Gear Storage

[Eric Woodbury]

I've got camera gear stuffed in places from hell to breakfast. Some in a small dresser for 35mm, MF, lens, film, misc filters. I've got LF cameras in cases on book shelves and boxes of filter rings and other little things stashed about. So, just curious, what do you all do with your stuff? Is there some universal storage thing (besides sending it to your place) that holds everything tidy?

[William Whitaker]

Ebay.

[Ari]

Visit a hardware store, look at some tough plastic storage boxes.
Line the boxes with some foam, put some dessicant in there, and you're set!
Or eBay. :)

[Eric Woodbury]

Ebay is where some of it is coming from. This is stuff I use all the time. I have 7 cameras in 4 formats that I use regularly. And all the stuff. Once upon a time, I kept everything in a bag in the closet ready to go. Now I pack before leaving. Depends on where I go and what I plan to shoot and whether the family goes along.

Tripods live in the corner by he door. That won't change. That works.

[jeroldharter]

Larger Pelican cases make good storage units and stack easily. Sometimes you can get a good deal on older beat up cases with foam inserts. Likewise, old camera bags.

[Daniel Stone]

go to Joann's, buy some of the 4" thick green squishy foam, comes in ~24" wide sheets. Kinda pricey IMO.

cut to fit various gear, write in sharpie by each cutout what goes where, etc...

stack pieces of foam with gear in it in a 25-30gal "tote" from wal-mart/target, etc...

you can probably get 5-6 "layers" into one of the taller totes.

-Dan

p.s. with cost of foam(about $40/big sheet at Joann's, maybe more $$$), and the tote, you're about 1/4-1/5 of the price of a smaller Pelican, and doesn't scream "CAMERA GEAR!!!!"

-Dan

[John Kasaian]

8x10 Stuff is in army surplus cooler bags for 5 gallon jerry cans. 4x5 Stuff is in an old Graflex "vulcanoid" case. 5x7 Stuff lives in a filing cabinet. 35mm SLR Stuff lives in an Igloo Playmate, 120 Stuff lives in a drawer with my socks & suspenders and seldom sees the light of day.

[Nathan Potter]

It's total chaos. I have no ideas and no time for a solution. That has been the scheme for 40 years, so maybe I don't need to change.

Nate Potter, Austin TX.

[dsphotog]

Eric, Nate, I feel your pain....

[Noah A]

I've always kept extra gear in Pelican cases. But not long ago I heard that it's not a good idea. The cases are airtight and water-tight. So if there is moisture trapped in there it may promote fungus growth. A desiccant could help I guess.

In any event I now just store my gear either in bags or on shelves in a closet.

My main 4x5 kit stays packed and ready-to-go in a domke bag. My Nikon digital gear pretty much lives in the closet along with my Mamiya 7 gear.

I try not to keep tons of extra gear around that I don't use. The Mamiya 7 gear might go soon, since I haven't shot with it since last July. The Nikon kit has to stay since I use it for deadline assignments.

[joselsgil]

It is said that a clean neat desk, office or ______ (fill in the blank), is the sign of a sick mind.


I keep the mono rail view cameras in large view camera cases. Field 4X5 cameras in Zone VI camera bags. 8X10 2D in a large aluminum case I got on fleabay for $2.00, shipping was $15. All other assorted cameras are in atleast 6 or 7 camera bags, some boxes and hard cases. That only leaves film holders, filters, lenses, darkroom equipment, tripods, tripod heads, and film scattered all over the place.
So, yeah..... I'm organized......... Sorta ;)

[Bruce Barlow]

I stay ready-to-go. 35's are in their slim shoulder bag with a fully-loaded leaded storage container of film and a couple extra lenses more for feelings of security than actual use. Extra 35mm stuff is in a plastic sweater box (big and shallow) on a shelf in a nearby closet. It's all just loose. I could understand foam if I were travelling, but I expect few serious earthquakes here in NH. Perhaps I'm underestimating.

Baby Wista is in her Zone VI bag, with lenses, meter, 12 loaded holders, tool kit, and black T-shirt for darkcloth.

Amanda, Alice, and Norma sit on a shelf in a closet in my office, surrounded by cooler bags of loaded holders, a big darkcloth, my other meter, and my bags with video cameras and sound gear.

My tripods lean in the corner nearby. Too many, but I use them.

The point is to be able to be out of the house on a moment's notice, and it seems to work.

[Joseph Dickerson]

After repeated readings of Finely Focused, and gaining 35 pounds from all the M&Ms, I'm not surprised that Barlow has everything organized and ready to go...preloaded film holders, what a concept.

I use double door lockers bought at Office Depot, one is "extra stuff" and the other is my cameras. More or less cameras are in their own cases with all the bits and pieces with them. Photobackpacker lens/camera cases help with that. But the multiple systems (4x5 and digital) are part of the reason I have way too many, meters, loupes, filters, Cokin holders, etc. Oh yeah, and tripods. But I don't preload film holders, film is in the fridge next to the lockers, but I need to rethink that!

I bought a ton of soft coolers at Rite Aide at the end of last summer for $1.79 each. They're great for keeping stuff from knocking about in the van and better organized in the lockers. I use different colors for different systems.

After proof reading this, I sound a lot more organized that I really am, but in theory it works.

JD

[Dave Jeffery]

I have a steel gun safe that is not the really heavy style. The safe gets lag bolted to the wall and floor and has lots of shelves inside. Not only is the gear nicely organised but it is secure as well.

Here is something similar to what I bought.

http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3377107

[SamReeves]

I have a Tenba case, but I have more gear than can fit in there. Therefore I lay it flat on the floor in its backpack, so it's ready to go at any time.

[Brian Sims]

I have always wondered if storing lenses in plastic containers presents any risk to lens coatings from the outgassing of the plastic. For the chemists here--what's your advice?

[kub]

I have always wondered if storing lenses in plastic containers presents any risk to lens coatings from the outgassing of the plastic. For the chemists here--what's your advice?

I don't think storing photo equipment in plastics is a good idea. There should be a good ventilation to prevent trapped moisture damage....storing in leather bags is not good either. I lost a leica lens to molds growing on the glass...

[ki6mf]

Craig's list look for good quality entertainment centers the kind that used to take the Sony 32-36 inch Trinatron TV. With flat screen TV on one wants these anymore and you can pick up a nice Armoire for little cash. Stack your stuff in the unit and close the doors.