[MF3D.FORUM:858] Re: What do you carry your cameras in?

[Brian Reynolds <reynolds@xxxxxxxxx>]

Sam wrote:
> Seems we've never had much of a discussion regarding camera bags and the 
> likes for your medium format stereo equipment. Today is mostly a 35mm 
> world, and those old leather bags from the 50's are dreadful.
> 

As I mentioned recently on photo-3d, I use a Tamrac Model 603 Zoom
Traveler 3.  It holds my Sputnik, a flash bracket, a Pentax AF280T
flash, a Pentax digital spotmeter and a pouch for film in the main
compartment.  In the outer compartment there's room for more film and
various gadets (spare cable release, etc.).  When I'm actually taking
pictures I carry the camera and flash on the bracket and the bag is
mostly empty.

The backpacks sold by the photo bag makers tend to be small, heavy
overpriced and uncomfortable.  Based on advice from
rec.photo.equipment.large-format I went to EMI (a North East USA
outdoor retailer) and bought a 5000 cubic inch external frame backpack
for far less than what I would have paid for a smaller camera pack.

I can put several boxes of Kodak Readyload and Polaroid film, and the
Readyload and Polaroid holders in the top compartment and my 4x5
camera (currently a Graflex Speed Graphic) wrapped in my dark cloth in
the bottom compartment.  The outer pockets hold all the various
gadgets.  I still have plenty of space left in the pack if I decide to
switch to a larger format.  So far I haven't bothered to put any
padding in the pack.

I went with an external frame so that it could stand up on its own.
Some people complain that most backpacks are top loading, but I think
that since you have to take the pack off to get anything out it's not
such a big deal.  So long as you keep the compartments organized there
shouldn't be much trouble.

If you're thinking of airline travel an internal frame may be better.
Once the airline is done turning your frame in to a pretzel it is
easier to straighten an internal frame.  Before checking in any
backpack you should put it in a duffle bag so that the straps and such
don't get caught on the conveyers.  

-- 
Brian Reynolds                  | "Dee Dee!  Don't touch that button!"
reynolds@xxxxxxxxx              | "Oooh!"
http://www.panix.com/~reynolds  |    -- Dexter and Dee Dee
NAR# 54438                      |       "Dexter's Laboratory"