Photography Tips: What's In My Bag

[@wrus9]

Mike I have just watched half a dozen of your videos and I think I am addicted. For years I have messed about with camcorders and point and shoot cameras with no consideration at all for the technical issues. I have now decided to up my game and have purchased a Sony Alpha A58 DSLT. I now need to get to grips with all that's now on offer and your wonderful videos will be an important part of that process. I am a 63 year old actor but I can only liken my excitement to that of a small child. Thank you so much. Sorry got to go ... you are on again!! all the best Wayne

[@MikeBrowne]

hi +Wayne Russell that you so much for that wonderful words- go get em tiger - MELISSA ( for Mike )

[@gingerfisher117]

Mike I really like your Teaching. A lot of photographers on the net want to flaunt their knowledge and bash others photographers or Gear.But you want to teach people the joys of photography,not only from a technical standpoint but from a real life get out there and take some pictures. I like gear and the technical aspect of photography as well as post production of my images.One of my favorite sayings is you learn something every day.When I watch your videos ,I learn something not only about photography but myself as well. Great work Mike,Thank you

[@MikeBrowne]

thank you +Greg Fisher for those kind words, as Mike always said, It's you who take the picture, not the camera - Melissa ( for Mike )

[@nathaniellecompte7354]

I appreciate how you show that it's not the camera it's the person behind the camera. It's also reassuring that my small investment in my fuji is not a bad choice, and I don't have to go full frame. I always appreciate your videos.

[@film8789]

I was once playing golf with a pro player, I had some rather cheap clubs at the time and I was thinking of changing, the pro picked up my club a hit a ball further than I thought possible. He told me practice improves the player not always the kit. Photography is just the same.

[@Waynent]

I have a Canon t5i, I'm an amateur photographer, but this channel has shown me a great deal of good and valuable knowledge, Cheers from Costa Rica Mike....

[@MrCurlybobs]

Another great vid. Mike has a very comforting style to his presentation, which results in being able to take on board and digest the info so much more easily.. Today I bought 'the 7 building blocks to Photography' a fantastic investment - My brilliant brain can't wait to get cracking.

[@MikeBrowne]

Hey +Simon Walker - FAB. Good to hear from you again. And thank you - MIKE

[@slazen]

Long time not watching your videos Mike. Dont miss any of them from now on. Greetings from Chile.

[@rontocknell3592]

I have a Lowepro "Flipside" 200, which is a small (compared to yours) body-side opening bag. I was full of complaints about the inconvenience of body-side openings as I have to take the bag off to get at the contents... UNTIL I took it to Barcelona! I'd had the obligatory paddle earlier in the day and, being British, I had been wearing socks with my espadrilles. Not wanting to put my socks back on, I shoved them in the bag. Later, I was in a busy market taking photos. All the photographic gear I'd had in the bag was now in my hands. I was tapped on the shoulder by what turned out to be a plainclothes police officer. They had just arrested two pickpockets who had been following behind me trying to find the opening to my bag. They were known to police and specialised in stealing from backpacks without the wearers detecting any activity behind them. However, this bag had stumped them and they had spent so much time and effort trying to find the opening that they were spotted by two members of the public and the plainclothes officer.... I had been totally oblivious! I had to give the police my details as the "victim" and was asked to check that nothing had been taken. I opened the bag, took out the socks and said "Yep. It's all there". Very entertaining both for the police and for me. The thieves had been arrested because they had spent too much time trying to get into a bag which, had they been successful, would have rewarded them with a pair of rather smelly socks!

[@brianmc2354]

Mike, good info, enjoyed your take on equipment. Beautiful pictures too!

[@MikeBrowne]

thank you+Brian Mc - MELISSA ( for Mike )

[@intheone9260]

Sir your composition is just great!!! You are a gifted photographer...

[@MikeBrowne]

thank you +intheone9 - MELISSA ( for Mike )

[@jimmyers2543]

Mike, Did you retire the old D300, she did a ton of work for you and must say great work at that. Keep up the awesome work chap.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks +Jim Myers yes the D300 has been retired now and is probably off to a new home soon - MIKE

[@alexsarna9024]

Amazing Mike, thanks for doing a new one of these! I guess your D300's are sold or you are no longer using? I am on vacation now and have my D300 with a 35 1.8 and honestly the lens is awesome, but the body is so heavy. Kinda regret not taking my D610 and a 50 prime ;)

[@MikeBrowne]

thank you +Alex Sarna for the kind words -MELISSA ( for Mike )

[@Carlosledesmaproman]

@Mike Browne I am surprised I didn't see a tripod or a small tripod on your gear . I saw the I mages at the end and their great but also noticed that some shots were done with low shutter speed making you take out your tripod to do them kind of shots . please tell me you didn't use the ground for these kind of shots :)

[@MikeBrowne]

hi +Carlos ledesma hi GOOD observation, For some reason mike forgot to show the tripod, in this video he was using it to steady the camera on both sony and fuji, he has a different bag for this tripod, he use a Manfroto ART 058 with manfrotto ball head. it's an old head and they don't make it anymore. I think the tripod is still available though- MELISSA ( for Mike )

[@EgyptianCurls]

other girls my age watch "whats in my makeup" bag type of videos..but im all into photography:) thanks mike for your amazing videos you really helped me improve.

[@MikeBrowne]

Hey thank you +Maya heikal Maybe I should do a "Whats in my makeup bag" video as well - MIKE ;-)

[@EgyptianCurls]

+Mike Browne haha ;)

[@trajtemberg]

Nice pictures.

[@migueljalo9731]

That's a superb amount of equipment. Here's what on my bad, not that anyone asked... -Nikon D7000 -NIKKOR 50mm f1.8 -Sigma 10-20mm -HOYA +4 close-up filter -Lens caps and camera f-mount cap -Packet of tissues -Remote shutter -Air blower tool -€50 hidden at the bottom of the bad because, you never know

[@migueljalo9731]

***** you are correct! :D

[@sidbrun_]

What is a "close up filter"?

[@migueljalo9731]

Sid Brunski it's a little piece of glass that you screw in front of your actual lens so as to magnify your picture a little. Obviously fall short of an actual macro lens.

[@petermiller2880]

Another interesting vid Mike can you please tell me where this beautiful location is.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you. It's Lymington marina +Peter Miller - MIKE

[@windsurfer49]

such sharp and creative pics" like you say, its the person " " not the camera, love the bubble pic, my fave place, fuerteventura, also have bubble guys, everyone trys to take pics, but the wind " you have to be really quick

[@Rickyleestjohn]

Hey Mike, thank you for this wonderful video regarding camera gear. I have two Canon 550d's and I was thinking about buying a Canon 5d Mark III, since it is a full frame camera. However, what I hear you saying is that the camera is only 10 percent of the equation, where as composition and lighting are far more important. A friend has asked me to photograph her wedding, I have a canon 70-200 lens, and with my 550d, will this work for taking photos inside the church, poor lighting and no flash allowed. Thank you.

[@MikeBrowne]

hi +Rick Saint John as long as the lens is 70-200 2.8 lens YES you'll be fine this lens is great for low light and wedding shots , also please leverage the use of other artificial light, check and see if there's a videographer hired too, most of the time they have lighting gears, kindly introduce yourself in a positive tone, for there's a huge chance you'll be working close with them. you can kindly ask about their plan of shots and you might use their light as they shoot- MELISSA ( for MIke )

[@Rickyleestjohn]

Thank you Melissa.

[@northernrider780]

Shot missed at 6:10 of the guys on the boards, that would have been a pretty cool little candid shot!

[@David_Nurse]

I found this video very interesting, even though it is 4 years old. The first thing I did was go back and watch the “What Camera Kit Do I Need? a peak in Mike’s bag” that you put up in 2012. Would it be fair to say that your work was in transition more to training than as a “working pro photographer” (great for us who follow you), By this I simply mean that you now please yourself rather than “having to please” the customer, as well as carrying a “mobile office in a bag”. Another great video. I have watched a lot of your video’s now, by the law of averages you must make a bad one, one day. Not found one yet. Keep up the good work. BTW as I way as I watched the video I said to myself “ I bet someone mentioned the bag close to the end of the wall, I was not disappointed! Maybe time for a bag update?

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks David... I never did take much kit around as a jobbing photographer other than what was in my bag back in 2012. I added the Fuji XT series camera after making a vid about mirrorless because I loved having the controls I use most as knobs and dials on the body itself, plus it's smaller than the Nikon DSLR. Still have the Nikon which in a few circumstances is a better tool for the job, not because it's a better camera. Nothing in it as far as I'm concerned. Nikon AF is a little quicker and more precise with longer lenses and I don't have flash for the fuji. Rare I ever use it but maybe once a year it's handy. As for my old bag - still going strong... MIKE

[@iris7698]

Hello, Mike! Thank you for your tutorials, it's very helpful for me. I have watched almost all your videos. I would like to ask you where can I create my own portfolio? Maybe you know sites? Thank you!

[@MikeBrowne]

thank you +Irina Kondrashova , for the kind words, you can check 500px to start with, it's a photographers community and source of inspiration too - MELISSA ( for Mike ) 500px.com/

[@iris7698]

Thank you! I will try :)

[@royottaway9434]

Hi Mike First things first , I'm sure I commented on this post . Could you pass on the name of the grey you have . I like the way it folds . Thanks

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks +Roy UK Sorry i don't remember the name or make. I bought it about 15 years ago in a store that's closed down now and there's no name or info written on it. - MIKE

[@skakdosmer]

+Roy UK Look here: www.whatdigitalcamera.com/reviews/review/douglas-grey-card-mk-ii

[@MikeBrowne]

Lau Bjerno Thank you - that's Rock n Roll because i had no idea what it was and it's getting worn out now. Double thanks - MIKE :-)

[@Gary_W]

Fantastic video explaining your new version of the entire rig. My suggestion is only to replace your Sony handycam with another Fuji so that the other Fuji can act as a backup body while being a dedicated video camera. It'll help you to streamline your equipment a bit and hopefully make it easier for you to manage all those equipment. Just my two cents, cheers :)

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks +bajigurwedangronde Whilst the Fuji is great little camera it can't take pro sound equipment very well. Even when i was showing you the Sony it was still running to record sound which i added to Fuji footage in the edit. Also fuji overheats at about 10 mins and switches off which is no use for me. Video cameras are best for video at the end of the day. - MIKE

[@Gary_W]

Wow I didn't know about the overheat video issue with the Fuji. I guess handycam still has its place when it comes to high quality video. Take care Mike, I really enjoyed your videos! Keep inspiring people with your photography :)

[@jjccllgg]

It would be great to see a video showing, if you are a tourist traveling, what would be in your bag, traveling light!

[@MikeBrowne]

I rarely use anything more than my Fuji XT-2 body and 18-55mm lens Juan Carlos Lopez. Though personally I have to carry video and sound gear too. Have a look at the gallery linked below, 95+% of it was shot on my old XT-1 and 18-55... MIKE www.photographycourses.biz/myanmar-gallery

[@CPSLondon]

I found this very interesting, as a newbie with limited budget learning that I don't need tonnes of kit is great... Don't want to drag it around or waste money. I was told that prime lenses are always better, you appear to only use zooms. Should I consider prime lenses or stick with zooms ? All Sony Alpha kit here. Great video, thanks.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you +CPSLondon Prime's are optically better quality than zooms (but you'd really only notice it when under intense scrutiny) and often have wider aperture so are better for very low light or when you want extremely shallow depth of field. I prefer zooms because I can cover a large focal range with one or two lenses and don't have to faff about changing all the time. If you're starting out I'd use zooms for now, then as you develop a style of your own or interest in a genre that requires primes, think about it then.. And please share any of my vids you find helpful around - it helps me make more of them.. MIKE :-)

[@zayacz123]

Would love to see the size of your bags with Fuji kit.

[@MikeBrowne]

Hi Ed. I'll do an update sometime. Still working to minimise my kit and am almost there now. Can get an entire video and photography kit including hard drives and laptop into a small rucksack now... MIKE

[@jnslzr]

Thank you! As always very informative and right to the point... I know and I agree with what you say, "it's not the camera but the photographer" :-) But I'd like to ask for your opinion about the Olympus OMD EM-1 if it's possible. Best of luck!

[@MikeBrowne]

thank you +Fernando Salazar for the kind words, -MELISSA ( for Mike )

[@Hashbrown37]

Thanks, Mike, encouragingly simple and clear as always. What software do you tend to put your still images through? Do you spend much time tweaking things like white balance? Or the highlights and shadows?

[@MikeBrowne]

thank you +Hashbrown37 for the kind words, Mike use Lightroom, Mike don't spend time too much time tweaking, Mainly it's just adding vibrant and colors, if the white balance is off, that's the only time he tweaks it. hope this helps - MELISSA ( for Mike )

[@FlyingCowRabbit]

Stunning photos!!

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks you - MIKE

[@bambi005]

I get happy when I see you uploaded a new video. Now it feels as if its one per month.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks +bambi005 I usually do 2 per month. Sorry i had to re-upload this one because of a confidentiality issue in one of the images. My fault for not checking with client - MIKE

[@bambi005]

+Mike Browne I enjoy your vids and unfortunately youtubes new system doesn always show when you uploaded.

[@madgriff1]

Hi Mike, just great videos!! Just a quickie I have a Canon 7d mk2 with the standard kit lens efs 55-85 lens, i love your stuff with a long lens if i say had between £500 to £1000 what would you recommend? either new or used cheers

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks +Colin Griffin They're all pretty good these days. if you shoot Canon I suggest you buy Canon lens around 80-200mm... MIKE

[@sulphuricacid16]

howd u make ur photos pop?really awesome pics! could you perhaps do some photos with d7200 please

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you. I always shoot raw and develop my own files instead of letting the camera develop the raws for me. When you shoot jpg you are letting the camera choose how you want the photo to look. It develops the raw for you based on what it's programers have told it, then deletes it. It's comparable to having a negative printed at a mini lab, or making a hand print. I know how I want the image to look when I take it, but the camera doesn't so I always do it myself. Sorry but I'm unlikely to do a vid with D7200 because i don't have one. - MIKE

[@sulphuricacid16]

+Mike Browne thanks, can't wait for your next video ,seen almost all of them I think

[@fototyz]

Bit of fun there.... but I thought Woah!!!! When you flipped the second bag open..... good job that zip was closed!! Hahaha.... thanks for making me laugh! 😂😂👍😂😂

[@MikeBrowne]

👍🙂🙏

[@attilad66]

Mike...you allways make me laugh...your Humor....cheers Mate...have a good one

[@dougdavies1089]

hello mike do you clean your own sensors ive just purchased a d600 myself at a great price ive slowly upgraded my gear and ive picked up sensor cleaning in the progress ive heard they get dirty very easy

[@MikeBrowne]

Hi Doug. Yes I clean my own using sensor fluid, cut out little squares from Pec Pads and wrap them round a plastic glue spatula. They do get dust on them pretty easy, especially on mirrorless cameras... I'll do a video about how i clean mine sometime soon... MIKE

[@dougdavies1089]

i use the swabs and fluid i find the brand i use are excellent and cheap compared to the very expensive ones i'm to long in the tooth now to start cutting pec pads lol

[@dougdavies1089]

oh and by the way your tutorials are excellent mike you do a great job at making things that sound difficult easy to understand i was viewing one of your videos on updates found an update for my d7000 that i have'nt used in a while but cant bare to part with it lol

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you Doug - MIKE

[@martinbenford3442]

Excellent

[@MikeBrowne]

thank you +Martin Benford - MELISSA ( for Mike )

[@uptownphotography]

Nice Mike as always....no cows in a field, but very nice just the same. I like traveling lite too at weddings and in the field...Have fun.

[@amiraaltamimi5615]

i couldn't pay attention i was afraid that the bag's gonna fall :D

[@kudasteam]

😁😁😁

[@MarioxJolienSpiderFreak]

Hello Mike, Can u give some tips or make a video on how to get beautifull shots in low light? like in sunny day in a forest where sun doesn't get trough the trees? i had that today and came home with no photo's :( Though i have a Nikon d3200 18 - 55mm vr

[@MikeBrowne]

Good idea +Pedemonte Mario - though it's pretty easy - just use a slower shutter speed or raise your ISO and use a tripod. Hope this helped - MIKE

[@teullet1]

Mike... More videos!

[@MikeBrowne]

Will do +Marko Teullet though there are around 250 already and I’m delighted they are helping. Please help me make more videos by sharing them with other photographers on forums etc.- MIKE

[@52701970]

Mike is just looked up your bag on ebay 2022 and found only one in perfect condition. I think of you from your first what's in my camera bag and say to myself, I going to ferkle in my bag. Lol

[@Aviation94]

"This looks like a good spot"... then the bag falls over the edge into the sea! Only joking ;) Interesting kit you've got there.

[@MidsierramusingBlogspot]

What about an ultrawide lens?

[@MikeBrowne]

I never use one for my own shooting +dematson If I need one for a commission I hire one - MIKE

[@jerryqin4459]

Hey mike can u show us some videograph or cinematography? Thx

[@MikeBrowne]

hi +Jerry qin we will check if we can do that , but we will include that on our bucket list- MELISSA ( for Mike )

[@MZ72]

Just wondering, I don't see any tripod in your bags... must be the same case with your speedlights, you rarely use them so a tripod is just an added weight... Cheers!

[@martingoodson1651]

+MZ72 I suspect the camera taking the video is probably sitting on his tripod ...

[@MikeBrowne]

I use a Manfrotto ART 058 and a Benbo +MZ72 - Sorry I didn't mention them because they are covered in this video www.photographycourses.biz/videos/reviews-and-help/help-and-advice/Photography-FAQ-Pt2 - MIKE

[@MZ72]

+Martin Goodson Yeah, that's what I think also, but wondering what kind of tripod he uses and Mike already answered...

[@MZ72]

+Bungle2010 Yep, I've seen Mike's video a lot and I know he uses tripod quite often... wondering aside from the two bags he carry does it have any provision for a tripod strap to carry...

[@MZ72]

+Mike Browne Thanks, Mike! Cheers!

[@agarplastering]

you done this one mike

[@leoja4578]

I was on edge during the whole video because it looks so windy that your whole camera bag will fall into that water!

[@MikeBrowne]

Several people said something similar +Leo Tapp thanks for worrying about me / it - MIKE :-)

[@leoja4578]

Mike Browne Your welcome! :)

[@simonbrinken4699]

+Mike Browne why not a workshop in Finland

[@MikeBrowne]

It would be lovely, but at the moment, we are fully booked in some parts of the country, Mike would love to visit Finland someday - Melissa pp Mike

[@Stubbleman]

+Mike Browne why not South America one day?

[@Enrique-the-photographer]

Can you please explain to me what does the exposure compensation actually do in the camera, I mean mechanically, I understand the over and under exposing, what I don’t know is if it changes the f stop, the shutter speed, the iso, etc., and if that’s the case, why can’t you just change those settings manually. Thanks.

[@MikeBrowne]

hi +RickBSO to answer you question - exposure compensation works if you are using Aperture or shutter priority, or in semi manual mode, if you use aperture priority and you change your exposure compensation the shutter will slightly change as you set the exposure compensation, on shutter priority the aperture value will slightly change as you change the exposure compensation . Exposure compensation won't work if you're making a manual exposure either because when in manual you're telling the camera you're going to do everything manually and don't want it to interfere. -hope this helps -MELISSA ( For Mike )

[@Enrique-the-photographer]

+Mike Browne Thanks "two million". (a million is not enough). LOL

[@MikeBrowne]

RickBSO you're welcome - MELISSA ( for Mike )

[@TopGear543]

With the Sony do you record at 4K or 1080p?

[@MikeBrowne]

1080 +Christopher Campbell

[@geojor]

thanks for this...

[@jimgraves4197]

The Nikkor 70-210 D may be ancient, but it;s still a bloody good lens. :)

[@wayneread1534]

what did you say your sony camcorder was sony ?????? please reply my friend mike and foxy.

[@MikeBrowne]

What would you like to know Wayne?

[@wayneread1534]

@@MikeBrowne THE MODEL OF YOUR CAMCORDER / VIDEO CAMERA YOU SHOWED IN THIS VIDEO SONY ????

[@wayneread1534]

no reply yet i know ur busy but help please

[@MiaHessMusic]

Wow, you actually carry a lot of stuff but this was really interesting!!! Thank you! I'd need a pack mule to carry all that stuff! LOL!

[@petersagi275]

f/1.4-5.6 would be a little too ambitious for that lens I guess :)

[@Ruud_Brouwer]

+Péter Sági F 1:4-5.6 he means i think :)

[@pdebie1982]

Do you still use this equipment? Or have you switched to something else in the meantime?

[@MikeBrowne]

All pretty much the same pdebie1982. Added an XT2 because I like the ergonomics. Will decide if I'm going to keep it or go back to XT1 after I've lived with it a while... MIKE :-)

[@pdebie1982]

I should keep the X-T1 if you can't think of anymore reasons then just ergonomics. Not worth the money if that's the only reason. I've bought myself an X-T2 a couple of months ago, next to my Nikon D750. And since then I've used the D750 only 2 times. One time during an event when I wasn't fully familiar yet with the X-T2, so I couldn't take the risk of missing shots because I was fumbling with the camera. And one time to take some pictures of my daughter. For the rest of the time I only use my X-T2. It's seriously a great replacement for my D750 and when my lens setup is complete (got the 23mm f2 and 50mm f2, only need a wider lens now) I'm seriously thinking of selling all my Nikon gear (Camera, lenses, flashes et cetera). The weight alone of the Fuji kit is so nice when I'm shooting a business event all day long.

[@JWMO13]

Deja vu ?

[@TheDoubleBee]

+JWMO13 I'm guessing a reupload for some reason. The original one is gone.

[@MikeBrowne]

Yes sorry +TheDoubleBee I sent a notification message this morning when i uploaded it after small re-edit because of a confidentiality issue in one of the images. My fault for not checking with client - MIKE

[@NorthparkCentral]

+Mike Browne was it the wind? in de first video there was windy noise(buy a deadbeat Mike) \0/

[@hemmohoving2558]

You carry a bit more around than my Nikon d5300 and my 35mm f1.8 and my 50mm f1.8 + tripod.

[@MikeBrowne]

Sorry we didn't get around to replying at the time you posted...

[@charlesmiller3114]

Many thanks. And as they say..."to a man with a hammer, anything is a nail". Encouraging when when you say "It's about the photographer, not the equipment". Cheers.

[@MikeBrowne]

Cheers! - Melissa pp Mike

[@ronniewarren3878]

Hi Mike I have emailed you twice and have got no reply. I have filled in my bank details to purchase you course for beginners. Will you make some kind of acknowledgement or I look somewhere else.

[@MikeBrowne]

Hi Ronnie - I replied to you on the 10th August, did you receive it? Emmalene

[@risingsun8609]

I like the fuji's video

[@kancauac]

YES, yes…… you are my hero.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you +Teresa Bond de Landajo (Tere) - MIKE

[@jacobjohnson2116]

Ya! Fuji for the win!!

[@Angrboda999]

A brave move, that; getting all your gear out on a harbour wall. I was just waiting for something to fall into the drink.

[@MikeBrowne]

I am a bit clumsy but was being careful +Angrboda999 - MIKE :-)

[@robinbebbington7063]

That's exactly what I was thinking

[@robertelphingstone8408]

Gosh , I would set my bag with mega £ worth of electronics a lenses on a high wall over water . I like your channel 👍

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks Robert 🙏😊

[@scarmenl]

I use DSL cameras. I have big hands. So for me little cameras are misery.

[@adrianhydephotography]

Think tank street walker "groovy". Lol.

[@MikeBrowne]

It's a ripper +Adrian Hyde Photography - MIKE :-)

[@villegas24]

again?

[@anthonyb5625]

Mike, I really enjoy your videos. So much easier than listening to some annoying American accents (Not you Joe Brady!) Nice work

[@MikeBrowne]

haha thank you for the lovely comment - Melissa pp Mike

[@MattisProbably]

I feel like I have been here before :)

[@MikeBrowne]

Sorry +Mathias - did you not get the notification I sent with it. Had to replace the video because of a confidentiality issue with one of the images. Sorry again for the confusion - MIKE

[@MattisProbably]

No confusion here, I figured that there was some kind of issue that could only be fixed by reuploading the video :) Sh*t happens!

[@fechetealex7512]

Super echipament

[@goswo]

Great vid. The Fuji makes better video :-)

[@jetsmackedps4245]

oh gosh! too dangerous