How do you carry your gear?

[EcoRick]

I'm struggling with selecting a type of bag I can used to hold limited equipment to lug around all day. I have a number or Domke shoulder bags that I think are great, but now that I have a number of primes, I'd like to carry a few lenses (maybe 2 plus the camera) and a few misc. accessories. I think the shoulder bags get heavy after a few hours and are cumbersome. I extend the straps to the max length and sling them around my shoulder like a messenger bag. I've looked at sling bags and backpacks, but usually they're fairly big and more bag than I'm looking for. I want to carry my camera to Chicago with me for work as my schedule is flexible, so I then have my work messenger bag and my camera bag. I've read many threads that backpacks are difficult to use, however I think they are the easiest to carry any weight for an extended period of time.

How do others in the forum lug gear around? As of now, I'm leaning toward the backpack route, simply because I've used the shoulder bag for a while and want something that will distribute the weight better.

Any comments would be appreciated.

[claybuster]

I'm struggling with selecting a type of bag I can used to hold limited equipment to lug around all day. I have a number or Domke shoulder bags that I think are great, but now that I have a number of primes, I'd like to carry a few lenses (maybe 2 plus the camera) and a few misc. accessories. I think the shoulder bags get heavy after a few hours and are cumbersome. I extend the straps to the max length and sling them around my shoulder like a messenger bag. I've looked at sling bags and backpacks, but usually they're fairly big and more bag than I'm looking for. I want to carry my camera to Chicago with me for work as my schedule is flexible, so I then have my work messenger bag and my camera bag. I've read many threads that backpacks are difficult to use, however I think they are the easiest to carry any weight for an extended period of time.

How do others in the forum lug gear around? As of now, I'm leaning toward the backpack route, simply because I've used the shoulder bag for a while and want something that will distribute the weight better.

Any comments would be appreciated.
I have a backpack and also use a Think Tank belt system.

[mrbplus]

At some point on the progression from being a point-and-shoot user to a DSLR shooter with lenses, flashes, filters, batteries, grey cards, wireless triggers, etc, etc, in tow you realise that all that gear is really heavy.

I use a Lowepro CompuTrekker Plus AW, which is about as big as you can use for flight carry on luggage. The upside is that it fits all my camera gear and a notebook, has a built in water proof cover, and is comfortable to carry on my back. The downside is that it takes a good 30 seconds to a minute to take off the bag, get out my camera, attached a lens and start shooting. So I tend to either be in "photo" mode or "travel" mode. Being in "tourist" mode is not so easy.

[jsinon]

I started with a Burton Zoom backpack and then discovered the Crumpler 7MDH. I carry all the same stuff in it, but found that with the backpack if it started to bother me, get heavy, hurt my back, I was stuck. There is only one way to wear a backpack. With the 7MDH, I have the strap extended so I can wear it messenger style, I can switch shoulders, and carry it by the handle, always moving it around so it never become a strain on any one body part. I carry just as much stuff( all in my sig + a set of Kenko extension tubes and 1.4x TC and a few other odds and ends) as the backpack, without getting as tired, and for much longer. The shoulder bag is also just so much easier to put down and pick up if I'm out doing a lot of stop and go shooting.

[Jon]

Only time I use a backpack is when moving from point A to point B is more important than photographing. Hiking, I'll use a backpack but keep the primary camera out. If I'm out mainly for the photographing I'll chose an appropriately-sized shoulder bag. For a body and 2-3 lenses I use the Domke F-3x or maybe the F-802. If I'm going out to photograph, but know there will be some walking in getting to the location, I attach the Tenba Backpack Harness (http://www.tenba.com/products/Tools-Accessories-BPH-L-Long-Backpack-Harness.aspx) to one of the Domkes, usually the F1x, F2 or F7AF.

[SYS]

Might want to consider a "torsopack" type of bags that go in front of you. I use Kata T-214.

[fireplug]

Pretty much like Jon said^

I only use my backpack if I have to go somewhere where I can sit it down and do my thing. Other then that when I am out and about I use my Domke shoulder bag(F-2). Pretty soon I hope to get 1 more Domke (I need to get the biggest one) and probably a pelican so I have a main storage place for all my gear.

[EcoRick]

Thanks for all the feedback. What started messing me up was getting a bunch of primes. When I used zooms, I could get away with one, at most two lenses in a bag. Now I miss shots because I can't use the same strategy. It's funny how I thought that primes are lighter than zooms, but never realized I had to lug more around gear.

[DDCSD]

The Kata R-102 (R-103 has a laptop compartment) is unbelievably comfortable. I've worn it for 8+hours in 95F heat will almost no discomfort. It is designed to keep most of the bag off of your back which helps keep you cooler and keep you from being drenched in back sweat. It also has a built-in "strap" that you can hook your camera to which is great to give your neck some relief.

Backpacks do have the disadvantage of not being as quick to access, but I think the comfort factor is more important.

Here is a thread on it. Its not a huge bag, but I think it might hold what you have listed in your sig.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=347433

[RDKirk]

Minivan.

[tvphotog]

Check the Thinktank Rotation 360. It lets you access the lower part of the pack without taking it off. It's a pound heavier than other packs the same size, but with the wide waist belt, I don't notice it. It's a medium size pack, so I'm not sure how much gear you can take. Look at the videos on Thinktank's site. It's a real innovation in backpacks, and built like a tank.

[Headshotzx]

When I borrow lots of gear for a very serious shoot, I'll have something along these lines to put in a bag:

2 x 40D one with grip
1 x 400D gripped (remote camera)
11-16 tokie
17-40L
50 1.4
70-200 2.8IS
2 x 580EXII (or 580 + 430)
CP-E3 flash battery pack
Radio Shutter remote for 400D, angle finder, water bottle, acrylic bounce card, memory card wallet.

And all that goes into my Think Tank Photo Streetwalker Hard Drive.

For:
400D gripped + 70-200 mounted
17-40L OR 50 1.4
580EXII
Water bottle

I'll use either my lowepro toploader 75aw, water bottle bag and 60aw pouch sliplocked to the side.

For (all separate, or one lens attached):
400D gripped
17-40L
50 1.4
580EXII flash
water bottle

I'll use my lowepro stealth reporter D200AW.

[butterfly2937]

Tamrac 698 http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=221066&Q=&is=REG&A=details

Awesome bag!