Do you carry your DSLR everywhere?

[Devinhullphoto]

I always carry my Nikon with me everywhere I go. You never know when you may run across a cool scene or anythings picture worthy. I also want pictures of my life and this way I will be sure to have a good scrapbook.

I also might mention that I am a hobbyist photographer. I may not make income on it but it is still something I'm obsessed with.

 

[JenR]

I very deliberately leave the DSLR at home on many occaisions. When I have it with me, I find that a wall goes up and I turn on "work mode". I focus on getting the shot and do not always appreciate and experience the moment. There are *PLENTY* of times that experiencing the moment is far more important. Saying that, I generally have my trusty point&shoot in my purse for random snaps.

 

[Jad]

I have taken my camera on a lot of rides in my truck and it never left the seat. I prefer to dedicate my time to just photographing and find that I make my better images when I am only doing one thing. If I am walking with friends or out trying to do several activities in a day I rarely ever make a photograph I like. For me I need to concentrate just on making pictures and have more success that way.

 

[Dikkie]

For a concert, I mostly go just to enjoy the music and watch the show.

When shooting photos at that time, I mostly can't enjoy the concert that much.

Also, when there's a mosh pit around... not preferable to jump into with a DSLR.

 

[kathyt]

I very deliberately leave the DSLR at home on many occaisions. When I have it with me, I find that a wall goes up and I turn on "work mode". I focus on getting the shot and do not always appreciate and experience the moment. There are *PLENTY* of times that experiencing the moment is far more important. Saying that, I generally have my trusty point&shoot in my purse for random snaps.

This. I have a 4 year old, so he needs my attention too. So it just depends who is going to be with me at the time.

 

[shicanebuzz]

I only take 'big cameras' with me if I know I'm going to use them. I very rarely leave the house without either my Olympus XA (compact 35mm rangefinder) or a digital P&S though.

Worst case, I have my cell phone.

I used to go way overboard - bringing all kinds of crap I didn't end up using to events. Now I try to bring as little as I can get away with. Carrying a bag around all day can get to be a pain in the ass...

As many places I can manage to take my DSLR camera, otherwise I rely on my Iphone or sometimes even someone else's camera!

 

[Nat.]

I usually take a small 35mm camera with me (Minolta Freedom Escort 35mm f/3.5) or my 110 SLR (Minolta 110 Zoom SLR, 25-50mm f/4.5). I only take my DSLR when I'm specifically going out to take photos.

 

[ronlane]

I have mine with me a lot more than not.

 

[S.Pierce]

Even though I wish I could I don't. A fear of mine is that if I leave it in my vehicle it will be be prone to damaged by the extreme heat in the hotter months. Can that even happen? :scratch:

 

[ShooterJ]

I do always have a camera with me. I've had a point-and-shoot with me almost all the time for years, working in law enforcement (even before I knew anything about photography)... I carry so much weight in gear on me all the time, that to me, having a DSLR in a comfortable shoulder bag doesn't phase me much.. so yeah, it's usually with me.

EDIT: My duty belt has pouch on it that I carry that little compact digital in for shots of victims, tags, vehicle damage, etc.. add in a .45 fully loaded, 4 extra magazines, taser, ASP, OC, 2 sets of handcuffs, radio, phone, search/glove kit and flashlight.. LOL. On my time off, it is NO hassle to have just a shoulder bag with a DSLR.

 

[CowgirlMama]

It's just like making sure you grab your ID.

Car keys? Check!
Wallet? Check!
Money clip? Check!
Gripped D300 w/24-85 mm f/2.8-4 lens? Check!

"OK! we're out'a here."

This about sums it up for me. I'm more likely to forget my phone or keys than my camera (I'm a big walker, so I can get quite a distance from home before missing my keys). It's practically part of me. I'm also more likely to lose my phone or keys than my camera.

 

[Solarflare]

Obviously I can take my DSLR literally *everywhere* but I have it with me 95% of the time and I'm trying to get this "at least 30 photographs a day" thing going. Should be much easier now with digital, than back in the good old analog days - no ?

P.s.: And for the other 5%, I have a compact camera.

 

[Gavjenks]

Even though I wish I could I don't. A fear of mine is that if I leave it in my vehicle it will be be prone to damaged by the extreme heat in the hotter months. Can that even happen? :scratch:

Yes. The electronics would likely be okay, but your gaskets, glues, delicate plastic pieces, etc. might not fare so well.

If hot enough, they could permanently deform, peel off, or fail. This is more likely if you attempt to operate the camera at very high temperatures (if you do leave it in the care, very gently remove it and let it cool down before shaking it or operating any of its mechanics).

You'd probably have to be up around 180-200 fahrenheit for damage to occur spontaneously. Operating the camera or roughly handling it at 150-170 may be enough to cause damage in some cases, though.

 

[webestang64]

Do you carry your DSLR pretty much everywhere even you don't feel like it sometimes? I was at the art festival in one weekend, and I brought my compact digital camera. I was a bit disappointed because there was a fashion show that day, and I didn't know ahead of times. Painstakingly, I had to use my compact digital camera to shoot pictures at those models, and I always wished I should had brought my DSLR.

I don't carry my DSLR everywhere I go......because I don't own one......But I do carry a 35mm SLR film camera with me at all times. 75% of the time it's loaded with B&W film.