Gear Deployment in the Parks

R

Ryan

Member
I'm curious to know how other members deploy for shooting in the parks. How do you carry your gear? Point-and-shoot or DSLR? Wide, telephoto or fixed focal length? Backpacks or fanny packs?

My thoughts are a pocket camera for the day time and my DSLR for dinner/after dinner civil twilight and night shooting.

Thanks!! 8)
 
DLSR all the time. ; We ride rides during the day, it's easier that way. ; I used to use a sling pack, but I think my next trip will have a backpack, mainly because it'll be the carryon as well.

Store the tripod in a locker (except next trip, I can walk across the street to get it).....I usually bring everything with me. ; A little paranoid for things walking from the hotel room, and not every room has a safe with room for lenses in them.
 
I'm curious to know how other members deploy for shooting in the parks.
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humping a full pack for the duration, asking each other " may i have another sir" or at least that's how it's done for pixelmania. which for some of us is pretty close to how it always is
 
"gary" said:
humping a full pack for the duration, asking each other " may i have another sir" or at least that's how it's done for pixelmania. which for some of us is pretty close to how it always is
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Booyah!
 
With the exception of leaving the big telephoto lenses in the rooms, except for Animal Kingdom day, dSLR and lenses are in a backpack with the tripod strapped to it for the duration.
 
Until recently I was like Gary and Tim and humped a full backpack all day. ; But at Disneyland in June I tried something different.

I still took the backpack as my carry-on, but each morning I'd decide what I thought I needed and threw it into an over-the-shoulder courier-style bag that my wife bought in Adventureland (Indiana Jones themed). ; I wore the camera around my neck and inside was my extra batteries, memory cards and my nifty-fifty and flash unit.

It was so much easier to get through security and embarking and disembarking off of attraction vehicles. ; I just slung the bag to the front and sat down/stood up. ; No more fussing with backpack straps.

The downside was that it wasn't easy keeping the tripod with me at all times like it was with the backpack. ; But our next trip will involve a stroller and I'll get to deploy Tim Devine's masterful use of stroller space for hauling camera equipment around
 
I use to use a shoulder bag, but now I LOVE my backpack!
I usually only carry the camera 18-200 and the 50mm.
the rest of the backpack is filled up with snacks and water.
I still havent figured out a good way to carry my tripod yet, and hate carrying it, so it has had limited use in the parks.



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Yes, we take a backpack as well, but it's a separate bag full of snacks, raincoats, first aid kit, etc.

"Craig" said:
I still havent figured out a good way to carry my tripod yet, and hate carrying it, so it has had limited use in the parks.
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I haven't seen a camera backpack yet that doesn't have the reinforced slits on the bottom. ; Those are meant to provide you a location to put straps for securing items like a tripod. ; I used that on my Tamrac backpack and it really helped with the tripod situation.
 
The Kata pack comes with an exterior tripod holder, that can be mounted on the side, lid, or bottom. ; Personally, I strap the tripod to the side of my backpack, standing upright. ; I don't like it hanging from the bottom myself, and didn't like it on the lid as it hindered access through the quick-access door on the Kata. ; Works well enough for me. ; Have you tried it, Craig...or do you just not like the tripod on the outside at all?

As for my deployment...mine might be a bit different from a few of you as I have the advantage of living close and driving up to Disney.

First, I bring my Kata backpack with everything photographic that I own packed inside: ; Camera body, 6 lenses, flash, tripod, filters, chargers, cleaning kits, remotes, batteries, netbook, compact camera, microfibers, etc. ; I also bring along two more camera bags - a mid-size shoulder bag, and a very small video bag. ; The Kata gets set up in the room/villa at Disney, and becomes the home base...it rarely actually travels into the parks.

Each day, I decide what to bring based on needs, conditions, park, etc. ; I might decide heading to AK that I need the long zoom, the ultrazoom, and the wide. ; Or heading to MK, the ultrazoom and fast prime. ; Maybe I just want to experiment, and I'll bring the wide, the fast prime, and the portrait prime. ; In all these situations, I'll bring the midsize shoulder bag, which can handle camera with lens, and two additional lenses. ; Tripod optional, depending on if I intend to take night shots that night and won't get the chance to head back to the room. ; Other times, I may decide to travel light, and just bring the camera and one attached lens - no bags, no tripods. ; Or I'll travel light, and maybe just bring the video bag with a single fast prime inside - the video bag can serve as emergency rain protection if I need somewhere to store the DSLR if it starts a downpour - it's just big enough to squeeze the DSLR and attached lens inside, with the small prime on top, and zip closed. ; And finally, if it's a day with lots of family or friends, lots of rides, fast moving and not much time to stop and enjoy my photography, I'll just bring my ultra-compact along in a pocket and leave the DSLR behind. ; Or if it is a pure rainy day, all day...I'll bring the ultracompact in its waterproof case and leave everything else behind.

Phew! ; How's that for deployment!
 
I have two shoulder bags, one small and one large. ; I usually carry the smaller one when unless I need the 70-200 or 80-400 which don't fit in the small bag. ; I also have a tripod bag that has a shoulder strap which makes carrying the tripod really easy. ;
 
Backpack with the DSLR and all my lenses. ; Tripod, monopod or shooting stick (thanks for showing us one at pixelmania Tim) all go into a locker until evening. ; I'm lucky because we still have kids and use a stroller which makes a great place to hang the camera bag. ; (Have to be careful to take the camera bag off the stroller before the kids get out though.) ; If there are no lockers, tripod etc goes into the storage are under the stroller.
 
Hmm well it sounds like I should start working on a plan to sneak a stroller in the park with a cabbage patch doll for a stand- in baby.
Thanks for all the suggestions- it's refreshing to hear that I'm not the only one thats been worried about how to pack into the park. For the average guest, a point and shoot and a ticket is all I would need. However when your a photo geek like myself... I just have this image in my head of my d90 flying off my person on Everest and severely injuring a poor sherpa or mountain goat!
 
Ah, no need to sneak a stroller in. ; When I have gone to the parks by myself and the family has stayed back at the hotel I just put the camera gear in the front of the stroller and head to the parks. ; Never had a problem. ; In fact security and cast members have commented on it being a good idea.
 
I go bagless myself:

Camera on a harness
Walkaround lens mounted on camera
Spare memory and batteries in pockets or on harness
Tabletop tripod hung on Batman Utility belt

gear.jpg


This setup will change now that I've upgraded to a Canon 50D and a Canon 18-200IS lens, but not by much. The new camera, battery grip, and lens are much heavier than my old rig, and my tabletop tripod won't handle the weight and size, so I will have to upgrade to a Gorillapod or similar-size mini tripod. I should still be able to hang it from my belt, though.

I may also switch to a new model of camera harness that I've been working on, which operates more like a traditional binocular harness, with sliders, but is made from the same materials as my original model; the new model can't mount spare memory and battery pouches like the original, so those have to go in my pockets or on my belt.

Of course, not carrying 100lbs of gear limits what I can shoot, and I have to put up with jeers of "Hey, Will, why doncha buy yourself a MAN'S tripd!" whenever I pass Tim in the parks, but the bagless setup makes it a lot easier for me to get in and out of the parks, get on and off rides, and fit in bathroom stalls.

YMMV.
 
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