Malcolm Stewart wrote:
> I bought the Lowe Pro Mini Trekker, and found it's really comfortable with my
> EOS3, PB-E2, 300 f4L, 200 f2.8 & 100 macro plus films, odds and sods. It's
> still heavy though. For the 300 f2.8 I guess you'll need the next larger
> version,
The Nature Trekker should do the trick, although with the 70-200/2.8 (??) it
might be a tight fit; if you use the detachable neck straps made by Tamrac or
Op/Tech you can get the strap attachements that clip onto the D-rings on the
backpack's shoulder straps and clip a camera body to them, using the part of the
neck strap system that attaches to the camera--this has the advantage of
allowing you to have the camera ready at all times while transferring its weight
to the pack's straps, and freeing up space within the pack. The Nature Trekker
can be taken on a plane as carry-on luggage, and includes an external tripod
holder.
rand flory wrote:
> You asked about a backpack, but I think you should seriously consider NOT
> getting one. The list of items you wrote about represents a LOT of weight.
> If you carry that around very much, you will probably cause some back injury.
If you are in reasonably good condition--fit enough to carry a regular camping
backpack--you can certainly carry a photo backpack. I estimate my Nature Trekker
when full (including 300/2.8L) weighs about 40 pounds, which is noticeable but
not debilitating--and I'm probably the smallest adult male on this mailing list.
If your backpack is properly adjusted it is unlikely you will injure your back.
Lowepro is a spin-off of Lowe Alpine, the the backpacking and mountaineering
equipment manufacturer, and the two companies share technologies--the LowePro
photo backpacks are designed just like mountaineering backpacks, with proper
internal stays and hip belts.
Perhaps I'm dense, but I fail to see how one could comfortably (or safely) carry
a 300/2.8 lens on a belt system. Beyond that, as someone with a relatively small
waist, I wonder whether I could actually fit the gear I carry in the backpack
into a belt system. Obviously a belt system works very well for many people, but
like all things photographic there is no universal solution. Looking at the
Kenesis website I see that one of their recommendations is to carry a large
chest pack along with a backpack; this may be fine for hiking on a road, but in
terrain where you need to see the ground in front of you this is hardly
practical--and if you're a person with a short torso, the top of the chest pack
could be just under your chin!
FWIW, LowePro also offers a modular, belt-based system that includes a
detachable photo backpack.
fcc
*
****
*******
***********************************************************
* For list instructions, including unsubscribe, see:
* http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/eos_list.htm
***********************************************************
