Mamiya RZ-- backpack?/

Does anyone know of front loading backpack with a waist belt that

will fit an RZ67 with a AE prism, close up rings and a couple of

lenses. I want to be able to go into the mountains on day trips. I

want my hands free of any equipment.

With a WLF (no prism finder) the Tamrac 787 will work, but it will hold a lot more than that! You'll find the determining factor to be the depth; the distance between the bottom (which rests against your back) and the front (which is the zippered flap).

Tonight I put my RZ, with 110mm lens, AE prism and 220 back, fully assembled, into my small Tamrac Expedition 4 backpack. I believe I'd be able to get another lens in there as well, maybe a 50mm. It's not what I'm planning to use for the RZ, but I just wanted to check it out.

My advise is to leave the prism at home and use the LWF. That's about 2kg less weight and

that counts in the mountains.

Ouch, memories. After I bought the 40mm (it is a brick)for the Bronica SQ Ai, I traded it all in for the mamiya 7 II. Much lighter, althought the rangefinder function takes getting used to.

lowepro mini trekker is excellent. I use mine with my RB, 3 backs, 2 lenses, pentax spotmeter, filters, lee filter system and still have some space left. lso very well designed and comfortable.

Thanks for all the input, I'll look at these packs. I know the RZ is a big load, but I think it's worth it. I'll stick with the AE finder, for now. :-)))))))

I have a Kata backpack.

It's 10 time better then the lowepro minitrekker and much better for your back.

Very highly recommended!

You might want to consider this INSTEAD of an over-priced photo backpack from Lowe and the others. . . From campmor.com, I bought a Jansport "Scout" external-frame backpack. It is front-loading and has a ton of pockets and is front-loading with a FULL-opening zipper. I bought some 6 inch-thick foam and cut it to fit inside the largest "pocket." Then, made the various necessary cut-outs to fit my equipment. Overlaid, the equipment with a 1 inch piece of foam to protect the tops of cameras and lenses. There is a lower full-width pocket, that is 8 inch x 8 inch x 14 inch which can hold another camera with long lens. When the whole thing is loaded, I carry two Nikons with various lenses in the main pocket; another Nikon with long lens in the lower pocket; and, room for enough film and filters and crapola to last a year a lifetime. . .or, at least a reasonable period of shooting. A tripod fastens nicely with a couple of the numerous gadget straps and/or a bungee cord.

 

The only limitation is how strong is the Beast of Burden hauling it. . .

 

The whole outfit cost less than $75. . .And, if you have ever done any backpacking, you KNOW how important it is to have a good solid frame that rides properly(The pack is adjustable to just about any body size and shape).

 

I have recently bought a couple of RB 67's and the only "adjustment" I will be making is a new foam insert to fit the Mamiyas as opposed to the Nikons.

 

Oh, yeah. . .one more thing. . .in the event one of those summer squalls catches you, the whole thing is reasonably weather proof. . .and, has a small pocket for my rain poncho, too!

 

[it also has a waist belt and a chest strap so nothing bounces while you're walking]