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Just invested in a DSLR. Any of you photographers use a camera specific rucksack? Recommendations? Thanks.
I bought a Lumix G2 instead of a DLSR as being so small and light I thought it would fit nicely in my camelbak, especially with the pancake lens. Not got round to trying it yet!
If I'm taking my big camera out, it's inside a Lowepro toploader Zoom bag... inside a HAWG. It's not light, but you can fit everything in for a day of riding. You can get the camera out quickly because of how the camera bag opens and take off the shoulder strap so very little extra stuff. A dedicated bag is probably a neater solution, but this was cheaper as I already had the bags.
Just as a warning, carrying a big camera on your bike will do your back in.
Lowe Pro and chest harness so it hangs under your sternum... seems to keep it reasonably well protected from knocks/vibration and easily accessible.
Options for a sports specific camera bag are limited. Clik elite if you can afford/find them seem to be the best. Lowe pro have recently released two new sports bags but they seem basic for what they are. F-stop make some but they are generally massive and ski specific. Dakine and Burton also make ski/snowboard packs but they are not the most comfortable to use for biking. The lack of suitable bags on the market makes me want to design and build my own. I'm going to try modifying an existing bag using a DSLR bag insert you can buy.
Chest pack is the way to do it. You'll use the camera more as you don't have to take the bag off every time to use it
im with phototim on this one.... i have a lowepro slingshot and its just ok but had to heavily modify it, lowepro just dont get this outdoor equipment thing. those clik elite look good, not many uk outlets though.
As mentioned above, a holster style bag & chest harness is a good way to go.
Lowe Pro do one, as do ThinkTank. I've got a ThinkTank digital holster 10 and their chest harness. They have updated the chest harness since I bought it; looks a bit less of a faff than the original to get on.
Problem I found with just sticking it in a normal bag was having to take it off everytime I wanted to get my camera out, so I wouldn't bother.
Lowepro now make a specific bag for this..!
http://www.lowepro.com/photosport
haven't seen a bad review, I'll be getting one once i have a little bit of money.
Duncan, thats the lowe pro bag I was talking about, just couldn't remember the name. I thought it looked good and was glad lowe pro finally started to make something outdoor sports specific. However, I colleague of mine has one so I had a chance to take a look. It's ok but fairly basic for the price so try and check one out in a shop before you buy.
That new one looks like a development of the Primus I use for walking. The side access s a doddle to use
[url= http://stores.ebay.co.uk/RK-Photographic/CCS-/_i.html?_fsub=112332819&_sid=90281889&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322 ]This seller[/url] on eBay has a small stock of Camera Care System bags - if you can find one that fits your camera/lens combination then get it. CCS were a Bristol-based family run manufacturer that made excellent "rough conditions" camera bags - the ones I've got were purchased 20 or more years ago and they're still looking good and working well.
Thanks for so much useful advice, I hadn't considered a chest harness but that sounds like a good place to start and avoids an expensive back pack. Anyone tried the Clik elite access?
Chest harness has been a debated issue on here in the past. Some are all for it for the ease of access, however I, and others maintain its a bit of a daft idea as if you land on your camera you may have a nice set of broken ribs. I've seen people try to argue before that you don't land on your front that often after a crash but I did it twice in two days the other weekend. Whether the actual camera is more vulnerable on your front rather than in a back pack is debatable.
As far as I could find only B&H in NY stocked Clik Elite bags. Has anyone found a stockist in the UK?
I'm using a wingnut perfect as weight is lower on the back.