| Posts: 56 |
|
Northamptonshire |
|
|
 #1 Camera bag for up the slopes! Posted 25/08/2009 @ 08:51 |
   |
|
Hi,
I'm considering??? taking my photography gear snowboarding in Jan 2010 in the hope of getting some nice mountain scenery and boarding action shots. I only intend on taking it up the mountain on the odd day when the weather is good for photos and I'm not fussed about riding all day (I'm there for 5 weeks). I wasnt sure if a normal camera backpack would suffice or whether a snow specific is better (any suggestions). The kit I'm taking weighs a tonne, Canon: 5d, 70-200 lens (the f2.8 very heavy one!), 16-35 wide angle, So I'm not planning on taking it out everyday to get snap shots!
Any advice welcome. The cheaper the better or any DIY suggestions!!
Thanks : ) |
|
|
|
| Posts: 352 |
|
North Yorkshire |
|
|
| #2 Re: Camera bag for up the slopes! Posted 25/08/2009 @ 11:05 |
|
|
| In reply to post #1
... |
My advice is to take as little up the hill as you can possibly manage, because gear does indeed weigh a tonne and is a bugger to ride about with. I have a Dakine Sequence pack which is adequate in terms of protection (and pockets for things like a shovel and probe) but does tend to be a bit backwards heavy, the same will apply to the Burton equivalent.
If you can get away with just taking a body and one lens up then I'd go for a chest harness and holster, they're much more comfortable and natural to ride with. |
|
|
|
|
|
| #3 Re: Camera bag for up the slopes! Posted 01/09/2009 @ 01:49 |
|
|
| In reply to post #1
... |
Ditto... take as little as poss. I have very similar gear to yours, and found the 5d with a wide angler on it to be enough load to be honest. I was tempted to take the 70-200 2.8 out last week but just didn't want such a heavy load in my pack. I chuck mine in a t-shirt and then into my AK pack... I can't be bothered buying a dedicated snow riding camera bag at this point, my mate got a lowe pro one with all the supports and straps but I think it promotes taking more gear; bugger changing lenses on the hill!
Make sure the temps are low though, I found my bag got pretty damp inside (just from snowfall) when I was riding on a 4degree day, everything was just melting and I wouldn't want to subject my 5d to that... |
|
|
|
|
|
| #4 Re: Camera bag for up the slopes! Posted 10/10/2009 @ 20:04 |
|
|
| In reply to post #3
... |
I have the burton zoom for carrying everything to the resort including laptop etc... but i use a camelbak mahem as my main pack when on the hill. It will fit a Lowepro Top loader 75 AW in it but when with a fast sigma 20-200mm F2.8. Use the harness (some supply it others you have to pay 17 quid odd from Lowepro) and its straps to your front. Then all you have to do is;
- board ahead
- put in a toe turn
- drop to the knees
- flip open the top
- snappy snap snap
- back in the hutch
- ride away....
You'll get this down to a T and you'll be quick with it. THen you can take a lightweigh tripod or monopod in the pack too for sessioning kickers etc...
Simples!! |
|
 |
|
Buy shares in AFREN to pay for your winter! Currently 82p.. Will be £1.25 before Feb 2010!
Buy shares in AFREN to pay for your winter! Currently 127p.. Will be £1.60 before Feb 2010! and GKP £1.75 now £5+ by end 2011 - Greece F*cked Us!!
Buy shares in AFREN to pay for your winter! Currently 87p.. Will be £2 before Feb 2013! and GKP £1.28 now £5+ by end 2099 (or when someone buys them out!) I still believe, I have too, Ive a F*cking fortune invested!!LOL |
|
|
|
|
|
| #5 Re: Camera bag for up the slopes! Posted 10/10/2009 @ 21:42 |
|
|
| In reply to post #4
... |
To me backpacks are mostly useless, although I use the Sequence for carrying stuff as it's a good bag and it opens the right way (which is the crucial thing). As below, chest packs are the way to go if you have to ride much.
I've used 75AWs for years but I'm switching to a Kata H-16 (with some customization for harness use) this year as LP changed their rebate policy. That is: I used to get a free bag every year when the zip wore out, but now zips are excluded from their lifetime warranty, so b*llocks to that. The Kata doesn't need zip fastening, although it opens the opposite way so I'm not sure how well it'll work. Time will tell.
The 75-whatever would take a couple of mid/wide lenses plus some flash kit; the Kata's bigger and a better fit for large bodies. I'd not load it with more, but it will take it more easily.
Tripods... ok if you're shooting video or photos at night. Lenses... it depends, sometimes it's handy to have a couple, although longer lenses are mostly useless for snowboarding. Ok, if you're shooting alpine and you're forced to maintain your distance, or if the subject is likely to crash, then that's what you want. Otherwise, wide and close is better.
;-) I'd never drop to my knees when boarding to shoot. Getting up would be hard work and you're more mobile standing. And we can all do balance already, right? |
|
|
|
|
|
| #6 Re: Camera bag for up the slopes! Posted 16/10/2009 @ 21:59 |
|
|
| In reply to post #1
... |
If all you're taking is the body, long and wide lens, then look at think-tank's custom belt systems.
You can get a holster that will fit the 70-200 and then slot a lens case on the other side of the belt. |
|
|
|
|
|
| #7 Re: Camera bag for up the slopes! Posted 18/11/2009 @ 10:25 |
|
|
| In reply to post #1
... |
|
One thing to consider for anyone boarding with a camera etc is that back protection's really not a bad idea, or carrying the cam round the side of your body. I had a friend who went over a kicker and landed on her back.. she'd have been okay, but the camera ended up breaking her spine. Keep in mind it's like carrying your own personal sharp rock around with you. |
|
|
|
|
The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep. |
|
|
|
|
|
| #8 Re: Camera bag for up the slopes! Posted 18/11/2009 @ 10:53 |
|
|
| In reply to post #7
... |
|
Woah!? If I have gear on me I'm rolling at 50% normal speeds/capacity... wouldn't touch anything remotely high-risk. Hope she was okay tho. |
|
|
|
|
|
| #9 Re: Camera bag for up the slopes! Posted 18/11/2009 @ 11:05 |
|
|
| In reply to post #8
... |
Yeah, she's back on a board now.  I dont think it was a mental high jump or anything, about a foot or so, just very bad luck. It was in chamonix, and we went back to the resort with her and in the exact same bit of slope where she went down they now had a jump airbag thing which freaked her out a bit! |
|
|
|
|
The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep. |
|
|
|