In your bag 1059, Adrien Saint-Pierre
Adrien has a camera bag that doesn’t really look like a camera bag. Check it out.
Hi Everyone!
My name is Adrien and I’m a 25 years old French guy. I currently live in Manchester, UK where I’m finishing my PhD in electrical engineering (I need my freedom and my life back, seriously). I am mostly interested in street and travel photography. I used to shoot exclusively a DSLR but I got bored and I am now trying to make the all process last longer. I don’t consider myself as a good photographer but I enjoy doing it a lot, it’s as simple as that.
In my bag:
– Bronica ETRS + 75mm f/2.8: I’ve got that camera recently and I love it. I am always trying to get the more bang for the buck given my fairly limited budget and this camera is a must. It’s relatively compact, minimalistic, and it’s built like a tank. Accessories (grip, prism finder) are a bit pricey but that’s not a big deal since you don’t really need them.
– Matin neoprene comfort strap with quick release: Ugly looking but very functional and comfortable strap. I find it convenient to be able to release the strap when I shoot with a tripod/monopod.
– Sekonic l-308s: A great companion to non-metered film cameras. Could be cheaper but it does the job well.
– Couple of rolls of film: Acros 100 for B&W, my favourite because of its incredible dynamic range and very pleasing results. Portra 400, well, colours are really nice, it’s forgiving, what more to expect?
– Fuji X100s: I’ve got it on my trip to Japan last month (much cheaper than here) and I fell in love. This is the camera that follows me everywhere I go. There is not a lot to dislike about it, everything is great: lens, sensor, the ergonomics.
– Extra batteries for the X100s: This would be my major complaint about this camera, battery life is ridiculous. Fortunately, non-fuji batteries are cheap and hold the charge very well.
– Couple of accessories: JJC lens adapter and hood + B+W protection glass because this way I don’t even need a lens cap. Cheap thumbs up grip and soft release button. A+A strap, I know everybody praises them but I am not really impressed and I almost could have got a sweet QL17 for that money…
– A nice messenger bag that does not scream “I’m stuffed of outrageously expansive photo gear, steal me”. I found the orange padded insert in Yodobashi, it fits nicely and I’m good to go with a discrete looking bag.
To sum up, nothing fancy or too esoteric, I try to keep it as “pure” as possible. A pretty simple bag that is not a pain to carry. I enjoy it much more since I stopped bringing systematically all the DSLR gear that I own. I use it now to scan my 120 negatives with a macro lens.
Check out my pictures if you fancy:
https://500px.com/adriensp
https://www.flickr.com/photos/asaintpierre
Cheers,
Adrien
Thanks for sharing your bag with us, Adrien. That Bronica would no doubt save you in a robbery situation.
Check out the links and make sure you come and comment.
Keep them coming folks, we need more submissions, so get your bag on Japancamerahunter.com. Send me a hi resolution image of the bag (please make sure it is horizontal) and its contents, with some details about yourself and what you shoot. Oh and don’t forget your contact details (twitter, flickr, tumbler et al). Send the bag shots here. Please understand that there is a long wait now as there is a backlog of submissions. Not all make the cut, so make sure yours is funny/interesting/quirky. And please make sure the shot is of good quality, as the ones that are not do not go up.
Cheers
Japancamerahunter
That was exactly the setup i had planned for a trip around the world (including also a wide angle for the bronica and a tripod) however at the end i took my digital dslr and i regret a lot!
Hi,
shooting with a Zenza Bronica ETRSi (645) too it has turned into my every day camera, best combination of image quality and price and – even more important: handling like any 135mm SLR with grip and (unmetered) prism. So you should definitely try it!
regards, Rolf
I have tried the speed grip and the prism. It’s true that it makes it feel like a 35mm SLR but I quite like the waist-level finder and that way, the camera stays relatively compact for a MF. It’s a bit difficult to get used to framing and the stigmometer is not exactly the best you can find but it’s ok, I like it that way. With that camera, you really have to slow down and to treasure your shots. So far, my results with it are not on par with my 35mm (metered) SLR and my digital gear but I’m learning. I felt the need to go back to film to improve my photography. I think that I am skilled-enough to produce technically ok pictures in a full digital workflow but not good-enough to capture meaningful moments yet.
I’ve heard such good things about Bronica ETRS. Thanks for sharing your bag, and keeping it real. I like your approach. Oh, and this: I think that I am skilled-enough to produce technically ok pictures in a full digital workflow but not good-enough to capture meaningful moments yet…..wow. honest and so relateable!
I love your comment in your time as a PhD-student……been there as well many years ago!!