Posted by Scott Bideau on December 29, 2011 at 10:53 PM
I'd like to get a sling bag for taking action photos on the slopes (skiing/snowboarding) so I can quickly go from having the gear on my back to slinging it around for easy access without having to take a backpack off. I've tried the bags mounted to your chest like the Think Tank photo option and have never liked having so much weight on my chest - throws me off for snowboarding.
I know Lowepro and Tenba have a couple popular options, but they seem a little large to me. I've been looking at the Kata options (I've always liked their bags) - not the 3n1's but the Ligh Tri series. I'm curious if anyone has any experience with these or other recommendations. I'd like something as slim/low-profile as possible - 90% of the time I'll have a Canon 7D SLR w/o grip and a 70-200 lens mounted. Would be nice to have the space for an extra lens as well, but probably not all that important to me.
Thanks in advance for any recommendations/advice.
Posted by Jim Bullard on December 30, 2011 at 9:03 AM
I have a Kata 3in1 20 and it works pretty much like you describe. I wish I had gotten the 30 instead of the twenty. It's a little tight for my 7D with an 18-135mm. With your 70-200mm I'd guess that the 30 would be absolutely necessary. The top space is nice for accessories and my G11. There are a couple of side pockets on the top suitable for extra batteries, etc. My only complaint would be that while my camera is easily accessible (it can be set up for either right or left handed use) the rest of the bottom part is not as convenient to use. I bought it for snowshoeing, hiking, etc. as a way to force myself to leave stuff at home (I have a tendency to carry the photographic equivalent of the kitchen sink) and the 20 has been a bit too much of a gear capacity shock but I'm getting used to it.
Hello Scott,
I would take a look at the LowPro Orion AW. Not sure of their current line nomenclature, but It's a pack with a detachable top half ( I never used the top part) that makes it a fanny pack. It took a few days to get used to the added weight on my butt, but I used this (fanny) pack set up for the better part of 30 years as a ski photographer. Plenty of room for a body and a couple of lenses. The beauty is you never have to take the pack off. You just loosen the belt strap and spin it around to the front. It's nice to have a working platform in front of you with easy access to all your "stuff". I would suggest, however, That you not ski with the 70-200 attached to a body. The extra leverage of that long of a lens can really do a number on the body's lens mount. Eventually you'll wonder why the focus plane isn't flat. It only took one repair bill to learn that lesson. With practice, you can set up or put away a system in under 30 seconds any way. Even with cold hands
Good shooting
Neil
Posted by Scott Bideau on December 30, 2011 at 5:53 PM
Neil: great recommendation. Looks like that bag doesn't come apart anymore. I use an f/4 lens so the weight shouldn't be enough to damage my mount (chime in of you feel otherwise).
I'm just wondering if a sling will be to stressful on my back/shoulder or if I need a backpack that will sling around like the Lowepro Photo Sport 200.
Posted by Scott Bideau on January 22, 2012 at 9:51 AM
Ended up going with the Clik Elite ProBody Sport and couldn't be happier. Thanks for all the advice everyone.
Discussion
4 repliesI know Lowepro and Tenba have a couple popular options, but they seem a little large to me. I've been looking at the Kata options (I've always liked their bags) - not the 3n1's but the Ligh Tri series. I'm curious if anyone has any experience with these or other recommendations. I'd like something as slim/low-profile as possible - 90% of the time I'll have a Canon 7D SLR w/o grip and a 70-200 lens mounted. Would be nice to have the space for an extra lens as well, but probably not all that important to me.
Thanks in advance for any recommendations/advice.
I would take a look at the LowPro Orion AW. Not sure of their current line nomenclature, but It's a pack with a detachable top half ( I never used the top part) that makes it a fanny pack. It took a few days to get used to the added weight on my butt, but I used this (fanny) pack set up for the better part of 30 years as a ski photographer. Plenty of room for a body and a couple of lenses. The beauty is you never have to take the pack off. You just loosen the belt strap and spin it around to the front. It's nice to have a working platform in front of you with easy access to all your "stuff". I would suggest, however, That you not ski with the 70-200 attached to a body. The extra leverage of that long of a lens can really do a number on the body's lens mount. Eventually you'll wonder why the focus plane isn't flat. It only took one repair bill to learn that lesson. With practice, you can set up or put away a system in under 30 seconds any way. Even with cold hands
Good shooting
Neil
I'm just wondering if a sling will be to stressful on my back/shoulder or if I need a backpack that will sling around like the Lowepro Photo Sport 200.