Camera Kit

I think like all photographers, I have a collection a mile long of camera bags.  It seems I constantly need a different bag for different situations and still struggle to find the right solution.  I feel like I have exactly the same issue with camera straps.  A constant love/hate relationship with how I like to carry my camera versus what is functional.

With both of these issues, I feel like for my walk around shooting situations, I have stumbled upon  near nirvana.  The biggest find was a small company based in NY called Tap & Dye.  I found them on instagram and instantly fell in love with their simple design and hand made products.  I quickly ordered a wrist strap (my preferred way of carrying my Leica) and one of their antique straps with brass clips.  Both beautiful in their own unique ways.  The wrist strap is so soft and supple that I have already ordered a second.

The antique strap is stunning in its own way, but I find that for me, I simply don't use a neck strap that often, which is why I have often leaned towards the black rapid solutions paired with Really Right Stuff (RRS) plates on my cameras.  This has allowed me to go back and forth quickly and easily from no strap to strap. Now, with the find of the Tap & Dye Products, I am working on a custom solution that will add a bit of style to the system when I don't need the ruggedness of a straight Black Rapid Solution.

Finally, I am  pairing all of this with a Maxpedition Versipanck Jumbo bag that I find very comfortable for carrying a single body, 3 lenses, small tripod and my little Tap & Dye strap.  The bag has plenty of compartments for batteries, filters, etc. and has a unique little inner pouch in the main compartment that is very water proof.  I recently carried the Monochrom through a torrential downpour that soaked me to the bone and yet the camera and inner pockets were completely dry.  A very nice feature for a walk around bag that does not look like a camera bag.

It all comes together with a few nice bits from Really Right Stuff.  I use the RRS base plates on all of my cameras so that they can easily mount on my tripods and on this modular strap system.  I then use a spare RRS Screw Knob clamp that easily attaches to the Black Rapid system or to my Antique Strap via the brass clamps.  Closing it all out is the RRS Ultralight Tabletop Tripod which i  believe is the nicest table top tripod out there, especially when paired with their min ball head.

Now if I can just find a solution for when I need to carry both bodies that I am happy with.

Merry Christmas