Always my biggest dilemma when travelling is figuring out which cameras to take…or more correctly, how many I can fit in my bag. Before the Canadian and I went on our Canadian Rockies road trip, I wrote about said dilemma.
In the comments, one of you lovely readers asked about what photographers take with them whilst travelling. I think that’s such a great idea for a series of interviews. In running with the theme, I thought I’d share what I took with me on this last trip.
I am clearly not one to take pointers from as I take FAR too many cameras with me. I would love to condense it down but I get sad when thinking about leaving them behind. I do use them all, if that helps any. Here we go:
Top row:
Yashica FX 3 with 50mm lens for 35mm film- every day photographs on film. I usually choose between this or the Nikon.
Holga- I don’t always take this with me but thought it would be great for mountain shots.
Nikon FM3A- my main travel camera. It has a 28mm lens which is great for travel photography. It’s trust worthy and I know I won’t miss any shots with this camera.
Second row:
Polaroid SX70 – I don’t really need to say why, do I?
Canon 40D – I really don’t use this camera personally anymore. The Canadian made me bring it.
Polaroid Spectra- I wouldn’t ordinarily bring this for travel but I needed to shoot for our Polaroid book.
Third row: 120 film for the Holga, 35mm film for the Yashica and Nikon, Polaroid film for the SX70.
Bottom row:
iPod touch- for checking my notes app which I store photo ideas.
External hard drive- I recommend bringing one on a long trip, you never know what might happen to your digital pics.
Photograph holder- I bought this at Urban Outfitters about 3 years ago and I use it anytime I leave the house with my Polaroid camera. It’s great for slipping Polaroids in to keep them safe and protected.
Canon IXUS Point and Shoot- crappy little P&S we use for all our family and friend snapshots.
Polaroid Spectra film- for my Polaroid Spectra camera.
To carry all these items, I use a Lowepro slingshot backpack and my handbag for the day to day touring. To transport them around, I use the Lowepro and a leather weekender bag I bought in Sydney. I also have some individual Crumpler camera bags which work well but I’m not a fan of ‘Look at my bag, it’s got expensive camera equipment in it’ type bags. I will get around to getting one of these beautiful babies eventually.
As I said, I don’t usually take all of these cameras with me. I would usually only take one Polaroid, instead of 3 ( I also took the SLR680) but I was shooting for the book on this trip. While travelling around on individual days, I wouldn’t obviously take them all with me either. I usually only have one film, one Pola and one digital at a time.
Do you have any camera travelling/packing tips?
Related posts:
Oooooo I know I have the exact same problem
My Panasonic LX3 is always with me,
but it’s so hard to decide whether to bring my Rolleiflex or Polaroid 180 landcamera or Canon Kiss….
I want to bring all of them so badly~~
but my neck will probably break. haha!!
i’ve got a cable transporting tip for digital stuff! cables for charging and for transferring to the laptop is a pain to pack – i always worry about cable breakage, especially when i’m flying somewhere. this time, i put the cables in a sturdy plastic box with a lid – you know, the kind that’s meant for food (tupperware or similar)? i’m sure there are things to buy for travelling purposes, but this is a cheap solution that seems to work well. i put the chargers for the laptop and cellphone in there, too.
the camera bag looks fantastically chic! the analogue slr camera that i inherited came with a black and blue bag, and says: ” look at my camera bag, i inherited it from a sporty guy”.
wow. i thought we were bad. sometimes our backs hurt from carrying too many cameras.
Love this post! I too take a lot of cameras with me on my trips!
Wow, this is a great post. I’m so jealous that you get to use your Polaroids, mine are collecting dust. I don’t have any camera traveling/packing tips because I could take all my cameras, I only have 2 film cameras and one digital camera.
I think you showed great restraint! I think deciding which camera/lens to take is the worst part of packing. I always have regrets about the ones I’ve left behind.
I think, going on my past experience, that one packs differently for a road trip – where cameras can nestle in the back seat and film in a coolbox – than for a backpacking fortnight or three/four.
Last trip to Southeast Asia, I took (I have a Lowepro slingshot, too) my Mamiya C330, the Polaroid SLR680, and a little Ricoh Gr1s. And LOTS OF FILM. My backpack was for photography; my wheeled duffelbag was for the rest. As a result, when our check-in luggage didn’t arrive in S’pore, I was a bit dismayed: no toothbrush, no change of underwear…
We’re going back in January, to Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, and this time I’m aiming to manage seven weeks with just carry-on…but it will mean going back to digital. I feel like a 1st-class-traitor, having shot nothing but film since 2005, but I really think that less weight, less volume, and less worry about film-getting-hot is the way to go.
I have almost decided which camera. And which lens. Almost. :-)
What a great post! I’ve always had that dilemma not only when I travel but even when I am going somewhere with a destination that is out of the ordinary from my day-to-day (ie. going to the state fair and stuff). I tend to stick with the same format, one 35mm, one medium (usually holga b/c they’re light) and an instant camera. It does get a bit heavy though. I hate encountering a moment and thinking “Oh that would look so perfect on polaroid/holga/35mm” and not having it with me. I have a tiny little digital for quick shots too but it’s often forgotten. Thank goodness it’s small and light ;)
Yes Nicole, it’s not good on the neck, back or shoulders!
BC, that is a great idea for the cables. I always try to just tuck mine into the pockets in my suitcase but that’s a much better idea.
Yeah Mina, that’s why I bought the slingshot. It doesn’t hurt the back. :)
Thanks Colour Collective. :)
Ah well yes Jackie, if you are smart and just have a couple then it’s definitely not a problem! :)
haha Alicia, I had originally just decided upon one 35mm and then at the last minute threw the other one in. It’s much easier when it’s a road trip and you are keeping them in your car.
Oh my goodness, Lynn!! What have you decided upon? I’d love to see what you do with a digital too. :) If I did a big trip, I would have to trim it down to 1 or 2.
Thanks Lili :)
Yes, I’ve been in that situation too many times when I thought “I wish I had my Polaroid!”. I just haul them around now and put up with the consequences hehe
This is awesome!!~ I’ve always try to limit myself to two cameras whenever we travel and then missing the other cameras at home. I’m not try fit more into the bag for our next trip and see how it goes!!
Thank you for posting about this! It’s very interesting to see what you take while traveling and to know that I’m not the only person who has the urge to take everything.
Next month I’m taking my first trip ever to New York City and then in September a trip to the photography mecca – Paris! These will be my first major trips since I’ve really gotten into photography, so the packing dilemma is overwhelming. I usually lug my Nikon D3000 everywhere, but today I was thinking maybe I should bring only my film cameras with me, as I love the result so much more. A plus of shooting only film is that I would not be taking photos of everything and anything constantly, which can interfere with experiencing a place – and also get on my friends’ nerves. But my old film SLR, a Minolta XG1, is known for light leaks and sometimes cuts the frames off weirdly. It would break my heart to have a bunch of messed up shots.
Anyway, I’ll definitely take my Holga loaded with B&W film and the Polaroid SX-70 that I recently acquired, even though the film’s so expensive and takes up so much room. I’ll probably leave the Diana Mini at home. Even though she’s small, I haven’t been inspired much by her lately. Definitely won’t be taking the point and shoot, even though it’s my only video-taker.
So my packing list: Minolta XG1, Holga, SX-70. Maybe Nikon D3000. Can you tell I’ve been thinking about this a little too much? ;)
I made the mistake of lugging all of my cameras on a trip once. Er… twice. OK, coulda been three times. And each time I said never again.
But honestly, I do a lot better with just one or two cameras – usually an SLR of some sort, and a point-n-shoot for the lighter days. My favorite trip-mates right now are my Nikon F3 and my Oly XA2. :) Otherwise I waste those fleeting this-is-happening-NOW moments wondering which camera I should use.
I take my lens cleaning kit with me as I generally need to use it at least once especially if I’m going anywhere near the sea, that salt air makes my filters so grimey!
for travelling I would take ONLY the Canon D40 because digital is better for me to take 2500000000000000 photos….and ok, the polaroid sx70 (but I don’t have one)
no external hard drive, just several 8G cards and a very small tiny moleskine for notes :)
So I take my Nikon D40, 2 8G cards, the moleskine and a small compact Pentax 8.3- 18.9mm waterproof to be with into the water or while kayaking or sailing. This little camera takes pretty good pictures even is not as performing as others.
Funnily enough I have just got back from a trip and this dilemma drove me nuts! Especially as I was travelling by train from Toulouse to Limoges for a few days and wanted to shoot some of the rail journey in b&w, some in colour. You can never have too many cameras or film with you, it’s the carrying of it all that’s the biggest nightmare.
(I’d be more than happy to take part in the interview!)
I think I have to show this post to my fiance, as he was teasing me about bringing to many camera’s on our recent camping trip. I only brought 5 cameras, 3 extra lenses and a small cooler full of film… that’s not so bad… or maybe it is. ;)
Love seeing all your lovely camera’s.
Hey I just found your blog today, these photos are so gorgeous, your camera/accessories collection is quite nice =^_^= xx
what brand is your external hard drive? :) thanks.