Backpack Photography

[UrbanScribe]

Pretty much the two loves in my life are my photography and backpacking. I currenly shoot with the 10D using a few differant lenses.

Most of my trips are along the Appalachian Trail and surrounding areas. My 10D's first trip is coming up and I've become worried (from horror stories from other photographers) that the moister of the air and inside my pack could ruin the electronics of the camera.

I need to know from others out there what I should do as far as protecting the camera and lenses from the abuse of the pack and also the weather. I've always just kept them in small cases in the past but I'd like to move to something more water/moisture proof. I know there are the waterproof backpacks out there now, but thats not what I'm looking for. I'm already carrying about a 40 lb pack so I need something that will fit inside my main pack.

Please let me know what you may be using for this same problem or if you have any good ideas or resources. Thanks.

[robertwgross]

Luke, I hear you.

I just finished a three-day trip in Yosemite. I carry my Canon D60 in a camera holster with strap that fits over my head and shoulder, so the camera sort of rides over my right pants pocket. It is ready for wildlife that way. The top of that holster case covers the camera for a little direct weather. However, if I were going to be out in a big rain or snow storm with wind, then I would likely add a flimsy plastic shopping bag, either over the camera on the inside of the case or over the outside of the case. Otherwise, I don't worry about humidity.

Sometimes I carry my Canon film camera in it, and sometimes the D60. Once in a while I will have both.

On a backpack trip, I carry a 1.5 pound tripod that goes about waist high. On a shorter photo trip, I carry a 3.5 pound tripod that is much better and taller.

If you think you will run into black bears at night, then you better have a serious flash unit (more than the internal flash). Black bears seem to soak up a lot of light, so compensate 1.5 or 2 stops from the meter. Also, it is so difficult to focus on them with such poor ambient light. What I do is to set up reflective distance stakes from my campsite or tent. I know that the farthest stake is 30 feet, then 20 feet, and then 15 feet, so I can try to manually focus in almost complete darkness, operating by sound and shadows.

---Bob Gross---

[lightandlife]

About a month ago, I was taking the Blue Road, a mountain trail in Hong Kong, and wanted to take some pictures of friends. Immediately after I opened the lens cover, fog was covering the lens filter. There was so much humidity! I was afraid the moisture will penetrate the camera mechanism. I immediately packed it and did not use the camera that day.

1. There are dessicants (not sure of spelling) that would absorb moisture. These are in thin envelopes like sugar and creamer packs. Put these inside the camera bags.

2. If the camera has been in an airconditioned room, it will take a while for the camera to adjust to room temperature. Without this waiting period, the camera and lenses will grab all the moisture around them. You do not want any moisture build up inside the camera or lens.

A tripod may become a burden. Monopod maybe?

[cowman345]

You could just go to your local shoe store and ask them for a bunch of silicon gel packets, if I'm not mistaken, it's no different from dessicant packs. I'm sure they have a bunch that just get thrown out all the time. You really only need a couple in your bag. Just don't eat it (actuall, i believe i read somewhere it's not harmful to eat... hmm)

-dave-

[fredlord]

I cannot recommend that you get the camera wet but I have used my D60 many times in extremely wet conditions including a rain and hail storm on a mountain lake. So far (knock on wood) it has suffered no ill effects.

I would feel reasonable in saying that if it worries you, pack the camera with fresh dessicants in a watertight bag such as a zipper closure food bag and proceed. The only problem is that as soon as the dessicants have reached saturation they will no longer function and many do not indicate when they have reached that point. I would check with your local REI or EMS if you're in the USA and one is available. They have the better dessicants and drybags you might be looking for.

Personally, I intend to take my D60 out on the lake tomorrow in our tandem kayak if it's not raining. I wish to photograph osprey. I will take all precautions but if I can't do these things with the camera, it's of no use to me.

Good luck and get great images.

Fred Lord

[robertwgross]

As we all know, the little dessicant packs come packed inside all new photo equipment, but after they have been exposed to air for a while, they won't work anymore unless they are "recharged". Put them on an old aluminum pie plate and into the oven with the temperature set for 150 or 200 degrees F, and leave them for an hour or two. Then pop them out of the oven and drop them into an airtight plastic bag (that won't melt). They are now recharged and almost as good as new. Then, when you need to use them, take them out of the airtight bag and drop them in next to your camera.

---Bob Gross---

[GPR1]

I also was in Hong Kong recently, in July. The humidity was fierce, and I had the problem of letting the camera/lenses acclimate from airconditioning to outdoors. This is a common problem in humid areas. Leave your camera and lenses in the closed bag until they reach outside temp and the humidity will not condense on the glass/CMOS. If you're out hiking for extended periods, this will not be a problem for you -- the camera and lenses will be acclimated.

As for operating in the humidity, my 10D and lenses did not miss a beat once condensation issues were resolved. Do keep the pouring rain off them. You could keep a your gear in a small soft-sided camera bag in your backpack, and wrap a heavy-duty plastic garbage sack around it to stop moisture.

I have a LowePro waist pack/over the shoulder pack that holds 3 lenses and a body plus room for a few accessories/filters. It's reasonably compact, and very versitile. I love it, and you could carry it over your shoulder when convenient, and even cover it with the garbage bag in the rain.

Have fun hiking.

[UrbanScribe]

Thanks for the help everybody. I've used dessicant packs in the past and they worked fine inside the pack. And from the responses, it looks like that about as good as it gets. Thanks again everybody.

[Jorge]

I've just been "backpacking" my D30 + lenses through Borneo for 5 weeks. You'd be hard pressed to find more humid conditions and the heat is also pretty steep. Had no problems!

I try to avoid radical changes in temperature by letting the gear aclimatize in the bag. And I always keep a completely waterproof bag with my gear for rainpours, when sailing or when crossing rivers jungle style!

Enjoy!

[UrbanScribe]

glad to hear it held up well. Man, Borneo, bet that was a great trip.

Waterproof bag, that's exactly what I need. Could you point me to one online or the brand of one I may find in a store? I'll be in the Smokey Mountain region on the AT so yes, it usually is pretty wet.

Please let me know of some waterproof bags that can possibly fit a 10D and 70-300mm lense attached and then maybe one other additional lense. Thanks.

[fredlord]

Check REI or EMS or your local canoe/kayak/raft/boat dealers. They're called dry bags and come in all sizes up to duffle bag or larger.

[Rob Larsen]

urbanscribe wrote:
Please let me know of some waterproof bags that can possibly fit a 10D and 70-300mm lense attached and then maybe one other additional lense. Thanks.

I too love backpacking and have struggled with the challenge of finding a bag that:

1. Will carry my 10D, 100-400mm, and 28-135IS
2. Provides a reasonable amount of weather & impact protection.
3. Is easily accessible for spontaneous photo opps.
4. Doesn't add a whole lot of extraneous weight to my typical 55lb pack!

What I have found so far that best meets these requirements is a Lowepro TLZAW holder bag. It is long enough to hold the 10D with 100-400mm attached in main compartment. The 28-135 fits in the outer compartment and there is still room for a few more accessories. The bag comes with a light weight harness that comfortably holds the bag to your chest. It also has an "all weather" nylon cover that pulls out of a pocket and fits over the bag.

When wearing my backpack, I have found a better solution than using the supplied harness. I suspend the bag from 2 rings mounted on my backpack's shoulder straps and then use a "gut strap" to loosely secure the bag's lower section around my waist. This effectively moves the camera's weight from my shoulders to my backpack's waist belt, provides some measure of counterbalance, and keeps my camera handy at all times.

Here is the bag: http://www.lowepro.com/pages/series/toploads/top_pro.htm

Some pictures from my last hike (and 10D maiden voyage) are at: http://www.roblarsen.com/gallery/Moose/

Regards,
Rob

[Jorge]

Beautiful shots Rob. Looks like a fantastic area for hiking – no angry moose bulls around?!

I use a Lowe Alpine daypack/backpack for the gear and other stuff. I have a waterproof Seal Line that fits nicely inside the backpack for protection when things start to get wet or risky. You can get Seal Line (and other brands like Sea Bag) in many different sizes.

Do a quick "google" and you'll find links like this:

http://www.cascadedesigns.com/sealline/nylon.asp?Action=BlackDry

[UrbanScribe]

Excellent! Thanks Rob. The Lowepro TLZAW looks to be exactly what I'm looking for. The Seal Line bags also look like a good investment. I plan on doing a little cave photography soon also with the 10D, which the Seal Line is perfect for. Thanks you guys.

[MediaMagic]

I tried doing a search on the TLZAW at a couple of shops and at Lowepro's website, couldn't find it. Is there another name this product sells under? or do you have a link?

Thanks

[ctgoldwing]

Urb,

When I take a long (>5000 miles) motorcycle trip I use the Lowepro DryZone™ 200. It is absolutely waterproof. I strap it to my rear seat & it has been great at protecting my gear. Of course when I find some place to hike into it is a very comfy backpack. One negative with it - the small sections near the bottom of the bag are less than easy to get to because of the way it opens.
I picked mine up on ebay for abt $100 (new).

[Rob Larsen]

MediaMagic wrote:
I tried doing a search on the TLZAW at a couple of shops and at Lowepro's website, couldn't find it. Is there another name this product sells under? or do you have a link?

Thanks

Here is a link to the bag: http://www.lowepro.com/pages/series/toploads/top_pro.htm

Since the weather cover only shields 5 sides (not the back), I'd still feel more comfortable with a dry bag in an extended downpour. But, those conditions are usually the exception so I'm currently just stashing a few gallon ziplock bags for emergencies. The thead has motivated me to start checking out dry bag upgrades for my zip locks (which are not big enough for my new 100-400mm).

-Rob