"Two Gun Slingers" - How do You Do It?

[SoccerRef]

I am about to transition from one camera to two. When using only my XT, I generally wear my Lowepro Slingshot. While I love the slingshot and can wear it for hours on end with no issue, it won't lend itself to quick camera changes. I want to be able to "set down" one and "pick up" the other quickly.

The second camera I am about to start carrying is an HV20 (Compact HiDef Camcorder). I will be carrying it with me to all of the soccer and football games this fall, and I am looking for advice on how to best carry both and keeping either one close at hand.

I have looked at belt systems and pack systems, but I am not sure they will work well for sitting, kneeling, etc. Who uses a belt system? Which one do you use? What do you like/dislike about it?

Who uses some other system? etc.

I know there are several of you out there who carry multiple bodies and lenses, how do you do it?

For what it is worth, I move around the field a Lot during a game. I often find myself sitting, kneeling or squatting. For me, Getting up and down 20 times during a game is not unusual. I will be carrying my XT (with BG) with a 70-200 2.8 attached most of the time, an extra lens, the HV20, extra batteries and a blank DV Tape, at a minimum.

Your advice and experience is appreciated.

[vkalia]

I use a beltpack - a Lowepro S&F. Have a deluxe waistbelt, harness, a few pouches and a Toploader.

It does pretty much everything I want it to do. My only gripe with it is that the bigger bags tend to sag a little bit when attached to the belt. Not really a huge deal - and overall, the Lowepro meets my needs better than the ThinkTank. The Kinetic system is just absurdly priced for what it is.

I camera hangs diagonally across my right shoulder, with the camera in front and to the left of my torso. The other camera hangs off my right shoulder. All I have to do is pick up the desired camera, wiggle my shoulders a little to get some slack in the shoulder strap and shoot. Works quite well even when you spend all day shooting.

This entire gallery was shot this way:
http://www.photosafariindia.com/galleries/pushkar/thumbs.html

Cheers,
Vandit

[SoccerRef]

Vandit,

Thanks for the response. I think I understand what you are saying. Do you happen to have a photo of yourself with your gear on?

How does the harness work? Is it basically shoulder straps that attach to the belt to help support the weight?

I imagine the weight of a body, grip and a 70-200 would make a belt sag, which is why I was a little skeptical about the idea, but a harness to help support the weight makes a lot of sense.

Thanks...

[vkalia]

Unfortunately, I dont have a photo. If you're keen, I'll try to have a photo taken this weekend when I'm back from a trip and email it to you - let me know.

The harness is exactly what you described: 2 clips in the front (actually the sides) and one clip in the back (near the small of your back). You can add a couple of small pouches to it as well (I keep my Blackberry and spare memory cards there - this mirrors my gear config when I wear just a regular photo vest... so less fumbling around for me).

Adding heavy lenses does 2 things: 1/ the bags pull away a little bit and 2/ the belt tends to pull downwards a bit. Neither is as bad as it sounds - you get used to it quite quickly and you'll never feel that the gear is unstable.

There is one other funky option: if you get a Toploader (I have the 70AW), it comes with its own chest harness. By playing around with the straps & some plastic clips, I jerry-rigged my Toploader so it attaches to the front of my harness, around my belly-level. I like having this bag with me, as it lets me put away one of my cameras if need be - and in front is about the only place where it can go and *not* mess with your mobility. On the back, as a counterbalance, I keep a small pouch with a bottle of water in it.

When I have both cameras out, I can use the Toploader as a lens-changing bag. I can also rest one of my cameras on it, if my shoulder is getting tired. And of course, I can put away one camera if I am really running and dont want 2 bodies bouncing around.

Where Lowepro scores over TT for me is that it is designed not just as a system you can work out of (my grammer teacher just had a conniption), but you can also use it for transport. I go hiking a lot, and the Lowepro has better weather sealing and provides a better, comfier way to carry a lot of kit over long distances. I shoot a lot in Ladakh and other parts of the Himalayas, at heights ranging from 10k-17k feet, and this is the comfiest way I've encountered for carrying my gear at that altitude.

TT is worth considering if you are doing strictly event stuff - bring your gear in a backpack or roller, transfer to belt system for the shoot and then pack at the end of the event. I also like having all my gear in exactly the same place every time - so TT's ability to move the pouches around doesnt really do much for me. YMMV.

Vandit

[SoccerRef]

Yes, if you don't mind, I would like to see a photo. I don't like to make a decision to change until I am comfortable that I will be happy with the change. Especially when I will spend money to do it. I went to the TT site and frankly liked everything I saw except the prices! WOW are those bags expensive! But they seem much more flexible than Lowepro's. (Although I am very aware that the impression may be more from presentation than from facts, which is exactly why I am here on POTN asking questions.)

Sometimes a $150 purchase is better than a $75 purchase, but not always, and unless I can justify the price difference, I'm tempted to go with less expense. And my biggest concern is that, unlike lenses, bags don't hold value too well. SO if I buy something I don't like, I am going to take a hit getting rid of it.

Thanks for your input, it is helpful.

[vkalia]

Will do. My schedule is a little tight as I have one workshop finishing this weekend, and I get home on Sunday only to fly to Thailand on Monday. I'll try to get some shots and mail them - otherwise, if you dont mind, please email me at vkalia@photosafariindia.com and remind me on Aug 1.

Btw, here is a comparison of Lowepro vs TT that you might find useful:
http://www.photosafariindia.com/articles/rev4-beltsys.html

Cheers,
Vandit

[SoccerRef]

Great Article. Thanks for all your help on this, I can't tell you how much I appreciate it!