Camera Case/Bag Recommendations

[ethan smith]

Do any of you all have waterproof camera case/bag recommendations?

I have a DSLR and I’d like to start taking it to the river with me, but I don’t want it to take a swim.

One theory I have is a ziplock bag inside a standard camera bag like a lowepro or pro source or some such thing.

Another thought I had is using a simms dry creek, but are the dry creek REALLY DRY, or do they just look the part?

Another thought is a Penguin or Storm type hard plastic case, but I’m leaning away from that because of bulk.

The third though is an actual under water housing type thing? I’m trying to keep with something that could be used in conjunction with a pack that I already own and use.

Any thoughts or recommendations would be greatly appreciated…

Thanks,
-Ethan

[Corey Kruitbosch]

Hey Ethan .. Here is another recent thread on the topic. http://www.itinerantangler.com/cgi-bin/board/YaBB.pl?num=1220146060

[ethan smith]

Ah ha, I see that now thanks! I did a couple searches of the forum, but I didn’t see that thread.

The Sagebrush stuff looks pretty cool, and its good to hear that people are using the simms stuff for cameras.

[dusty montgomery]

Ethan,
Check these guys out: http://www.recycledwaders.com/
There was a small article about them in the latest issue of American Angler. It seems that they will make what you ask of them, after you supply some usable wader material.
D.

[john michael white]

I recently went through the same thing.

First, get insurance.

I ended up going with this bag:http://www.naneupro.com/products/mo-a/

Then I went with one of these, in size small, which will fit around the camera gear foam core in the camera compartment, making it waterproof:

http://www.seattlesportsco.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=11&idproduct=19

[John Bennett]

Short answer:
I don’t think theres 1 solition. Atleast I haven’t found any 1 solution that meets my desires. The problem seems to stem at a crossroads of manufactorers. Photography manufactors don’t seem to have “fishing” enthusiest in mind and fishing manufactorers dont have “photography” in mind.

This thread delves into it a bit as well.
http://www.itinerantangler.com/cgi-bin/board/YaBB.pl?num=1215913366/14#14

Pure WP packs, bags etc all have their downsides.
Good Camera packs/cases likewise have their downsides.

Be carefull of going the zip lock route. One word…condensation if it gets wet/moist.

[ethan smith]

Interesting, those look some good options. I especially like the dry bags from Seattle Sports, they seem like a good value choice. A traditional dry bag is probably a more proven waterproof design than anything new and unique out there too.

[john michael white]

The Seattle Sports dry bag was the only one I could find that was a side loader and would fit the square cube camera compartment.

[mike j]

There is only one SAFE way IMHO.. first.. you need something relatively inpenetrable for the climb, ride, whatever into the back country.. queue the pelican or pelican style case.. these are VERY rugged..

[Neal Osborn]

As a temporary setup I converted my Orvis Safe Passage boat bag (gear bag) to my camera bag.  It is water resistant but not submersible. It also comes with a built in water proof apron in case of heavy rain.  This bag has a ton of space and holds almost all my gear.  Problem is that is gets very heavy when fully loaded.  Good setup because I can use the bag for photography when I’m not fishing out of a boat. Ultimately I will probably copy Zach and go with the Simms waterproof bag for my camera gear.

You can pack multiple lenses and even 2 camera bodies in the main compartment and the side pouches are large enough for cables and accessories

Strap a tripod on the top and ready to go

Doubles as a fishing gear bag (it’s intended purpose).

[Ben Cochran]

Doubles as a fishing gear bag (it’s intended purpose).  Female model not included, hahaha.

Bate and switch, thats just not right  😉

Ethan, I know that this may be larger than what you are looking for but I use and love the Lowepro Vertex 300 AW Backpack. I have been caught in some of the worst storms with it and everything stayed perfectly dry. Ended up filling that one up and had to get another one for all of the hotshoe strobes but IMHO it is the best camera bag on the market, They make a smaller model, for 15″ notebooks, but this one is large enough for my 17″ macbook and it also has a separate padded compartment just for it.

[ethan smith]

I posted this in the other similar topic earlier today. But it appears that Patagonia just came out with a smaller version of the Great Divider, called the small divider. This might be just the ticket. It sounds more waterproof than the Simms Dry Creek camera bag, but will cost more for sure.

http://www.midcurrent.com/news/2008/09/patagonias-2009-sub-divider-an.html

I can’t find it on Patagonia’s website yet, so it might not be up there yet. I love the internet. News travels so fast that it can’t even make it to the marketing department before its on the street!

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