Good Way to Carry Small Camera and Lens?

Sony Corleone

Sony Corleone

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I would like to carry a camera and small lens around without cramming it all into my pocket. When I'm out and around, I usually carry a Canon Powershot V1, which has a built-in lens, but an A6700 with a pancake would also work.

It may seem silly to ask for gear recommendations instead of going to a store and looking at things, but who goes to stores now? I live way out in the country, and I wouldn't know where to go anyway. I figure everyone everywhere orders the same Chinese stuff now, so might as well ask here.

I would like something that goes around my waist or across my chest so I can grab the camera in a hurry. Maybe a fanny pack. Something small. I don't want to load up with multiple batteries and lenses. I want to be able to put the camera away, so a strap is no good.
 
Thanks, but I can't put the camera away with that.
 
I'm going to give the Alpaka Nano a shot.
 
Wouldn't you know it? Not available on Amazon US. Thanks, though. I think the Alpaka ought to work.
 
I use the Gomatic / Nomatic* PM Sling, it's great. Holds my Fuji X-T4 with a lens on, plus one or two other lenses, as well as memory cards, batteries etc.

*I can't remember which way round it is, but Gomatic and Nomatic are the UK & US company names.
 
For compact or small body cameras I often use a compact camera pouch on a strap. The camera in the pouch sits under my armpit, like the shoulder holsters of the past, it's out of the way, easy enough to get the camera in and out and under a jacket more of less invisible.

These come in different sizes, one I have takes a Sony ZV1 with the neewer wide angle mount and cage, I would think a small body mirrorless and pancake would fit it.

For places where I'm using the camera a lot, but still want it mostly out of sight, I use one of those slide straps PD? I can just slide the camera out from under my jacket, "click" and it's out of sight in 10 seconds. Makes you look less like a photographer and target for theives if they cant see it dangling there
 
I use the Alpaka vertical sling for my Fuji xe1 and 27mm pancake lens.

Probably get a battery and mobile phone in it as well.

It’s discontinued but you could probably find the dimensions somewhere online
 
Check Henry Turner videos on Youtube, he has a pouch around his waist, works for him.
All the best.
 
There’s a few problems with carrying any ‘camera bag’ that only fits the camera in it, these are all based on experience.

1: you at least need to think about spare batteries, every other time I go out with a camera and no bag, my battery dies.
2: as soon as you take the camera out of the bag to use it, you’re now carrying 2 things, one of which weighs nothing but just gets in the way.
3: least importantly is you need to be absolutely certain the lens youre carrying is everything you need.

A belt pouch might mitigate some of the above, but I’m now resigned to a small sling bag that holds a camera and a couple of lenses and a water bottle. Easy to carry anywhere in the world.
 
Phil V said:
There’s a few problems with carrying any ‘camera bag’ that only fits the camera in it, these are all based on experience.

1: you at least need to think about spare batteries, every other time I go out with a camera and no bag, my battery dies.
2: as soon as you take the camera out of the bag to use it, you’re now carrying 2 things, one of which weighs nothing but just gets in the way.
3: least importantly is you need to be absolutely certain the lens youre carrying is everything you need.

A belt pouch might mitigate some of the above, but I’m now resigned to a small sling bag that holds a camera and a couple of lenses and a water bottle. Easy to carry anywhere in the world.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Murphy's Law should not be ignored :)
For that reason, I have a spare memory card as well.
 
A compact camera pouch on a strap should do the job. A friend of mine uses a smaller backpack for her camera and she wears it on her chest, while a bigger one with all the other items is worn as usual. However, it's quite a construction and if you need something from the "second" backpack you need to take off the "first", then put it on again, rinse, repeat.
 
The Alpaka is working out. I don’t think I can get an A6700 in there with much of a lens, but it's fine for the V1, and I could add a battery or two if I wanted.

A nice thing about it is that they offer it in a fabric that wipes clean. Good when shooting around a baby.
 
I stand corrected. I managed to shove an A6700 and Sigma 18-50 mm in there. I like a wider lens for family outings, though.
 
I am using a Peak Design Sling. Can fit my Z8 and 24-120mm in there nicely. Comfortable and room for other things as well
 
I think I should look into that for times when I want to carry more.
 
It won't be enough space for other lens etc. but it can expand slightly. I have also put in a small water bottle, etc in it at the same time.
 
The Alpaka is 1.6 liters, and I think Peak starts at 3 liters and 3" longer, so it could be a convenient step up. I have bigger bags for times when 3 liters won't get it done.

I have a very small case which is just big enough to put a layer of padding over the camera, but there is no way to put a shoulder strap on it, and I don't want to carry it in my hand all day.

I took the Alpaka yesterday on our weekly Costco run, and it was nice not to have the camera in my pockets along with all the other junk. I'm right-handed, so I put it on my left side where my right hand could get at it most easily.
 
Unbelievably, I squeezed an A6700 with a Viltrox 27 mm 1.2 into the bag, and that includes the hood.
 
If I need a slightly bigger bag than my PM Sling, I have a Domke F-6 which is excellent. It holds my camera with a lens on plus at least 4 more lenses, with room for batteries, cards, filters etc. and a water bottle. Plus it doesn't really look like a camera bag (y)
 
I use this Wotancraft sling as my daily bag. It is not sold under their camera bag section as it is not as padded but for me, it is padded enough but don't drop it though! It can fit my X100VI + XT5/56.1,2 good IT30 flash and trigger + wallet + batteries + a snickers bar + some bits and my keys.

www.wotancraft.tw

SLING POUCH 3.5L UPGRADE - WOTANCRAFT

www.wotancraft.tw
 
I use the Wandrd Rogue 3l - very comfortable and easy enough to grab my camera from. They also do 6l and 9l if you're after something a little bigger.

eu.wandrd.com

ROGUE 3L Sling

The ROGUE 3L Sling is a beautiful and innovative camera-slash-everyday bag built for those that want their cake and want to eat it too. It may look small, but this baby is packed with features. We guarantee that this feature-packed sling is more comfortable than anything else out there. With...
eu.wandrd.com eu.wandrd.com
 
I have the Olympus messenger bag that goes around the wait, I use it to hold my EM10iii with 12-42mm lens but there'ss also space for a spare lens .
Otherwise for slightly bigger I have a Billingham, for smaller I have a bumbag.
 
Phil V said:
There’s a few problems with carrying any ‘camera bag’ that only fits the camera in it, these are all based on experience.

1: you at least need to think about spare batteries, every other time I go out with a camera and no bag, my battery dies.
2: as soon as you take the camera out of the bag to use it, you’re now carrying 2 things, one of which weighs nothing but just gets in the way.
3: least importantly is you need to be absolutely certain the lens youre carrying is everything you need.

A belt pouch might mitigate some of the above, but I’m now resigned to a small sling bag that holds a camera and a couple of lenses and a water bottle. Easy to carry anywhere in the world.
Click to expand...
If you can't decide on a lens then there's always a way.

1771061454609.png​
 
You can get those camera wraps that stick when wrapped. That way you can use any hip pack, shoulder bag etc..

I use them to wrap a camera and pop into my bags when I’m on my bike.

Think I got a pack of 4 for £12 on aliexpress.
 
NiallerM said:
If you can't decide on a lens then there's always a way.
Click to expand...
In late 1960s London, there were a surprising number of blokes dressed like that.

I'm sure they can't all have just got back from 'nam :tumbleweed:
 
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