If you are solo, you can take whatever you want.

If you are going with a partner, that should require some teamwork as to how much you want to bring combined - if you each have a "personal" pack that you alone are responsible for carrying across the portage, pack whatever - but if your personal stuff winds up in a group pack that you may take turns carrying, then you should coordinate what you bring (big difference in what a 5'4" 140 pounder can carry comfortable vs a 6'2" 180 pound weightlifter).   Likewise, if you go with two canoes, and you bring twice as much gear as the other group, and take twice as long to portage, then you will be screwing that other group - so you need to know what "the plan" is - should you be planning to single carry all the portages ?  make two trips ? 3 or more, who cares, we've got all the time in the world?

I bring a small shirt pocket size camera.  Never bring binocs.