Camera bags: shoulder or backpack?

Dear Marko,

A classic web answer: ignore both choices and suggest a third. Sorry!

Have you considered a sling-style bag?

A lot depends on how much you're carrying. I use shoulder bags for small outfits, backpacks for big ones. My wife prefers slings (despatch-rider bags, one strap) for both. More comfort than a shoulder bag; faster access than a backpack. Unless it's a big Nikon outfit, you might care to consider this possibility.

Cheers,

Roger
 
Roger Hicks said:
Dear Marko,

A classic web answer: ignore both choices and suggest a third. Sorry!

Have you considered a sling-style bag?

A lot depends on how much you're carrying. I use shoulder bags for small outfits, backpacks for big ones. My wife prefers slings (despatch-rider bags, one strap) for both. More comfort than a shoulder bag; faster access than a backpack. Unless it's a big Nikon outfit, you might care to consider this possibility.

Cheers,

Roger
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Hey Roger! I love your site! Very useful! I was thinking of a backpack as one of those split ones with the cameras in the bottom. I haven't looked into sling bags, like the Lowepro slingshot, but it seems convinient, fast, and more comfortable, as you said. Currently it's a flash, nikon F5, 28 and soon a 50mm lens. I use a sling bag for cycling around town, and it is quite nice! Next time I'm at the camera store I'll look into them!

Marko
 
I prefer a backpack as it distributes the weight around better. Sling bags are better for small, light weight setup. A fully loaded sling back full of SLR gear is no joke to lug around.

Cheers,
 
If I were only carrying a Nikon RF kit, I would opt for the shoulder bag or a sling, because of easier accessibility. Backpacks are great/essential for carrying heavy loads, but overkill on a smaller and lighter kit. My $0.02
 
backpacks are great for getting your stuff TO a location, through the airports, etc but terrible for working out of. You have to take it off and open it every time you need something. That's why i also pack, in my suitcase, a Domke or messenger-type bag for use AT the location.
 
I have a Domke backpack and use it as Pablito describes above and to carry a MF rig and a tripod. Your F5 and a couple of lenses will fit nicely into the F-6 and what is great about that bag is it is shallow and very easy to work out of. However you get another couple of things and you've outgrown the bag already - it is small, especially for an SLR rig. Take a look at the Domke F-2 as well, that was Jim Domke's original design and it is the best all-round bag you can get.
 
I use the medium size Slingshot for D200, 70-200/2.8, 50/1.8, 20/2.8, SB-800 and some bits and pieces and it's ok - though I'm short, broad, heavy and have a reasonably functional back so YMMV. There's no good way to carry a tripod with it though.

The F5 is bigger than a D200, isn't it? That might be a problem ...
 
MarkoKovacevic said:
Hey Roger! I love your site! Very useful! I was thinking of a backpack as one of those split ones with the cameras in the bottom. I haven't looked into sling bags, like the Lowepro slingshot, but it seems convinient, fast, and more comfortable, as you said. Currently it's a flash, nikon F5, 28 and soon a 50mm lens. I use a sling bag for cycling around town, and it is quite nice! Next time I'm at the camera store I'll look into them!

Marko
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Dear Marko,

Thanks for the kind words.

What do you mean by 'split bags'? Are you thinking of the Think Tank Rotation bag? It's a brilliant idea, and offers superb protection, but be warned: it's quite heavy, space is limited compared with a conventional backpack, and you may or may not get on with it. If you do, it's close to perfect. If you don't, its an expensive disaster -- and no-one can tell you until you try it.

As others have said, shoulder bags for using your cameras, backlpacks for carrying them. Slings -- if you get on with 'em -- can be a good compromise.

Cheers,

R.
 
peter_n said:
Take a look at the Domke F-2 as well, that was Jim Domke's original design and it is the best all-round bag you can get.
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Likewise. I have used a Domke F-2 for my older, but similar Nikon SLR set-up for over 20 years. It works out wonderful. The aspects I like is that I can flip the cover over (between the bag and me) and have open access to the gear, plus I can store everything in a tidy and well-padded manner for carrying onboard airplanes, etc.

p.s. Hi Marko!
 
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I purchased a knock-off of a Lowepro slingshot 100 bag at a street market in Hong Kong earlier this year and really like it. I think I paid all of $28 for it (not including the cost of the trip to HK). If you intend to use one with a F5, buy the larger size. My d200 will not fit in mine with the battery grip attached. I don't own a F5, but I think they're about equal in size to the d200 with the grip.
 
I have a pair of shoulder bags and a backpack. I use the shoulder bags almost all the time but the backpack is great for travelling. I've been bouncing around and only have the shoulder bag and I really wish sometimes I had the backpack. For hiking around and serious moving with a bit of weight a backpack is the best. For daily life, rangefinder and a lens or two, the shoulder bag is awesome.
 
I use both, though I typically use the backpack for SLR gear and the shoulder bags for RF gear.

I use the type of backpack that opens in the middle (like pac-man) and has a camera compartment only in the bottom 1/2 rather than the ones that open completely. With these bags and a bit of flexibility, you can change lenses without removing the bag. You simpy take one arm out of the strap and swing the bag around to your side. It's also nice to have a seperate top compartment for general use.

As for shoulder bags, the Think Tank Urban Disguise series is really nicely made and comfortable. I carried 2RFs + several lenses + a ton of other random stuff around for 10+ miles of walking each day in one. With days that long, it can put some stress on your shoulder, but that was pretty extreme use.
 
Colman said:
The F5 is bigger than a D200, isn't it? That might be a problem ...
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I haven't seen the D200, but I assume it would be the same size as D200+vertical grip.

Roger, by split bags I mean [backpack] cameras in the bottom, compartment on top for stuff like a jacket, prints, ect. I would also prefer it to have the camera stuff accessible only through the top compartment, rather than a thing at the bottom that you open. It seems less "photographer" like, and is harder to get open for thieves. If you don't understand, think of it this way: A normal backpack with padding and compartments at the bottom of the bag.

People with the Domke shoulder bags, how comfortable are they on your shoulder, do they move around while walking, and would you recommend them for a day of downtown shooting?
 
Domkes (and the Chinese clones) are very comfortable bags, but more importantly, they are great to work out of. They have two rubber strips woven into the canvas straps on the inward-facing side so that they don't move around on your shoulder. I just bought a replacement Domke strap ($6) for my 17 year-old F-2. :) I have four Domke bags, an F-1X, F-2, and F-802 and F-803 Chinese clones. The F-2 carried a Nikon F3+MD4 system with three lenses for years with no problems. I took it on a long trip to Fiji last year and carried two Leica MPs and three lenses all day for many days in extreme heat and humidity. No issues there either. The F-2 in particular is an incredibly usable bag as others have also said.
 
i use a cheap messenger bag I have three different sizes and didnt pay much for all three if I take more than one camera I either carry camera case or i have and old camera bag with dividers I put in messenger bag.
 
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