R
RazorSharpWO
Guest
This is a spinoff to lokatz' post on Carrying D500/D850 with the 500mm PF lens.
Since I don't actually own the 500 PF lens, I decided to make my own thread detailing how I manage to carry multiple lenses (many a lot heavier than the 500 PF) + multiple bodies.
I thought this might be useful to those who similarly carry a lot of gear, and yet want "all of them" to be ready, if needed. I believe this is actually a huge, and very important, topic that warrants its one space. That said, there are four basic choices we each have as to how to carry our gear in the field:
Keep in mind, I have acquired 4 of the finest, most rugged, Tamrac backpacks ever designed (discontinued several years ago, but still the best, most versatile, and most rugged backpacks I have ever personally examined and deployed in the field):
Tamrac 787 Extreme (M.A.S.) Super Photo Backpack
I still have the original label for each one, purchased about a decade ago (shown below is the 787):
Tamrac 787 Extreme (M.A.S.) System
So, I am not "anti-backpack," per se. I actually love all of my Tamarac packs
As a connoisseur, the quality of the materials is superb! In fact no one makes packs like these anymore. (Note: I've also seen Tamrac's "more modern updates" to these packs, but they're flimsy and cheap, by comparison.)
The versatility in the accoutrements of the M.A.S. system is unmatched, as well as the flexibility of their storage options. Even more than a decade later, not a single stitch has come out of any of my 4 packs.
For those who are interested in (what I believe are) the 4 finest backpacks you can buy, even today, these are the ones I've acquired. (You can still get them on eBay, mint, for pretty good deals):
All this said, again, IMO backpacks are only useful for "airline travel," or if you plan to walk from Point A ... to Point Z ... without actually using your camera anywhere in between.
If you plan on actually using your photographic gear, at any point in between, then backpacks actually become more of a hindrance than an asset.
The truth is, If you want to use your gear, as you walk, then Shoulder Bags, Chest Harnesses, and Slings become much better options for instant deployment. Again, as lokatz properly observed:
If more varied, then maybe a sling + a shoulder bag.
If I expect truly multi-dimensional opportunities, then I will carry a sling, a shoulder bag, and a chest & side-holster (always at-the-ready) as I progress.
But in no instance, if I actually want to take photographs as I'm hiking, will I be deploying a backpack. I don't care what brand you use, the very nature of a backpack is an impediment to instant deployment.
Here are some examples of how I usually "equip myself" to take photographs, as I hike, if impromptu "speed of deployment" is required. The available ranges vary from 15mm landscapes to 800mm (or more) for small birds. The key to these descriptions is every one of my cameras/lenses is instantly deployable (or pretty close to it):
THE BASICS for 3 BODIES/LENSES: (Cotton Carrier dual holster, chest/side ... plus the Magpul MS4 Sling)
THE WORKS: 3 BODIES, 8 LENSES: (RRS Tripod + Landscape setup | Side Bag + Chest Harness (portrait options) | Dual Slings supporting the D5 + 800mm Nikon for extreme telephoto)
Note: When I carry smaller lenses, I only use one sling. However, if I deploy super telephoto lenses, I use two slings for each lens:
SUPER-TELEPHOTO ONLY: Nikon D500 + 400 FL ED (under right arm) + Nikon D5 + 800 FL ED (under left arm)
The reason why I use two slings, for each lens, is to stack "probability" in my favor. The truth is, at any moment, "a single sling" can fail. With the 800 + D5, "failure" means $23,000 of my investments are hitting the ground :-O
By deploying two slings, for each lens, I significantly lower the probability for failure and thus monetary setback :-|
To accomplish the above, I deploy the
Of the two of these, the Black Rapid Sling has never failed me once; while the Magpul Sling has failed on a few occasions (it requires a lot of maintenance).
COMBINED, however, I have never had a single failure. Again, the probability of "two" slings failing (at the exact same time) is almost zero.
The trouble is, very few "lens foot" manufacturers offer lens feet, with TWO distinct holes, to allow for deployment of BOTH slings at the same time.
As far as I know, only RRS offers the LCF 17 Lens Foot, for both the 400 and 800mm lenses. Unfortunately, this important accessory is now discontinued:. However, they are still available from 3rd Party Vendors (eBay).
Here are the details:
The RRS LCF 17 Lens Foot offers ports for TWO DIFFERENT sling types.
As far as I know, no other lens foot manufacturer offers this combination
While all other lens feet companies offer "one" sling option, the RRS LCF 17 Lens Foot allows for two slings to be deployed simultaneously, which is huge for both stability as well as peace of mind.
I guess I could go on forever, but in closing, the bottom line is "backpacks" have their uses, but they're really only for "hauling gear" (not actually using gear).
--
♦ Flickr Page
Since I don't actually own the 500 PF lens, I decided to make my own thread detailing how I manage to carry multiple lenses (many a lot heavier than the 500 PF) + multiple bodies.
I thought this might be useful to those who similarly carry a lot of gear, and yet want "all of them" to be ready, if needed. I believe this is actually a huge, and very important, topic that warrants its one space. That said, there are four basic choices we each have as to how to carry our gear in the field:
- Backpacks;
- Shoulder Packs;
- Chest- & Side-Holsters;
- Slings.
For this precise reason, I almost never use backpacks in the field, because you will "blow" more fleeting moments than capture them.Member said:
Keep in mind, I have acquired 4 of the finest, most rugged, Tamrac backpacks ever designed (discontinued several years ago, but still the best, most versatile, and most rugged backpacks I have ever personally examined and deployed in the field):
Tamrac 787 Extreme (M.A.S.) Super Photo Backpack
I still have the original label for each one, purchased about a decade ago (shown below is the 787):
Tamrac 787 Extreme (M.A.S.) System
So, I am not "anti-backpack," per se. I actually love all of my Tamarac packs
As a connoisseur, the quality of the materials is superb! In fact no one makes packs like these anymore. (Note: I've also seen Tamrac's "more modern updates" to these packs, but they're flimsy and cheap, by comparison.)
The versatility in the accoutrements of the M.A.S. system is unmatched, as well as the flexibility of their storage options. Even more than a decade later, not a single stitch has come out of any of my 4 packs.
For those who are interested in (what I believe are) the 4 finest backpacks you can buy, even today, these are the ones I've acquired. (You can still get them on eBay, mint, for pretty good deals):
- Tamrac 787 Extreme (M.A.S.) Super Photo Backpack
- Tamrac 777 Extreme (M.A.S.) Summit Photo Backpack
- Tamrac 767 Extreme (M.A.S.) Photo Trail Backpack
- Tamrac 757 Extreme (M.A.S.) Photo Pack
All this said, again, IMO backpacks are only useful for "airline travel," or if you plan to walk from Point A ... to Point Z ... without actually using your camera anywhere in between.
If you plan on actually using your photographic gear, at any point in between, then backpacks actually become more of a hindrance than an asset.
The truth is, If you want to use your gear, as you walk, then Shoulder Bags, Chest Harnesses, and Slings become much better options for instant deployment. Again, as lokatz properly observed:
Depending on the purpose of my photography, and how diverse I expect it to be, I might only carry a sling.Member said:
If more varied, then maybe a sling + a shoulder bag.
If I expect truly multi-dimensional opportunities, then I will carry a sling, a shoulder bag, and a chest & side-holster (always at-the-ready) as I progress.
But in no instance, if I actually want to take photographs as I'm hiking, will I be deploying a backpack. I don't care what brand you use, the very nature of a backpack is an impediment to instant deployment.
Here are some examples of how I usually "equip myself" to take photographs, as I hike, if impromptu "speed of deployment" is required. The available ranges vary from 15mm landscapes to 800mm (or more) for small birds. The key to these descriptions is every one of my cameras/lenses is instantly deployable (or pretty close to it):
THE BASICS for 3 BODIES/LENSES: (Cotton Carrier dual holster, chest/side ... plus the Magpul MS4 Sling)
THE WORKS: 3 BODIES, 8 LENSES: (RRS Tripod + Landscape setup | Side Bag + Chest Harness (portrait options) | Dual Slings supporting the D5 + 800mm Nikon for extreme telephoto)
Note: When I carry smaller lenses, I only use one sling. However, if I deploy super telephoto lenses, I use two slings for each lens:
SUPER-TELEPHOTO ONLY: Nikon D500 + 400 FL ED (under right arm) + Nikon D5 + 800 FL ED (under left arm)
The reason why I use two slings, for each lens, is to stack "probability" in my favor. The truth is, at any moment, "a single sling" can fail. With the 800 + D5, "failure" means $23,000 of my investments are hitting the ground :-O
By deploying two slings, for each lens, I significantly lower the probability for failure and thus monetary setback :-|
To accomplish the above, I deploy the
Of the two of these, the Black Rapid Sling has never failed me once; while the Magpul Sling has failed on a few occasions (it requires a lot of maintenance).
COMBINED, however, I have never had a single failure. Again, the probability of "two" slings failing (at the exact same time) is almost zero.
The trouble is, very few "lens foot" manufacturers offer lens feet, with TWO distinct holes, to allow for deployment of BOTH slings at the same time.
As far as I know, only RRS offers the LCF 17 Lens Foot, for both the 400 and 800mm lenses. Unfortunately, this important accessory is now discontinued:. However, they are still available from 3rd Party Vendors (eBay).
Here are the details:
The RRS LCF 17 Lens Foot offers ports for TWO DIFFERENT sling types.
As far as I know, no other lens foot manufacturer offers this combination
While all other lens feet companies offer "one" sling option, the RRS LCF 17 Lens Foot allows for two slings to be deployed simultaneously, which is huge for both stability as well as peace of mind.
I guess I could go on forever, but in closing, the bottom line is "backpacks" have their uses, but they're really only for "hauling gear" (not actually using gear).
--
♦ Flickr Page
Last edited:
