Protecting the GG while you hike

cowanw said:

This weekend I started glueing and making more gg protectors. My best job was a piece of 1/8 inch acrylic, twice as long as a double dark slide and the width of a dd slide. I balanced it sideways across a 1 inch pipe and used a paint stipper heat element to soften the centre until the ends met. Great do it yourself even if I do say so.

Click to expand...

Interesting. Can you snap a few pics, I just am not putting it together in my mind although it sounds effective.
Lee

Jeff Searust said:

OK to go back to the original question about hiking with a camera while protecting GG and camera---I have a wool US Army blanket that I wrap around my cameraI can use it to also pad my shoulder while hiking and as something to sit on at the end of the hike while shooting. It is great for rolling up and sticking under old and tired knees.

Click to expand...

I've not yet hiked with a camera in the pack,,, but in the past have carried all sorts of odd delicate things during pack trips. (spotting scopes and that sort of thing). I like the ensolite foam padding for almost all ofthe above sorts of things. I even keep some in the shop to cut up as thick gasket ;-) It's much better for the knees on rocks than wool blankets. the other ugly fix, but really light weight in the pack is just build a styrofoam front and back for it with a vecro streatchy band from the fabric store.

Pack it up

Unless moving a very short distance and on totally reliable ground pack it up. Not worth the risk. Just trying to protect the camera as you fall which is reflex can cause problems.

Years ago I supported the over the shoulder transport method. Well I took a fall and instinctively went to protect the camera. Moving the camera to a position above me and taking the fall. I saved the camera and sprained my wrist. Today being quite a bit older I would probably have broken it. I was taking photos of a stream and about 1 1/2 miles back in by myself.

I vote for pack it up. When I move a short distance I usually just leave my dark cloth in place to somewhat protect the GG on my small field camera.

JGRJR said:

Years ago I supported the over the shoulder transport method. Well I took a fall and instinctively went to protect the camera. Moving the camera to a position above me and taking the fall. I saved the camera and sprained my wrist. Today being quite a bit older I would probably have broken it. I was taking photos of a stream and about 1 1/2 miles back in by myself.......

Click to expand...

I fully understand I am up to 4 trips to the ER from unfortunate camera outings. Three from Hocking Hills,one of my favorite places to shoot and one from falling off the stairs to a stage in Springfield Ohio outdoor fair. I am not really a clutz, I just have done some risky stuff and lost a few times. (guess I'm lucky I have only shot from a plane with the door removed twice and did not tumble out)

The over the shoulder habit is hard to break, even with a small Leica M2 on the sticks. So finding a way to really protect the 4x5 on the sticks certainly opens the door for more ER clutz action. Although age is making me rethink many things, my Hassy system is getting to heavy to lug and keeping the 4x5 system lite and protected is important before it all goes and all I keep are the Leicas and the ball head mounted to my walker.

Lee

daleeman said:

What I would like to do is devise some sort of protective wrap to cover the camera with a stiff portion to protect the GG. I do not want to put any goo laden Velcro on the camera itself or screws or fasteners so it must snap or button or have its own Velcro + and – attached to the cover/wrap.
Has anyone made such a device themselves yet?

Click to expand...

I learned from my friend Diwan Bhathal that a piece of plexiglas rubbed with valve or pipe grit compound makes quite good and virtually unbreakable GG. Great for travel! Light and indestructible, and almost as good as normal glass.

I just got one of the GG protectors from Badger Graphics. Nice curved plexiglass fit the Tachihara just fine and should not eat the finish before its time.

I will upload a photo in a few days for those like me who never saw one. And yes I am still slinging it over my shoulder, but not as much till my body and mind equalize with the idea it is really winter now.

Come Feb 2012, I will head out to do a Frozen Film Shoot at Hocking Hills State Park. Its so damn slick out there all cameras go back in the pouch as we climb about 30' and higher frozen waterfalls. You all are invited.

Lee