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Back Pack suggestions


kuau

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I normally store and tote around my M9 and 4 lens in a art and artisan shoulder bag which I love, but now that it's ski season where I live I would love to be able to take my M9 and a couple lens with me. I have looked at some was it packs but not sure how comfortable they are when sitting on a chairlift or skiing down the mountain, so I thought what about a backpack. Most backpacks I see from the big guys, temba, tamrac, etc are all designed for full sized dslr's. I was thinking about this pack from click elite:

Clik Elite Camera Back Packs | ClikElite

but was wondering if anyone else had some suggestions.

I want something small of course, slim, but well built, padded etc.

Thanks

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Find a generic, ´non-photo´ backpack in an outdoor equipment shop; check that it´s rugged and weatherproof, nice to wear and easy to open and close & c, but forget about padding and compartments for lenses.

 

Then take your A & A inset, put it in your new backpack, prop it in place with a pair of extra socks or whatever. You now have an excellent photo pack that doesn´t look like one, and will cost less than half of a dedicated one. And you´ll have a good general-purpose backpack by just removing the insert.

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My smallish AA ACAM 1100 fits into most generic backpacks. I find this a good solution. Same goes for e.g. the Think Tank UD 20. This way, you can push the backpack into a locker and walk around with your bag during breaks (if there are any :)

 

Rgds

Ivo

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Someone once told me he found a small backpack that compartment size wise, appeared to be custom made for a M rangefinder body and lenses. I searched one out to see and try personally and I was both shocked and surprised. It's just the opposite of Billimham and AA bags (both which I have owned and love). This inexpensive backpack is made by "Naneu" which makes a line of lower priced camera bags that one generally seeing sold in large computer stores, some general merchandise photo depts etc.

 

No unusal features such as exotic harnesses, water hydration systems etc. It's extremely small (almost the size of a yong child's backpack, has no waist strap (the bottom of the bag would sit too high up on an adult..but has the loops for a chest strap to stabllize it but you have to purchase a little chest strap for a few $$ at a camping supply store (or easy to put one together with astrap material and a buckle). If you don't attach with a chest strap, then the bag will tend to slide off your shoulders. This would be especially true skiing. What this backpack has going for it is it's very well padded, fits the M8/M9 like it was designed for it, at least 4 or more lenses in divider compartments sized for rangefinder lenses and has a few other zippered compartments for xtra batteries, memory cards, Mp3 player and some other small items. Thats about it. Nothing fancy but you'd have to of course take it off your back when sitting on a chair lift...but its that small to hold it during that time.

 

***The model is the Naneu u-30-n and it's supposed to come with a rain cover, but 3/4's of the ones I saw was missing theirs. I've seen them sell for $45.00 -$69.00

 

The pics of the bag on the website shows it with an SLR and SLR lenses. I certainly couldn't imagine fitting in my DSLR or DSLR lenses into this bag and so the picture is misleading for that purpose, but ideal for a rangefinder body and quite a few lenses.

 

Here is the link (below)....to the website and backpack. Again its not a Billingham or AA bag, but I have yet to find a backpack that inside seems to have compartments perfectly sized for an M body and M sized rangefinder lenses "right out of the box" so to speak.

 

Dave (D&A)

 

U30 Camera Backpack - Urban Backpack/Shoulder Bag for the Serious or Casual Photographer - UrbanGear Series | Naneu

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I have the (discontinued) Billingham rucksack. Unless your M outfit includes two or three bodies and 8-10 lenses including a Noctilux, 135 Elmarit and a 75 Summilux, it's probably a little more capacious than you seek ;)

 

The smallest dedicated photo backpack I own is a LowePro Micro Trekker 100, and even that is a bit much for a small M outfit.

 

I sort of like the idea of putting your A&A inside a generic daypack (not so keen on the notion of using just the insert though). But do remember that to get access to your gear you'll have to remove the pack and either set it on the [possibly snow-covered] ground, or hold it in one hand while retrieving gear with the other. Doing a lens-swap without setting the pack down is a three-handed affair for anyone who isn't a circus juggler :D

 

 

 

Another possibility is the redoubtable Domke F5XB or J5XB. Sling the shoulder strap across your body, attach a separate waist belt around your waist. Carry the bag behind you in the small of your back when appropriate, swing it around to the side or front when shooting. I adopted the idea from a larger bag the late Galen Rowell developed for expedition photography.

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Thanks for all the suggestions.

On the domke f5xb there is a way go sling it over my shoulder and at the same time Order a second domke belt and have it around my waist to stabilize it for skiing so it doesn't swing all over the place?

 

Steven

Edited by kuau
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Hi Steven,

 

The one thing that would concern me for skiing (which I do a fair amount with), is Domke bags have little to no padding and in very active sports (where a spill could take place... would concern me greatly..even if you could tether the bag as you suggested. If you wrapped your camera gear then getting at it would be somewhat of a pain.

 

The backpack I mentioned is just that a thickly padded backpack, but I've used it for some serious bike (bicycle) road riding and with my adding a chest strap, it's been perfect. Don't know yet for skiing.

 

If you looked at the pic of it on the link I sent, don't be misled by the SLR gear they show. Funny they even mentioned putting in a 70-200 f2.8 with body...year right. When you open the thing, each lens compartment fits say a 50mm "M" Lux, 75mm "M"Lux perfectly and snuggly, standing on it's front or rear lens cap. A longer lens like a 135mm f4 would have to be laid flat on its side, taking up two lens slots. The body fits perfectly and snuggly too in its place, which amazed me as every other backpack, even mico ones, has the camera spot sized for a SLR, not a rangefinder. Too bad they don't market it as a rangefinder bag :) . Again I couldn't imagine putting in one of my DSLR's and any lens of mine in that bag. I too looked at the Lowepro micro 100, and its not even close. The Lowepro is still made for SLR sized (smaller) bodies and lenses and it was too big inside for a rangefinder kit. The Naneu is not exactly high end, far from it, but its padded well and protects the equipment and does have space fro a fair amount of smaller items as previously mentioned and it's of course low priced.

 

Just some ideas. Let us know what you come up with...especially if this is being sued for a rangefinder body and lenses.

 

Dave

Edited by D&A
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Thanks for all the suggestions.

On the domke f5xb there is a way go sling it over my shoulder and at the same time Order a second domke belt and have it around my waist to stabilize it for skiing so it doesn't swing all over the place?

 

Steven

 

The bag comes with a shoulder strap that clips on (and off). All you need additionally is a belt. Domke sells a canvas one, but any webbed belt of 1.5-2 inches would work. And the F5XB series, unlike the rest of the Domke range, is well-padded, and also has a zippered main compartment so if you take a tumble your gear won't come spilling out. When shooting, you can leave the zipper open and just use the velcro flapover.

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I have the Tarmac Adventure 6 and Adventure 9, which I use to transport equipment to a location:

 

The Official Tamrac Homepage - The leading manufacturer and distributor of camera, photography and camcorder bags

 

These are relatively small backpacks, good padding and light. I use the 9 when I take my MacBook Pro. The 9 will hold 5-6 lenses, camera, lots of chargers, etc. Good to work out of for a long trip.

 

The 6 is much smaller, and would probably be good for what you are looking for.

Edited by tdtaylor
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Hi Terry,

 

I tried the Tamrac 6 fro a M body and some lenses and although it's a well made "little" backpack (compared to the ones I generally use for DLSR), it's compartments for lenses I found were still generally made for SLR size lenses...as compared to the Naneu backpack I mentioned above. The place where a M body goes is also a bit large..more for a small DSLR. I use Tamrac backpacks and they are extremely well made and laid out, so my comments strictly reflect the fitting of lenses and the M body and how perfectly they fit in the Naneu backpack as though it was strictly amde for an M system. I think it was a fluke the Naneu ended up this way (and certainly not by design for a M system. I would never have even known about it, except for a fellow long time rangefinder user stumbling onto the Naneu bag one day, and told me about it. I doubted his enthusiasm until I actually triued it for myself, especially for active sports for cycling (as long as you add a chest strap.

 

Dave (D&A)

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I normally store and tote around my M9 and 4 lens in a art and artisan shoulder bag which I love, but now that it's ski season where I live I would love to be able to take my M9 and a couple lens with me. I have looked at some was it packs but not sure how comfortable they are when sitting on a chairlift or skiing down the mountain, so I thought what about a backpack. Most backpacks I see from the big guys, temba, tamrac, etc are all designed for full sized dslr's. I was thinking about this pack from click elite:

Clik Elite Camera Back Packs | ClikElite

but was wondering if anyone else had some suggestions.

I want something small of course, slim, but well built, padded etc.

Thanks

 

I've been using a Clickelite backpack since mid summer and like it a lot. I can fit the M9 as well as extra lenses without any problems. An additional benefit is the separate that holds a water bladder.

Don

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Hi Terry,

 

I tried the Tamrac 6 fro a M body and some lenses and although it's a well made "little" backpack (compared to the ones I generally use for DLSR), it's compartments for lenses I found were still generally made for SLR size lenses...as compared to the Naneu backpack I mentioned above. The place where a M body goes is also a bit large..more for a small DSLR. I use Tamrac backpacks and they are extremely well made and laid out, so my comments strictly reflect the fitting of lenses and the M body and how perfectly they fit in the Naneu backpack as though it was strictly amde for an M system. I think it was a fluke the Naneu ended up this way (and certainly not by design for a M system. I would never have even known about it, except for a fellow long time rangefinder user stumbling onto the Naneu bag one day, and told me about it. I doubted his enthusiasm until I actually triued it for myself, especially for active sports for cycling (as long as you add a chest strap.

 

Dave (D&A)

 

Dave,

 

You're right, they are typical SLR depth. I forgot to mention I tend to transport my lenses with end to end endcaps so they are about the same depth as the compartments. This method is definitely better for transport, not necessarily a good on to work out of.

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I agree with Per: get a nondescript backpack and make up the padding that you need.

 

It helps ones sense of comfort not to have the backpack say, "There's an expensive camera in here!"

 

I have an old pack and am looking at a replacement that will have a laptop compartment.

 

I am thinking about this one from North Face:

 

The North Face Recon Pack at REI.com

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[...]

 

I am thinking about this one from North Face:

 

The North Face Recon Pack at REI.com

 

I like this daypack - very confortable to carry. A number of inserts will fit into it, e.g. the standard. Billingham Hadley. Of course the equipment will then be at the bottom of the bag, so the leaky orange juice bottle should go outside in the mesh pocket :eek:

 

Rgds

Ivo

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I like the Naneu Pro bags and have found the Echo to be a great pack for my M kit when a shoulder bag isn't practical. The sling style bag is stable on your back and has enough room in the camera base for 2 M bodies with lens, SF-20 flash, filter pouch, film, etc. The top holds a water bottle, power bars, etc and I use the music player spot to hold phone, ID and some cash. It's a great versatile little daypack that won't break the bank.

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Thanks for all your helpful suggestions!

 

I've decided to get a Ski Touring backpack from Mammut, the Nirvana Pro:

Nirvana_Pro_25_black_smoke_bild1.eps_Zoom.jpeg

 

The M9 w/ either an Elmar-M 50 or Summilux-M 50 (pre-asph) goes first into a 20 year old CCS lens pouch (like #206 at Camera Care Systems) for added protection (when required) and then into the compartment directly at my back.

 

Biggest advantage of this backpack is the additional and easy access from the back-side via a zip running around ~75% of the pack, so that when I'd like to take a shot, I can put the thing into the snow with the back-side up and get easy access to the camera without getting my back wet or dirty when putting it on again later:

Nirvana_Pro_25_black_smoke_bild2.eps_Zoom.jpeg

 

Besides my little camera and two or three lenses, there's plenty of space for other stuff and the backpack is extremely comfy to wear, I just tested it successfully during a week in the Dolomites!

 

I'm most happy with this solution!

 

Best,

Michael

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