Backpack For Medium Format

[Donald Qualls]

Lucky you Donald. When I hit 15th teaching year, all I got was a school district 43 pin... Made of plastic.
Anyways, I've been on the road for summer a week, with lots of humping up and down in the Badlands. So far this new pack is doing an admirable job. I appreciate it's quick, easy access to gear.

They also gave me a jacket with embroidered name, and a "gold watch" (I actually chose silver tone for both case and band), though I doubt I'll ever wear it -- I've recently gotten a Seiko Kinetic that won't ever need a battery. Motion operates a generator that charges a supercapacitor, which usually last about twenty years (mine was freshly replaced before I got the watch). I'll get a lot more use out of a couple camera packs than the watch or jacket...

 

[markjwyatt]

They also gave me a jacket with embroidered name, and a "gold watch" (I actually chose silver tone for both case and band), though I doubt I'll ever wear it -- I've recently gotten a Seiko Kinetic that won't ever need a battery. Motion operates a generator that charges a supercapacitor, which usually last about twenty years (mine was freshly replaced before I got the watch). I'll get a lot more use out of a couple camera packs than the watch or jacket...

Ideally, the only time piece a photographer needs is a sun dial, because this also serves to help assess the lighting condition. (Of course for a commercial photographer time is usually important.)

 

[Pieter12]

Ideally, the only time piece a photographer needs is a sun dial, because this also serves to help assess the lighting condition. (Of course for a commercial photographer time is usually important.)

Try timing a moderately long exposure with a sundial, especially at night!

 

[MattKing]

It is also handy to have a watch if you have only paid for two hours of parking .

 

[markjwyatt]

Try timing a moderately long exposure with a sundial, especially at night!

one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand... Or hopefully I have my Exakta VX with its pretty functional slow speed capabilities. I always have my iPhone too.

 

[Sirius Glass]

One needs a watch. As pointed out in Gulliver's Travels the Lilliputians thought that Gulliver's watch was an oracle because he check it each time before he did anything, much as many use the cell phone today.

 

[Donald Qualls]

And don't forget that a watch with hands can serve as a compass (don't forget to compensate for DST as appropriate). Potentially helpful for getting back to the car if you violate Weston's one hundred yards rule -- which is the main reason to want a camera pack.

 

[Sirius Glass]

And don't forget that a watch with hands can serve as a compass (don't forget to compensate for DST as appropriate). Potentially helpful for getting back to the car if you violate Weston's one hundred yards rule -- which is the main reason to want a camera pack.

That only applies to analog watches not digital watches. Warning this is not a post that will trigger an analog-digital war!

 

[Donald Qualls]

That only applies to analog watches

Hence why I said "watch with hands." My new-to-me Seiko Kinetic is every bit electronic, but it still has hands and can still find north/south when the sun is up (and not so close to vertical to make it hard to find the direction).

 

[Pieter12]

one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand... Or hopefully I have my Exakta VX with its pretty functional slow speed capabilities. I always have my iPhone too.

That's a lot of counting for a 5 minute or longer exposure. But if you have a smartphone, there's no need for a watch anyway.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

My pocket watch has hands and yes, I've used it several times to find direction... But just for fun though

 

[MattKing]

My pocket watch has hands and yes, I've used it several times to find direction... But just for fun though

If you wanted to teach your students how to use an analogue watch face to find directions, are there many who you would first have to teach them how to use the watch to tell time?

 

[Sirius Glass]

If you wanted to teach your students how to use an analogue watch face to find directions, are there many who you would first have to teach them how to use the watch to tell time?

If you mention the 24 hour clock they will really fall apart.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

If you wanted to teach your students how to use an analogue watch face to find directions, are there many who you would first have to teach them how to use the watch to tell time?

Yes, it's mind-blowing how many of them cannot read an analogue clock. Anytime a kid asks me for the time, I give it to them in analogue speak (or the 24hr clock). No clue! Same with writing in cursive on the board.

 

[Pieter12]

Try telling some of the younger generations the time in terms of "half-past ten" or "a quarter to nine" and you can get a blank stare.

 

[MattKing]

Yes, it's mind-blowing how many of them cannot read an analogue clock. Anytime a kid asks me for the time, I give it to them in analogue speak (or the 24hr clock). No clue! Same with writing in cursive on the board.

A couple of my now ~30 year old nieces had the same problem when they were younger - I don't know if that is now different for them.

 

[Donald Qualls]

Important note: if you have a watch with one of the relatively uncommon 24-hour analog dials, it cannot be used for direction finding.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Important note: if you have a watch with one of the relatively uncommon 24-hour analog dials, it cannot be used for direction finding.

Well it can, but it requires an adjusted approach.

 

[MTGseattle]

I have the Mindshift rotation 180 pro. i don't think it would work for what the OP stated in his equipment list however. The RB body with 1 lens and maybe 2 magazines could work. The function of the bag is a bit odd in that there is an overgrown "fanny pack" that one grabs and slides along/around the waist to gain access to the gear. It worked reasonably well for me with a Mamiya 7 and 2 lenses. In a home experiment, I found it pretty much useless for 4x5. I found it reasonably comfortable though, and it seems pretty well made.
For a hiking 4x5 pack, I went outside the photo industry and sourced a Gregory backpack that has panel load and/or top load. It is from their ski and snowboard line of packs, and I cannot remember the model name. I got it on off-season closeout for about 1/3rd what an F-stop 50 liter pack would cost, and I already knew that Gregory packs and I get along pretty well.

 

[Arthurwg]

Here's what I ended up with. The Tenba Solstice 24L. It has plenty of room for all my RB67 gear. I could stick my 350 up top, but that's a lens I rarely use so I probably wouldn't bother. I've got the body with holder and 50mm lens attached, 127, 100-200 zoom, two additional holders, prism finder... and ample room for filters, metre, etc. Lots of pockets..outer one for my laptop. My little tripod sits nicely on the side. It feels good on my back. I'll put it to the test next week on a wee hiking trip.

I stuck myself in for scale.

Why did you reject the Vanguard? I kinda like that one.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Why did you reject the Vanguard? I kinda like that one.

I didn't reject it, actually. If it had been on the shelf, I would have snagged it. I needed a bag pronto, and the Tenba was there. I didn't have time to order one and wait.

 

[Arthurwg]

OK, the Vanguard is the one I want.

 

[Stephen Ryde]

I didn't reject it, actually. If it had been on the shelf, I would have snagged it. I needed a bag pronto, and the Tenba was there. I didn't have time to order one and wait.

Where did you find your Tenba bag Andy?
My Pentax 67 needs a better home than it has

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Where did you find your Tenba bag Andy?
My Pentax 67 needs a better home than it has

I found it at Broadway Camera, near Timmy's.