Camera Bag

[Mastalerz]

Hey everyone,

My girlfriend likes to come hiking and camping with me, she has a pretty nice camera with a lens and everything. Yet she doesn't have any sort of nice bag for hiking etc. I know some of you also are into photography and was wondering if you could give me an idea. She has a nice bag but it's pretty bulky, she's looking for something that wouldn't be too cumbersome.

Thanks!

 

[pwerfel]

Domke

 

[pwerfel]

sorry... more info http://www.tiffen.com/userimages/Domke_Cat_noZing_SS.pdf

 

[22-rimfire]

I picked up a 5.11 Rush MOAB 6 bag. It's a great bag with a lot of flexibility with pockets for filters, extra battery and other camera junk (~$60). It will fit a camera and normal short zoom and a longer zoom (probably up to 300 mm). It carries on your back but you can side it around for access from the front side. These are very tough bags and would fit a CCW also. It is not padded like many camera bags. So, you will have to pad your own lenses. http://www.511tactical.com/rush-moab-6.html

 

[Bob W]

Can't do better than LowePro for an optimal balance between cost and durability. For hiking I strongly recommend looking for an "AW" model, or All Weather. Only the AW models come with a rain cover.

 

[22-rimfire]

Regular camera bags seem to flop around a lot on your shoulder for me in the woods. I do carry a small one (3 lens compartments) often. I also sometimes just use a simple day pack and stick the stuff there with padded lens pouches. It just depends on how much stuff you might have bouncing around in there as to what is practical. I have a molle type day pack that is large enough to slip my tripod inside (the one recommended above is much smaller). It doesn't get carried much as I usually have my tripod in my hand or on my shoulder. If it is not easily available, I make excuses not to use it.

If you are going to be out much, do consider the rain protection element or use a regular bag with zip locks. I keep a poncho inside my camera bag which I can put on to protect both me and the equipment.

 

[neeman]

Timbuk2 Messenger bags?
They come in differetn sizes
Have a body strap for stablity
You can buy inserts for camera parts
Or there are those that have bottom straps for tripods

 

[fast14riot]

Tamrac convertible line of bags. They are shoulder bags, but have a 2" wide waist belt that tucks away nicely when not needed. They aren't cheap, but made in the USA, and easily last 30 years. I have two, the 706 and a smaller camcorder bag (single divider compartment). I took my 706 on a hunting trip last year with my D200, F100, 75-300, 28-105, 50, 28, SB-800 and SB-28 flashes, 7 rolls of film, 16 AA bateries, sync cables, 4 hot shoe adaptors, various filters, pocket digital, 12V inverter, multi battery charger, 2 half sheet moleskines, flash modifiers, and various small items and cleaning supplies. All fit, very snugly and only one way, in the bag. I would carry it under my day pack. It was hevy loaded that much, but I always had at least one body and lens out, on a strap over my neck.

I see the 706 bags going for ~$80 on the bay, but careful hunting of thrift stores, flea markets and garage sales might just turn one up. I always buy Tamrac bags when I find them in those places.

Here is the 706, maybe a bit big for one camera, but they have a way of attracting more gear...

Here is my small camcorder bag, not designed for still cameras, but they can be made to fit. They do make small convertible still camera bags too. But, I carry a speedlight and extra lens plus cleaning and pocket digital in there mostly. If the camera is in there, I'm not gonna take pictures.

-Xander

 

[Mossyhorn]

I've been looking for a camera pack myself. I like the Lowepro 200 AW, but may just get a few Mountainsmith camera kit cubes to put in my Spec-Ops pack. The Lowepro has got some good ratings and I have a smaller Lowepro bag for my D3200.

 

[bonzodog]

Billingham bag,had mine over thirty years still going strong.

 

[AR-Trvlr]

I've got a smaller micro 4/3 camera, and use a maxpedition bag with neoprene bags for the additional lenses.

IMHO you really don't need to overthink things.

 

[panzertroop]

Vanquest is a fairly new bag maker that has gotten a few reviews on youtube. I have been messing with this bag for the past 6 weeks and I am pretty impressed with the capabilities as a photo bag. But I think it would work for any kind of application you can throw at it. The key to this pack vs. the maxpedition Sitka is the customizable interior and padding.

I like the materials better then the Maxpedition product. Also for a sling bag it's much more comfortable.

Padding is nice

Lockable security zippers

The interior is a nice bright orange. Easy to find your stuff. Also has a unique S shaped opening, make for easy opening without spilling out the whole contents of your kit.

Dividers are removable. Use them all or take them all out. Up to you. Everything is well padded.

The flap has an area for more storage of small stuff.

Side panel

Front pocket

I added a Vanquest Medium dump pouch to the belt.

Awesome bag! 100 D cordura, genuine multicam, mil grade ITW and Durafelx buckles. Also comes in Foliage, Coyote and Black

 

[cchu518]

Also check out jv's thread about his camera kit. He has this awesome clip system that bolts the already onto his backpack strap I'm going tp pick one up for the summer! For us we just use a soft pouch for ale's and lenses in our backpacks. Its usually in the pack or in our hands which makes the clip system so interesting I will provide a link in a bit...

 

[smokinbasser]

Lowepro rezo series for day trips with 60D and lens and cpl filter. Lowepro magnum for taking everything.

 

[cchu518]

Check out JV3's review of this kit! http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-peak-design-capture-camera-clip-system-gen-1

 

[Mossyhorn]

Vanquest is a fairly new bag maker that has gotten a few reviews on youtube. I have been messing with this bag for the past 6 weeks and I am pretty impressed with the capabilities as a photo bag. But I think it would work for any kind of application you can throw at it. The key to this pack vs. the maxpedition Sitka is the customizable interior and padding.

I like the materials better then the Maxpedition product. Also for a sling bag it's much more comfortable.

Padding is nice

Lockable security zippers

The interior is a nice bright orange. Easy to find your stuff. Also has a unique S shaped opening, make for easy opening without spilling out the whole contents of your kit.

Dividers are removable. Use them all or take them all out. Up to you. Everything is well padded.

The flap has an area for more storage of small stuff.

Side panel

Front pocket

I added a Vanquest Medium dump pouch to the belt.

Awesome bag! 100 D cordura, genuine multicam, mil grade ITW and Durafelx buckles. Also comes in Foliage, Coyote and Black

Will it hold a DSLR with a 300mm lens attached?

 

[22-rimfire]

Those inserts can be purchased separately by the way. Just check out Amazon listings.

 

[bdmicarta]

I carry a Tamrac Velocity bag. They make a number of different ones and mine is about mid-range in size. It is a messenger style bag with a shoulder strap, and carries my DSLR with attached lens plus 2 additional lenses. Or usually when I travel I will have other things in place of one of the lenses such as binoculars, spare glasses, etc. Being a messenger style bag it is very stable and doesn't swing around a lot, plus you can easily push it around to the back if you need to go through some place thin. I recently got a new version of the bag that carries an ipad in addition to the camera and lenses. Depending on where I'm going I carry the ipad or don't carry it. Tamrac is a good quality product but less expensive than some of the popular products like Domke.

 

[liamstrain]

domke inserts in a daypack or other backpack for extra lenses (if she wants them). Alternately, a sling type to hold the camera and primary lens for quick access while hiking can be great. Something like the Lowepro SlingShot 202

 

[fmajor007]

I carry a large camera bag (Kata 3N1-30) when I'm actually heading out for photography stuff (it also carries my minimum "EDC" load-out as well), but for a smaller-scale maybe a Kata 3N1-20 DL would work?

Here's a linky:
http://www.adorama.com/KADL3N122.html?gclid=CLXHiubZobwCFSISMwodZHQAtg

I have no affiliation with Adorama in any way and there are many other vendors who would service just as well.

I like my 3N1-30 - had it for a few years and have dragged it around the world, but it's pretty large (holds my Mamiya RB67 Pro-S medium format gear). It has excellent quality zippers, fabric, dividers, etc. Kata is much better in quality than my LowePro bags and better than a host of other well-known bags (some of which are named in this thread). Like *every* camera pack with "built-in" rain cover, the Kata's is it's only weak point, but is adequate just not for extended down-pour conditions.