Advice on carrying my 30D.

<p>I'm hoping to purchase a backpack for my next vacation. I've been looking at the fastpack, 360, and flipside. I'm really up in the air about what would be the best choice. I like the convenience of being able to stow your camera quickly and being able to access it quickly. However, I also like to change lenses often and don't know which bag would be best for this.<br>

When you walk around on vacation, do you use a backpack? Also, do you generally keep your camera around your neck and stow it when you know you're done photographing? Do you use the black rapids strap or a hand strap?<br>

Thanks for the help.</p>

<p>Bags are a personal choice, I personally do not care for backpacks and I tend to go for shoulder bags. Thinktank makes some interesting bags as does kata. the 3 in 1 bags are very popular. What you will probably find out is no 1 bag is right for everything.</p>

<p>If deciding what bag you need to carry your camera in is causing so much deliberation, why not just leave the camera at home.<br>

Or, use the time you just wasted posting this question to go to a camera shop and try a few out.</p>

<p>Thanks James for the informative response. Really appreciated.</p>

<p>I don't like back packs, but need the capacity of one, so I chose a Lowepro Slingshot 200 bag. Tamrac makes a sling bag also, but it carries across the other shoulder.</p>

<p>I carry the camera on a hand strap only, and put it away between "sessions"</p>

<p>I don't do much "street" or travel, so I don't use all this a lot. But when I'm out and about, it's often for 4-8 hours at a time, so I need something versatile and comfortable.</p>

<p>My one piece of advice: Don't carry too much.</p>

<p><Chas><br /></p>

<p>Just possibly James has a point. What bag a man should carry is determined by so many variables. What are you taking with you, seven flashes or no flashes? Six lenses or three? Are they primes or humongous zooms? Do you carry one body or three? Do they each have grips or no? Are you walking down the street or up a mountain? Do you prefer a backpack over a shoulder bag? Are you going to carry it yourself or hire a sherpa?<br>

Judging by the caliber of some of the questions posted here maybe James hit his threshhold for questions that would be better answered by Mommy.<br>

Just my thoughts for whatever they may be worth.<br>

Art</p>

<p>Probably not the most well thought out question but no reason to be rude. </p>

<p>Tommy,<br>

I went to great lengths and took care NOT to be rude.<br>

Art</p>

<p>Keith, Google for Sun-Sniper and Black Rapid straps. Amazon carries both product lines. They strap the camera under the shoulder so it dangles near the hip, rather than jounce uncomfortably on the waist or belt buckle. I have a Lowepro Primus backpack but no longer bother to use its side entry pocket for the camera. It stays out on the strap, easily reachable, and out of harm's way.</p>

<p>Backpacks are overkill for walking about town. Shoulder bags are simplest and easiest for a quick lens change. But, there's simply no substitute for a good harness system for day long hikes. Depending on what you're carrying, of course. Mine tops 30 lbs fully loaded, without the picnic lunch and bottled water.</p>

<p>Art, I'm certain Tommy directed his remarks to James, not at you. We all wish James had taken the time you took to phrase the same thought.</p>

<p>Oh. I see you already found the Black Rapid straps. Yes, to both. I have a Manfrotto RC2 adapter clipped to the Sun-Sniper, and just snap the camera on and off the strap as I would to the tripod quick release. I have a wrist strap on the camera, but it serves mostly just to hold the RC1 and the viewfinder cover. I tried a hand strap briefly, but it interferes with the battery door. Come to think of it, the real problem was attached to the tripod mount, and was just builky enough to cause problems getting in and out of the Primus side pocket. I might try it again now that I no longer need that particular feature. (This is for a 7D, no grip.)</p>

 

<p>james' response could apply to any question. he has stumbled upon the universal response.</p>

<p>would suggest, though, that if nobody ever bought a camera it would preclude the need to ask questions regarding their use. therefore, mr. lagden's advice would be closer to perfect had he said 'don't buy camera equipment' as opposed to buying a camera then 'leaving it at home'.</p>

<p>as for me, i usually keep the camera around my neck and use a smallish shoulder bag. don't like backpacks too much</p>

<p>Always a tough decision, Keith. I use a Lowepro backpack to transport my gear from point A to point B. However, once there, I usually make a tough decision about the day's plans and what I want to shoot, then select one lens based on that. Do I have the wrong lens at times? You bet. But, I guess I'm somewhat of a minimalist when it comes to carrying equipment on vacation. After all, I'm there to enjoy the experience.</p>

<p>To offer some advice that might actually be useful to the OP given that some of the responses have been pretty ignorant, and I suspect made by people with no advice to offer.</p>

<p>My occasional preference is a mid sized backpack with a small waistpack. The waistpack can live in the backpack with, eg a 70-200 zoom in it, so we're not talking of a large sized waistpack. When working you can wear both packs keeping small items or a spare lens in the waistpack allowing quick and easy lens changes, access to filters or whatever, without having to take off the backpack, useul if standing in mud or water, or snow, or even in a crowd where removing the bacpack can be a real hassle.</p>

<p>Practical things to look out for - bags such as some of the Kata or Crumpler series that open at the back are VERY useful because in eg snow if you place a 'normal' backpack down to open it and access the contents, the airmesh back material which many of these bags have will fill up with snow which will then melt when in contact with your back, soaking your back and the bag. The clever rear access bags dont have this problem.</p>

<p>Dont bother with the LowePro Dryzone bags - waste of time for several reasons, and cheaper to get a rolltop drybag for canoeing and drop the normal bag in that - 100% waterproof and will float too.</p>

<p>There is no one ideal bag - so consider what you buy as a starting point to which you can add perhaps a waistpack, a waistcoast with pockets, attachments bags that clip on etc and adapt the bag to your specific needs on the day and depending on the subject and the weather.</p>

<p>This was not a stupid question. There are no stupid questions, only stupid answers.</p>

<p>Keith,</p>

<p>Sorry you got some rude and unhelpful responses.</p>

<p>How to carry a camera is really a personal decision, so your best bet is to decide first how much stuff you want to lug, and then try a bunch of options at a store, at least to start narrowing down. I can tell you what I decided, but it may be the wrong decision for you.</p>

<p>First, for a strap: I use a neck strap, and I try never to let it dangle, once having caught a dangling strap on a drainpipe (which yanked my first slr right out of my hands). I use a Crumpler Industry Disgrace strap, which very comfortable and has nifty quick adjustment tabs that let you change length when you switch from having the camera in front of you to on the side.</p>

<p>For a bag, if I am carrying more than a small amount, I use a backpack. It is less convenient for quick access than a shoulder bag, but it distributes the weight evenly, which matters if you have messed up your back, as I have. I use a Tamrac Adventure 9 bag because it has a separate section for non-camera gear and outside pockets for water bottles. I like having my camera gear separate from lunch. However, it is quite stiff for a day pack, does not have a very good way to carry a tripod, lacks external ties other than on the bottom, and has a small non-photo section. The last you can avoid by buying the very large Adventure 10. There are lots of alternatives, none without drawbacks, so trying a few is the best bet.</p>

<p>However, if you want quick access, no backpack other than a sling bag will give it to you.</p>

<p>Dan</p>

<p>The bags depend on what you want to take with you. There are many options and an astonishing number of bags that seem to be designed for the last century with lots of little spaces for small prime lenses. Some of the newer bags are clearly designed for big zooms, but they can be huge and/or involve assembly and dis-assembly of the camera, lens and hood each time you take things out or put them away. What a pain. You need to bring your stuff and see how it fits.</p>

<p>When traveling, if I have a place to secure my gear, I like to take a "two-bag" approach: one big bag for everything, and one small bag for just the body and a single lens with hood attached. Some bag is necessary in case of rain.</p>

<p>In general, I hate to be saddled with lots of heavy equipment on vacation. Today's low-noise digital SLRs with a reasonably fast, wide-range IS zoom give you so many creative options. It's easy to go overboard with three zooms, a couple fast primes, macro, flash. Do you really want to be a mule?</p>

<p>On a trip to the western U.S. from Pennsylvania we each bought back packs specifically for travel on the plane and to use while hiking moderate distances in a national park. They proved extremely useful. However, when doing shorter walking distances where you frequently take photos, it was best to leave them in the car and go to smaller bags. As often as I use a backpack, I agree with what Mark said as they are good for transport, and especially his last sentance about enjoying the experience. You should enjoying the experience even if not carryin a camera.</p>

<p>When photographing my son in track and cross country, I use a lighter backpack and have my 40D and 70-200 in hand at all times. I need mobility to move quickly and could leave the backpack in the car. In this case a shoulder pack, even a light one would be restricting.</p>

<p>There are times also when I have used a photo vest. Just so, so, many variables and there is a corresponding number of solutions. There are also times when simply having a camera at all is a pain and in that case it is best to just leave it at home.</p>

<p>Hell, the decision to buy a lens is esaier than figure what type of camera back or pack to purchase. Take some time and study the manufacturers literature.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>

<p dir="ltr">I can think of several which can fit but I will not state names. To me, bags and tripods belong to a category of their own in a sense that they require very personal fitting and what's good for me may well not be good for you, even if we have the same equipment. Thus I will - personally - never recommend a specific model. For example, I once saw on the web a bag that I really liked. However, when I got to the store and tried it out I found that it wasn't very comfortable. I tried another and - surprise - it was excellent. Thus I suggest you do the same. Go to the store and try them out yourself. Only this way will ensure you will get the one which fits YOU best.</p>

<p dir="ltr"> </p>

<p dir="ltr">Suggesting a brand is a different thing and I (like many) find Lowepro, Kata and Tamrac bags to be excellent.</p>

<p dir="ltr"> </p>

<p dir="ltr">Happy shooting,</p>

<p dir="ltr">Yakim.</p>

</p>

<p>For a few hours gentle hiking I use the LowePro slinghsot (200). For round town I prefer a shoulderbag for which I use a Tenba satchel (I think it is the small one and holds 30D with 70-300 lens attached, plus 17-55 f2.8 plus a few accessories (maybe even a flashgun). In the confines of a building interior or a busy street it is slimline and I can just dip into the bag to get what I want without having to stop and swing the bag to my chest.</p>

<p>If I was doing serious hiking I would put the camera in my standards hiking backpack and not buy a specific treking camera backpack.</p>

<p>I love the BlackRapid strap, it takes the weight off my neck as I am a small person.<br>

other than that I have a small camera bag that i use for smaller/quicker events. I have a larger bag (dont know what brand) that can carry 3 lenses, a flash gun and a body. I have found that during travels you dont need more equipment than this. However, it is a personal choice and also depends on the assignment you have. Like Yakim said, go to the store and try them out. and let us know what you got.....:)</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Hi Keith,<br>

All kinds of responses here, and most may or may not be beneficial, just as mine. I do some wildlife/nature or spend the day at the zoo and also the last couple of years have been doing a considerable amount of car shows and events.<br>

I admit . . . I probably carry too much gear, but with the variety of things that I like to capture, it's worth it to me.<br>

For the most part over the years I have found the backpack very useful. I currently use the Lowepro Computrekker Plus AW. Although large, I have found that I can adjust the compartments easily and pack to suit my need at the time. I use it for treks in the woods, events, and the days at the zoo as well as travel with or without my 17" Notebook. It has comfortable shoulder straps, a waist belt/strap, and a stowable "rain cover" which I have had to use several times.<br>

As I said . . . I carry alot of gear! Usually my 50D or EOS 3 body, a P&S camera, 100-400 mm, 1.4X, 50mm, 17-50mm, & 100mm Macro, Flash, extra memory, battery chargers, lens cleaning, User Manuals, and sometimes strap on my tripod in it's own case.<br>

But I am used to carrying alot of gear! Back in the 70's when I was doing Underwater Photography with SLR's we actually used "Trunks" as cases for our Camera Equipment and Underwater housings!<br>

Anyway, I find the backpack very useful.<br>

As for carrying the set-up "in hand." I don't like the neck straps, as someone mentioned - "too easy to hang up on something." All of my Camera Bodies have the optional "Grip" and a "Hand Strap" attached. When carrying the longer lens(es) I simply "cradle" in my arms. The Hand Strap is also helpful in steadying for slower shutter speeds, and keeping my hand in place to use the control dials.<br>

When in the woods doing Wildlife/Nature I will usually only carry the long lens(es) but will usually carry both SLR Bodies and use the extra room to pack a lunch, carry Binoculars, Gloves, Rainsuit, etc., etc..<br>

When at the Car Shows, I am usually also a participant, so I have the trunk of the car (close at hand in the show area.) to stow the backpack in and carry only what I need.<br>

When at the Zoo, I pack the backpack accordingly, but will have all the lens choices, flash, and usually the tripod.<br>

When Traveling, everything goes including the 17" Notebook Computer!<br>

Hope this helps some.<br>

Best wishes and happy shooting!<br>

Jim J.</p>

<p>If I'm just taking a few lenses/accessories, I use the Lowepro steet and field system of belt and individual cases...I also switch lenses often and found a backpack too cumbersome for 90% of my shooting. I use the belt with 2 lens cases that are large enough to fit my biggest lenses and that is enough for most of what I do. I find it very comfortable, though if you needed to carry a tripod and more than a few accessories, a backpack would be more practical. There are so many to pick from, and each photog has his/her preferences you'd really need to visit some stores and try them out. Bring your camera and largerst (if not all) lenses to make sure they fit nicely.</p>

<p>I use the Lowepro for storage and traveling, but when I get where I'm going (usually woods) I move the equipment I want to carry to a Photographers Vest. I can wear it over a coat or jacket and it has plenty of room. <br>

I use a hand strap, but I have a snap on neck strap that I also carry.</p>

<p>As most have noted the choice how how to carry is one that is of personal preference.<br>

What I find best is:<br>

Lowepro backpack for two bodies, seven lenses and three flashes, plus batteries etc, that I use to transport equipment when I go somewhere where I expect to need the variety and coverage this will give.<br>

Small shoulder bag for a body and a couple of lenses if I am day shooting either at home or travelling.<br>

As far as straps are concerned I use thin straps that used to be around 10-15 years ago ( I pick them up at used second hand stores). I then set the strap long enough to wrap around my hand when I am shooting, but the strap is long enough to shoulder hang when necessary.</p>

 

<p>Just a thought regarding times when you're carrying camera just by neckstrap. I've found from personal experience if you have the camera slung over one shoulder by the strap it is <em>too</em> easy to have it come off. It is convenient, but be vigilant. If you're boarding a bus or similar, having the strap around your neck and the camera either on your chest or under one arm is safer.</p>

<p>Just after boarding a bus, I was wearing a light packsack, and then a camera on neckstrap, on one shoulder. Forgot I had the camera on shoulder, and decided to my packsack off, to make more room for other passengers, completely forgetting the camera. It took a tumble, landing on rubberized bus deck, resulted in slight grazing of one corner but luckily no harm to lens.</p>

<p>I personally don't like any of the camera bags out there because they "look" just like they were made for cameras and I don't like to attract attention in public giving suspecting thieves a clue that I am carrying expensive equipment, especially since I take the train to the city a lot. I had been mugged before in the past and my opinion comes from experience... I've tried a lot of different bags over the years and my personal favorite is a canvas bag I found at a thrift store. It is well padded, and I added some extra foam padding for protection. It looks like a regular backpack and has room for 1 DSLR, a small zoom, and a prime lens. I can also fit 2 batteries, a charger, several CF cards, a notebook, pens, and just about any small item for a photo day in the city. As for the strap, it depends where I am at. In congested places, or on high rise buildings yes it's around my neck.</p>