Carrying around LF camera in the back 40

Tom Nutter · May 16, 2011

OK...I have one of those army A.L.I.C.E. packs---the medium size...both with and without a frame. I have a Toyo field camera and some lenses and all the trimmings....any suggestions on making it fit in said pack without slipping a disk?...or more importantly, without smashing it all up?

jp80874 · May 16, 2011

http://babyjogger.com/perf_jogger_lp.aspx

John Powers

Luseboy · May 16, 2011

HAHA! baby jogger. Well I am interested in carrying methods for my cambo as well so i am going to subscribe to this thread.

tim k · May 16, 2011

Over the last few years I've read about the baby stroller thing over and over. So, I think geeze, how sad, all those old guys cant even carry a little camera. Fast forward till a couple of months ago. I picked one up at a garage sale. On a trip to Death Valley I finally used it.

Well, those old guys are me, worked out pretty slick.

Tom Nutter · May 16, 2011

MY army A.L.I.C.E. pack doesn't seem to have the correct attachment points to make that baby jogger useful....any other ideas?.....maybe something innovative on how to compartmentalize a big empty rucksack?

rmann · May 17, 2011

Not just a baby jogger - check out a "Nordic Cab" - stroller, bike trailer, dog sled, ect - rated for 110 pound load and has a solid plastic bottom. I have been down this road and a NordicCab is one of the best solutions out there.

Rick A · May 17, 2011

I have an old wheel chair that was given me by a friend. I have refitted it to carry a couple of 4x5's and related equiptment, along with tripods and a bag of MF gear.

photomc · May 17, 2011

check out some of the MOLLE gear backpacks, they will work quite well. Also, have read about folks using the fishing reel cases (hold one or more fishing reels) for their lens. If you do a search on here should get quite a few hits on the different ideas folks have had.

billbretz · May 17, 2011

Pretty sure Tom is looking for ideas of how to compartmentalize a pack he already has... the reel case is along the right track - anyone else with on topic ideas?

Luseboy · May 17, 2011

I was just checking out last night some different backpacks. I found that if i take the rail off my cambo, it will fit in a think tank "street walker" back pack, which is fairly small. I am planning on picking one of these up very soon.
-Austin

herb · May 17, 2011

carrying 4x5

there was a company, I think had the name Sherpa in it.
you might check them out.

seem to remember they made a rolling carrier for just such an
outing.

Tom Nutter · May 17, 2011

Was I asking about rolling carriers? I don't seem to remember that...Thanks for the suggestions though.

jp498 · May 17, 2011

I got one of these backpack frames which I hope to attach things to for 8x10 shooting. Have been too busy with work to take the 8x10 far though.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001RL5PHY

Tom Nutter · May 17, 2011

I got one of these backpack frames which I hope to attach things to for 8x10 shooting.

Okay...cool...so how were you thinking about attaching your gear?

jp498 · May 17, 2011

I was thinking of strapping on my tripod, a padded cooler of film holders, a padded toolbox containing a couple of lenses, and a jug of gatorade. I don't have a box or container to store my B&J 8x10 cameras in yet, so your question is still valid for that aspect of it. I could easily strap the toolbox I use for my 4x5 Speed graphic to the backpack, but that's pretty easy to carry without a backpack and can hold camera lenses and film.

tim k · May 17, 2011

Just get some lens wraps and throw the stuff in there. That wont be very elegant, but it should protect the gear. I did that with a top loading pack. It worked, but it was a pain in the neck, cause everything you wanted was on the bottom.

Wyno · May 17, 2011

Here in Australia, there aren't to many places in the bush where you would be able to use a baby stroller and still get to the places you really want to photograph, so I have to use a backpack. This is what I did.
I made a polystyrene foam insert for my Black Wolf backack and then covered the foam with a tough yet soft fabric. The pack is still fairly light and all of my 8x10 gear is protected. All you need for the insert is some 1 inch thick foam for the outside and base and 1/2 inch for the interior, and then use PVA glue to stick it all together. Let it cure for a day cover it with the fabric using more glue and Bob's your uncle. Done. Just make sure you get your measurements for all your gear right first.
Mike

mark · May 17, 2011

How much you willing to spend to make it usable. Cheap means towels and cloth diapers. I did this with all of my packs until I bought a dedicated camera back pack. Never broke or scratched a thing. Kind of messy on site because of all the wrappings. If I was going that route again I would chunk down money on some fly fishing reel packs and other paraphernalia.

Just start fiddling with combinations and realize that all that crap gets a LOT heavier the further you walk, and you have to walk the same distance back. Figure out what you HAVE to have and keep it minimal. once you trim down the trimmings there will be much more space in the bag to pack padding into.

By the way well washed cotton cloth diapers totally rock as lens wraps.

Wyno's ideas sound real good.

Tom Nutter · May 17, 2011

How much to spend? As little as possible.... Wyno......your ideas have gotten my brain clicking a little. Thanks! I appreciate that. Some day I would like to see The Outback.

OldBikerPete · May 17, 2011

Tom Nutter said:
OK...I have one of those army A.L.I.C.E. packs---the medium size...both with and without a frame. I have a Toyo field camera and some lenses and all the trimmings....any suggestions on making it fit in said pack without slipping a disk?...or more importantly, without smashing it all up?

My solution for my Wista 5x4 field camera, 4 lenses etc.. was to go to a store which sells foam rubber and have a big block of same cut to just fit in the pack. Then I took that home and with a very sharp knife, cut pockets to firmly fit all of the bits and pieces. Gluing cloth over all the exposed surfaces makes getting bits in and out easier.
My pack is the type for which the entitre front zips open, exposing all the contents, if your pack is of the top-loading type, this solution may not suit you.

Peter

mrbishi · May 18, 2011

+1 for what Wyno said.

In my LowePro 28lt pack I use a generic soft camera bag insert similar to this which fits around my 4x5 perfectly (take out the middle insert of course):

and then I have a few zip up cushioned protective cells like this (one holds my double darks, another the misc items like loupe, meter, level etc.)

My dark hood, and other miscellaneous items have there place in the pack (water is via a camelback, food and other field tools/safety items go into the various pockets in the pack itself or on the shoulder webbing).

My tripod then attaches to the back of the pack with webbing.

Tom Nutter · May 18, 2011

In my LowePro 28lt pack I use a generic soft camera bag insert similar to this which fits around my 4x5 perfectly (take out the middle insert of course):

Without looking first....where do you get something like that?

mrbishi · May 18, 2011

eBay

I'm going to pickup one of these tomorrow from a local outdoors shop to see how it goes.

It should be spot on size wise to fit in my pack with a lot of gear - will post a picture once I get it.

ChuckP · May 18, 2011

Look at Dead Link Removed. It may give you some ideas for your pack.

Shaggysk8 · May 18, 2011

I have a ruck sack with lenses and food, a shoulder bag with books, pens, light meter, filters and other bits, Sinar C on tripod over the shoulder, weighs a bout 15kg and I can walk for ever, keep it simple!

Carrying around LF camera in the back 40

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