What should be in your bag?

[mjhoward]

Silica Gel

 

[DorkSterr]

More XQD cards, another battery and and xqd/cf card reader.

 

[MLeeK]

A lot less than is in there now!

2 camera bodies suited for whatever you are shooting
GOOD neoprene straps for the camera bodies
Hand strap.
70-200 f/2.8 IS/VR/VC whatever
24-70 f/2.8
50mm f/1.4
85 mm f/1.4
28mm f/2.8
Lens pens. Several.
Extra lens caps
Silica Gel
A good dedicated flash
Several spare speedlites
Speedlite modifiers
Eneloop batteries 6 to 8 sets
GOOD CF cards. 10 or so
Sync cord-long one
2 good 300WPS or better strobes
2 good 150WPS or better strobes
One LARGE softbox
One medium strip box
Several good shoot thru umbrellas
Several reflective umbrellas
Eggcrates for the softboxes
Gaffer tape-lots of it.
Weather sleeves-at least one pkg of 3 at a time
Extra AA batteries
Radio Slave setup for speedlights and strobes
Good light stands
Gorilla pods
Hot shoe adapters if your slave system isn't a hot shoe mount so you can mount them on stands/gorilla pods
Sand weights
Tripod with a good ball head that can collapse to the floor with a flick of the wrist.
Decent monopod with a good ball head
Neutral Density filter for 70-200
Circular polarizer for 70-200
Personally I love a real skylight filter for the 70-200 in the fall
Bags or cases for all of your lenses
Preferably both ambient AND flash light meter, but at least an ambient meter.
Membership to Canon Professional Services
Membership to PPA


Probably a whole lot I missed.

 

[TCampbell]

Wow! A lot more than what I expected to see for recommendations of what "should" be in every photographers bag.

Enough people replied, that I'll post my own list:

1 - camera body. If you're being paid to shoot... then you'll need to make that TWO camera bodies.
2 - standard zoom. I use a 24-70 f/2.8 (full-frame body)
3 - telephoto zoom. I use a 70-200 f/2.8 with image stabilization
4 - at least one fast prime lens (e.g. 50mm f/1.4, etc.)
5 - off-camera flash with a minimum guide number greater than 40 (140+ feet). I carry two of these.
6 - tripod... solid, and appropriately sized.
7 - CPL filter
8 - ND filter (3 stops if you only carry one... or you can carry more than one.)
9 - gray card
10 - incident light meter (one of those things you don't often need to pull out of the bag, but you should carry one for those times when it's the only way to get accurate metering for an important shot.)

I carry a lot more than this list, but to me this represents a basic list of things that anyone who is either pro or just fairly enthusiastic about their hobby should probably have. You can haggle over the camera body and lens choices, but a lot of the non-camera gear are things that, if you don't have them then I think you're under-equipped.

The items OTHER than cameras & lenses that I think every shooter should own: Circular Polarizing filter(s), Neutral Density filter(s), gray card (I can't believe more people don't own at least one of these). I also think every photographer should own a light meter capable of metering incident and flash lighting. I was on the fence with remote shutter releases. I own a few of these but could imagine that there might be some types of photography where you wouldn't use one. I guess I'd put them in the 'strongly recommended but not required'.

I think everyone should own an external dedicated flash with a guide number of at least 40 meters or better, capable of bouncing, a bounce/catch-light card (to get rid of raccoon eyes when bouncing), and some modifiers (e.g. a shoot-through umbrella is VERY inexpensive.)

Photography is about light and the proper application of light to a subject and then onto either film or sensor. Keep this in mind when you consider whether lighting, reflectors, light modifiers, gray cards, or light meters should be _required_ equipment (for me there's no question that they are "required" equipment.)

I liked BigMike's comment on over-the-counter drugs. I've been there (get sick while traveling, can't stop, and no relief from whatever ails you will make you a believer in carrying your own basic pharmaceuticals.)

James' comment clearly isn't for everyone, but when I did weddings it was fairly common to have a wedding-dress "emergency". We kept a small box with straight pins, safety pins, etc. knowing that a member of the wedding party who needs one probably wont be carrying these on their own.

I love Overread's comment (clearly the nature photographer) to carry your address... I guess you never know when you get eaten by a bear. Better yet, see if you can get that slip of paper to be made out of some non-digestible material so the rangers know where to send whatever is left of your body. ;-)

I was glad to see several people mention the incident light meter as an essential. When you're learning to shoot flash on manual, having a light meter that can read flash power indoors and flash-contribution for fill-flash outdoors is VERY useful.

 

[2fastlx]

Energy bars. Band aids and such if you venture off into the woods. Flashlights are good too.

 

[Solarflare]

I use some lowepro bag, I think its a Nova ? Definitely an AW (all weather). Just went into the shop and saw one that fits my needs. My current list:

- Nikon D5100 Camera + 1x spare battery + recharger(*) [+ one of the following 3 lenses]
- 3x 16GB Memorycard (one is always in the camera), best quality I could find anywhere
- Nikon AF-S DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR + lenscap (came without lensbag and lenshood)
- Nikon AF-S DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6 VR2 + lensbag + lenscap + lenshood
- Nikon AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8 + lensbag + lenscap + lenshood
- Nikon SB400 Flash + 2x spare AA batteries (needs 2 at a time) + recharger(*) (2x AA)
- B+W ND Filter (3 stop) 52mm (Apparently thats the best company for ND filters)
- B+W Polarization Filter 52mm (Hoya is reportedly better, but hard to get)
- White Sheet of Paper for being used as a Greycard
- Nikon Remote Release
- LED based Flashlight for working in the dark
- Minimalistic Aluminium Tripod for the rare cases I actually want to use one (yeah I should upgrade that, but this one actually fits into the bag)
- Added padding
- Ricoh GR Digital IV Compact Camera (**)

(*): Only if traveling
(**): Hasnt reached me yet (yeah I know I should use Amazon instead of my local shop, that would be SO much faster)

whatever camera you plan on using.

I really like your list. Amazing how long it took people to decide to take a camera with them.

Probably a whole lot I missed.

You definitely forgot a spare spine, in case of the likely occasion that your prime one breaks under the weight of your bag.

 

[.SimO.]

Everyone has listed most so I won't go into my small arsenal that is laughable compared to most of you. I will say that the Giottos rocket air blaster and pec-pad wipes have saved me every time. I lug everything around in my camera backpack so dust gets pretty crazy.

 

[gsgary]

If im shooting street, no bag just M4, 28mmF2, minolta 4 meter and 4 rolls of film

 

[runnah]

I'll skip the obvious stuff...

Duct tape
electrical tape
zip ties
velcro strips
Colored Gels (blue, green, orange)
CF to usb card reader
Note pad and golf pencil (old habits and such)
Ear plugs and safety glasses (part of the job)
Ziploc bag(s)

 

[Steve5D]

For me?

Camera body
A good portrait lens
A good zoom lens
A good wide angle lens
Lens cleaning cloth
Filters
Memory cards
Extra camera batteries
Extra flash batteries
Flashlight
Extra flashlight batteries
Antacids (Titrilac by 3M works great for me)
Breath mints
Business cards
Note pad
At least two pens
Sharpie
Ear plugs

 

[480sparky39 38]

Has anyone mentioned model releases?

 

[Tee]

Has anyone mentioned model releases?

You're the first. I use a model release app which has been great since I can be absent minded and forget paper copies.

 

[coastalconn]

Wow, my bag has all kind of stuff in it, but it stays at home. I strap on my camera with my 200-500. Have a little pocket in my strap for an extra CF card. My cheap Chinese grip seems to be good for at least 2000 clicks. Away I go. If I am traveling heavy I through an extra body with a 70-300 on my other shoulder

Smokes and cell phone go in my pocket

 

[Dao]

Has anyone mentioned model releases?

I wonder if someone already make an app for that? So that people can read it (on the phone or pad) and sign it with the touch screen and you can email them a copy right away if you like.

 

[Dao]

Has anyone mentioned model releases?

You're the first. I use a model release app which has been great since I can be absent minded and forget paper copies.

LOL you just answer my question.