• Members 39 posts
    April 23, 2023, 6:05 p.m.

    From time to time I've posted threads over on DPreview.com asking what people pack in their M kits when they go out shooting. I find it interesting, and seeing what others pack helps me think about what to pack myself and how to use and carry my equipment. The best equipment for your shots is always the equipment you have with you...

    My own kit has evolved quite a bit in recent months. I almost always shoot from bicycle rides, so keeping the kit small and light while still meeting my shooting needs is very important. The M system is fantastic for this. I shoot mostly 4k railroad videos now, and often find myself shooting after dark, so it's quite important to have a set of very low-light night lenses with me in addition to sharp zooms for daytime 4k video.

    I don't have time to change lenses while shooting trains in rapid sequence, so I shoot with 2 M6ii cameras, often alternating sequences between them for close-ups of the railroad workers or parts of the train.

    Here's my kit:

    IMG_3547 Kit cameras in bag - DxO 2160.jpg

    IMG_3544 Kit with cameras out - DxO 2160.jpg

    I'm currently using an old Tamrac model 603 bag (no longer available) as it's light and just the right size to hold everything I normally take, fitting two M6ii cameras with microphones and lenses mounted holster-style in the bag. Unclipping just a single clip, I can yank either camera out the bag and start shooting within a few seconds. Sometimes I yank a camera out of the bag with one hand while coming to a stop on the bike, ready to shoot instantly when I jump off!

    I have six other bags of various sizes and styles, and this one seems to work the best for this set of equipment. I've added extra padding sections from other camera bags for better protection of the bodies and lenses. No equipment can bump or scratch other equipment in the bag, it's all separated.

    Of all the zooms, I've found the EF-M 18-55mm IS STM to be the most versatile wide-angle zoom lens for 4k video. It's more solidly built that the plastickly EF-M zooms, is not retractable (too fiddly), and is crisper with the best contrast and color for 4k video. It's slightly faster at the long end (f5.6) than the f6.3 zooms. It has by far the smoothest zooming action --- the EF-M 15-45 kit and 18-150 have jerky zooms that are poor for video. Depending on how wide I want to go --- the EF-M 11-22mm lens is also a great lens for video, but for me doesn't go 'long enough' when I'm using the 55-250 with the 1.5x TC.

    The EF-S 55-250 IS STM (with mount modded to work with EF teleconverters) plus the Kenko 5-element 1.5x SHQ teleconverter gives me a small and light but sharp telephoto for 4k video with a great range that has excellent image stabilization, even at 375mm (with the TC).

    For night shooting, I use the Sigma 16mm f1.4 lens because no other lens can do what it can in low light with the wide-angle field of view. The EF-M 22mm f2 has too much flare and is a stop darker, even though I'd probably prefer the 22mm focal length. Sometimes I do substitute the Rokinon 12mm f2 lens, but again it's a stop darker and is a little 'too' wide for general shooting, so I live with the extra size and weight of the Siggy 16 as the compromise.

    Interestingly, I've found the smallest and lightest telephoto combo to be a vintage 1970's Kamero 135mm f2.8 M42 screw-mount lens I found at a thrift store for $6, coupled with the Viltrox 0.71x speed booster! The combo gives me 100mm at f2, and is sharp enough for decent 4k video, and the lens doesn't have as much flare as some other telephotos I've tried --- plus it's small and light with only a 55mm filter thread. I have to manual focus the lens --- that's the compromise --- but t turns out to be not really a problem. I have the Rokinon 135mm f2 lens which is even better for low light, however it is VERY heavy and big compared to the Kamero/VIltrox combo, and is just too heavy to carry around as a normal piece of kit along with everything else.

    I've tried shooting with a gimbal -- it works great but is very fiddly and time-consuming to set up. It added way too much weight to the setup, could only be used with one camera, and cost me too much time and missed shots to be worth it. I use only optical stabilization, no digital IS, and often stabilize clips using Adobe Premier Pro in post which gives really smooth panning and even smooths out the zooming beautifully as well. In post you have flexibility about how much you want to smoothe the video --- if you don't zoom, and kept the image stable with a steady hand using the EVF, you can choose a no-motion stabilization which gives you rock-solid stationary shots that look like they were shot from a fixed tripod.

    The camera bag fully loaded with all the equipment shown is just under 8.5 pounds, and I find that easy to carry even for a ride of 3-4 hours. I have the bag's strap extended all the way and have the camera resting against my lower back, so the bag's weight is not all on my right shoulder. Adding just one more half-pound lens like the Laowa 9mm f2.8 lens is a little too much, the extra weight becomes noticeable and uncomfortable after a while.

    Here's a video I made from the bicycle last night, shooting with that kit.

    youtu.be/b1KRR4gplwQ

    IMG_3544 Kit with cameras out - DxO 2160.jpg

    JPG, 1016.9 KB, uploaded by LarryRexley on April 23, 2023.

    IMG_3547 Kit cameras in bag - DxO 2160.jpg

    JPG, 1.3 MB, uploaded by LarryRexley on April 23, 2023.

  • Members 360 posts
    April 23, 2023, 8:43 p.m.

    Gear up!
    Great! You take this stuff quite seriously. When I go out with gear, I usually have much broader range of action, but much more restricted volume didicated for photography. You are lucky you can carry just what you love.

    My EDC setup contains of a laptop, first aid, safety goggles and ear protection, BT speaker, firemaker, LED lights, and often some more tools and consumables. Even food and water. So my camera setup cannot get such love as yours, because I couldn't lug around with such camera setup on top of my EDC all day. I am finding myself in that still, but basic setup would be M6 II + 22mm f/2, 55-250mm STM with 1.4x TC, a gorillapod, a flash, fresnel lens, two LED lights, and foldable diffuser/reflection pad. I think a lot can be done with these.

    I hear you though onthe Siggy 16. I am thinking about it too, for same reasons. 26mm is great equivalent focal length, possibly sharper and definitely faster.

  • Members 33 posts
    April 23, 2023, 11:43 p.m.

    Hmm...

    I've never had a day bag, and probably never will. I mostly walk on my excursions, and, since I have two shoulders, I carry two cameras. Lately it's been the M200 with the 55-250mm lens, and, for wider views, an M100-22mm. Wider than that, there's always my phone. If I'm expecting the weather to change I might have a small backpack, and then I would throw in the Laowa 9mm.

    The 55-250mm has been great for my 'Hidden Colors' series where I use a range of 55-100mm. (Previously used the Sigma DP3M 50mm.)

    1304.jpg

    David

    1304.jpg

    JPG, 3.0 MB, uploaded by DavidWright on April 23, 2023.

  • Members 51 posts
    April 24, 2023, 1:05 a.m.

    Thanks for sharing.
    On my recent trips I always wanted to pack very light and, despite having a few different zooms and primes, I love more and more a good old all-in-one zoom. It’s been like this since I started with a Nikon DSLR and carried a Tamron 18-200 everywhere.
    So here it goes:
    2 bodies: M6II and M50 (backup)
    Lenses: 18-150 (use it most of the time), 15-45 (in case I want to carry a small, discreet kit), 11-22 (for landscapes) and 22 (indoors or night street photography)
    CPL and ND screw-in filters, power bank and spare batteries, microfiber cloth, air blower, etc.
    Travel with everything in a backpack and then use a small lowepro bag in my shoulder when exploring my destination with one camera and 2 or 3 lenses.

  • Members 73 posts
    April 25, 2023, 4:19 p.m.

    No day bag. I have a small lowepro holster case that holds a camera with one attached lens. I choose any one of my 9 EF-M lenses for the day. The challenge and fun is to use that one lens only and make something out of it.I'm sure a lot of people do this. It's a hobby for fun and if there is a shot missed because I didn't have the right lens-who cares? Probably would have missed it anyway by the time I swapped lenses. I don't make money off of this and keep it fast and simple and fun. There is a small zippered pocket in the case where I would take an extra battery and maybe a polarizer. If i was going on vacation (aka Holiday to you "ferriners" ) , naturally I would take more gear.

  • Members 39 posts
    April 25, 2023, 6:40 p.m.

    This is a cool approach, I do this from time to time as well... adds to the creativity and challenge aspect of shooting, helping to keep it fun! Sometimes I'll do this with a vintage lens as well

  • Members 1 post
    April 26, 2023, 12:46 p.m.

    I generally shoot wildlife, so my priority is to accommodate a large lens (Tamron 100-400 in my case) which needs some space and relatively good padding for travel (often on a bike).

    So I use a Lowepro BP Pro 250, which has space for the lens with my M6ii attached, which is then relatively easy to pull out using a side door while I'm walking. If I think I'll be stationary for some time (as I generally move around to look for the critters) I'll bring my 3LT monopod and optionally its tripod foot (sometimes useful, oftentimes frustrating). Smaller photography tidbits and M lenses (22mm and 32mm) can fit in easily as well.

    For longer walks this setup is useful, as I can bring food and other stuff in the misc compartments, but for smaller outings it does feel a bit overkill. But, I don't quite feel like investing in a smaller pack, which still needs to be sizeable to fit the lens, so it gets plenty of use.

    20230426_133157.JPG

    JPG, 3.8 MB, uploaded by Polisky on April 26, 2023.

  • Members 29 posts
    April 27, 2023, 4:09 a.m.

    When I'm in a Canon mood, I pack a very small padded shoulder bag with:

    ---GX 1 miii
    ---Original M with 22mm f2, and cheapo third-party viewfinder

    Can't beat it.

  • Members 63 posts
    April 27, 2023, 1:39 p.m.

    Simple question but not easy to answer:
    - When I go on a photo excursion by myself or, another photog, I will bring M6 II and as much as lenses I anticipate to use on that location. Most times packed in a backpack. For parks, gardens and locations with shorter walks, I may use a large messenger bag as a tool box.
    - When I am out with the family and for travel by plane, I usually take Sony RX10 IV and/or, RX 100 VII, depending on the location, packed in a small messenger-style bag.
    - When I am out with the family and I expect good any easy "grab shots" along the way, I take M6 II with 18-150mm, EF-M 11-22mm and 1 prime.
    - When I am alone and want to go light I'll take 1 M100 with EF-M15-45mm and another one with EF-M 55-200mm, plus EF-M22mm and a mini tripod, packed in a small messenger-style bag.
    - For a stroll without having "real" photo intentions but still may take the occasional photo, I take my RX100 VII along.

  • Members 39 posts
    April 27, 2023, 3:53 p.m.

    Very nice 'qualified' answer. That kind of detail is quite useful - we do have different shooting needs on different outings. I also have multiple kits depending on what I'm shooting:

    • For day train videos from the bicycle that may go into the night, I use the kit shown in the original post

    • When traveling by plane packing as light as possible, the kit i took on my last 2 trips met most of my needs during the day with one great night lens: 2 M6ii bodies with the Canon EF-M 11-22 IS STM, Canon EF-M 32mm f1.4, Canon EF-M 55-200 IS STM in a medium to large holster type bag like the LowePro Top Loader Pro AW 70

    • When going on a seashore bike ride to shoot evening shore birds and sunset: A large camera bag (LowePro Protactic SH 200 AW) with 2 M6ii bodies with the large Sigma 150-600mm f5-6.3 C, EF-M 18-150 IS STM, and one fast lens like the Siggy 16mm f1.4 or Rokinon 12mm f2

    • When going out for a walk, or in a car ride with the family and I want to have a camera with me just in case I see something to shoot, I will take an M200 with either the 22mm f2 or the kit 15-45 in the pocket of my gym shorts!

    • When going out specifically to shoot infrared, I'll take a small/medium size LowePro Format 160 bag with my full-spectrum M200, one of the kit zooms, 2-3 native EF-M primes, and 4-5 different IR filters and step-up adapters. I'll include an M6ii or normal M200 body in case I want to do normal light shooting too.

    The LowePro Format 160 bag was my go-to bag for a very long time, but in the last few months I went to a larger bag to fit the M6ii cameras with microphones on them. (I couldn't deal with the wind noise from the onboard mikes any longer, and started using external mikes excusively.)

  • Members 63 posts
    May 6, 2023, 12:26 p.m.

    Can you specify which lenses you have as default on your 2 bodies?

    Unfortunately, I have no great photo locations near by. I plan to buy an e-bike to cover more ground off the beaten path, not sure if I will manage this year.

  • Members 45 posts
    May 15, 2023, 2:19 a.m.

    Then, if you had answered the question instead of opining about not ever using a day-bag - you would have started with "when I go on vacation, I "take more gear" - and I use XXX bag. I believe that, on holiday, all of us use more bag, and equipment, than when hiking about our neighborhood.

  • Members 45 posts
    May 15, 2023, 2:21 a.m.

    That means..........Your "day bag" IS your backpack......................

  • Members 73 posts
    May 30, 2023, 4:08 a.m.

    Who really gives a rat's ass?