What's in My Camera Bag?
Russel Kwan
I'm not totally sure why, but people are often very curious as to what's in my camera bag. Perhaps it's because I don't use zoom lenses, or I don't shoot very much, or I claim to be a lightweight traveller.
Anyways, here's a quick tour of the two bags I take travelling. I've been travelling with this kit for the past year, and for this article, I simply pulled them out of their drawer and photographed them - without tidying them or anything - so the mess is authentic.
When I travel overseas, the kit shrinks down to just the medium format bag - last used in Japan and SE Asia in 2004. The kit further shrinks at the destination, as much of the time I leave at least one of the Mamiya bodies in the hotel to save hiking weight. I usually have a Manfrotto Carbon 440 (not shown) with me as well.
Medium Format Bag
- A - Assorted body and lens caps
- B - Canon FD 50mm F/1.4
- C - Mamiya 65mm f/4
- D - Mamiya 7II w/ 80mm f/4
- E - Blue filter, green filter, and step-up rings (filter selection often changes)
- F - Canon F-1n w/ Canon FD 15mm f/2.8 fisheye
- G - Film. There is more film on the other side, too
- H - Mamiya 7II w/ 150mm f/4.5
- I - cable release, spare batteries, notes, film box tops to insert into info slot in cameras
Large Format Bag
- A - On this side and opposite: 4x5 film holders, 2 filters - yellow and red for IR films.
- B - Viewfinder and rangefinder for Fotoman camera (the viewfinder is currently in the repair shop)
- C - Mamiya 7II w/ 80mm f/4
- D - Fotoman 45PS with 90mm f/4.5. Sometimes this camera is replaced with a Wisner Expedition 4x5.
- E - Minolta Spotmeter F
- F - cable release, spare batteries, 120 film