LF Bag ideas?

[Santo Roman]

I've posted about this before and got some good ideas. Now that I have traveled 3500 miles with my 4x5 I still have another 15,000 miles to go. The problem is that the bag I picked up (Tenba sachel) does not carry everything that I need.

I'm be moving to Rome and will need a bag that I can fly with but also be able to walk around and shoot. We now have an apt in Rome so I can leave some thing behind but I would like to have most of my stuff in case anything comes up.

Here is what I will be carrying with me.

1 - 4x5 field camera (Tachihara wood fold up)
8 - film holders
1 - loupe
1 - focusing cloth
1 - 135mm lens (already have a case from Photobackpacker)
1 - Lightmeter
1 - changing bag
1 - extra box
1 - box of film
4 - filters
1 - release cable
1 - lens tool
1 - tripod
1 - graycard

I've tried to limit what I will bring with me so I think i can carry something pretty compact. If you can toss out some name brands that might work that would be great. I was actually thinking of heading down to Glazer's tomorrow to try a few out but please toss me a few ideas if you can. Thanks

santo

[77seriesiii]

My suggestion is since you are here in Europe is to go to an honest to goodness backpacking/hiking/camping store and bring all of your gear. I did this at an REI and the store employee spent an hour working with me to figure out how much the stuff weighed, how far I intend to walk, how I am built (body measurements) etc. I walked out paying $200 for backpack. Having a person work with you to figure out your body size and correctly determine the weight you are carrying will be held by the backpack you are currently in love with is pretty important otherwise a long walking trip will be MUCH longer. If you can afford having something sent from the US, maybe talk with Steve at http://www.photobackpacker.com/home.asp.

good luck hunting.

./e

[Ari]

Santo,
I have all the equipment you listed, plus about 10-12 film holders, a Polaroid back, and a Grafmatic.
The Lowepro Magnum (medium format) is perfect for what I have. My lens is in the camera all the time, saving a bit of space, and the focusing cloth is in the front pouch. Amazingly, I ran out of stuff to put in the bag, the side pockets are empty.
It will fit very nicely into an airplane's overhead compartment.
Drawbacks? I keep putting stuff in it, and it now weighs more than I do.
Good Luck.

[spiky247]

I use a lowepro computrekker aw. here's how i packed for a recent 6 day trip:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2656/3835252023_3a5f836a16.jpg
Inside i have my 4x5 and 5 lenses from 90mm to 400mm. I leave the changing bag and extra film at home, as i shoot with the Fuji Quickchange system. I carry 5 Quick Change cartridges in the front pocket which allows me to shoot up the 50 images, stacked together they are about as high is 5 standard 4x5 cutfilm holders.

Filters darkcloth and meter can also go into the front pocket, or the space where the Bessa III currently occupies.

The tripod i use is a Gitzo GK3580QRS kit, which is a 3 series systmatic CF tripod with a systmatic ball head and no center column. I find this setup extremely rigid and light weight, and sling it over my shoulders as i hike.

I find the backpack is quite comfortable, and I can go on long hikes without feeling weighed down by the gear.

[Michael Gordon]

I can fit my Chamonix or Ebony, four lenses, all accessories, five holders, and more in my tiny LowePro Mini-Trekker. I have larger LowePro packs, but for going light and fast and being able to carry-on to planes and put in ANY overhead, the Mini-Trekker is the ticket.

[jeroldharter]

I think Photobackpacker will do well. Get the one that is smller than the Kelty P1/P2. I think it is based on the Kelty 3500 pack. It will easily hold your gear (including your tripod if it is lightweight), have room to spare, and fit in overhead compartments.

I have used both packs with different cameras and they are both excellent. I have a large Lowe-Pro pack and the photobackpackers are significantly more comfortable under load.

[Santo Roman]

I'm not in EU yet but will be in a month so I wanted to get this nailed out soon. I was actually looking at REI since I've been a member since the early 80s. I was also going to talk to Bruce at PBP. They really know their stuff.

I'm going to head to Glazer's today so i can try out the lowepro series as well. Funny but most of the photo stores in the Seattle area no longer carry larger bags. Everything is for digital junk.

Thanks again.

santo

[Bosaiya]

I use a bag from an old analog camcorder. Last weekend I fit 18 film holders, two 12-shot bag mags, and a 6-shot Grafmatic inside the main compartment. The end pouches had a light meter, multi-tool, an extra lens and various odds and ends. The front pouch had twelve rolls of 120 plus some cleaning supplies. It was relatively pleasant to carry, all things considered.

Search eBay or Craigslist for used video gear that comes with a bag - it's probably cheaper than buying the bag alone!

[aduncanson]

I use one of the large Calumet Pro Series Camera/Video bags. It is a traditional, hung-from-the-shoulder bag, not a backpack. It holds my Canham Traditional 5x7 camera, wrapped in a large dark cloth, 6 5x7 double sided film holders, two smallish lenses on Technika boards, Pentax digital spotmeter, notebook, gel filters, lens cleaner, reading glasses with clip on magnifiers, cable release etc. It is not small, and in fact is a bit imposing for a bag hanging from your shoulder. I doubt that it would fit under an airline seat, but should fit in an overhead bin with no problem.

[Matthew Rolfe]

Santo,

Fishing rucksacks are something you could look at, a friend of mine who is a keen angler owns a really good one that would be perfect for 4x5 (I shoot 10x8 so it is too small for me) Fishing rucksacks tend to be loads cheaper than the wildly over priced camera bags. Also one of the things that really caught my attention was the insulated pockets intended for fishing bait.....great for film!

[ki6mf]

I use Photobackpacker modules for my camera and lenses inside an Adorama Joe Farace Reporter II Backpack. This also has a 17" laptop compartment, which i use for film holders and for the $79.95 price is very easy on the budget. Plus it is carry on legal!

[Santo Roman]

So I headed down to Kenmore Camera today and picked up a Tamrac camera bag. I picked up the Ultra Pro 11 and I found out when I got home, the bag really holds a lot of stuff. I only have one lens with me right now and one in Rome, but have room for about 4 more. All the fixings can fit as well. Kenmore camera has a great selection of gear, chemicals, and film. Honestly...I know they are family owned and I actually worked there for about a year when I was in college, but this place has more stuff than even Glazer's has. Staff is and always has been pretty helpful and the layout is pretty simple. If you get a chance to stop in I would mark it on the GPS. www.kcamera.com

Thanks for all the advice and I actually ran into someone from the forums there. I believe it is Eric? PM so I can stay in touch with you.

Thanks again peeps.

santo

[Santo Roman]

I use Photobackpacker modules for my camera and lenses inside an Adorama Joe Farace Reporter II Backpack. This also has a 17" laptop compartment, which i use for film holders and for the $79.95 price is very easy on the budget. Plus it is carry on legal!

Wally,

I'm also a photobackpacker kinda guy. I have my 135mm lens in a case and I'll be getting more of them for the others.

santo

[Hiro]

I'd second 77seriesiii's recommendation to anyone who walks a lot (~10 miles or more a day, up and down, day hikes for a few days in row, etc.)...A solid backpacking pack with a good suspension system that fits the body, e.g. Kelty, Osprey, Mountain Hardware, Dana Design, REI...

Supporting the weight by the hip rather than the shoulders makes a world of difference (at least to me).

[newmoon2night]

Osprey Waypoint 65?
I'm really interested if anyone has experience of the Osprey Waypoint 65?
I have Photobackpacker inserts also, do day hikes, and am looking for a solution in the UK.
I have an Osprey Atmos 35 and whilst the panel opening is great, the weight is fantastic, comfort similarly great, the frame results in a very curved inner, so difficult for packing rectangular cases.
Kelty don't seem to be available in the UK, and am struggling finding a 50 to 60 litre panel opening backpack that is comfortable.
Osprey in UK recommend the Waypoint 65 but I've never actually seen one, so wondering whether it would do the trick?

[John Bowen]

The old Zone VI camera bag should hold everything you list.

[Bill_1856]

To cut down bulk and weight, I'd recommend that you replace those eight cut film holders with three Grafmatics.

[Matus Kalisky]

I got the Kellty 2650 from Photobackpacker for that purpose - I used it as carry on (though not fully stuffed) for my trip to NZ. Together with the camera and lens cases (also from photobackpacker) it served its purpose very well. You can remove the waist belt from this lightweight backpack to reduce the weight even further (down to a bit above 1kg!) so you have a the weight for the gear left.