Best way to carry around hasselblad and light meter?

<p>Hello. I'm new here so I apologize if this is in the wrong section.<br>

<br /> I will soon have a hasselblad 500cm setup with an 80 lens. I'd like to just carry around the hasselblad and my light meter (sekonic l-398) but am unsure as to how to carry both of them. I thought about a shoulder bag, but I don't want to keep taking the camera out of the bag and putting it back in.<br>

<br /> I was thinking about putting the light meter around my neck and holding the blad in my hands, but I don't want to drop it. My other idea was to put the camera around my neck and put the light meter in my pocket or something, but I'm not sure.<br>

<br /> Does anyone that carries around just a medium format camera and a light meter have any suggestions of how to carry around this setup?<br>

<br /> Also, if I choose the hasselblad with strap route, what is a good strap for a hasselblad? I was thinking about the op-tech superpro "a".</p>

<p>I put the camera on a longish strap and carry it on my shoulder, with the meter in my breast pocket and its lanyard round my neck.<br>

Incidentally, I often have a backpack with me. If you put the camera on your shoulder before putting on the backpack, the backpack strap will jam the camera strap and stop it slipping off your shoulder.</p>

<p>I travel light with a Bronica SQ-B+80mm and a medium weight strap(like the Domke Gripper). Though small, the 398 is a bit heavy, so I'd opt for a pocket to keep it from swinging around(and crashing into something). I use the little Sekonic 308 that stuffs easily into a shirt, coat or pants pocket. I'll sometimes lace the strap thru a belt loop for security and just shove the meter into a pants or shorts pocket.</p>

<p>thanks. i'll consider that.</p>

<p>does anyone else have any input?</p>

<p>Hi,<br>

I gave up with all that crap a long time ago, I now use a wheelbarrow, there is just to much equipment and too much distance to consider any other option. I must hasten to add that it is actually a twin wheel luggage carrier developed for Carp fishing that fits the bill a treat. Try a Manfrotto 161 with steps and platform Fuji GX680III lenses, and other associated equipment, and then add on a minimum two mile hike and you can see why.<br>

Although I may get some funny looks at Weddings so the carrier stays in the boot and I manage with a single ally case, and the rest of the gear slung around my neck. It's all shot on 35mm >> I feel like a dying breed, I get sick of hearing that ruddy Parrot chirping " I'VE GONE DIGITAL "<br>

Regards,<br>

Adrian.</p>

<p>Mike,</p>

<p>You might want to keep an eye on <br />Ebay for the blue Tenba bag that made for Hasselblad and which they used to offer. I recently got one for about $25.00 (swold for over $200 originally) and am delighted to have it.</p>

<p>You mention the camera and meter, but left out film, filters and tripod; all of which will be needs in the near future if not now.</p>

<p>This bag has lots of room for a couple of extra lenses, plenty of film, pockets for the meter, filters, etc. and straps for a light tripod. A very wide shoulder strap makes it quite comfortable.</p>

<p>Solves all your current issues and leaves room for growth.</p>

<p>Not looking for a bag really. I rarely use a tripod and don't use a plethora of filters. I can just keep a couple rolls of film in my pocket if need be.</p>

<p>I'm going to get a strap for the hasselblad. Could someone recommend me one?</p>

<p>For walkabout sessions, I carry my meter in a small, soft slip-in belt case. It's a Sekonlc L-308 and it came with the case. I have a soft woven wrist stap on the meter to facilitate quick handling. For the Hassy I have two of their straps. One is a short handstrap for when I carry the camera in hand at all times - my usual method. If I want to keep hands free I use the Hasselblad full length neck/shoulder strap.</p>

<p>Thank you Rick. That soft case idea for the meter sounds like a good idea. I have a soft case for my sekonic as well, except I'm not exactly sure what you mean by 'slip-in belt' case. Would you care to elaborate a bit on that?</p>

<p>If I am just carrying my 500C/M with one lens, I put the meter knob on the camera and use a Hasselblad wide neck strap, the OpTech will be fine too</p>

<p>I have a Lowepro Topload zoom2 shoulder bag, which is relatively inexpensive. It will with a hassy with a magazine and a 50 or 150 lens (or smaller) and the side pocket takes my Gossen light meter. Normally I use it for my DSLR, though, since I lilke to carry the Hassy with two lenses.<br>

When actually shooting, I hang the Hassy around my neck with the standard strap and take light measurements when needed.</p>

<p>I have the OpTech strap for the Hasselblad that Bob Smith mentions(B&H carries it) and I use the Domke F5XB bag which can be used shoulder style or on a belt. The bag holds a Hasselblad with up to a 150 C lens and a light meter. It's not an obvious camera bag if you cut off the Domke label.<br>

The Domke bag will fit in a RedWing day pack if I'm carrying more than one camera (other camera gets wrapped in a velcro and foam wrapper)</p>

 

<p>Another vote for the OpTech, really nice and comfortable. Camera's carried on the shoulder, with a sekonic L308s on its lanyard round my neck.<br>

Also I use a Domke 6 but I have a Distagon 40 and two extra A12s to take up room so that's bigger than you need.</p>

<p>thanks to everyone that replied.</p>

<p>i'll go with the optech strap then.</p>

<p>If Im shooting, then I use the camera strap and carry the meter on my belt. If its a long walk or I dont want my camera seen, then I'll carry it in a Domke F-5XB bag, which fits the Hasselblad perfectly, with the bag's strap diagonally across my chest. Easy way to carry the camera ready for use.</p>

<p>How do you guys carry your meter around your belt? Is there some sort of special case designed for that?</p>

<p>Lowepro makes a belt with 3 or 4 pouches I think. Resembles a military ammo belt. Take a peek at their website.<br>

Jim</p>

<p>You can use any bag large enough to hold the camera, preferably lens down for convenience. The camera is about 4.5 inches high from the base with a WLF, and 6 inches high with a 45 degree prism (about the same as an F5). I use a LowePro Pro Mag AW II as a day bag, which holds 3 lenses and a meter in addition to the camera with one lens and a prism.</p>

<p>The top loader style bag sounds like a good choice too, very convenient, but doesn't have much room for another lens, which will eventually annoy you. The LowePro top loaders come with a harness which holds the bag to your chest where it keeps you balanced, doesn't bounce around and is easy to use without unstrapping. (I find chest bags too hot under strenuous conditions in warm weather.)</p>

<p>A cross strap puts a lot of pressure on your neck and trapezius muscles, which is very tiring even with a light load. I find even a tripod (3#) or single camera is too heavy carried in this way.</p>

<p>I would not trust a thin leather strap with an expensive camera. Leather can fatigue or be subject to fungus degradation and fail without warning. You can recycle the clip ends from old Hasselblad straps and an Op-Tech (or other) strap, or get an Op-Tech strap equipped with Hasselblad clips (at one time, available only in Europe).</p>

<p>I found that carrying a light meter around my neck does not work for me in a busy setting such as a Studio. For scenic contemplative work fine, but a Meter around the neck in a studio only get's in the way. I usually just stick it in my pocket.</p>

<p>I have the light meter in my coat pocket. If it's too hot to wear a coat, then it's in an outer pocket of my bag. I don't do belt packs.</p>

<p>When I was using MF gear, light meter went in my pocket, camera typically was on a speed/hand grip carried alongside me. Built good muscles.</p>

<p>Camera on strap around my neck. Light meter in pocket of cargo shorts. Two more film backs in cargo pockets. Spare film in film-holders that clip on camera strap. </p>

<p>All that sounded great but got annoying trying to walk with film backs beating my legs and looking like a one-man band. I went to a Slingshot pack that usually stays open on my side like a shoulder back so I can stuff the Bronica lens down in it when I'm not shooting. Holds two more lenses and all my stuff. Swings to the back when I'm taking a break from shooting. Also holds snacks. </p>

<p>I frequently go on walks with just my 500c/m and 80mm f/2.8, and a Gossen Luna Pro meter. There's nothing particularly fancy about the setup - camera is hung around my neck with a large optech strap, and the meter is put in my back pocket. If I'm gone for more than an hour the hasselblad starts to get uncomfortably heavy. So when I know ahead of time if I'll be gone for more than an hour, I'll put the camera and meter into a Lowepro Slingshot 200 bag. It works well, with room for other things as well (like a light wind breaker, extra back or two, film, etc).</p>

<p>Thanks for the responses everyone. I got my hasselblad today. I should be getting an optech strap soon, and i'll keep my meter in my shirt pocket or pants pocket.</p>

<p>I have this setup.<br>

<img src="http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/7518/image0004n.jpg" alt="" /> (sorry for the crappy phone pic, it was the fastest)<br>

It's a Lowepro Slingshot with the meter attached to the side loop. I have a metered winding knob so I dont use the incident one too often. I can reach it when the pack is on my back with one hand without a problem. I guess I can put the meter on my belt but that's .... not an option for me :P<br>

But to be honest, if you really are against a bag of some kind ( totally agree btw) I suggest you get a small meter, like the Lunapro, Sekonc 308, or winding knob. Or a metering prism.</p>