Its in the bag - what you keep in your camera bag

[ryan112ryan]

so im alway trying to find the perfect camera bag, itll never happen im conviced, but what do you keep in your bag when your going out to take photos. im more interested in things other than your camera and lenses (but list which lenses you take) and more interested in the other "little stuff" quote the below and awnser them:

what is in your bag right now?
what do you never leave home without (excluding camera body)?
what do you alway wish you packed?
if space an issue or wheight is an issue what do you take out right away?
link to your specific camera bag

[ReF]

well, i'd rather not let people know how to spot my specific camera bag, but here's what's in it when i'm out:

filters:
2 stop hard and soft edge ND grads
Hoya SMC circular polarizer
Hoya IR filter
Wratten IR gel filter
1x Hoya UV 77mm

Step rings
lens cleaning solution
microfiber cloth
external flash with bounce cards
extra batteries
extra memory cards
extra front (77mm) and rear lens cap set
12mm, 20mm, and 36mm extension tubes
big ziplock bags
hoods for lenses that i bring with me
QR plates are always attatched to the lenses, camera body
tripod collars are always attached on the appropriate lenses

sometimes i have a portable card reader/hard drive with me to off load cards if i think i'm going to be shooting tons of pictures.

i occasionally carry the battery chargers on long outtings (it's bailed me out once)

outside of the bag i've usually got my tripod with me, sometimes my monopod instead.

if i know for sure i won't be needing it: the flash stays at home, as does any step rings for specific lenses that aren't brought with me. the UV filter is the first to leave the bag if i won't be in any "hazardous" (to the glass) enviroments. the IR filters stay at home when i'm shooting at night and or indoors exclusively.

i don't think the lenses that i carry with me should matter much to anyone else, and it may actually mislead people into thinking what's important and what's not. i take any lens out that i'm sure i won't need - if i think there is even a small chance that i will need a specific lens to get a worthwhile shot, i will bring it. leaving the unneccessary lenses at home minimizes weight and total risk (sand, water, and impact damage, theft, etc.). i also swap out my 50mm f1.4 for the 50mm f1.8 mk 1 when i need the focal length (i have a gap between 40-70mm that is filled only by a 50mm prime) but don't need to utilize shallow DOF or don't require fast, accurate AF - it's just cheaper to lose a 50 f1.8 than a 50 f1.4.

[cwphoto]

Most obscure item I used to carry were industrial ear plugs - just the thing for Macedonian weddings (there is only so much Piano Accordian, Waist-mounted Drum, and Clarinet I can handle - arggghh)!

[cdifoto]

Handi-wipes so I can clean the mud off my lens after being pelted with it at the dirt race track. They always wet the track then run it in prior to the start of the evening...but they never get it ALL run in!

(Don't shoot that stuff anymore though so I haven't refilled)

[aparmley]

what is in your bag right now?
Nothing but air.

what do you never leave home without (excluding camera body)?
uncrustables - PB&J flavor + smokes + lighter + keys + wallet + cell.

what do you alway wish you packed?
Beer.

if space an issue or wheight is an issue what do you take out right away?
Sig 70-300.