Looking for a new camera bag...questions for the smarty pants here!

Hey everyone. I am in the market for a new camera bag. At the moment I am using a small bag that fits just the camera and 2 lenses. It's great, because I can carry my camping bag with it, and it just goes over a shoulder. The problem is obvious...I can barely carry any photography equipment. So I have been looking into getting one of those nice packs that carry tripod/lenses/notebook. The problem is....if you have a camera bag that is a backpack...where does the camping bag go.

For those here that go on a multi day hikes AND carry camera equipment...what do you use?

FYI..the bag im leaning towards is the CompuTrekker Plus AW

Any help would be great!

You'll get a ton of different ideas here, Jon!

For backpacking I carry my camera, primary lens (attached), filters and shutter release in a LowePro chest pack. My other lenses and equipment go into an OR Padded Cell, which is placed inside a Works @ Mystery Ranch backpack. I carry the camera gear at the top for easy access. All my camping gear goes under it. The tripod straps nicely to the outside of the pack.

For dayhiking I use a similar arrangement with a smaller Osprey daypack. Having my camera at the ready on my chest allows me to access it quickly for the adventure type stuff I shoot. It also allows me to see a scene through the viewfinder and determine whether I want to photograph it without rummaging unnecessarily through my pack.

Some people don't like the chest packs but I love 'em. Hope this helps!

For backpacking, I too, use a chest pack for the SLR - easy access. Other camera equipment goes into individual packs inside my large backpack (REI Mars). I use the Lowepro Omni Traveler and Omni Sport packs for my 4x5 and other equipment.

I use a LowePro Orion AW. For dayhiking, it wears like a small backpack/daypack and has enough room for gear in the lower part and a raincoat, gloves and a lunch in the detachable upper part. When backpacking, the top portion goes inside my large backpack; the lower part wears around my waist, with the pack in front for access to gear while on the trail. If we'll be setting up a base-camp and dayhiking, I simply reattach the two halves and I don't have to repack anything.

I use a similar setup to Bret, with a Lowepro TLZ-1 around my neck and under one arm, so it rides to the side and I can see my feet when descending. One additional lens goes in my pack in a OR insulated water bottle parka and an extra battery, memory cards, blower and visible dust sensor brush also go in the pack in a small, lightweight bag. I carry a Gitzo 1028 CF tripod with a small Giotto ball head and Kirk QR on the side of the pack. I've been getting about 5 days life out of my batteries and haven't really needed the spare, but I wouldn't want to chance it.

Lately I've been carrying a Sony DSC-R1 (24-120mm lens, 10 mpx) and a tabletop Gitzo on 14'er climbs and day hikes. The camera also goes in the TLZ-1. I carried a small disc drive for dowloading on a recent Peru trip - In the future, I think I'll just carry more memory cards since they're so cheap.

Good Luck!

I gave up on backpacks since I cant get at the camera and when I do the backpack gets snow and/or mud on it when I lay it down. Now I use a camcorder pack, it holds the D200, 18-200 lens, various ND filters, headlamp, batteries, memory cards, lens cleaning stuff etc. And you can get at the camera. I'd consider a chest pack if I knew what it was.

Bill

Here's a post about a bag I bought a while back that i am VERY happy with.http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/bbs.cgi?a=vm&mr=9801&b=um&st=0&la=36&ph=8&sid=12578&u=12578

Jon,

The short answer is: no-one sells a backpack that will fill both your camera and overnight packing needs.

I just purchased a Lowepro DryZone Rover, which does a great job of filling my daypack needs - space for a D2X with attached 28-105 lens, 80-400VR lens (barely), SB-600 flash, and still has space for another lens when I buy one - all of it in a waterproof, floats-to-35lbs shell, with a space on top for daypacking needs (food, small hydration bag, cold-weather layers...).

But once I get to overnighting it, I'm going to have to find another pack for overnighting. As you can already see, there are lots of different recommendations on overnight solutions...

The CompuTrekker is a not-bad idea, especially if you're travelling and want your laptop with you. Personally, when I get around to travelling, I'll probably invest in a photo storage device that fits in the top of the Rover - they're smaller than laptops, and I dislike the idea of having a significant part of my backpack taken up by space that I won't often use for its intended purpose.

I used to wonder how people could become equipment addicts on something as "simple" as camera carrying cases. As the current owner of two and easily envisioned owner of several more, I no longer wonder.

Bill Meikle wrote:
I'd consider a chest pack if I knew what it was.

Bill, Here's a link to what some of us use as chest packs. I use the Lowepro TLZ and thread the chest strap of my backpack through its belt loop. Many of the topload packs, especially the larger ones, come with a harness system designed for carrying the camera in front, on your chest.

thanks Scott, I'll take a look at the link, chest packs sound like a good idea.

Bill

The chest packs take a little getting used to but once you're comfortable with them, I don't think they can be beat. I've been wearing one since 2000.

With LF I wrap all my gear in soft pouches and arrange it carefully in my large Gregory backpack. With 35mm/digital I carry the body + zoom lens in a chest pouch and the rest carefully wrapped in the backpack.
The photo backpacks are really not meant for multi-day camping trips. They are good for carrying a lot of gear on day hikes and providing easy access to it.

Guy

I used to stick my LowePro Orion II in the upper portion of my Wilderness Backpack which carried everything I would need for 5 days, then I carried a LowePro Side Street Waist pack with an extra lens or body if needed. Now, remember at the time I was used to 40 mile Military hikes with a 70lb rucksack which I am gladly retired from doing now.

Thanks for all of the ideas!! This is going to take some research!!