A backpack for my brand new Tachihara?

[jon.oman]

There are some good ideas here.....

[Kirk Gittings]

PhotoBackpacker has just what you need

Ditto. Of all the years I have struggled with this issue through numerous backpacks, the PB backpack fit the bill best because it is so customizable to specific equipment and personal needs. I don't se the need to ever upgrade this unless my equipment changes (just change the guts of the pack) or he comes out with something new and even more handy.

[lbenac]

There are those that would suggest the really heavy wooden tripods. They are nice people. I am just not one of them... Of course, if they could really prove to me if could stop the wind issues, I'd eat my words (I don't use a hat). In the meantime I'm enjoying being able to walk farther from the car...Lenny

I love my Berlebach 3032 when I want to setup and use it i.e. only two pieces instead of three or four, leveling ball part of the tripod.
I hate my Berlebach when I have to carry it on a trail, it is cumbersome.

So I do the following:
1) Use carbon tripod on the trail
2) Use Berlebach when I do not have to hike

Cheers,

Luc

[Drew Wiley]

Lenny - the last time someone accompanied me just trying an afternoon jaunt w/o a full
pack carrying gear as you precribe, he ended up with a gashed leg, a twisted foot, two
broken Gitzo legs, and two ruined Zeiss lenses. And he's someone who's been mtn climbing
his entire life. Walking a short distance from the car or adjacent to a campsite on relatively
level ground is one thing, taking a serious walk is an entirely different issue.

[john borrelli]

I owned a Tachi once. Wonderful cameras but they can be delicate so I would definitely look for a bag option that will protect the camera. The tachis have metal tilt arms that can break particularly where the bottom of the arm attaches to the camera body. There the metal arm is as thin as a spring. It's an unusual style of construction that you don't see on other woodfields. Great groundglass though. All the best, John

[Preston]

I have a Lowe Pro Nature Trekker AW. It is a heavy pack with all the padding. Add the camera, lenses, etc., and load gets pretty weighty. Now, I am having 'zipper hell' with it: The main waterproof zipper is failing, and it drives me bonkers. So, having looked in detail at Harley Goldman's PhotoBackPacker pack, I am sold. Now, I just need to save my pennies to buy one before spring.

--P

[Lenny Eiger]

Lenny - the last time someone accompanied me just trying an afternoon jaunt w/o a full
pack carrying gear as you precribe, he ended up with a gashed leg, a twisted foot, two
broken Gitzo legs, and two ruined Zeiss lenses. And he's someone who's been mtn climbing
his entire life. Walking a short distance from the car or adjacent to a campsite on relatively
level ground is one thing, taking a serious walk is an entirely different issue.

Well, I am sure this was upsetting for this fellow. However, I carried my 8x10 on my old metal Gitzo all over the place, many miles from the car, on serious hikes at times. This did not happen to me. I have climbed down many of the access points to the sea we have in our part of the world, without incident. I have also climbed up and down Wittenberg at Point Reyes from every side... I have tired myself out to be sure, but I am used to having that tripod. Sometimes, over a river, it added a extra point of contact, like a ski pole...

I'm not saying you're wrong. Just saying I had a different experience...

Lenny

[Drew Wiley]

Maybe you're not as much a bushwacker as I am, Lenny... Maybe we should get our heads
together and figure out how to hermetically seal a large 8x10 bellows and fill it with helium.
That's been on my "things to do" list for a long time. Thought of that idea chugging up Tam
one day when I heard literal voices of inspiration overhead. The fog cleared just long enough to spot a couple hanggliders circling a bit above, and wished I had that option with
my view camera. Or maybe I was just being schizophrenic as usual!

[soeren]

I like my Loka from F-stop Gear

That looks tempting. Got any pics of your gear in that pack?
Best regards

[Lenny Eiger]

Maybe you're not as much a bushwacker as I am, Lenny... Maybe we should get our heads
together and figure out how to hermetically seal a large 8x10 bellows and fill it with helium.
That's been on my "things to do" list for a long time. Thought of that idea chugging up Tam
one day when I heard literal voices of inspiration overhead. The fog cleared just long enough to spot a couple hanggliders circling a bit above, and wished I had that option with
my view camera. Or maybe I was just being schizophrenic as usual!

For a long time I thought a single wheel, shock absorbed support for a backpack would do the trick. I actually purchased a used baby jogger and inverted it and it almost fit. It would work. But I couldn't find the time and resources to have someone sew it up, or weld the thing properly to get it to work. There was a European version, very expensive, but most everything was a "push" technology instead of pull.

Of course, if they ever find that graviton particle, that would be very cool...

;-)

Lenny