Fuji cameras and gear for work
I have been shooting with Fujifilm X-cameras for enough years now, that I take for granted many of the features that brought me to the cameras in the first place. One of those features is portability. Something I was reminded of while hefting my camera backpack around Vancouver on a recent work trip.
Getting to my work assignments often involves flying by seaplane or helicopter between Victoria and downtown Vancouver. A trip that I might make one or more times a week. Occasionally, Winter weather makes getting around a bit more complicated. On those occasions, I will take a ferry, transit or drive a car. Sometimes all three. And, there is inevitably a lot of walking. With gear.
The other morning, as my camera bag was weighed at the terminal, I was reminded how great it is to be carrying a bag of gear that weighs only 21 pounds. This includes the bag, two bodies (X-T2 with grip and X-Pro2), at least three lenses (16-55, 50-140 and 10-24), a 15-inch MacBook Pro, portable hard disk, flash and battery pack for the flash and some spare batteries for the cameras. Plus some Clif bars and assorted extras. The configuration of the bag might change, gaining or losing a pound or two, but this is essentially everything I need for work. And it is the gear I carry with me onto seaplanes, helicopters, ferries, rapid transit and buses, and on my back while walking.
If I was able to shoot my work assignments with only prime lenses, I would be carrying even less weight. However, my current work setup with X-cameras and zoom lenses is significantly lighter than the equivalent Nikon gear with which I used to shoot. So, it is nice to be reminded occasionally how great working with Fujifilm gear is and why. In this case, it is because they have lifted a heavy load off of my back and shoulders.
NB: All aerial images captured in-flight with Fujifilm X cameras and Fujinon XF lenses.
DON CRAIG photography 
4 responses to “On the road”
Oh the debate about how much gear to carry … On my world travels, I had the same problem. The last time, I was riding the bike so had 41 liters (one entire side case) full of camera gear. Now, I am going sans bike and the choices are heavy or very heavy :-) So far I have “narrowed it down” to D850, 35 f1.8, 14-24 f2.8, 85 f1.4. And assorted satellite junk. I am doing something different for laptops though … I now carry a cheap Samsung Tab A (7 inch) with NEF viewing capabilities and a small hub, 2 x 1TB slim drives … I can empty the SD/CF card via the hub directly without needing to go through the Android RAM (45MB/s). The NEF viewing is so that I can screen pics and delete the duds and work on them when home. Two HDDs for redundancy. Works a treat and saves a LOT of weight. If you have a Samsung phone you can make it all even smaller as the phone can drive the hub and the two drives (small 5v power block as well)
Thanks Kevin. The eternal question, how much gear to carry and what can you leave behind?
As I am delivery photos to the government Flickr account within an hour of the conclusion of an event, I rely upon having the laptop to run Photo Mechanic and Lightroom and deliver the photos quickly.
When I travel for pleasure, I will often leave the laptop behind and use my iPad mini for communications and a little photo editing. Waiting until I return to edit photos.
Have a great trip, by the way!
Hi Don,
I follow your blog and Instagram posts. I’m on the Island also and have an X-T2 and X-Pro2
What backpack do you have to transport the gear you mention in your blog post? I need a bag to carry a similar amount of gear but haven’t found a bag/backpack I like.
Thanks!
Brenda Johima
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Hi Brenda, the bag in the photo is a Kata backpack that I have had for years. I believe you can get a similar bag from Manfroto, https://www.manfrotto.ca/pro-light-camera-backpack-bug-203-pl . It is one of two bags that I travel regularly with.
As with most photographers, I own many bags. If I have more gear to carry, I use a Vanguard roller bag, and if I have less gear, I will use one of a number of smaller shoulder bags.
Thanks for reading and commenting.