa than the 100-400, but obviously the 100-400 is better when you are in a vehicle.

<br>On these walks, such as my favourite two day walkies in Tsavo East I only take the

70-200f4 lens with one body.

<p>If you need wider; whatever you are photographing is way too close, and you should

already be climbing a tree, if its too far away you are safe to be climbing out the tree.

<p>

Thats it all packed in, but note that EOS1Nrs is the same size as an EOS 1D series digital

full size camera, But I doubt you would be able to get 2 1D sized bodies in... Well I couldnt

afford 2 anyway!

<p>

When putting it all back, with the Cokin filter holder underneath the 28-70 lens I noticed

that there was already 2 rolls of film here I had forgotten about. I usually scatter two rolls

of film under the 50mm lens (top right corner) and two more next to the 100macro lens.

That gives me 6 rolls of film inside the bag, as well as 2 in the bodies 2 on the strap, and

then I carry another 10 in a lead film pouch seperately.

<p>

There is a pocket on the back that has nothing in it, and this is where my passport, tickets

and paperback book go. There is still room in the bottom rear pocket for a bunch more AA

batteries and also in the side pocket for a four more films but I usually dont put films on

the outside of the bag in case they get squished.

<p>

So here is a picture of my camera bag with all the gear in it and zipped up inside the

second bag.

[michaelging]

Graham , you have to add a caption to the photo or it can not be seen, open on the page.

[mikeseb]

Which bag is it?

[frank uhlig]

I have some questions; do not think that they are silly, please.

 

1) how safe is it riding a motorcycle with 20 kg on one's bag? Could you not get sidepacks or - boxes for the bike? Why not if not?

 

2) How important is all that gear all at once, when you have arrived safely?

 

3) How much room is there in the bag for lunch, a change of clothes, a tuxedo and toothbrush and the like?

 

4) What are you really proving here? How many elephants can dance on a pin, or how many freshmen will fit into a telephone booth, or?

 

5) How long does it take you to take at least one picture with every one of the possible combinations of gear? It seems to be such overkill of being prepared for everything except macro work ...

 

Sorry but I feel totally lost by anyone taking the whole anthill of stuff with him on one sore back ... How about one simple Leica and 3 lenses? Would that not give you much better pics overall and lower chiropractor bills also.

 

Just wondering in awe at your "preparedness", but for what?

[photographicsafaris]

Michael, thanks, I forgot that...

 

Michael, its the Crumpler bag called Brians Hot tub.

 

Frank, when you travel to someones home 45 miles away to shoot a portrait session you

dont fully know what you are going to have to take pictures of, and under what conditions,

hence taking a variety of gear.

 

What I have discovered is that if say i am just going to go to an heretpology park (Eg at

port Lymnph) i would take a smaller bag with the 5d, 100macro and my Mr14ex.

However I also find that it is good to have all your gear in an easy to grab in one ventilated

place, when the interior zip up compartment is locked up for storage purposes without

worrying about fungus.

 

I have fallen off my scrambler with the pack on, as I was photographing other bikers, and

somehow despite bent handle bars (600cc Yamaha tenere = hard fall) my gear was fine,

my helmet fine only my pride damaged.

 

No it is not terribly sensible to carry 20Kg's on your back on a motorcycle, but by the same

token motorcycling is not sensible either. I find that the saddlebags on my road bike get

filled with necessities, like lunch camping gear and clothes. For my overland trip I will be

getting a pelican topbox (less gear)

 

I have no problems with chiropractors, they on the whole seem to be great people, but I

have always carried my fair share around and will not be giving them any money in my

lifetime

 

I agree that life would be great with one camera one lens, but the 28-300 doesnt cut it for

me. If I did own a leica system I would struggle with my wildlife shots, and the macro

side...

 

My point was that there are times when you do want to cart around alot of gear, and for

those times I was singing the praises of my camera bag after 2 years of abuse I am

amazed at how much more you can fit in there!

 

People dont really take the crumpler bags seriously but they really are class.

 

Cheers G<div></div>

[frank uhlig]

Wow, Brian. And thanks for your reasons and rationale!