Bag- Arthritis in my back

That mean, is not so on the bag but more on adjusting the bag position?

I've tried that before but I still feel the pain.

I had in a notebook,lenses and a body weighting almost 18lbs!

Thanks everyone. I guess I'll have to go to the city and check everything out. I have thought of a vest, but I lay on my belly a lot. I thought of a sling, but worry about weight distribution, I'll have to try them out. I've also thought of a waist pack, I had a small one and sold it because it was for my A1 and a couple lens but won't fit the 30D with anything but a prime. But that worked great, when I was using it it could turn it to the front and when I wasn't it could turn to the back. But when it was heavy it did tire me out a bit.

My other health problems hurt other parts of my body, so moving 12 pounds from my lumbar to my shoulders or hips won't really help much as they hurt too. What I really need to do it learn to only go shooting for one thing and bring one or two lenses only. But I worry that I'll miss the prize shot if I leave something at home.

Seems like most of the people here has health related problem due to the overweight camera gears

Yeah, at least I'm not having to lug around the brick and the 70-20 2.8 IS then my back would feel worse! Actually it's my health over my finances that prevent me from buying those.

gardengirl13 wrote in post #4699740
....I have thought of a vest, but I lay on my belly a lot. I thought of a sling, but worry about weight distribution, I'll have to try them out. ...

I do a lot of macro flat on my belly using both the 200 sling and the 300 sling.

With the 200, you need to tighten up the auxiliary strap well for working on your belly, but as long as you do that it stays in place fine.

For the 300 it has a proper load bearing belt so it is well stabilized for low level work, the quick release buckle does not seem to be a big issue in terms of digging into your flesh.

In terms of load carrying you can put a lot more in the 300 as most of the weight rides on the hips.

With the 200 it is all on your sholder and neck, if you jam pack it* it can be uncomfortable after a few hours.

* EF 200mm f2.8L, EF-S 10-22mm, 20D w 100mm f2.8 Macro USM 50mm f1.4, 17-40 f4L all with hoods, EF2X, EF 1.4X, Stack of tubes, lots of bits. Too much really for the 200, light load for 300.

gardengirl13 wrote in post #4699740
....I've also thought of a waist pack, I had a small one and sold it because it was for my A1 and a couple lens but won't fit the 30D with anything but a prime. But that worked great, when I was using it it could turn it to the front and when I wasn't it could turn to the back. But when it was heavy it did tire me out a bit. ....

Used to use the same thing for my FD film system. A1 and Ftb bodies, 17, 28, 50, 85 and 135 primes inc hoods, 2X, tubes, fold-up medium format camera, lots of bits etc. Could hardly fit any of the EOS stuff in with a lens mounted, the modern DSLRs are too bulky.

Lester Wareham wrote in post #4707824
Used to use the same thing for my FD film system. A1 and Ftb bodies, 17, 28, 50, 85 and 135 primes inc hoods, 2X, tubes, fold-up medium format camera, lots of bits etc. Could hardly fit any of the EOS stuff in with a lens mounted, the modern DSLRs are too bulky.

Tell me about it! I have a bag at home that fit my 2 A1s, a flash, and most of my lenses (17 (god I miss that lens!!), 24, 28, 35, 2 50s, 85, 100 macro, a 135. The 200 and 300 were too tall,) but I could carry most of this and not sweat. And they were all metal, not plastic! I miss my old stuff sometimes, but have to admit I am taking better pictures now, maybe it's the stuff, maybe it's me, who knows?

I will look into the 300 sling, I'd rather have the weight on my hips then my neck and shoulders.

Lester Wareham wrote in post #4707824
. Could hardly fit any of the EOS stuff in with a lens mounted, the modern DSLRs are too bulky.

Way too bulky! My return to use of a 135 body form factor was first with the 20D, and it dwarfs my OM system bodies and lenses.

I am puzzled by the 'BG for a place for my pinky' reason for BG purchase, when I compare even a Rebel to an OM body.

gardengirl13 wrote in post #4714247
Tell me about it! I have a bag at home that fit my 2 A1s, a flash, and most of my lenses (17 (god I miss that lens!!), 24, 28, 35, 2 50s, 85, 100 macro, a 135. The 200 and 300 were too tall,) but I could carry most of this and not sweat. And they were all metal, not plastic! I miss my old stuff sometimes, but have to admit I am taking better pictures now, maybe it's the stuff, maybe it's me, who knows?

I will look into the 300 sling, I'd rather have the weight on my hips then my neck and shoulders.

Yes the old FD stuff was wonderfully made. But I must say I get much better IQ with my 20D than I ever did with slide or B&W neg, the digital images are much sharper and cleaner, colours are more true.

Wilt wrote in post #4714813
Way too bulky! My return to use of a 135 body form factor was first with the 20D, and it dwarfs my OM system bodies and lenses.

I am puzzled by the 'BG for a place for my pinky' reason for BG purchase, when I compare even a Rebel to an OM body.

There seems to be a modern fashion to bulky is good in design at present, perhaps a cultural phase. I must agree, the darn thing is big enough as it is, why slap a BG on it. Funding aside a good reason not to get a 1Dx body - too darn large and heavy.

Complicating factors; the EF mount is much wider than the FD, for good optical reasons but it bulks up the lenses and body a bit. Another on the non-pro bodies is the built in flash which protrudes from the pentaprism cover making the whole thing bigger and tends to snag on things, at least the 5D misses that out.

Lester Wareham wrote in post #4715077
There seems to be a modern fashion to bulky is good in design at present, perhaps a cultural phase. I must agree, the darn thing is big enough as it is, why slap a BG on it. Funding aside a good reason not to get a 1Dx body - too darn large and heavy..

Lester, have a look in the department store jewelry section and notice the 2 lb. wristwatches... The odd thing is today's youth use their cell phones to tell time, and the huge wristwatch is merely a 'fashion accessory'! (shudder)

Wilt wrote in post #4715108
Lester, have a look in the department store jewelry section and notice the 2 lb. wristwatches... The odd thing is today's youth use their cell phones to tell time, and the huge wristwatch is merely a 'fashion accessory'! (shudder)

Heh, the cell phones are fashion accessories too these days, with a fashion half life of about 3 months. (I have a 16 year old son )