Weird bag question, need some innovative ideas

[David R Munson]

Here's my situation, in short. In addition to being a photographer I am also a cyclist and I shoot cycling for a magazine out of Milwaukee. in September I am going to Japan for ten days to photograph two different bike events, one in Kyoto and one in Tokyo. I will be carrying a Mamiya 645 Pro with winder and prism, two backs, a light meter, a Canon digital body, and a total of four lenses between the two systems.

The tricky part is this: I won't realistically be able to use my camera shoulder bag like I normally would, as I'll be spending a large portion of my time on the bike and on the move. I thought about buying a photo backpack, but to be frank they suck to have on while riding. Another option is for me to pick up the cycling backpack I've been wanting for a while. The advantage of this is that it will hold a lot more than just my camera gear (such as clothing, patch kit, etc), will have continued utility when I'm not using it for photo stuff, etc.

THAT SAID, how do I keep my cameras and lenses reasonably safe and secured in a non-photo bag? I am aware of the various inserts, padded wraps, and things like that which are readily available, but frankly I have no experience with them.

Any thoughts?

 

[markwatts]

Hello David,

I use soft wraps for cameras and additional lens. I haven't tried the falling off a bike test but in normal riding I have experienced no damage. And you know Korean side roads are not always smooth! I bought mine from Nikonians and they crept under the customs import tax. Enjoy your trip.

Mark

 

[David R Munson]

I've thought about picking up enough wraps for the big items. Fortunately, I don't crash much, with or without gear in my bag. That said, maybe about four months ago when I was still in Texas I blew out a front tire on a turn, apparently did a 180 on my front wheel and transitioned seamlessly into a barrel roll. No damage to the camera, luckily enough.

Edit: How bad is the import tax here? Film prices are enough cheaper in the US that all the 120 still might be cheaper to buy there and have shipped, but I haven't taken taxes into account.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

mmm!.....a tricky one! - and all I can say, as a lifelong cyclist ( 50 yrs. ) both racing and touring, is that riding any distance with stuff on your back is a PITA! - let the bike carry the load!. I used to carry my camera kit ( reduced to a minimum ) in a bar-bag, at the front, where it was easily accessible when I stopped for a shot, apart from the discomfort in hot or windy conditions, imagine coming off - and landing on your 'pride and joy' ( the camera-that is! )
Dave.

 

[markwatts]

David, don't quote me but c. 20%. I have even had to pay 20% on the repair costs incurred when I shipped a 60 year old telescope, owned by myself for 35 years, back to the UK for work.

 

[Merkin]

Have you considered using pelican cases with a touring pannier rack? Also, have you considered just hitching rides in support cars?

 

[David R Munson]

mmm!.....a tricky one! - and all I can say, as a lifelong cyclist ( 50 yrs. ) both racing and touring, is that riding any distance with stuff on your back is a PITA! - let the bike carry the load!. I used to carry my camera kit ( reduced to a minimum ) in a bar-bag, at the front, where it was easily accessible when I stopped for a shot, apart from the discomfort in hot or windy conditions, imagine coming off - and landing on your 'pride and joy' ( the camera-that is! )
Dave.

Under normal conditions, that route would make a lot more sense, I will readily admit. If my bike were more suited to racks and panniers, it would be easier to go this route. Also, and this may sound odd, I'd rather have something valuable on my body than on the bike. Both times I've gotten hit badly it was the bike that took the punishment most of all and if I'd had something like a camera in a pannier, it would have been completely pulverized.

It's also a matter of the way it often works when photographing courier races when I'm often far from the bike shooting some side event while my whip is in a pile with 20 other bikes, dashing into a restaurant for a quick bite, into a bar for drinks, or otherwise dashing around in a way that's a lot easier when the gear is on you rather than the bike.

As for hard cases and rack, it's a track bike that I'll be racing on one of the days I'm in Kyoto anyway, so that won't work.

And hitching rides in cars, for a number of reasons, is not remotely likely. No associated cars to hitch in, shots and other photo opportunities along the way while riding, and taxis....well I hate taxis anyway and have you seen the prices for cab rides in Tokyo?

It's not a ton of gear and it won't weigh a huge amount, so I'm not worried about carrying it on my back. I'm already used to a heavy mess bag, and this will come in under what I often carry anyway.

 

[David R Munson]

Hahahahaha I've tried that before actually!

 

[Traut]

I would look at it from another direction. Pick a different equipment package. A 645 with four lenses can be simplified (heresy I know) with a DSLR and one or two lenses. The output would stack up to the 645 negs plus you gain weight and size advantage. Also loading 645 backs on the fly is daunting and limiting. A couple of SD cards equal a 100 rolls plus. I'm making myself sick.

 

[Steve M.]

You're going to have to put a rack/pannier on your bike and put your pack in it or you're going to be miserable. Then take the backpack w/ you when you get off the bike.

 

[David R Munson]

Traut - the kit is already at a bare minimum for the coverage I need to do for my editor. Two camera bodies and a total of four lenses really isn't bad in terms of size/weight. And, no offense, but the results from the DLSR do NOT stack up to the 645. I mostly shoot it for color work or quick shots when I don't have time to meter. Trust me - I shoot with what I shoot with because it works well for what I do.

Steve M - sorry, but not so! I won't be miserable at all. If I were carrying 40 lbs all day long, that would be one thing, but half that is a cinch. When I started doing cycling photography in 2005 I shot a big race in Chicago and the first night I really did it I just had everything thrown into my mess bag indiscriminately, carried about 35 pounds all told, and did 80 miles in one night in Chicago traffic. Survived that just fine, and that bag only goes over one shoulder.

So, not to sound obstinate, but as far as solutions go to this, racks/panniers or cars are 100% OUT. What I've got to deal with is a known, small set of equipment and a non-photo backpack that I need to find a good way of making carry photo gear.

 

[semordnilap]

I use neoprene pouches... i have a few by zing and while I don't think they'd prevent damage in a serious collision, they'll keep everything from banging around too much. If you doubled them up, you'd be in even better shape. I use ones by zing: the extra large fits a rolleiflex with no problem, and they go down in size from there.

Another option is to put your shoulder bag INSIDE the larger backpack, if it'll fit. Not the most convenient, but probably not much less so than putting everything in a pouch!

 

[Roger Hicks]

Take a look at Lowepro Slingshot.

Cheers,

R.

 

[David R Munson]

I'll put my shoulder bag inside the backpack if it comes down to it, but I was hoping to find a slightly more elegant solution. We'll see though. The shoulder bag fits inside my current mess bag, but not with much room to spare and the fit gets all awkward. Things would be better doing it with the big backpack, but it still isn't ideal. It's a tough situation because every option I look at has some major issues, but oh well. I'll put up with issues for the sake of photographs.

 

[Gumby]

So, not to sound obstinate, but as far as solutions go to this, racks/panniers or cars are 100% OUT.

I suppose we can assume that a helicopter is out too.

You are in a difficult situation. Good luck!

 

[35mmdelux]

I'll put my shoulder bag inside the backpack if it comes down to it, but I was hoping to find a slightly more elegant solution. .

The elegant solution is to rent a motorcycle.

 

[Merkin]

This would certainly not be a cheap option, but Brooks (the saddle makers) make a leather satchel that you can adjust the strap to go around your waist as well as over a shoulder: http://www.brookssaddles.com/en/Sho...gs+&+accoutrements&prod=BARBICAN+Shoulder+Bag

 

[Disaster_Area]

what about some kind of belt and harness system to hold the lenses and other bits and bobs, and just have the bodies in the backpack... that would leave room for other stuff in the mess pack and distribute the weight nicely, as long as it doesnt interfere with the biking.

 

[semordnilap]

If you're willing to take a bit of time, you could sew the neoprene cases into the sides of a backpack and put your clothes in the middle. I actually sewed a velcro strip into the top part of a daypack I have and the other end of the velcro onto one of those neoprene slr cases that fits over the lens... I could have just as easily sewn the neoprene directly into the pack and pulled the camera out when needed.

 

[David R Munson]

If you're willing to take a bit of time, you could sew the neoprene cases into the sides of a backpack and put your clothes in the middle. I actually sewed a velcro strip into the top part of a daypack I have and the other end of the velcro onto one of those neoprene slr cases that fits over the lens... I could have just as easily sewn the neoprene directly into the pack and pulled the camera out when needed.

That's something I might look into. I have friends who are bagmakers who might be able to work out something more workable for the long run than what I'll be able to pull off (probably) before Kyoto Loco in September.