In the past two days, I have purchased two new bags with two very different purposes. I have already started to rethink both of them.
The first bag I bought is a backpack. Nothing too special: well made, durable, somewhat weather proof, lots of pockets, holds a laptop, and looks nice.
The second is a photographer's shoulder bag. It can carry an SLR body, my standard lens compliment (70-200 f/2.8, 18-50 f/2.8, 10-20, 50 f/1.8, 30 f/1.4), two flashes, and accessories for all of it. So why am I rethinking this now, less than forty-eight hours later?
It starts with the photographer's bag. I didn't really need a bag that would carry all of that, I just needed to carry the 70-200 f/2.8 MOUNTED as well as one other lens ready for change and a few accessories. I figured I'd keep everything else in a backpack that I'd wear at the same time. But I could only find two types of bags that would carry this big lens mounted: a top-loading holster bag, which only carries one lens, and a bigger bag (though still not big my any stretch of the imagination) like the one I got. Now I realize there are other options.
First of all, I could have gotten the top-loading holster as well as a side pouch to hold a second lens. It would have saved me $20 or so and I'd be carrying less bag.
A second, more complicated option involves using part of a system I already own: ThinkTank bags. I love them! They are well built, easy to fill, provide lots of protection, and are incredibly versatile. I don't use them too often, however, because they all mount on a waist belt and it starts to get very heavy. Too much weight presses hard on my hips and makes my legs start to go numb. On top of that, when you carry gear in these types of bags, there's really no other way to carry them except on your hips. So if you're on the street a quick stop for some lunch can bring you quite a few looks as you walk in holding what looks to most like the most awkward bag imaginable. Furthermore, I didn't have a way to hold my 70-200 f/2.8 mounted in them. Finally, the system really sucks in the winter when you either have to wear your gear UNDER your jacket or deal with it outside your jacket constantly slipping off of you.
Well, I am now realizing that if I were to pick up ThinkTank's top-loading holster bag (which is extra cool because it expands when needed so you don't have to have a really long holster when it isn't needed) I could use it to hold the camera with the lens mounted. Then, if I were to buy ThinkTank's shoulder harness it would add backpack straps to the belt allow my shoulders to carry some of the weight and allowing for a better winter carrying option.
I'm sure, however, that if I had purchased it this way, I'd be rethinking that now for the option I currently have.
UGH!
The majority of the problem stems from the fact that I try to use one bag for way too many purposes.
So, how do you carry your gear? In an airport? For a day in town? On a hike? For an over night hiking trip? To work every day?
