Let's talk camera BAGS...

[ChuckB]

Now that I have this new fancy camera, I need the proper protection for it. I'm not really sure what's out there as far as camera bags/backpacks go(TOTAL NOOB :smilies27 ). I would prefer something backpackish if that exists, so that I can take the camera and other necessities on a hike or to the beach while walking my dogs. I'm hoping that you all could offer up some brands or websites to start my search. TIA

Details: If its camera specifc the camera is a Nikon D50 and I currently have 2 lenses.

 

[ChuckB]

I apologize, I got excited and forgot to search first...:violent-smiley-031:

Anything additional to add from this thread?
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1333&highlight=bags

 

[offroad_nomad]

I've used for several years a Lowepro All Weather Photo Trekker backpack-style bag for my cameras.

 

[pwc]

I've got the same one and like it well enough for when it gets used. Mine has the laptop slot on the side which is nice.

When I don't need all the gear I like the smaller Lowe bags. the AW20, I think it is, has room in the front pocket for snacks but as mentioned in the other thread, the large bags are low (har har) on storage for other things. That being said, I have taken stuff out of the big bag and filled it with 3 days worth of clothes to make traveling easier.

When driving around I like the smaller bag as I usually use one of two lenses. I also have the 75 All Weather and that works well, but as mentioned, does stick out a good deal and isn't too comfortable on the waist belt.

Each is good for what it's for. If I could have only one, it's be the trekker200 or 20 or whatever it's called. Camera, three lenses, a flash, and all the other bits and pieces.

 

[bigreen505]

Just go to a store and get an idea of what you like. Protection is a little over rated, expecially if it comes at the expense of difficult access, weight, and bulk. I have a variety of bags but in reality they just haul gear in the car and when I get to where I am going I just toss the camera and a couple lenses in my usual pack.

If you are looking for blind recommendations under the assumption you don't have much gear, go very far with it or carry much else with you (jackect, food, water), the LowePro Rover AW or DryZone seem nice, but I have yet to find a camera bag that is the least bit comfortable to hike with.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Just go to a store and get an idea of what you like. Protection is a little over rated, expecially if it comes at the expense of difficult access, weight, and bulk. I have a variety of bags but in reality they just haul gear in the car and when I get to where I am going I just toss the camera and a couple lenses in my usual pack.

If you are looking for blind recommendations under the assumption you don't have much gear, go very far with it or carry much else with you (jackect, food, water), the LowePro Rover AW or DryZone seem nice, but I have yet to find a camera bag that is the least bit comfortable to hike with.

My conclusion is pretty much the same as Bill's. I transport some of the gear in Domke inserts or an old cheap-as-heck camera bag, but for actual carrying it ends up in a variety of make-shift bags. My personal favorite in the winter is to use a spare wool cap as a sort of padded wrap. It solves two problems, some protection for the camera and my need to carry plenty of extra clothes. In any case, I don't obsess too much about dent or scratches. I buy good gear that can take some bumps and I rather think a few dings and some brassing make a camera look right. Like when you see an old F3 in the used case, you wonder where it went and what the previous owner did with it.

For reference, though, I tend not to carry all that much. A typical b/c ski or hike will see my FM3a mounted with a 35mm f/2.5 Series-E and the 105mm f/2.5 AI, a Manfrotto 3007 legs w/ 482 mini-ball head and a few rolls of film stowed. Sometimes I go with just the 50mm f/1.8 AF as my only lens. A more complete kit might include either a 24mm f/2.8 AIS for landscapes or 180mm f/2.8 AIS if action is involved or I might substitute my N8008s if I want a motor drive (but I tend not to to eliminate dependency on batteries, the FM3a needs none to work). Additionally I might bring along a more substantial tripod (I do the basic Bogen 3001), which slips into the ski sleeve of my backpack (an old Mountainsmith).

The rangefinder gets put in a zippered make-up bag, yes a make-up bag. It's perfectly sized for the camera, the collapsible 50mm f/2.8 lens and my Sekonic L-208 meter. This whole kit is about the size of, well, a make-up case and slides into most any of my backpacks. I'll sometimes take this in my Camelbak when riding.

My main camera bag is a Timbuk2 Dee Dog (the third largest size from about a decade ago). I'll leave a 4 slot Domke insert in it for the camera or just throw a body with a lens on it and it pretty much just rolls around. I don't think about it too much.

 

[ChuckB]

Thank you for the input. I'm definitely going to have to think about this purchase a little harder than I originally thought. I may just re-commission an old North Face day-pack that I have laying around at home...

 

[bigreen505]

I may just re-commission an old North Face day-pack that I have laying around at home...

Ah, now we are getting somewhere. Go to B&H and peruse their selection of Domke inserts and see what makes sense for you. You want something to hold the camera and one pouch for each lens or flash. This will give your gear some level of protection and organization. If you might get wet, consider getting a couple gallon ziplock bags that you can put over/around the Domke insert for water protection.

 

[ChuckB]

If you might get wet, consider getting a couple gallon ziplock bags that you can put over/around the Domke insert for water protection.

I do this when I pack my toothpaste just in case it decides to explode in my bag, so I will definitely do this with my camera gear (it does randomly rain here in HI). Good tip!! I will check out the inserts, thanks.

 

[bigreen505]

I forgot that you are in HI. You might want to shell out for one of the Lowe Pro
DryZone bags. Note that if you buy the Rover, only the camera compartment is actually waterproof. In HI I think you need to be able to go out regardless of the weather since it is always nicest after the rain.

 

[jedi]

I have several Lowe Pro backpacks. If you have alot of gear or you fly they are pretty nice. Something like a Nature Trekker or a Photo Trekker are airline reg for carry on and are acceptable on a hike.

On the other hand neither carry as well as a regular backpack.

Now what I do with my 35mm gear is a LowePro Omni Sport bag

http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Hard_and_Soft_Shell/classic/Omni_Sport_and_Sport_Extreme.aspx


It is small but hols a fair amount of gear. With my Olympus OM, I can put two bodies and 4 prime lenses in it. Carry it a shoulder, put it in a regular backpack or even a Pelican case.

D50 might fit too.

worth checking out.

 

[JMyerz]

If its going to go overland / or travel get a pelican or storm case. The #1 killer of lenses / cameras is the constant small vibrations cause by a car simply going down a paved road. Put your truck on dirt roads and your sure to start knocking things out of alignment such as the elements of a lense.

For hiking the Lowe Pros work well, although my favorite and most comfortabel when I'm snowboarding, hiking whatever is the Burton Zoom pack. By far the best "all around bag" albeit its on the small side.

J

 

[ChuckB]

If its going to go overland / or travel get a pelican or storm case. The #1 killer of lenses / cameras is the constant small vibrations cause by a car simply going down a paved road. Put your truck on dirt roads and your sure to start knocking things out of alignment such as the elements of a lense.

For hiking the Lowe Pros work well, although my favorite and most comfortabel when I'm snowboarding, hiking whatever is the Burton Zoom pack. By far the best "all around bag" albeit its on the small side.

J

Good point, I happen to have a couple pelican cases laying around already!!

 

[dhackney]

If its going to go overland / or travel get a pelican or storm case. The #1 killer of lenses / cameras is the constant small vibrations cause by a car simply going down a paved road. Put your truck on dirt roads and your sure to start knocking things out of alignment such as the elements of a lense.

This may be true, but was not our experience in traveling all over the world by motorcycle. Our cameras and lenses lived in LowePro backpack camera bags inside pannier boxes mounted to a variety of motorcycles, including ones with 2-3" of rear suspension travel such as this Royal Enfield Bullet.

We traveled over all types of roads, from freeways to rocky, rutted tracks.

I used a LowePro Mini Trekker AW and my wife used a LowePro Dry Zone 100.

My wife carried a Canon 10D, Canon F3.5-5.6 28-135 IS & Canon F4.5-5.6 75-300 IS. I started with a 10D and then switched to a 1DMkII when it came out. I started with a 35-350 and switched to a F3.5-5.6 28-300 L IS when it was introduced. I also carried a Canon F2.8 16-35mm L & Canon F2.8 24-70mm L. For one trip I had a F2.8 70-200mm L IS (brought by mistake, long but funny story) and on another a F2.8 100mm Macro. We also carried strobes, remotes, etc.

We never suffered a single failure of any piece of photographic equipment.

I would recommend an AW (all weather) type bag, whatever brand you choose. At least get a bag with a weather cover so you can shoot and travel in rain.

IMO the extra weight of the DryZone is not worth it unless the bag is going to be exposed to the elements, i.e. carried on the outside of a motorcycle, instead of inside a pannier box or a vehicle.

The handiest bag we have is my wife's LowePro Orion Mini. It's the perfect size for her 30D & F3.5-5.6 28-135 IS some batteries and memory cards. That whole ensemble is a fantastic setup, very light and very capable.

For size, we have found the LowePro MiniTrekker / CompuTrekker / DryZone 100 is the largest size that will consistently fit in today's airline environment.

Since our bike travels we have both switched to the LowePro CompuTrekker AW (the laptop version of the MiniTrekker AW).

We're both bag addicts (hello, my name is Doug and I am powerless before the bag...), so it is very dangerous when we visit a camera store or a trade show. We have owned and currently still own a very large selection of camera bags, including a couple of larger LowePro backpacks. I primarily use them to store my lenses & extra gear. I am so used to it, I only shoot with the CompuTrekker AW.

I think there are a lot of great bags out there. We standardized on LowePro so that all the accessories, add-ons, etc. would work within the same system.

Also, don't pass up on the opportunity to re-purpose the bags. We used two LowePro Stealth 650 AW bags to hold our clothes. We mounted them on top of our pannier boxes, shown here in front of a restored Samari home in Japan.

Note the LowePro lens tube on the forward end of the 650. We had one on each side that my wife used for stowing the video camera, water bottles, her gloves, etc.

When it rained we used the 650 AW rain covers to protect our clothes.

Again, I think there a lot of great bags out there by a variety of manufacturers. We have found LowePro products to be very reliable and versatile.

 

[toyrunner95]

i agree with the pelican case, i have one for all my stuff. it works slick, ive actually backed over the case just to test the lifetime warrenty, didnt quite work out. the case held up so i didnt get to test the warrenty. but they are awsome cases.

another idea i came up with was from the military. i use a MOLLE vest with some pouches that hold all my batteries, memory cards, and lenses. AND it keeps my hands free and weight distributed closer to my body so i can ditch my backpack and not have to dig through my backpack for stuff. also there is a pocket for a watter bladder for hydration.