Hello! Here are the timestamps to this video so you can skip to a particular section that interests you! Many thanks. Timestamps: 0:00 'Ello! Bag(s) Intro 1:17 Main Compartment: The ins and outs. 2:19 Cameras! D850 and D750 3:29 Will and when will I go mirrorless? 5:12 L-Bracket (Pros and Cons) 6:14 Lenses! 6:59 How I pack for a shoot 7:33 Most and Least Favourite Lenses 8:46 Examples of kit setup. 9:40 Why this bag? 11:10 Weight distribution and comfort. 12:03 Is your bag heavy? 13:05 Filters! 14:49 Other Accessories 16:26 Macro Fungi Accessories 17:26 Other non-camera related accessories 18:53 Charging Pocket 19:18 Day Pack: The Crisp Test! 20:13 Tripods 21:06 Tripod Maintenance 21:41 Why use a tripod? 22:50 The Last Question! 23:50 Wrap up and thanks! 24:27 Bloopers
You are fun to watch, of course, but I appreciate the niche you've found which is unlike most other photo channels. While other photo channels will focus on the latest and greatest gear, you show that you don't need to have the latest and greatest gear to make good photos. And, honestly, most photographers are amateurs and a lot of those amateurs aren't using the latest gear. The other thing I like is that you photograph what is in your backyard. You don't need to fly half way around the world to photograph grand vistas to get beautiful and interesting photographs. That is a good lesson for all of us.
That's a brilliant What's in my Bag video. Not only did you show us what's in it but took time to explain it in detail and the pros and cons of different kit. It wasn't just you showing off 'look what I own' but proper reasoning why you own and why you take them with you.
Sunday morning opened the video and instead of finishing it, I went into the forest to take pictures of mushrooms. Thanks for the momentum and energy 😍👍
Your reason for staying with your DSLR is so good! Over many years after I started I kept buying new cameras over and over, not realizing cameras don’t take photos, I do. My photos were bad because of me, not my gear.
my two main cameras which I use really equally are D850 and D7200 (when I hike or mountaineer) and reason why I am with DSLRs is very simple - I like it ... looking through an OVF is a pure essence of my photography ... it has soul, it's warm, it gives me vibes, it fills me with emotion and excitement ... EVF just doesn't do it because it feels cold and emotionless .. as simple as that
I usually resist a 'what's in my bag' post, but I should have known you'd find ways to make it funny, informative, and even inspirational! :) Great job, as always!
Such a intertainer and lovely to watch. Those moves, are greatly appreciated. Like the Mary popping touch. That's a lot of gear. Look forward, if you do. OM system, they are a really good camera and lens. Thanks for sharing.
Nice vid Victoria! I have the VEO 49 one year from now and i'm in love of this bag. It could be a bit ligther, and the shoulder strap a tiny smaller so you can put a Peak Desing Capture 3 or similar. Aside from that, is perfect.
Yes the color of the kislux is beautiful and it is a great decision, maybe one day they will add feet and straps. It would be nice to have a bigger bag during the colder months when we have to store gloves, beanies, scarves, etc…
I originally found your channel for information on the D750 and have never left. Time has passed and I’m still here watching your videos. I’ve since bought a d750 (which was run over by a car, allowing me to get it cheap and fix it), partially from seeing you use one, and it’s now my main camera. I absolutely love it. Thanks for the awesome and fun videos. 😊😊
Okay, I’ve always scratched my head about the obsession around the kislux book totes and their practicality, but this one is adorable!! Congratulations
I am lucky enough to have a D850 and a OM-1 and i use them in very different ways i love them equally and they are both very good at all types of photography from sport to landscape and every thing in between .love your attitude to your craft and you are spot on if the gear you use is doing the job why indeed would you spend for the sake of it , be a photographer and use the tools required .
Love the thought you put into making this video so fun and light hearted! Always interesting seeing what and how other photographers carry their gear :)
Although gear does not matter, as you make clear with every new video you post, gear videos are still really interesting. It’s fascinating to say what a professional nature photographer takes with her on a shoot.
I enjoyed the video as usual Courtney. It was interesting to see what you take on a photography trip. I have got a vanguard roll top camera backpack and it is brilliant. As you say the roll top extends and you can get more clothing in it and snacks of course. Loved the outakes at the end. Look forward to the next one.
Omg! Leave the bloopers in the ACTUAL VIDEO! We come here cuz we love your genuine honesty, dancing and humor, so I would love to laugh at the extra silliness during the video! (Just a suggestion from a big fan!)
Thank you. Even that I´m already used to hiking and photography, we always learn something new. Changing knowledge and experience is one of the this that I love about your channel. Greetings from Brazil!
Hello Courtney, I discovered your channel a few months ago and have really been enjoying your videos. I wanted to thank you for this video in particular. Your discussion of your tripod choices helped me out tremendously. I'd been on the search for a good tripod that doesn't break the bank, and after seeing what you had to say about your tripods, I did a little more research into the Veo 3T+ 264CB. I decided to take a chance on it, and am so glad I did. It's an amazing tripod, and one I was not aware of until seeing your videos. So again, thank you so much, and I look forward to your future content!
Hi Courtney. Love the video. I have a Vanguard bag for my 4x5 and am most impressed with it. For macro work, I have a Godox V860ii. It's a great off camera flas unit. I also use a Godox X2T remote trigger that will mount to the hot shoe. There are several iterations, e.g. Nikon, Canon, etc. Andrew Laxom also has some videos about using off-camera flashes for macro work. Now if only I had the dance moves you have ;-)
Thank you for the recommendations! I have been watching Andrew recently, his videos are fantastic and really helpful. I'm not great with the lighting aspect of macro right now so it's interesting to see how he works with it.
I generally use a tripod about 50% of the time for landscape and portrait work because it gives me time to compose or frame the background first for portraits. On landscapes, I find the results are noticeably sharper regardless of shutter speed. And, your outtakes are hysterical. Having done a bit of movie and TV work over the years, a good outtake roll is a great thing (most people don't realize how much goes into videograohy shoots, especially when everyone has a case of the giggles and turns a 30 second scene into an all day proposition) 😅
After watching you use the Veo active packs I went and got myself the 49L bag. It’s soooo much better than any lowepro bag period. I’m glad I stumbled on your page a long time ago
Re external flash, the Godox AD100 or the AD200 are both excellent. I bought the AD200 and it's ridiculously small, 200 Watt power and battery powered. I bought mine mainly for landscape and outside work but if you want it will take any Bowens mount item. Oh, needless to say ... I enjoy your channel
I decided to simplify a lot last year. As an engineer it is second nature to nerd out on gear. On a whim I got a used Panasonic gx9 which is light and nimble and a couple of tiny prime lenses. Perfect for me (ie mainly street photography) and actually a relief to minimize the gear that forces you to improvise but on the other hand I bring it anywhere without much need to plan. In landscape/ macro photography gear needs are completely different and this was very informative! Keep dancing!
I moved to the Z8 for one reason and only one reason, wildlife photography. The high frame rates and amazing autofocus with subject recognition have revolutionized my photography. However I still have a D800 and a D700 that I keep for backup when doing landscape work. For the type of work you do, you have two excellent cameras.
Honestly, the appreciation dance for the new bag is the best "thank you to our sponsors" response I've ever seen! And yes, I understand they did not technically sponsor you, but you know what I mean :)
I love your light approach to photography. When you break into dance, it makes me smile as clearly you are having a bit of fun whilst on your adventure. So, curious as to what brand the waterproof trousers are?
Karen's wave at the end was precious - as was all the stuff ups. A good fun video as always. I love the way you share what you enjoy with us. Playful!!
Swear to god this is the most comfortable camera beg I have ever had (I am a Vanguard ambassador and they gifted this kindly to me)....us believing with all our heart now
I like your comment regarding mirrorless cameras. Spending money for the sake of spending money. Spot on! Why buy something that does not fit your shooting style with features that you’re likely not to use. I love my D780. Wouldn’t mind getting the D850 for extra MP’s. For now I’ll crop in camera.
I’ll give a counter-opinion here. I went mirrorless when the first such DSLR (the Sony α77, which was really a fixed translucent mirror model, because today’s mirrorless technology wasn’t yet available) came out over a decade ago. Since I have been using SLRs since my film days fifty years ago, I am thoroughly used to using the viewfinder rather than the back-screen for shooting, once I got used to getting instant feedback (DOF, WB, zebras and focus-peaking) on my settings via an EVF, I found it almost impossible to go back to a standard DSLR with an optical viewfinder. I even tried out the D850 once, and felt like I had taken a step backward in terms of control and confidence.
@@ravenfallsphotography6254, great to hear that it works for you. Been in photography all my life, too. Interestingly, film is making big comeback. Used SLR’s are being snapped up, quickly. I recently acquired a Nikon FA, which I found in mint condition. On a final note, at a couple of camera shops near me, I find a disproportionate amount of used mirrorless cameras in the used bins. The film cameras are gone as soon as they are in the store. A couple of DSLR’s are to be had, and bulk of used cameras are mirrorless. So, I’m glad it’s working out for you. Not everyone’s cup of tea.
@@ravenfallsphotography6254 It's nice to see some counter-opinions too! Although I'm not yet interested in going mirrorless, I do know that there is a possibility when I do that I will say 'why didn't I do this sooner?!'
Well I have a vanguard bag. And the zips burst open after a few months. I only became aware of the issue after my batteries fell out good job I was on the drive or I would not have noticed . The zipper is one of those that allow you to reset it by pulling it back to its start point . But they all stated doing the same it’s not even a year old . So it’s useless now.There are places when the cover is ripping off . So I guess it would be right to warn you to watch your zips. Secondly mirror lens camera come with the latest range z lenses the z lenses are much better than f series. . But apart from that I liked your work. But has you have not seen mine I guess you will have to take my word for those z lenses .
Another very interesting video Courtney and great comments regarding your camera gear... certainly a lot more gear than I have but I am only a hobbyist... always enjoy your work.. thanks for sharing.. cheers from Australia 🦘🦘👍😊
Good explanation on the tripods! It gets missed so often that they're not just there to avoid camera shake (although they do that, and consequently allow a smaller aperture and lower sensitivity). Especially with wide angle or close up work getting the framing just right is a gamble without the support, and with the camera mounted you can also wait for the perfect moment (clouds/light shifting, wind dying down for a moment, critter moving to the right spot/posture, people moving out of the frame etc.) Important points for a backpack: comfortable, ergonomic carrying system, access to the main compartment from the body side (so if you put it down to open it the side that gets dirty isn't the padding going back on your back ...), only large enough for the gear you need, not tempting you to bring the kitchen sink ... ;-)
Cortney, you really got to let your personality shine through in this video and I loved it! When Karen threw the bag to you I thought she was going to knock you over.
Cortney, you are inspiration. I love calm and slow pace of your videos. Everything is just amazing, from explanations why to reasoning what lens with what camera on or off tripod etc etc. This video is pure joy to watch. Keep up the amazing work. And I can not wait to watch content from you about m4/3 stuff. I urge you to rent and try. I fell in love with it on 1st try :)
Thank you! I think I will take my time and rent out a few cameras to try out. I have no doubt that any camera I do try will do the job, it just needs to 'feel right' to hold and use ha. :)
I am a Canon person and went against the “Holy Trinity” of lenses and it was cool to see someone who made basically the same lens choice with Nikon. I have a 16-35, 24-105, 100-400 & 100 Macro also. It gives you the full range with only a few lenses. I do carry a 2X Tele just in case I want to really get out there.
If you're going down the speedlight route, consider getting a Rogue FlashBender. A very simple but versatile bit of kit, brilliant for macro and other stuff, too. Absolutely love mine. 👌😍
Mirrorless is (IMO) a huge benefit to wildlife & sports photographers, with the higher-end cameras. And there are some high-resolution models that fill a range that's cheaper than medium-format but with better resolution than the older DSLRs. Size & weight are the bigger draw if you're not going for the fast-action niche. Well, and access to newer lenses, but if you're not limited by your existing lenses then this doesn't matter.
Only got recommended this channel yesterday and I'm loving everything I've seen so far, subscribed at the end of the first vid I watched. I've only recently started getting into photography, I always wanted a film camera 'n' so decided to finally get one for my birthday and so far been loving it and it's been the push I kind of needed to get outside more and get out of the city too as much as I've been meaning to. Been looking into trading some of my city clothes for more outdoor appropriate ones. Sitting in a river in Levi's to get photos of herons isn't the most practical... Also been wanting to get a camera bag and case bc wraping my 45(?) year old camera and lens in a scarf then stuffing it in my messenger bag probably isn't the best :)
Thanks! For warmth when getting wet nothing beats wool. Wool retains warmth better than anything. I was hiking and my foot went through the ice in a small creek. I went knee deep. Initially cold, very cold. Hiked for 3 more hours and by the time I got back to the car my liner sock and wool sock in the boot was warm and near dry. It’s ashamed someone does not make photographer friendly gloves from wool.
I'm glad your feet stayed warm on your hike, it would be been very uncomfortable otherwise! I'm surprised they don't exist to be honest. A lot of photographers seem to love the Vallerret gloves, but I found my hands would still get cold in them. You can't go wrong with wool...until it rains ha!
Thanks for making a mundane topic fun to view! I love that bag (particularly the smaller one) but I already qualify as a bag hoarder with 14 and I can’t afford to get a new wife! Thanks for taking me along!
Fun video! I see that someone suggests using SnapBridge to trigger your camera remotely. You will spend more frustrating time trying to maintain connection than taking photos. The Nikon WR-R11a plugs into the 10-pin port on the D850, is triggered remotely by the WR-T10 to trip the shutter and is also compatible with Nikon's SB-5000 to trigger it as a remote flash. Pricey, but if you do a lot of that sort of thing, worth it.
A friend of mine has the OM 1. I will see if I can get her to leave a comment about the camera. We both really enjoy your videos and your photos. I recently rented the OMD EM1 MK II (yep it's a mouthful...) at a local camera store to try out a specific lens I was interested in. It's an older camera but I have to admit I was very impressed with it. Even though it's an older model I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. I have been using a Pen F (which I absolutely adore because it's so handsome) with the 30 and 60 for several years. Those are VERY good macro lenses. The newest version which is I believe is the OM 1 MK II has several interesting built in electronic ND filer options including a grad ND. I personally prefer traditional filters though.
Courtney, I have a Z8, which I use for all photography genres except for macro. For macro, I have an OM-1 and the 90mm with a 1.4TC for up to 5.6x magnification ( 11x with the Raynox). This combination is unbeatable in the field and is so easy to use. Set the focus stack to 999. Hit the shutter button and watch in real time the focus move through the subject. Once happy, hit the shutter button again to stop the stack. The OM-1 has many computational tricks. Highly recommended from a Nikon Z8 user.
Thank you for the recommendation! I can certainly see myself getting an OM-1 on loan for a few weeks at some point with a macro lens to try out. I follow quite a few macro photographers who use the OM System and it looks perfect.
Great video as always, and I’m glad to see you going to longer-form videos the past two (although, of course, a video should never be too long or too short; it should always last precisely as long as it needs to). (As to the contents of my own camera bag, that’s impossible to say, since I’m currently upgrading to full-frame from APS-C, meaning that virtually everything is changing, and many of the components, including the bag itself, are currently in-transit. As to my _former_ camera bag, it and its contents now belong to my wife instead.)
The mirrorless Nikon camreas are amazing, but if you don't need it, it's better to stick with what works. I'm a bit of a nerd and I made a huge switch to my Z8 so I see a lot of differences. But of course, you get used to the gear you use and I still own my older camera, which is great in certain situations. I absolutely love your content. You're fun and entertaining to watch and you give great tips. The whole vibe of your video's is just so relaxing and nice. Thank you for making such warm and inviting content
Courtney one other reason for a tripod is so you can use filters!, esp. the circular polarisers, or graduated ND's as those need to be shifted around, and you need to be able to keep the camera still, and so you can see what the change is, is it polarised enough?, or the position of the graduation of the filter, ie: have you covered all the 'hot' sky?, or glary portion of a building or car (to keep highlights under control)?
Gosh you do carry more than I thought you would. A helpful video if (like me) you're starting to build your own set up. The array of gear can be a little bewildering so the recommendation of manufacturers is useful. 👍
Just got this bag, being delivered at any moment :D hopping the metal frame will help to carry a heavy tripod :) for the flash, I just got a tiny manual one but it works a treat, Godox Lux Junior, is really good :) I'll use mine off camera with a JJC remote trigger I got from Amazon :)
I think it is the best presentation of material I have seen, you explained it quite well.👏🏻 That must have taken you a lot of time to edit so thanks for your effort. 🤎 24:30 English is hard 😹
Courtney. I use the Godox V860iii which can be used off camera too, with their flash triggers. That trigger can also work with their other flashes including the big studio strobes. I know you don't want to go mirrorless with your gear, but 1 benefit to the Z8 is it's 8k video. I know 8k is overkill for many on RU-vid, but I shoot 8k on my Fuji with good success. I believe you upload your videos in 4k and 8k would allow you to crop in, zoom, etc if needed. Or you could do what I do and just upload your video in 8k to future proof your channel. It does take a heck of a computer to work with 8k though. But if you're happy at 4k, then all is good.
Thank you for the recommendation! Would be interesting to see if my computer would cope with 8K ha, it is a custom built PC though so it's not difficult to upgrade components when needed. I will go mirrorless at some point, but I think it will be a need/must rather than a want when I do. Would be great to try out the Z8 again though.
@@CourtneyVictoria It took me thousands of dollars to get my computer 8K ready. I also use Premiere Pro which is 8K ready. If your computer ends up being too slow, editing 8K can be a real pain. But it is good to see the results. I do have an 8K tv here at home. RU-vid is pretty much the only way to watch that rez. Two reasons why I do 8K for my channel is to future proof it, and secondly as it sets my channel apart from others. Think of seeing all those little hairs on your plant life in your videos haha. :) I use a Fuji for my 8K, but I'd recommend going full frame like a Z8 if you are thinking of going that route. Cheers from Canada! PS Your videos are excellent and very well made. You put a LOT of work into them I can see. Keep up the good work. If only my videos were as good.
I would recommend the Adaptalux light range for field macro - when you have used the flexibility of optic lighting, you will not want to go back to flash (unless you are using fast shutters).. Thank you for your video, it is very enjoyable.
For Godox Speedlight for Macro Photos, You can Try Godox V1 for On camera and Off-Camera Flash. AD100Pro kit for Off camera flash. Both works well with a Remote trigger. Get a Ak-R1 Modifiers kit(A no brainer for Round Head Flashes) from Godox for the Round Head. The Batteries last long enough
At around 5:00 you mentioned micro four thirds (MFT) for landscape. I have used MFT since 2014 and whilst they can do landscape, if you go for the same angle of view as FF, then MFT will "push the mountains away". If you use the same focal length as FF you get a narrower field of view. For the traditional landscape look we want FF with its wider vista. Having said that I have often used a long lens on FF in portrait orientation for landscape. The strong points of MFT are: deeper depth of field, lighter lenses, incredible stabilisation. I got the Panasonic G9 to take the Leica 100-400 for wildlife, which it does well due to that huge reach which can be hand held because of the barking mad stabilisation. Now there is the newer all-singing all-dancing G9M2 and the improved PL100-400ii which are lauded as better. Yet it can also do focus stacking and packing in camera, which is great for macro. The OM-1 can probably do focus stacking better. I probably have too many MFT cameras and lenses. Whilst Lumix currently have the best stabilisation, I prefer the haptics of Olympus and have a hankering for the new OM-1 Mark 2, or a full frame.
I must say that your personality and your voice are atractive and are indeed a plus to your videos. Some people do not have the same personality (but that can be faked) and voice (that one you cannot change!). Regards!
Thanks for your great videos and tips, not least about macro photography that I find super-inspiring. I have been wondering why 200mm macro lenses have gone out of fashion and been discontinued by all the brands, as far as I can tell. Sure, they are bulky and heavy but I really enjoy the extra working distance I get with my Minolta AF 200 f/4. Autofocus is slow but I focus it manually anyway and the image quality is superb despite the lens being a couple of decades old. I imagine it must be similar to the AF Micro NIKKOR 200mm f/4 D IF ED. At least, the size seems about the same. When I got into the photography hobby some 40 years ago, I think 180-200mm lenses were quite popular among macro enthusiasts and I am sort of hoping that macro primes in these focal lengths will come back, maybe even in more modern, lighter designs.
Apologies: I now know that at least Zhong Yi optics currently makes the Mitakon 200mm f/4 1x Macro Lens that is available in several mounts, including Nikon F. Maybe there are others...
Nice bags. Considering getting the bigger one. What's the outer dimensions? Can it be used as a 'large' carry on bag on planes? I fly a lot and wizzair hasn't checked the bag sizes for ages but if it's ridiculously big they might do it. For me the main thing would be to carry my d750 with 2 lenses, some small stuff like batteries, power bank, headphones, etc. plus my clothes. Now I always fly with a 20L backpack carrying these just without the camera stuff which is not ideal on a holiday 😅. Also I'd use it for the occasional hike too, my current camera bag is a very 'urban' design and even tho I'm a fairly sized guy, that thing gives me physical pain after a few hours with it's crappy thin straps.
Thanks for answering my question! Never thought of using a rocket blower other than for my lenses. I'm uses to photograph mushrooms with all their dirt on them, but maybe I'll give them a cleaning before I photograph them
Sometimes I love the dirt on mushrooms, it can add a lot of character! I find a blower is better for those really tiny fungi that are too delicate for clumsy fingers. Photographing them 'dirty' and then 'clean' could be an interesting project, seeing which people are more drawn to.
