Lens pouch? Vest? How to make lens changes easier?

Pupator

Hey folks -

Four times a year I work with a not-for-profit organization that takes men (fathers, sons, and grandsons) on battlegrounds tours. I take the pictures for these three-day events. This includes a lot of candid portraits, pictures of the battlefields and monuments, group photos at monuments, and action shots of the kids running around during their free time.

The last two trips I used my Crumpler Six Million $$ Home to carry around my accessories and lenses. It's a great bag (comfortable and fits everything) but it just takes too long to changes lenses on the field when I have to open the bag, juggle everything, and make the change.

I'm trying to get something going that will work more quickly.

I've got the following lenses:
Sony 18-70 (kit)
Minolta F1.4 50mm
Minolta F4 70-210 (beercan)
Tamron F3.8-5.6 28-200 AS IF

Last trip I wore out the beercan, but I didn't have the Tamron yet. This trip I imagine I can leave the beercan in the bag and I should need fewer lense changes just because of the Tamron's extended range. Still, I'm going to have to carry the kit lens around (I need that 18 for the large group shots) and I'd hate to leave the 50mm prime in the bag, it's really great for candid portraits.

So what's the way to handle this?

jonh68

Just take two lenses and do the best you can. Being it's over three days, vary the lenses you take each day so you can get a variety of shots. Another day, just take one lens and make do. I sometimes find I get my more creative shots when I take one lens and I am forced to make it work. Look at what you did in the past, and use a lens you rarely used.

I work for a newspaper and I have cargo pants with pockets. I have my 18-200 on at all times and I will carry the 85 1.8 in one of the pockets when I know I need low light performance. I have access to the company Canon Mark IIn with a 16-35 and 70-200 2.8 but I hate carrying around a bag as I tend to focus on things and I will sometime leave the bag on the job site. When I do use the Canon, I just stick with one lens and go with it, knowing I have pretty good idea of the types of pics I am going to be taking.

Zeus1

While on holliday or doing a city shoot, I carry a NikonD200 with 18-200 mounted. I have a Thinktank Steroid belt with hanging from it a Tokina 12-24, Nikon 80-400 and SB800 flash gun, each in its separate pouch. This leaves my hand and shoulders free. Changing lenses is easy and fast.

Zanotti

http://shootsac.com/

Pupator

Thanks everyone!

I went ahead and ordered a Think Tank belt setup, since that seemed to be most like what I was looking for. I'll let you know how it turns out.