Small backpack for couple of lenses, film and 4x5 field camera?

[welly]

Wondering if anyone can recommend one. I don't want a huge weekend backpack, more a daily driver, as it were. I'm currently using a standard backpack but fear for my lenses, light meter etc. rattling about in the bag.

[C. D. Keth]

I think photobackpacker makes a backer board that you can cut to size for whatever backpack you already have.

[mdm]

I have a very inexpensive Katmandu pack (arc 28l) and some padded zip up pouches for a couple of lenses, also from the same place. The pouches cost more than the pack, they werent on special at the time. It all fits together very nicely, 5x7 camera in the back, lenses in the middle pocket in a zip up thing and dark cloth, umbrella, lens shade etc at the front, quickly accessable too.

[Doremus Scudder]

I'll chime in here too. I carry a wooden folding field camera and four lenses in a larger waist bag (more robust models for hiking are usually marketed as "lumbar packs"). The bag rides just below the lower back, and has a nice padded waist strap. There is a shoulder strap as well so I can unclip the wasit strap and work out of the bag as a shoulder bag. I carry other accessories in pockets or in a fly-fishing vest and have a small over-the-shoulder pouch for filmholders. The dark cloth straps on the back of the pack.

When I set up, the filmholder pouch hangs on the tripod center column lock knob and the pack hangs from the shoulder strap at my side. For scrambling, I can strap the tripod on the back of the pack as well so I have both hands free.

This may seem like a lot of different stuff for carrying your kit, but it allows me to distribute the weight very evenly and, most importantly for me, allows me to work without ever having to set anything on the ground (or in the mud, snow or middle of the creek where I'm standing).

I have tried getting everything in a pack and carrying it around that way, but it is really much more cumbersome.

Best,

Doremus

[Ben Calwell]

Doremus -- that's a great idea. What kind of lumbar pack do you use? I've got a Wista, two lenses, spot meter, a couple of filters and a dark cloth. Would that fit into a lumbar pack?

[Peter Lewin]

I would second the Photobackpacker approach. A bunch of years back I was trying to find the most compact way to take my 4x5, 3 lenses, holders, etc. on a European trip, and started by visiting my local camping store and looking at a variety of packs. At the same time I emailed Bruce Laughton (owner of Photobackpacker) and he was extremely helpful (with quite a few exchanged emails). Ultimately I concluded that the most compact packs at the camping store would just be too difficult to work out of (just poor packing/ergonomics), and bought a pack (w/ backing board), camera case, and lens case from Bruce. Have been very satisfied ever since. Here's the link: http://www.photobackpacker.com/home.php. Of course everyone is different, and you might, for example, find Doremus's "distributed approach" more appealing for you; equally you can probably get a backing board and cases from Bruce that would fit whatever pack you already have..

[Joseph Dickerson]

I bought a Kelty Redwing 44 on sale and sent it to Bruce at Photobackpacker to have a full length zipper installed. It's quite a bit smaller than the Kelty 3100 that I carry when I want to carry the kitchen sink.

Kelty back packs are well designed and have a comfortable suspension system. At least for me...YMMV.

For your small kit, you could probably get by with a Lowe Pro Mini-Trekker. Just noticed that you are in Oz. Don't know how much hassle shipping from US would be. Contact Bruce, he's great to deal with, can advise you on shipping and import duties, and can help you set up just what you need.

G'Day,

JD

JD

[Kodachrome25]

I fit my Chamonix 45N-2, up to 5 lenses in copal-0 and copal-1, 6 holders, filters, 1.5 liters of water and a few other goodies in this new LowePro Flipside 15L (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=lowepro+flipside+15l&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ta). I also have a good sized carbon fiber tripod with an Acratech head on the side, I have done as much as 18 miles at 12,000 feet in a single day with this setup. I carry 6-7 more holders if need be in a small Domke FX5A.

I got it in orange since I shoot a lot of Winter scenes, will be snowboarding with it in a month or so...

If I were traveling overseas, I would use one of 12 of my regular packs and use a combo of lens wraps and clothing to protect the gear just like I have done my entire career....I tend to avoid one trick pony photo industry stuff when space is that critical.

[john biskupski]

For a small 4x5 kit, you could do worse than use a Lowepro Mini-Trekker. It all fits in, just, and although the bag isn't that well padded, it is a small, light, bag. For comfort and padding however, the rather more bulky Dakine Sequence is hard to beat, just fits a small 4x5, and is a really comfortable pack to carry.

[Doremus Scudder]

Doremus -- that's a great idea. What kind of lumbar pack do you use? I've got a Wista, two lenses, spot meter, a couple of filters and a dark cloth. Would that fit into a lumbar pack?

Ben,

I have a Wista DX and pack it and four lenses in a lumbar pack along with two filter wallets and some other small stuff. The larger filter wallet and some accessories go in the outside zippered pocket, the rest of the stuff in the main compartment. Meter and other stuff goes in the vest or coat pockets. As I mentioned before, my lumbar pack has straps on the outside and my darkcloth, rolled up, is strapped on the back of the pack. The same straps will hold my tripod on the bottom of the pack as well if I need both hands for scrambling; usually I just carry the tripod.

I simply made corrugated boxes for each of my lenses. I usually pack a small lens folded up in the camera (135mm or my Ektar f/7.7 203mm) along with a Fujinon A f/9 240mm, a Schneider SA f/8 90mm and a Nikkor M f/9 300mm on a top-hat lens board. These latter two are fairly large, and if you have smaller or fewer lenses, you could easily get a meter in my pack as well.

I'm not sure of the brand of my lumbar pack, but it's ages old now, so likely no longer in production. I actually took my gear to the outdoor store and tried out lumbar packs till I found one I liked. There are lots out there now, many with a pouch for a water bottle, which I would love to have on mine (maybe it's time for a new one?).

You might want to take your gear on an outing to REI or the like and try it in some lumbar packs.

If it helps, here's a link to my kit in action on the Oregon Coast: http://www.doremusscudder.com/?m=9&s=40
You can see the film-holder pouch on the tripod knob and the lumbar pack slung at my side as well as the trusty DX.

FWIW, when photographing in Europe, I have a similar kit that goes in a small rolling backpack; kind of a cross between carry-on luggage and a cheapie backpack. It has shoulder straps, but no waist strap, which allows me to carry it on foot or on my bicycle. However, when the terrain allows, or I'm indoors, I can extend the handle and just roll it along behind me. Again, the tripod is usually in a hand or strapped on my bike rack or somewhere. This kit is much less balanced and comfortable than my lumbar-pack kit. It does, however, stand upright so I can work out of it fairly easily. Most backpacks have to be laid down to work out of, since they don't like to stand upright on their bottoms. This is one of their big disadvantages for me.

Best,

Doremus

[Ben Calwell]

Doremus -- thanks for the added information and the link to your great Website.

[C4D]

Take a look at the Burton Snowboard photography backpacks... they are awesome for the size and amount of gear you're requesting.

http://www.burton.com/mens-zoom-pack-%5B26l%5D/280840,default,pd.html?start=23&cgid=mens-packs

[John Kasaian]

I've been using a Jansport Equinox day pack for about the past 10 years, IIRC.

[SteveR]

G'day Welly,
I've got a Nat Geo back pack, the medium sized one. They're available here in Aus, but I ended up getting mine from the US for about half the price (including postage).
It holds my Wista metal field & 4 lenses (one inside the camera) in the bottom section, my two padded film cells in the top (a grafmatic & 4 DD's in each) along with everything else. That's my quick 'grab n go' bag, it's a really comfortable bag, I actually use the one bag between my 4x5 and 645 systems, depending where I'm off to and for what purpose. I've had it a number of years, it's been all around the outback, deep into rainforests here in Vic and up in QLD and it could easily pass as near-new if I gave it a bit of a scrub up, no damage/fraying/loose stitching even with the number of tumbles it (and I!) have taken over the years. I'd highly recommend any I their lines.

[Ari]

This past summer I brought a stripped-down kit in a Lowepro Flipside 400.
It carried:
Wista RF
2 lenses, a 115 Grandagon & Fujinon 210
3 Grafmatics
120 sheets of film
Canon 5D w/24-105 lens
Tripod
All the odds and ends associated with all that gear

Overall, the bag performed admirably, and still looks pretty new; it is carry-on size if you are flying, and in a pinch, you can squeeze a 13" laptop in there.

[Greg Miller]

You should definitely look at the F-Stop Gear (http://fstopgear.com/) line. These are real packs, but also designed specifically for photographers. My Tilopa BC is by far the best pack I have ever carried. Lightweight, all day comfort, and easy to use. I quit looking for a better pack the day I started using mine, because it is already the perfect pack.

[Lenny Eiger]

I have a small backpack I got from REI that I added some photobackpacker boxes to. I carry about 10-12 4x5 holders in it and one extra lens. The outside pouch has my light meter, loupe, a couple of cable releases and pencils.

The camera never comes off the tripod. (It's still on the tripod while I'm writing this.) I have a folding Ebony and I use a lightweight Gitzo (GT2530). I carry this in my hand or over my shoulder. There is no reason to take this thing off the tripod and stow it away each time. It makes each shot take much longer if you have to set up. That can cut down on one's spontaneity. I recently went 10 miles this way up in the Sierras. It was hard (I am now 60) but a 5 mile round trip causes no pain and I can focus on shooting.

Bear in mind that this is what I do, and these views are my opinion. I know others disagree, everyone has their own way of working. However, when looking for a backpack for a 4x5, this cuts the required size down considerably and you may want to consider it.

It's obviously not a way to travel on an airplane if one can avoid it. However, neither is any backpack if one can avoid it. I usually fedex the camera to where I am going if I have to travel that way and when at the destination the camera goes back on the tripod.

Good luck,

Lenny

[chassis]

I use a JanSport Solstic 33 daypack for 4x5 field kit, and it does very well. It is a 33L daypack, and is up to the task, is comfortable and can fit a snack and water bottles.

4x5 kit: 4x5 metal field camera, 1 lens with lens board, shutter release, 2 film holders, loupe, light meter, 2 lens filters and a dark cloth. I hand carry the tripod over my shoulder, or it could be lashed to the pack although I haven't done this.

I notice the Solstice is no longer available. It seems like an REI Traverse 30 is a similar type of pack.

[Lenny Eiger]

It seems like an REI Traverse 30 is a similar type of pack.

It's hard to tell from the web pages. I got a Lookout 40 from REI, on sale for $20. It has an internal frame, the big issue was that I wanted a "long". My backpack for the 8x10 gear can sit squarely on my hips, where my legs can take much of the weight. Smaller backpacks often have good hip belts but aren't tall enough to let the weight fall on the hips. I'm only 5' 9 1/2". Even tho' I am not that tall, none of the medium sizes let the weight go to the hips. I think this is a huge factor when looking for a pack.

It's unfortunate that a lot of the climbing packs don't have the openings that make sense for photography. I would suggest going to a store with a big enough selection to let you try a lot of things....

If you are near an REI, they are great. They take things back, even after years of use...

If you want to look for some boots, take a look at the Zamberlain's. What a difference!

Lenny

[Greg Miller]

It's unfortunate that a lot of the climbing packs don't have the openings that make sense for photography.

That's why the F-Stop Gear packs (http://fstopgear.com/product/mountain) were created. The Mountain series, their original packs, were designed specifically for adventure photographers. So they are designed for photographers shooting events like climbing and mountaineering. They carry great and also make life as a photographer easy. And they come in various sizes and are configurable. They aren't $20 though.

[Lenny Eiger]

That's why the F-Stop Gear packs (http://fstopgear.com/product/mountain) were created. The Mountain series, their original packs, were designed specifically for adventure photographers. So they are designed for photographers shooting events like climbing and mountaineering. They carry great and also make life as a photographer easy. And they come in various sizes and are configurable. They aren't $20 though.

In all fairness, the pack I referenced is normally $99. I just happened to get lucky when they were clearing out for a new season...

Of course, it would be nicer if they had a large format camera in there on occasion. All the pictures I saw were for digital things with big lenses... For me, the backpacker system worked better as I could customize the boxes.... but they look good, too.

Lenny

[munz6869]

I travel with my Wista & three lenses, film, meter, etc all in a little Lowepro minitrekker, as seen here: http://www.apug.org/forums/attachments/large-format-cameras-accessories/43433d1324895403-pic-my-pack-marcs-backpack-2011_12_26.jpg.att

Snug, but small and never a problem on planes as carry-on luggage!

Marc!

[Greg Miller]

In all fairness, the pack I referenced is normally $99. I just happened to get lucky when they were clearing out for a new season...

Of course, it would be nicer if they had a large format camera in there on occasion. All the pictures I saw were for digital things with big lenses... For me, the backpacker system worked better as I could customize the boxes.... but they look good, too.

Lenny

The ICU (the part of the F-Stop Gear pack that holds the camera equipment) comes in 10 different sizes. And each one come with multiple dividers so you can configure the compartment any way you want. So these can hold LF things just as easily as digital things (you can watch Ben Horne review of how he uses an F-Stop Gear Satori (http://benhorne.wordpress.com/page/2/) to carry his 8x10 gear). So you get a climbing pack that is also designed specifically for photographers and adapts perfectly to LF gear. I'm just pointing put that such a thing exists. The only down so is they are so popular they have some difficulty meeting demand.

[Boinzo]

I too carry an F-Stop Gear Tilopa BC. I changed to it from a Photo Backpacker setup in large part because the Photo Backpacker is too big for airline carry-on and does not provide a laptop sleeve (something I need when travelling to avoid putting my Macbook in checked baggage!). I also found the backboard in the PB would slip down about 2 inches under the weight attached to it and this reduced the bag's comfort.

I think the two bags are mostly much equal in terms of hike-ability and comfort. The F-Stop fits marginally less gear and can require a bit more effort to fit stuff. I can fit my Chamonix 45N-2, 3 or 4 lenses on boards, 2x Lee Holders (one for 58mm), 10x Filter pouch, Black Jacket, Pentax Spot, Loupe and 3 Grafmatics (or 7 Holders), Small First Aid kit, 2L Bladder and a couple of sandwiches.

F-Stop has no easy way to carry a water bottle but handles a bladder very well. Photo Backpacker is the opposite...
F-Stop is much better for carrying a tripod. And I like the ICU approach. The F-Stop ICU is lighter than the equivalent volume of Photo Backpacker inserts. My PB boxes and inserts weighed 1.5Kg all together. Nearly as much as my 45N-2!

I did a 20km hike over the weekend with my F-Stop on. I knew i'd done it but my back was mostly happy afterwards.

While F-Stop claim the Tilopa is carry-on legal I could not get it in the overhead on a recent flight from Vegas to LA no matter how I tried.

Having said all that - I only use the bag for serious hikes. For stuff close to the car I prefer a Think-Tank speed belt with a bunch of things hanging off it and the camera and tripod over my shoulder. This setup means I don't ever have to put any thing down and can work with both hands free. Not unlike Doremus's setup.

[chassis]

Here is a photo of my rig. The pack is 33 liters, and inside is a Toyo 45AII, 2 lenses mounted on boards + cable releases, light meter, loupe, dark cloth, 3 filters, and 1 film holder. The tripod as you can see is strapped to the pack. I only carried one film holder today because that’s all I wanted; several will fit. This is a comfortable and easy way to pack a set of gear for a few hours of hiking/biking/shooting.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8202/8190118481_a73377a0b0_c.jpg