Options for carrying slr in backcountry
- This topic has 14 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated Sep 8, 2008 at 4:01 pm by
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Hello all, wondering if any of you carried your slr with you in the backcountry and how you do it. It’s getting cumbersome to carry the system i have now. I usually take my shooting star chest/backpack system and carry the slr in the backpack when i’m fishing. The only problem with this is that i have to pack the backpack in my big osprey pack on overnight backcountry trips. Surely there has to be a better way, any suggestions?
Other than not carry the slr, obviously that would be the easiest answer.
Sigma has come out with a new camera the D1 I believe. I downloaded some of the image from their site a couple of weeks ago and the image quality is impressive. Its a rangefinder which makes it compact and the focal length would be perfect for general outdoor photography.
I don’t know what camera you have now but you might consider fixed focal length lenses over the bulkier zooms. If I could afford it I would have a Leica M8 and 2 or 3 lenses. That is about 15 grand but it really delivers a stellar image. A friend of mine just bought one and it is a magic box don’t pick one up you’ll be going around like the dude in Lord Of The Rings babbling about his precious!
Epson also makes a compact rangefinder camera that makes a nice image. I have D2Xs outfit that weighs about as much as good boat anchor! Its no fun to carry around. If the primary mission isn’t photography it stays behind.
Olympus make a more compact DSLR and Photokina is coming up maybe something new will come out.
I have a canon rebel xsi and two lenses: the kit lense and a 75-300mm. Sometimes i just carry one lense but i’d like to carry both. I, too, put mine in the top of my pack but it would be nice if there was a better way to carry it. Plus, i stick my tripod in one of the outside pockets with my rod tube.
I wish they made a better way to carry it.
Sigma has come out with a new camera the D1 I believe.
I’ve been thinking about a small camera for times I don’t want to carry my dSLR (Olympus E510).
I too have been working on a system to carry my dSLR while backpacking and fly fishing. My goals were to 1) keep the weight of the setup down, 2) keep it accessible, 3) provide protection from bumps and rain, and 4) be comfortable. After my last trip (cross park hike of RMNP) I’m happy to report I’m very satisfied with the system I used (this has been work in progress for quite a while). I found it met the above goals perfectly.
Here’s what it looks like:
Here’s the details:
Canon 10D
Lens: 17-40 L f/4
Circular Polarizer
UV filter
Lens hood
Extra battery
Extra CF card
Lens clothThink Tank Digital Holster, size 20 (http://www.thinktankphoto.com/ttp_product_DgtlHlstr.php) with shoulder strap removed and replaced with 2.5 mm nylon cord, which is threaded through the back side of the holster.
Perfection loops (http://www.animatedknots.com/perfection/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com#Overhand) are tied at each end of the cord, and an adjustment loop has been installed (using a Klemheist knot ) (http://www.animatedknots.com/klemheist/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com).
A Black Diamond Carabiner is attached to the Klemheist on one end and the perfection loop on the other end. These clips are attached to the D rings on the backpacks shoulder straps.
During rain the camera and its components are stored in a waterproof dry bag and the holster is covered with the provided rain cover. Photos of these can been seen HERE.
The weight of the holster, rain cover, and cord is 14.3 ounces. The weight of the everything mentioned above is 4.5 pounds.
The setup in action:
Wow that was exactly what i was looking for brian, thanks. I carry a pentax optio w20 with me but the dslr takes so much better pictures. I might have to give that system of yours a try, looks like it performs beautifully.
Craig – It works well for me but YMMV. When I’m climbing steep inclines I shorten the length of the cord to prevent it from bouncing on my chest. One could also clip a small rope from the bottom of the holster to your pack hip belt. I didn’t want anything too fussy to take on and off. I checked out your new website – looking good. I’ll check back periodically as you get more content. If you want to see more photos from my last trip its posted on my blog here: http://minomdeplume.wordpress.com/2008/08/09/200807_rmnp_backcountry_trip/
Thanks for the compliments on the site, it’s alot of work and it’s good to hear that people enjoy reading it.
As far as the setup goes, i really think i’m going to try this one out. I tried putting it around my neck once and it beat my chest to death. Thanks for the input.
I just picked up a think tank Digital Holster 20. I used this week end for pop-up camping. We did some hiking some fishing, and it worked really well. The provided shoulder strap is a bit annoying. The problem is that the pad is fastened to the shoulder strap. The problem with this is if you are used to carrying a messenger bag and slinging it around yourself when you need something out of it and sliding the strap around but leaving the pad on your shoulder, this bag won’t do that. I think I might replace the shoulder strap with one from another bag. Other than that the holster works great. I’m going to get either a Simms dry creek camera bag, if its big enough, or a real boating dry bag for it when I’m carrying it and wading at the same time. That whole thing will go in my trusty old Contour Mountain 40.
Brian, I like the idea of the adjustable rope strap but I think that might start to rub me the wrong way after a while.
Hey Ethan, If you check out the rope placement in the picture in my first post you’ll notice its attached to D loops on my packs shoulder strap and the 2.5 mm cord doesn’t touch me anywhere.
Mentioned in the other thread and also here.
http://www.itinerantangler.com/cgi-bin/board/YaBB.pl?num=1215913366/14#14Is Think Tanks Belt/Harness system. Since then I’ve been looking really hard at the system. Brian, if you check Think Tanks accesories they actually offer a Camera holder that connects to their shoulder harness such that the body can be carried much as you have it.
I’ve pretty much decided to use both a heavy back pack (Lowepro Vertex) for capacity and then Think Tanks modular system customised to fit my needs.
Scroll down for belts, harness, accessories
http://www.thinktankphoto.com/ttp_products.htmlThanks for pointing those out John. I did see these (http://www.thinktankphoto.com/ttp_product_CmraSpprtStrp.php) when I purchased my holster. They look like they would work great, however, I’m a lightweight backpacker and thus I scrutinize every item I carry for ways to save ounces and have them be multi-use. By using a 2.5 mm cord with carabiners, I save several ounces and can use the clips for other hiking related needs. Those ounces saved add up to pounds off my back.
I’ve also considered cutting off the belt loop attachment flap on the backside of the holster but can’t bring myself to it since I may use that function during non-backpacking events
Brain, I didn’t notice that in the pic earlier. I could see how that would work now, very cool. I have open attachment points on both of my packs too, so that would work well. Although right now, when fishing, I’m using a chest pack with a flip down foam fly holder so your set-up probably won’t be my go to set up for fishing, but it is a pretty slick way to keep it handy while hiking, I’ll have to check into that.
I just saw on mid current that patagonia came out with a smaller version of the great divider…
http://www.midcurrent.com/news/2008/09/patagonias-2009-sub-divider-an.html
I can’t find it yet on the website, but I’m sure they will have it at the retailer show. This might be the go to piece of gear for me, because the great divider is too big. If Marshall trusts it with his photo and video in the skiff I think I can trust it too.
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