I've been looking for a way to comfortably carry a camera and an extra lens or two while backpacking. It would need to be easily accessible, not interfere with the straps of the backpack, and still be comfortable to carry all day long. I was thinking maybe a chest harness, but I'm open to ideas. Any suggestions?
Backpacking With a DSLR?
- Thread starter Jack-in-the-Green
- Start date
Get a snoot bag, and clip it to you pack harness at your chest with carabiners.
Personally, I would prefer to carry a smaller mirrorless system camera in a bum bag around my waist.
Personally, I would prefer to carry a smaller mirrorless system camera in a bum bag around my waist.
- Thread starter
- #4
For many trips, I would agree with you. But I'm looking to do some travelling specifically to take pictures, and compact cameras just aren't flexible enough for some types of photographs. Of course, I suppose I could pack the DSLR in the backpack, and stick to a compact while traveling, reserving the big camera for day trips, when I can leave the big pack behind.
My recommendation is a Lowepro Slingshot for day trips honestly. It can pack down to a pretty compact size, makes things readily accessible and can carry extra stuff for a days worth of tripping. The 302 AW is a good size (bigger) but the 202 AW is still a good bag.
I find that taking the slingshot with a couple of primes and a good mid-sized telephoto covers most applications (with a few extras like lens filters and a speedlite). It's exceptionally easy to carry, rapid to deploy and pretty bullet proof.
Not sure if its exactly what you're after but I've done some good trips with plenty of time in the bush with this setup and it serves pretty well.
I find that taking the slingshot with a couple of primes and a good mid-sized telephoto covers most applications (with a few extras like lens filters and a speedlite). It's exceptionally easy to carry, rapid to deploy and pretty bullet proof.
Not sure if its exactly what you're after but I've done some good trips with plenty of time in the bush with this setup and it serves pretty well.
Compacts, you might be right. But some mirrorless cameras will give the average slr a run for their money. Some will outperform them, no questions asked.
- Thread starter
- #8
Hmmm. I've never used one. I'm curious, considering the size of the sensor and the relative focal point, how do these do for bokeh?
Many of them have an APS-C sized sensor, so they will behave exactly like an SLR with that size sensor. You would reduce your background blur slightly with a micro 4/3, but the good news is it is easier to build smaller, faster lenses for those. Google up some pictures taken with the OM-D, etc, and you will see what I mean.
Bokkeh with a Fuji (APS-C)...
What type of backpack are you going to be carrying? Just a day pack type, maybe 3200c.i. or a full sized 6500c.i. framed pack? If you hav the room for a waist pack under your bag, check out the Tamrac convertible series. I carried my 706 convertable by the waste belt under my 6400" pack on a hunting trip a few weeks ago. I had in the main pouch: Nikon F100, Nikon D200, SB-800 flash(with 5th battery pack), SB-28 flash, Nikkor 75-300, Tamron 28-105 (84mm front element), Nikkor 50 f/1.8, straps on both bodies, squeeze bulb, Nikon S1. The top, sides and front had things like film, lots of cleaning supplies, flash modifyers, sync cords, lots of batteries, more cleaning supplies, filters etc. It was pretty heavy, especially with that beast of a lens Tamron (2# by its self!) But the waist belt is a full 2" wide and for extended walks I could strap the top of the camera bag to the bottom of my pack to help support the load.
-Xander
-Xander
For the camera, I recommend the Black Rapid strap. It hangs the camera down at your side, instead of banging into your chest, and can be used while wearing a backpack (put the camera on first, then the pack). This strap is a huge improvement over the standard neck strap, especially for all-day wear.
If you're just carrying one additional big lens, something like the Lowepro Slim Lens Pouch (I have the 75 AW model) is a good solution. It comes with a long strap so it can either hang across your body or work as a belt. Either way, you can put smaller lens pouches on the strap, for small lenses or extenders. Everything's accessible, and you can carry just the components you actually need, saving space and weight.
Avoid the Lowepro Inverse waist pack. Mine never even made it out into the field, due to its incredible concentration of design flaws and poor construction choices. I trust it (just barely) to hold the spare foam dividers from my other camera bags.
If you're just carrying one additional big lens, something like the Lowepro Slim Lens Pouch (I have the 75 AW model) is a good solution. It comes with a long strap so it can either hang across your body or work as a belt. Either way, you can put smaller lens pouches on the strap, for small lenses or extenders. Everything's accessible, and you can carry just the components you actually need, saving space and weight.
Avoid the Lowepro Inverse waist pack. Mine never even made it out into the field, due to its incredible concentration of design flaws and poor construction choices. I trust it (just barely) to hold the spare foam dividers from my other camera bags.
+1. Mirrorless cameras have come a long way, and depending on your exact needs there are a lot of options to choose from.
- Thread starter
- #13
Thanks for the ideas, guys. You've given me some things to think about.
A 4/3rds camera's sensor is about 30 % smaller than an ASP-C DSLR sensor...such as Nikon, Pentax, Sony DSLR's.
The Canon ASP-C's Canon made sensor is a bit smaller than Nikon, Pentax, Sony....all of which use a Sony ASP-C sensor.
I have a Canon G 12...the model before the G 15. Nice, small camera. But it's picture quality is not in the same league as my Pentax DSLR.
I would recommend you check out the Pentax DSLR's....particularly the K-5 11s. It's very rugged....is weather resistant....has 77 weather seals, works well in col temps...has a rugged Magnesium alloy body.
Whatever you choose....if it's an interchangeable lens camera...during climbing....and trekking over very rough territory I would recommend you separate the body from the lens while hiking. I would affix the body cap and wrap both lenses in absorbent foam.
I've been hiking into back country for more than 45 years and it's important to protect camera equipment from hard knocks...no matter how rugged the equipment maybe.
As far as brand choice goes....I've got Mamiya medium format, Leica rangefinder, Canon, Olympus, Panasonic, Zeiss and Pentax equipment. I'm a bit of a camera equipment junkie....but all of these brands are good...as are Nikon, Sony, etc.
Don't think you can go wrong with any. But remember the bigger the sensor...all other factors being equal...the rule of thumb....the better the picture quality.
The Canon ASP-C's Canon made sensor is a bit smaller than Nikon, Pentax, Sony....all of which use a Sony ASP-C sensor.
I have a Canon G 12...the model before the G 15. Nice, small camera. But it's picture quality is not in the same league as my Pentax DSLR.
I would recommend you check out the Pentax DSLR's....particularly the K-5 11s. It's very rugged....is weather resistant....has 77 weather seals, works well in col temps...has a rugged Magnesium alloy body.
Whatever you choose....if it's an interchangeable lens camera...during climbing....and trekking over very rough territory I would recommend you separate the body from the lens while hiking. I would affix the body cap and wrap both lenses in absorbent foam.
I've been hiking into back country for more than 45 years and it's important to protect camera equipment from hard knocks...no matter how rugged the equipment maybe.
As far as brand choice goes....I've got Mamiya medium format, Leica rangefinder, Canon, Olympus, Panasonic, Zeiss and Pentax equipment. I'm a bit of a camera equipment junkie....but all of these brands are good...as are Nikon, Sony, etc.
Don't think you can go wrong with any. But remember the bigger the sensor...all other factors being equal...the rule of thumb....the better the picture quality.
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