Way Of The Flashpacker: 4 Tips For Packing Light With A Digital SLR

As a week of record heat in Seattle comes to a close, and I'm actually able to fire up with the computers without them actually catching fire, I'll leave you with one of my favorite past camera related posts. Enjoy!

For me, when it comes to capturing the essence of a journey, (in digital format) nothing beats a good digital SLR camera. Unfortunately, bringing the body, lenses, batteries, and accessories takes up a lot of space. So, what is a light-packing flashpacker to do? Check out below to see my tips on packing light without leaving your digital SLR at home.

1. Know Your Style, Plan Accordingly.

This step is the single most important in the process. Think about what kind of photos you tend to take when you're traveling. Do you tend to take more photos of people, up close? Maybe your 50mm prime makes the most sense to take, while your new awesome zoom lens, while cool, wouldn't necessarily make the best companion. Pick out one, at most two, lenses that you'll absolutely use. Leave the rest at home, as cutting down on your lens load will save you space, and more importantly, weight.

2. Limit Accessories.

While you're looking at your lens habits, also pay attention to any accessories you may use: flashes, filters, and meters. How often do you use them? What is the likelihood that you'll use them on your trip? My rule of thumb is that if I haven't used it in the past 1-2 months, it's not getting packed.

3. Skip the Bag, Use A Wrap.

One of my favorite ways of packing lighter with my digital SLR is to skip a dedicated camera bag and replace it with a padded camera wrap. Wraps keep your camera protected without taking up extra space, while also allowing you to use practically any bag or purse to carry your stuff.

4. Bring Cards, Not Drives.

Save space and weight by forsaking an external hard drive, opting instead for more memory cards. In addition to the packing benefits, you stand less chance to lose your photos to shock and damage. Are you planning on taking more shots than your laptop can hold? Consider an external solid-state drive, as they're lighter and more shock-proof than regular hard drives.