Camera bags; Backpack vs. Sling

[Downrigger]

On the trail, I carry my camera on my chest in a ThinkTank holster - strap over shoulder and waist strap to stabilize - (20 V2.0 works for the lens of the day). I keep the camera strap out, and around my neck so that I can pull the camera out of the holster any time, short notice, as opportunities arise and yet otherwise have the camera secured if I do something clumsy. I carry a small (most days) backback as well, with hydration, other daypack needs, and the second string lens for the day, unless it is just a short stroll.

But mainly, I don't have to breakdown everything to get off a shot. I can just pull 'er out and shoot, and I take a lot more pictures that way. Knowing the camera is right there means your vision is always scanning for an image. Yet she is secure in her holster (and comfortably so, for me) for steep ups and downs. Moreover, the worst tumbles I take in rough terrain are descending wet or slippery so the heels go out forward and one lands on ones butt or back such that the camera/lens unit would be somewhat exposed to trauma if on my back. I like it up front where I can defend it with my hands and arms. The second lens du jour is still back there, but less exposed than if canted onto the camera, and alway in a semi-hard case.

The real deal for me looks like the Thinktank backpack with the connection kit to have your holster on your chest - but I haven't gotten there yet.

Thanks for all the interesting ideas.

[Mike Buckley]

IMO, many photographers carry far too much gear when they are out shooting.

Isn't that the sort of thing that each of us should decide for ourselves? Why should it matter to me how much or how little gear someone else is carrying? (It doesn't matter to me.)

[brannend]

Ok, so now I have bag and equipment envy. Thank you all so much for the photos of the stuff you have.

I have a Lowepro backpack, carries two bodies, 70-200 mm, 17-40mm, 100mm, 85mm and a flash (all Canon so it has to be much more protected than it would be if it were Nikon, worth so much more) along with all of the necessary accoutrements (crap) that goes along with such a package. I strap a tripod to the outside from time to time as well. Here's the word on it...heavy and bulky. Barely fits into an overhead bin on a plane (I really have to shove it in there).

Fast forward to two years ago and we were heading to Europe for the first time. I searched long and hard for something that wouldn't look like a camera bag. I found it here...

www.lapolicegear.com

Inexpensive, incredible array of bags and they have a great look of cop stuff. Add a few pads to protect the precious stuff and you have a great camera bag. On the one I bought there were velcro dividers just like real camera bags as well as velcro attached to the outside of the bag (I used it to attach little memo pads for recording image tidbits). It fit nicely into an overhead bin on the plane.

It worked great throughout Italy, Greece and Turkey. I must tell you that I did not carry the whole thing around all the time but left it on the tour bus we had. Switched lenses as I needed them and shoved any small accessories needed for walks in friends small bags or a jacket pocket.

Switch to the present...My wife and I are going on a Rhine River cruise this summer and we (she picked it out) have bought a small sling bag that should carry a body, 70-200, 17-40 and a flash. Along with.....what she says will be 38 water bottles, her "small" amount of stuff from her purse and the like. Not going to happen but she is adamant.

I'll be happy to let the folks here know if it works out or if we end up in divorce court.

[loosecanon]

Hi
Like tripods, no one bag is right for you all the time, some give better protection from bumps, weather or theft, other quicker to access gear.

Well if you need security then the flipside is the bag for you as the zips are not exposed.

There is a bag (Kata 3in1) which is designed so that it can be used as a two strap backpack or sling

I have a lowpro 100 and 300 sling (Bought secondhand) which I use a lot, for quite long treks - keeps hands free, but camera quickly to hand if suddenly reguired, and protects camera if one slips over etc.

The lowpro bags have an all weather cover which also protects the contents from summer sun as well as providing extra security in urban areas as it covers all the back, zips and all.

Then again I recently picked up for £40 the lightweight lowpro sport 100 sling to use with EOS M and space for clothing layers, drinks etc when walking. I walked in the house for my partner to ask if it was a present for her as it looked ideal !

[Samsung]

Hi Scott,

I recently went looking for a new camera bag and struggled to find what I wanted. Like you I wanted something that did not advertise what I was carrying. In the end I purchased a sling style "messenger" bag from my local department store - works for me, and cost 16 pounds (about 23 dollars).

Cheers
john

[Dukatum]

If someone is in the business of stealing camera equiptment, then I am sure they are fully aware of what type of bag to look for. Bags designed to hold camera's and laptops stand out like sore thumbs because of all the side padding and stiff design they have compared to standard bags.

I've been looking at sling bags a lot recently. If your are a woman, they make your chest look great, if you are a man (without a well maintained body) it makes your moobs look terrible!
They are designed to be quick, but ask yourself how often you need to be quick to take your camera out of your bag, and whether or not you should simply carry the camera out of the bag more often. They do look good, and I think the prices of lowepro is really inviting.

I currently use a nice cheap Amazon Basics bag that I got for £12 in Jan sale. It works great, stick the tripod on the side, lens(es), filters, cleaning stuff all inside etc and have some solid padding in it. Anyone see's me with a cheap bag probably thinks my equiptment is cheap to.
In contract, I brought my girlfriend a nice posh Billingham bag, the British fisherman bags made popular by New York photographers. It's very nice, expensive, looks and feels great, but still does the same job as my bag, with the lack of carrying the tripod on the side and attracts plenty of attention, positive and otherwise.

[Green Mountain Girl]

Right now I use a backpack - Tamrac - and like it very much. However, it sits higher on my back than I would like. Twice I fell because of that. One, I was going under a fence, and then another time I was going into a kneeling position. No damage done except to my ego! So I like the idea of a pack or sling that sits lower, putting the pressure more on the hips. It is hard to tell from the photos on B&H which ones fit that description, except for the lowepro sling that was mentioned earlier. For me, the lower center of gravity is more important than the easy access of a sling, but I do wonder if the sling will make my one shoulder sore?

[kris]

Scott,

the choice depends on your needs. Generally speaking in my experience the main pros/cons of different solutions are.

Backpacks
These usually are big. Quite comfortable if the collection of cameras, lenses etc. is heavy. If you need to take things in/out the process is a little cumbersome, and you need some space where put the backpack horizontal. Everybody know you are carrying camera stuff. I find these are more suited for carrying things, including laptops, e.g., when you leave for few or more days. Much less for using things. For this reasons I would suggest a mid-size, or bigger. I was tempted to have one, but after trying some of them I decided I do not need it.

Slings
This are usually smaller and taller, to allow you to turn them around. They tend to be uncomfortable if the weigh is sensible. The idea is that you can easily access the bag by simply turning it around. Things, however, are not as they are depicted. Usually you can have a good access to the camera, but if you need other things you are forced to open the cover, and for this you have to turn to avoid things falling out. The process requires less space than using a backpack, and can be done by folding your legs and putting the bag over the thighs. I have one, Como from Cullman, and I use it when going for sport shooting. This allows for a camera body, one mid-size tele (I am not pro...), two additional lenses, battery pack and flash. In this case I do not care advertising I have camera.

Generic backpacks+bags
For everyday photo I use a 22liter backpack designed for mountaineering in which I put the camera with its bag. I have a Lowepro bag. I find solution rather comfortable and flexible. Mountaineering backpacks are usually more ergonomic, even the less expensive ones. I also have a couple of lens cases so I can carry additional lenses if needed, and the flash has its own bag. Moreover I can use the extra space for other things. The access is rather fast, faster that with a sling bag. If you load the backpack to have the camera bag on top, which is also good for weight balance, you just have to unload the backpack, open the quick-release buckle and lift the top with one hand and take the camera with the other. With slings you have to open zips. For tripod I use the belts designed to hold ski, or other alpine stuff. Some backpack are designed for a ski load/unload with the backpack on your shoulder. So with a little of practice you can access the tripod without unloading the backpack. Finally it is an anonymous solution.

Cheers
Andrea