I find myself wearing many hats at the moment.
Editorial
(the day job)
This is about coverage and creativity on the fly, often actually trouble shooting. I use a pair of EM1.2’s with a 9L, 15L, 12-40, 45, 40-150 f4. If I need to do some longer distance including some sport without a chance to access my sports bag, the 75-300 often does the job and the 25 and 75 Oly are swapped out for the zooms if I know I am going into very low light. Domke F2.
No filters other than protect, a flash or LED light, often with a light weight modifier, or 5-in-1 and that’s it (I am about to add a small studio kit bag for the car boot with a second flash, Smallrig soft box and stand). If video became more of a thing, I would swap out one EM1.2 for a G9. The zooms and 9mm are also weather proof.
The special something the 15mm Leica offers.
Sports
(the cool bit of the day job)
An EM1x with a primary tele lens (75, 40-150 f2.8 or f4 or 300 f4) as the back bone with sometimes a second body (EM1x or EM1.2 depending on the sport) with another of the above, the 8-18 wide, 12-40 or a fast prime. Basketball or Netball for example is often the 75 and 25 in poor light, 12-40 and 40-150 in good. Pro Tactic 350 back pack or Pro Runner 10 and Black Rapid Strap.
Amazing what can be accomplished with the “bottom end” of my pro kit (Em1.2 and 40-150 f4),
or the top (EM1x and 300, shot indoors).
Street
(the enduring passion)
Pen F (screen inverted so it feels like shooting film), 17 and 45. If two lenses are needed, sometimes the little Pen Mini or an old EM5 mk1 is used. Many bags as suits the trip and location.
A whole weekend with just a single camera and the 17mm was freeing and allowed for a good holiday in its own right (being a bus drivers holiday otherwise). I never felt, as we wandered around, that I was missing out without a multi lens, multi camera kit.
Travel
(the other passion)
A pair of OM10’s with the Pana 12-60 and Oly 40-150 kit and maybe some or all of the above street kit, depending on the trip. The travel kit covers daylight, scenic and general shooting with a good range for weight ratio, then the Street kit does low light. I also add a 58mm 10 stop ND and Polariser for scenic and special effects. The OSMO may also get a trip away next time over seas. Many bags as suits the trip.
Quality is never an issue with these kit grade lenses and their negligible weight is a blessing on long walks.
Videography
(the new horizon)
The S5 is the core of this, the OSMO, a G9 and the backup EM1x are options with differing capabilities. my lens collection is wide and varied, all designed to give me different looks and coverage, but most hovering around the standard range, like the Leica 12-60, Sigma 30, Lumix (FF) 50 etc. Lots of filters (ND, Softening), various rigs and cages, COB lights, mics etc. The Domke Roller, Neewer back pack and several other bags and cases.
Studio Portraits
(the desired career)
Frustrated from lack of opportunity, not options or ideas, this is easy and fun. Apart from lights, back drops, stands etc, which are in abundance at several levels from light and easy to OTT when needed, this pretty straight forward, as it is the least gear stessing environment. Usually a G9 or EM10, 12-40 Leica/kit, 45 and 75mm, and even kit lenses are fine (you control the light and depth of field is largely irrelevant). This is a business I intend to grow. The S5 will likely get a go here to out of curiosity, but it is not really needed. Domke F840
For studio work, lenses and cameras are pushed to the back of the cue, with lighting and technique taking centre stage.
Weddings
(the occassional gig)
This kit is picked per job, rare as they are at the moment. Usually something between my editorial, street and studio options, with video if needed, like a G9, EM1x and S5 or similar. Filson Field Camera bag, Black Rapid Strap.
Drama
(a bit of fun)
This is often done with basically the Sports kit with video added if required. The 40-150 f2.8 and 75mm get a lot of work, the 8-18 also. Pro Tactic 350 pack or Domke F802.
Nature and Landscape
(where it began)
For this and I wish there was more of it, I tend to raid my Sports kit (longest and widest lenses), sometimes the Travel kit for light weight options. The lens I miss here is the 12-100 f4, but moving on as I realise I would still use longer and wider, the 8-18, 300 with T/C and 40-150 f4 forming the core with filters for the wide and all are weather sealed, so the super zoom would actually be excess.
An EM1x and G9 for cameras (11 batteries all up for extended periods away) and I am ready. Macro is lacking here it may seem, but the 8-18 is ok, the 300 amazing for insects and the 40-150 useful. Might get the Oly 30mm macro one day, but if I need, the 12-40, 25 and 9 are all real options.
If I am not after wild life, just landscapes, the 75-300 is taken with the wide. It just takes lovely images without fuss and can work ok as a good light wildlife lens. If travelling super light for and for landscapes only, an EM1.2 (7 batts) the 9L (macro), 12-60 and 40-150 kit lenses would go (18-300) and all but the kit tele is weather sealed. One Planet Pack or day pack, modified Lowe Pro Inverse 100 waist bag.
Events
(the necessity)
Events are likely a thing of the past for me without contact with the school, but are easy enough. If I take what I need from the studio kit, a fast lens or two with an on camera flash I am sorted. EM10’s like this work, an EM1x if light is an issue, the 12-40 or 12-60 for the studio shoots and 17, 25, 45 and 75’s for walk arounds when bounce flash is used. Sometimes the whole event can be covered by the 12-40. Domke F804 and other bags as needed.
Keeping it simple and adaptable is the key. A pair of stands, 2 brollies and 3-4 YN 560 flash units work fine even for big groups (brollies are very versatile and efficient), backgrounds are often avoided unless requested using the room lights and natural darkness as my “ambient” background. One of my favourite techniques is a long hall with chandeliers or side lights, a regal chair or two and some shallow depth from a lower angle, balanced with warm light gels. This is gorgeous and refined with minimal effort.
Where is all this gear kept?
I leave the editorial bag at work overnight unless I am off for several days, the sports kit goes in on the relevant days and I am putting together a small prtable studio rig. The rest is either at home or in the car packed as video, event/studio, street or travel kits. There is always an emergency mini studio in the car.