{"id":26731,"date":"2023-02-21T14:28:46","date_gmt":"2023-02-21T14:28:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/?p=26731"},"modified":"2023-02-22T00:44:32","modified_gmt":"2023-02-22T00:44:32","slug":"how-to-most-effectively-carry-it-all","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/?p=26731","title":{"rendered":"How to most effectively carry it all!!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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If you own it, but it’s not with you, what is the point of owning it?<\/span> \u00a0<\/strong>Of course, this does\u00a0not\u00a0apply to equipment collectors! \u00a0O.K. so your a photographer and you have amassed a large collection of camera bodes, lenses, tripods and accessories. \u00a0You enjoy using all of it, but frankly, it is a pain in the you know where to try and \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0transport it all! \u00a0Another factor may be your age and physical condition. \u00a0At 77 I no \u00a0longer wish to wear a 40 lb. backpack, in fact I can’t without being miserable or in pain. \u00a0So how do you utilize what you own, but not pay a serious physical penalty for it!? \u00a0I believe I have come up with the answer!<\/span><\/p>\n

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Part One: A Rolling hard case<\/strong> <\/span>(Above). \u00a0For many years I have used Pelican cases and \u00a0they have served me well, but they are pretty rough and the latches are hard for me to open and close when under tension. \u00a0I recently discovered a brand called Nanuk from Canada. \u00a0They are finished out very nicely and have an excellent type of latch that is both very secure and easy to operate. \u00a0The one I purchased (the Nanuk 935) had adjustable velcro attachment sections that can be set-up for exactly the gear you have. \u00a0This case holds the gear that I use for 95% of everything I shoot! \u00a0It rolls on excellent wheels and is just the right size to put in the overhead if you fly! \u00a0It is on the heavy side for me to lift that high loaded, \u00a0around 35 lbs. \u00a0For flying which I try to avoid doing, I use the Think Tank Advantage rolling bag, it can hold most of what I need and weighs in at around 23 lbs.<\/span><\/p>\n

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So that is great, but what do you do when you arrive on location?<\/strong>\u00a0 You can’t roll a 35 lb. hard case everywhere you go! \u00a0 Actually a new bag company I have discovered has the perfect solution in two of there shoulder bags<\/span>! \u00a0Wotancraft<\/strong><\/span> based in Tawain is engineering and making some really great bags that meet my needs to a T!<\/span><\/p>\n

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When I arrive at my intended shooting location I fill up one of the two bags with just the camera body and a few lenses I need for the shoot. \u00a0They are super comfortable and are designed in such a way that they really hug your body and are a joy to walk around with, plus they are not capable of carrying too much stuff! \u00a0Many bags have become so big that when you fill them up it isn a uncomfortable exercise to use them.<\/span><\/p>\n

The two models that I got, (Quick explanation, I ordered the<\/span> Pilot 10L<\/strong><\/span> and accessory pockets and then decided might like the 7L even better, so I contacted<\/span> Wotancraft<\/strong> <\/span>and told them I was already buying the 10L but would like to also try the<\/span> Pilot \u00a07L<\/strong> <\/span>for a review, they kindly sent the 7L at no charge. \u00a0As much as I appreciate their kind gesture, my review will be my honest unbiased opinion!) \u00a0So let’s look at both bags with their load outs.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The<\/span> Pilot 7L<\/strong><\/span> is just the right size to hold my X-T5 with the 16-80 attached and the 70-300 giving me a two lens kit hat covers from 24mm to 450mm, a generous spread of focal lengths! I can also fit in a small powerful LED panel and extra battery , some cleaning supplies and my iPhone 12 Pro max. \u00a0All this only weighs 6 lb including the bag!!! \u00a0The bag is made of nicely padded Cordura that has been water repellent treated and has the look and feel of canvas cotton, yet it’s much lighter and stronger. \u00a0Below is the inside layout with the provided velcro held dividers.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The bigger bag the<\/span> Pilot 10L<\/strong> <\/span>and it holds a little more when you want \u00a0the extra gear with you. Below the 10L bag with the X-T5, 16-80, \u00a010-24, 50-140 and the same extra, LED light panel and iPhone. \u00a0This bag and gear weights in at 10 lbs. \u00a0Still very easy to carry.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The interior arrangement is illustrated below.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Some of the feature that I really love about the bags are the magnetic Fidlock<\/strong><\/span> closure that is opened by simply sliding it sideways which can be done one handed and it closes by just bringing it close and the magnet snaps it closed, really works well one handed!<\/span><\/p>\n

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A very nice shoulder strap attaches to the bag with Duraflex swivel attachment points and the strap has a great adjust point with a leather pull and a non-slip neoprene shoulder pad, \u00a0all combine to make carrying them very easy!<\/span><\/p>\n

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I consider myself very practical but I must admit that these bags have a certain look that I love, they remind me of some of the old WWII ammunition bags used by the Swiss military. \u00a0They just have a great old school vibe, while being made with modern materials that just work great! \u00a0For me a bag must really protect my gear and hold only what I really need, keeping me comfortable and happy while I look for images, these fill that bill in spades! \u00a0Consider me a fan and this is \u00a0coming from a guy that has owned hundreds of bags from every manufacturer out there, these are very impressive!<\/span><\/p>\n

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My Solution:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>All my gear in easy to transport,\u00a0 protective cases<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>A small and medium size shoulder bag that can carry a couple of options.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>This works for me because I work from\u00a0 SUV and rarely fly.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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I will keep you posted but I think that Nanuk and Wotancraft have helped me solve a very difficult problem, now I’m going to get out there and test it all out!<\/span><\/p>\n

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Blessings,<\/span><\/p>\n

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the pilgrim<\/span><\/p>\n

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  If you own it, but it’s not with you, what is the point of owning it? \u00a0Of course, this does\u00a0not\u00a0apply to equipment collectors! \u00a0O.K. so your a photographer and you have amassed a large collection of camera bodes, lenses, tripods and accessories. \u00a0You enjoy using all of it, but frankly, it is a pain […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26731","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26731","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=26731"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26731\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26757,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26731\/revisions\/26757"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=26731"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=26731"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=26731"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}