So, the work bag has settled down as a hybrid system, hybrid capabilities powerhouse. Almost all I need for anything, which is the point of it.
It does this while being small and relatively light, which means there is room for other kits built more to purpose.
So, what else?
Sport has become a 50-50 commitment for me since dropping back to part time. I deliberately asked for weekends over week days for the dual benefit of being more available to charities and not for profits and to lean heavily into the sports end of things.
I also did this for the paper, assuming they would use this opportunity to bring in a younger, hopefully female shooter as a cadet (the four of us cover the fifty something white heterosexual male demographic just fine, but apparently there are more out there) and the weekends are a hard ask without a decent learning period. You often work alone, have to do a variety of sports and editorial on a tight schedule and process to a deadline.
They went for the guy I was originally job sharing with, just with a cleaner roster and our original roles swapped. This is a product of needing willing victims who can go for it out the gate, which unfortunately limits our choices. I do wonder what happens when the four of us retire at the same time, or maybe I am worrying about the wrong thing?
Anywho.
My sports bag is the love/hate project that is Lowe Pro Pro-Tactic or I use the Mindshift Photocross 10 if I need to go lighter;
EM1x and EM1 Mk2 bodies. The second Em1x has been dropped because I rarely use two cameras at once these days and the Mk2 it is plenty when I do (it loves the 40-150 f2.8). I came to realise a while back that the lenses make more difference than cameras.
12-40 f2.8 which I find wide enough. Originally I used the 8-18, a great lens I had not found a home for, but I rarely get that close, but do find 18mm f4 it a little short and slow for general duties.
40-150 f2.8, the work horse for smaller field sports. If I need a second camera and the light is good, I will sometimes use the much smaller f4 version.
300 f4 the field sport work horse. The 1.4x is used for sailing etc.
75 f1.8 is the low light problem solver.
On the weekends I usually work out of this exclusively, unless I have an editorial job and time to switch.
Ok, that is the paper covered. but what about other work?
The Commercial kit, which is less about moving fast and more about solving problems;
Neewer backpack and a series of smaller bags.
The G9/EM1x dynamic (‘cos I have them).
Both have cage options in case the whole gig is video-centric.
OSMO Pocket kit for gimbal work.
12-60 Pana-Leica. The standard that does so much.
8-18 Pana-leica. This is the wide for this kit, also a good video option and shares my 67mm filter set.
30 f1.4 Sigma. The super shallow depth of field and low light video and studio lens.
Pen “F” mount (half frame) 25 f2.8. A “retro look” standard lens.
Lots of filters and video rig options.
If video is a big deal or the primary task, I take another bag which is self contained or adds to the above.
Domke 217 Roller;
S5 body in a cage (growl).
50 and 20-60 full frame lenses.
35 TTArtisan and Pentax 50 f1.4 “retro” lenses.
Monitor and mat box, filters etc. This also has the bulk of my Mics for more serious work.
Other bits are;
A hard case with my full mic setup.
A large hard case with 4 COB lights
Several LED panels, modifiers etc.
Backgrounds, stands, clamps, brackets etc.
A comprehensive flash kit.
Other options.
For events a couple of unlikely suspects emerge simply because they work.
Any bag I need (Domke F802-804 are common);
2x EM10 Mk2
A zoom, usually the 12-40 or 12-60 Leica.
A fast standard prime for groups, usually the 17.
A fast long prime for stage and candid usually the 45 or the 75.
Flashes.
My travel and street setup are basically surplus to all the above and I hope they will get a run soon.
Any bag, usually based on the needs of the place (Filson, Tokyo Porter, Domke);
Pen F, Pen Mini 2, EM5 (last one standing), or EM10 from above.
12-60 Pana kit, 40-150 Oly kit, for travel.
17 and 45 Olympus for street and low light. Both these lenses do got used for events etc.
Humble cameras and lenses can do great things, they just need to get there in the first place.
Future plans?
Assuming I stick with photography, the future does not need a lot of investment.
My want list consists of only a possible game changing camera (OM-1, G9 mk2, S5 Mk2) whuch highly depends on the direction I take and if the S5 is the way I go, I will pick up one or two more S series primes (24, maybe 85).
The reality is, my core work kit has a mirror set for backup, my sports gear gets 3-5 days work a month and my current processes are getting cleaner and cleaner, meaning that with their build quality they are unlikely to be stressed for quite a while. My S5 is being used as an occasional video camera and my pool of backups can also be used as “shutter savers” when possible.
I have unused lights, more flash power than I can use, a half dozen mic options.
If I cut it down by half, I would still feel ready for anything.