Do you take your dSLR everywhere?

[JClishe]

One of the most common pieces of advice given to photography newbies is that you need to carry your camera with you everywhere you go. Makes sense, you can't take pictures if you don't have a camera.

So I bought an S90 and then upgraded to an S95, thinking this would be a great backup to my 50D. You can shoot in full manual and it even shoots RAW's, so I figured I could still learn and practice the fundamentals with a camera that was small enough to fit in my jeans pocket so I wouldn't need to lug around the 'fifty. Seemed like a win-win.

Now I'm wondering if the S95 is hurting me. It's size and portability have made it my default go-to camera, so I feel like my 50D is getting neglected. Yes, I tend to carry the S95 with me a lot because it's easy to throw in a bag, but you can't get the same type of pictures with it that you could a dSLR. For example, check out these pictures I found on Flickr:

Tea Ceremony | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Man | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Starbucks at Night | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Those are really cool impromptu candid photos that you just can't replicate on a P&S. So my question is, do you carry your dSLR when you're out and about so you can get photos like this? I don't mean just having it in a bag in your car, I mean actually carrying it with you and using it in shops, etc.

 

[Auriflanos]

I take with me the PS for my university and etc. The Dslr only if I want to take picture of specific things, or only if I travel... (but, this is what I THINK I will do, since my first dslr arrived today! )

 

[spacefuzz]

I dont have a decent P&S so I carry my DSLR with me all the time. I usually just leave it in my trunk and then its only a few steps away.

 

[480sparky]

I dont have a decent P&S so I carry my DSLR with me all the time. I usually just leave it in my trunk and then its only a few steps away.

Ditto. I just don't have any P&S..... just the 2 DSLRs.

 

[iNick]

im beginning to take mine with me most places. but i don't go too many places other than school and work so it's not too difficult.

 

[Bram]

I have mine in the passanger seat of my car, Hidden compartment just incase.

 

[JenKat]

I do not. I take it with me when I have the intent to photograph something, or to practice.

I'd love to have it at all times, but I try to *baby* my equipment, and the places I spend the majority of my time (work, farm, dog park, etc) have an unusually high risk for damage to my equipment, so I only take it with me when planned.

I have a decent P&S so I should probably just take that with me...

 

[Josh66]

I don't feel like lugging an extra 20lbs of crap (just weighed my bag - yes it's 20lbs, lol!) with me everywhere I go, so - no, I don't bring an SLR unless I know I'm going to use it.

I do have a few pocket sized cameras though, and one of them usually does go most places with me. I don't bring it to work because I'm not allowed, for one, and I don't want to leave it in the car all day. Especially in the summer.

Worst case, I always have my phone. I never use the camera on it (because I have real cameras ), but if I ever got in an accident or something and needed pictures of the damage, it would work.

 

[MissCream]

I always take mine with me because on the off chance that I don't have it with me that's when I'll want to take a picture of something!

 

[Overread]

Lacking car I have to carry everything when I travel around so I tend to not take the bulky DSLR with me everywhere I go. That is mixed with the fact that many of the subjects I like to shoot are things that need either a big long lens or a flash and a long lens ;P So even a light setup for me quickly starts to gain in bulk and weight and when travelling for something else the last thing I need is yet more bulk.

So for me the DSLR mostly only comes out on set photography trips or if I can get someone else to drive the car.

My ideal would be a good bridge camera to compliment my DSLR - something that would then let me do both macro through to long range shots on the fly without being big nor heavy. The only problem is fitting the few £100 that a really good bridge camera costs into my budget.

 

[cm_cnnr]

my dslr is usually in my bag and only comes out if i see something i want to shoot. i actually had a instance today where i didnt have it and i came across this little bird that came right up to me and would have made a great photo.

 

[photocist]

I always take mine with me because on the off chance that I don't have it with me that's when I'll want to take a picture of something!

Agreed.

I actually see photos all over all the time, so its just easier to have the camera than to have it backlog in my mind!

 

[JWellman]

Mine goes everywhere I go!

 

[gina_d]

I always take mine with me because on the off chance that I don't have it with me that's when I'll want to take a picture of something!

Agreed.

I actually see photos all over all the time, so its just easier to have the camera than to have it backlog in my mind!

My camera goes where I go nearly all the time. When I read, "...so it's just easier to have the camera than to have it backlog in my mind," I knew just what you meant. I can *still* see photos in my head that I wasn't able to stop and take for one reason or another - no camera, driving and couldn't stop, etc. Just better to have it with me when an opportunity presents itself.

 

[DerekSalem]

Eh I no longer have a P&S...it's basically my phone or my 7D. I only carry my 7D with me if I have a feeling I might want to use it. I usually don't though.