Which backpack for the SL?

[SrMi]

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I keep my M lenses in little microfibre bags (actually Oakley bags for their glasses)

but the Trail 16L is designed for mirrorless, so its space is much smaller than bags designed for huge pro SLR bodies

Another possibility for packing tiny M lenses into large dividers are Slim Can Beer Koozie Holders.

[appleman]

Incomplete link? Which pack?

Hi Jeff. As this was a present, all I can tell you is that it's a Lowepro bag with a reference number LP160/V47. My SL camera and the 24/90 and the 90/280 fit in nice and snug with space for batteries/filters etc. It's very easy to carry and is not too big.

[saxo]

I use for my SL gear the mindshift 180° professional.

 

This backpack takes all SL gear, including windbraker, bottle to drink and snak, and the camera can be pulled out without removing the backpack, very reliable mechanism.

[appleman]

Hi Jeff. As this was a present, all I can tell you is that it's a Lowepro bag with a reference number LP160/V47. My SL camera and the 24/90 and the 90/280 fit in nice and snug with space for batteries/filters etc. It's very easy to carry and is not too big.

 

Jeff, after some research I have located the bag on Amazon so just search for ---

Lowepro Pro Runner 200 AW Backpack for Camera - Black

[appleman]

Incomplete link? Which pack?

 

Jeff, after some research I have located the bag on Amazon so just search for ---

Lowepro Pro Runner 200 AW Backpack for Camera - Black

[MRJohn]

I use for my SL gear the mindshift 180° professional.

 

This backpack takes all SL gear, including windbraker, bottle to drink and snak, and the camera can be pulled out without removing the backpack, very reliable mechanism.

 

I was interested in this backpack too due to its unique design. Can you share what the biggest lens is that can be mounted to the SL and the pull out part still works? I just assume the 90-280 does not work, but how about the 24-90? Thanks! (A quick and dirty camera photo of the loaded thing might be helpful too).

[ramarren]

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My now "complete" SL kit is all in hand so I tested out the Tenba Cooper 13DSLR bag with it. It fits comfortably the SL+SL24-90, SL90-280, and Super-Elmar-R 15 along with iPad Pro 12.3 inch, power supply and cables for the iPad Pro, battery charger and cables for the SL, Lightning to SD Card Adapter cable, two spare batteries, and as many spare SD cards as I want, with a bit of room to spare. Not bad. The only difficult thing is that the bag stuffed with that full kit weighs in at nearly 18 lbs, a couple more than I'd estimated. I can save some weight by switching from the SER15 to the WATE, switching to the iPad Pro 9x7 ... that cuts it down by about 2 Lbs. Still pretty hefty though. 

 

So yes: I likely will purchase that Trifecta backpack if I find myself wanting to head out into the field with the whole kit frequently. And/or have another custom insert made for my Pelican 1510 rollaway case for the SL kit for slightly less aggressively 'hiking' capability. Carrying that kind of load on my shoulder or even across my back too often would eventually damage this old body. 

[FlashGordonPhotography]

How heavy is the Temba bag? I found a LowePro I like (Whistler series) but the bag weighs 3 kg (over 6 pounds) while the Peak Design 30 litre weighs only half of that. Big difference, especially when going trough an airport if the bag takes up nearly half your carry on.

 

And how often do you carry all the chargers and cables into the field? Wouldn't they be left in the hotel or locked in the car?

 

Gordon

[ramarren]

How heavy is the Temba bag? I found a LowePro I like (Whistler series) but the bag weighs 3 kg (over 6 pounds) while the Peak Design 30 litre weighs only half of that. Big difference, especially when going trough an airport if the bag takes up nearly half your carry on.

 

And how often do you carry all the chargers and cables into the field? Wouldn't they be left in the hotel or locked in the car?

 

 

The Tenba Cooper 13DSLR weighs 1335g (2 3/4 lbs) on my package scale. That sounds similar to the Peak Design 30L. 

 

The iPad charger and cable, and the SL charger and cable, would normally not be in the bag. They weigh altogether about 350g (3/4 lb) at most, depending on how long a cable for the iPad I select (I have four lengths). 

 

I should probably pull out the MacBook Air, charger, and the SL USB cable too, to assess how much they add to the kit instead of the iPad, for tethered shooting with Lightroom and/or LIS. 

 

In answer to "how often", I'd have to say that I would almost never carry such a heavy kit into the field. I'm more concerned here with carry ability for taking the whole kit places where I have to walk with it for a bit: airports, train stations, bus depots, etc. Or even just schlepping it from my condo to the car park, or from my room in a big hotel to the car park. For these purposes, a fitted insert for my rollaway case would be the sensible thing, and the rollaway case would be the best way to carry it for transit, I think, as long as I can fit my other needs into a modest sized satchel that can ride on top of it. 

 

(I'm still astonished by the efficiency of the OIS on the SL90-280 lens. It makes getting good results with hand-held shooting at 280mm focal length with 1/50 second exposure times effortless. But that's a subject for another thread.)

[leicatraveller]

What are you using for the SL with a mounted 90-280 plus some extra lenses/gear?

 

 

I was considering Angelo Pelle leather backpack, is very big, i don't use the 90-280mm so i will use the extra space for carrying some personal things when I want to travel light for a week end or a second hand luggage when i fly.

 

http://angelo-pelle.com/backpack.html

[LocalHero1953]

Jeff, after some research I have located the bag on Amazon so just search for ---

Lowepro Pro Runner 200 AW Backpack for Camera - Black

I have this one. IMO it is not designed for long walks/hikes in rough country (for which I have an f-stop Loka), because of the unsophisticated design of the shoulder and waist straps. But I use it a lot in town and on a bicycle because I can get my portable portrait studio in it: M240 and a couple of lenses, 3 strobes, 3 wireless triggers, snoots, small reflector, rechargeables and, strapped to the outside, 3 lighting stands+brolly brackets, and 2 brollies.

So, plenty of space and rugged. Like too many camera bags, it has far too many pockets - I keep losing my Colorchecker Passport.

I have also used it for the SL with both zooms, but that is only for transport from A-B: for walkaround it is too much hassle getting at the contents in a hurry (same with all backpacks IMO).

[Jeff S]

....too much hassle getting at the contents in a hurry (same with all backpacks IMO).

 

I played with a ThinkTank Trifecta 10 at my local store, and it was easy to swing the bag to the front supported by the waist belt, and then open using the rear zipper and reach gear like an open tray.  Unlike the Peak Designs, it has rear access, not just from the sides, which also aids in packing/arranging contents.  The pack is big enough for the SL, both zooms and more.

 

Not as quick as a shoulder bag, but much better access than most backpacks I've tried.

 

Jeff

[LocalHero1953]

I'm sure the swing type backpacks are easier to access (I've never tried them so I'm not dissing them), but I prefer a shoulder bag for the SL for walking around at events with the two zooms, rather than a half way house.

[Jeff S]

Well, the SL shoulder bag thread might be more to your liking. 

 

I also prefer shoulder bags for quick access (or no bag at all)....backpacks serve a different, more infrequent need for me.

 

Jeff

[LocalHero1953]

Well, the SL shoulder bag thread might be more to your liking. 

 

Neither! I have both. I was just commenting on a bag cited by appleman, but the follow-ups went off piste.

[ramarren]

My SL carry decisions: 

• A Pelican 1510 rollaway is going to be the best case to schlep the SL, "two zoom plus ultrawide lens" kit around in when getting on and off trains and other transit systems where a long distance hike might be needed. I'm having a customized insert made by these folks: https://www.mycasebuilder.com
• For walking a distance in the field, for me the Think Tank Trifecta 10 is the right backpack and will pick one up before I go off on that kind of trek. That may be never, but we'll see.
• The Tenba Cooper 13DSLR is the smallest bag that will do the job for more casual carry-about and occasional carry for short distances. It's the only shoulder bag I have that fits just the SL fitted with 90-280 lens, with hood on, for a walking session. It's a useful bag for other things anyway, and is what I'm keeping the zooms and my "most used" accessories in in the closet. (A Timbuk2 messenger bag with padding added may do this just as well.)
• A Billingham L2 is just right to carry the SL and two smaller R primes, or SL fitted with 24-90, or SL fitted with Super-Elmar-R 15mm, or SL and three M lenses. It's what I use most of the time. 

[MRJohn]

Well, the SL shoulder bag thread might be more to your liking. 

 

I also prefer shoulder bags for quick access (or no bag at all)....backpacks serve a different, more infrequent need for me.

 

Jeff

 

well, I haven't decided on a new backpack yet (still torn between the Trifecta and the Peak Design) but recently bought a Thinktank Urban Disguise 35 V2 with a backpack strap add-on. Both discontinued and hence quite discounted. So a hybrid of sort  . This is really a great shoulder bag for the SL as one can change lenses from the top without putting the bag down. It fits the SL with 90-280 mounted in vertical position and two other lenses (probably more if you push it and want to carry it). So ideal for the 90-280 and the 24-90 (both better without hoods), or the 90-280 and e.g. a noct and a wide angle.

[MRJohn]

 

My SL carry decisions: 

• A Pelican 1510 rollaway is going to be the best case to schlep the SL, "two zoom plus ultrawide lens" kit around in when getting on and off trains and other transit systems where a long distance hike might be needed. I'm having a customized insert made by these folks: https://www.mycasebuilder.com
• For walking a distance in the field, for me the Think Tank Trifecta 10 is the right backpack and will pick one up before I go off on that kind of trek. That may be never, but we'll see.
• The Tenba Cooper 13DSLR is the smallest bag that will do the job for more casual carry-about and occasional carry for short distances. It's the only shoulder bag I have that fits just the SL fitted with 90-280 lens, with hood on, for a walking session. It's a useful bag for other things anyway, and is what I'm keeping the zooms and my "most used" accessories in in the closet. (A Timbuk2 messenger bag with padding added may do this just as well.)
• A Billingham L2 is just right to carry the SL and two smaller R primes, or SL fitted with 24-90, or SL fitted with Super-Elmar-R 15mm, or SL and three M lenses. It's what I use most of the time. 

 

nice, and an idea for a new thread: how many bags for the SL, or, minimum number of bags for the SL 

[amoebahydra]

I use a small size old backpack from Lowre which fits SL with multifunctional handgrip, SL90-280/2.8-4, SL24-90/2.8-4, Noctilux-M 50/0.95 and WATE.  I can also swap space between 24-90 and 90-280 so that either lens can attach to camera body and store in the backpack ..........

 

However, if I choose to bring the SL50/1.4 instead of Noctilux then I need a slightly bigger backpack

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica L-Mount

[Patrickxyz]

For urban/city etc. I use the PeakDesign Everyday Backback 30l.

The SL+90-280 fits perfectly either horizontal or vertical and there is lots of space for other gear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ingo,

 

it seems as if you have tried to put some kind of barrier between the top and the bottom area. Might you show in another picture what you have done, please? I am wondering how to divide both parts to make the top more useful for other stuff.

 

Thanks in advance, Patrick