Backpacking with a camera

SamJT

SamJT

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Hi all, just after some advice regarding travelling with a camera. I've had a look through a few threads on camera backpacks but I think my case might be a bit more specific. Essentially I'll be going on a charity hitchhike to Croatia in a couple of weeks and was looking for a backpack around the 35L size, but I'm also going to need to buy a camera backpack at some point with room to carry a 1d and a 550d body, a 70-200 f2.8 lens and a 17-40mm lens with extra space for waterproof jacket, and any extra stuff I might need for shooting sports in awkward conditions. I thought it would make sense to buy a bag to do both but have only found the lowepro rover pro 35L which seems to fit the bill but is quite pricy. Has anyone got any other cheaper recommendations or ideas to make everything more simple?

Cheers,
Sam
 
Ive got the Lowepro Flipside sport 15lt and 20lt versions, the 15lt for daily use and the 20lt for longer use, both superb and very light.
 
How about buying a proper hiking daysack and an insert for the camera gear, did something very similar myself after trying a few different camera backpacks

I got this http://www.blacks.co.uk/equipment/6...=38630687062&gclid=CPPW8Lm9rb0CFcuWtAod_moAcA and then bought a secondhand Lowepro 100 Slingshot for twenty quid from the classifieds

Cut the top section off the Slingshot along with all the straps leaving the large zipped section, fits perfectly and protects the camera gear more than adequately

Proper frame to aid carrying and keep your back dry, takes a water bladder and tripod fits in one of the side pockets secured by the compression straps. Good result all in for sixty quid, was looking at the Osprey range in 25L and 35L, but this one works fine for me although slightly smaller than you specified

Tried it out recently and very pleased after a full day's walking, vast improvement on my Flipside 400 and not that different from the Lowepro Rover Pro albeit somewhat cheaper
 
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I had thought about buying a separate insert but I can't help thinking it'll just be awkward and fiddly to access compared to a dedicated camera bag. I've found this http://eu.dakine.com/p/backpacks/photo-backpacks/spring-summer-14/sequence-33l which looks pretty good. About the right size if a little small. 25L would definitely be too small though because it'll need to hold a small sleeping bag and roll mat as well as spare clothes etc.
 
Making your own is the way to go.. I have a couple of padded inserts, one inside the other for strengthening, that fit perfectly in line with the large side access pocket on the rucksac and it's far better than any dedicated rucksac I've tried including F Stop and the like

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lowe-Alpine-AirZone-Centro-35/dp/B001JYFDHQ
 
I had thought about buying a separate insert but I can't help thinking it'll just be awkward and fiddly to access compared to a dedicated camera bag
Click to expand...

How many times do you actually delve in and out of the bag during the day? Not very often is the answer in my case once the camera is out, maybe once to change a lens

I also bought a pair of these https://optechusa.com/reporter-backpack.html which attaches my camera to the rucksack when I am wandering about

Also won't you be carrying the sleeping roll and/or sleeping bag hanging from the bottom of the rucksack, waste of internal space otherwise. Front section is very expandable, folded up waterproof jacket gets lost in mine
 
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It's not any cheaper but I use (and sell) a Clik Elite Contrejour 40 which would easily fit your camera kit and is very comfortable to wear too!

I wouldn't want to try to take a fortnight's worth of stuff in though - I agree with the idea of your own inserts, any camera backpack that size is going to use a lot of space for the camera kit.

Personally when I did something similar in Malawi I used a front mounted camera bag that I could swivel around to my back when my actual backpack was stored somewhere for the day.

Lyope mentioned Think Tank - they have a sister company (Mind Merge?) that I was looking at too - that seemed really good - but you need to bump the price up to about double the LowePro and I still don't think the main compartment will be big enough for you.
 
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