snowshowing/boarding/skiing.... to carry or not to carry?

[Markster]

Naturally some of you must partake of the outdoor winter activities... Do you find yourself more burdened with camera bag and gear, or do you always take it along despite the loss of mobility it incurs?

I have a moderately sized camera bag. It's unobtrusive IMO. However I also have a photographer's vest that I can wear under my jacket and stuff with cameras but I am a bit more scared of taking a fall or a spill and landing on a lense.

Forget bruised ribs, I'd be out a lens!

I bring it up due to an upcoming snowboarding session (next weekend, or possibly the one after that) I have planned. I figured it would be interesting to hear the take from other Denver area folks.

 

[Dinesh]

I take my 35mm rangefinder out when I ski. While it has yet to happen, the thought of the camera cracking a rib during a yard sale has crossed my mind.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I found carrying a 35mm slr and lenses in a backpack a pain getting on and off the chair lifts and it also throws your balance off. I now have a folding 35mm camera and a Tessina 35 Auto L single frame 35mm camera, but I have not had a chance to ski with them.

Steve

 

[Rick A]

Back in the day, when I lived in Park City, Ut. I always had a Ricoh 500G, and then later on an Olympus XA, in a pocket of my parka. I miss that Ricoh.

 

[rjbuzzclick]

I have snowshoe-ed for an afternoon carrying a shoulder bag with either a Koni-Omega Rapid or a 4x5 Speed Graphic plus tripod. It's not terribly difficult, but then I'm never more than a mile or two from the car.

 

[Sim2]

You're going to hate me for this answer however, in a previous life I had the experience of photographing the occasional world cup downhill ski races. Along with the video crews it was not uncommon to ski/side-slip the course handholding the 400/F2.8 or 500/F4 with a backpack of film, spare cameras, crampons etc. That certainly focused the mind on the ski-ing!
Being slightly more pertinent; having seen those types of lenses take a tuumble and having a tumble with a back pack of gear - providing the accident speed was not too high there was more danger trauma from getting snow wedged on a lens than the tumble. High speed crash, different story.
Key point being, anything that detracts from your ski ability is a danger. A novice could break bones with a point and shoot, a skilled skier could take a 5x4.
Try a bum bag (fanny pack in usa?) instead of a rucsack.

Sim2.

 

[Sirius Glass]

You're going to hate me for this answer however, in a previous life I had the experience of photographing the occasional world cup downhill ski races. Along with the video crews it was not uncommon to ski/side-slip the course handholding the 400/F2.8 or 500/F4 with a backpack of film, spare cameras, crampons etc. That certainly focused the mind on the ski-ing!
Being slightly more pertinent; having seen those types of lenses take a tuumble and having a tumble with a back pack of gear - providing the accident speed was not too high there was more danger trauma from getting snow wedged on a lens than the tumble. High speed crash, different story.
Key point being, anything that detracts from your ski ability is a danger. A novice could break bones with a point and shoot, a skilled skier could take a 5x4.
Try a bum bag (fanny pack in usa?) instead of a rucsack.

Sim2.

Not the least of which having metal and glass crammed into the ribs is not really my idea of fun.

Steve

 

[Markster]

I've got a Lowepro Rezo 140. As seen here (thank you google)

Size compared to backpacks:

I usually wear it under my left arm slung over my right shoulder, and slide it halfway around the small of my back when doing a lot of moving/hiking/walking.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Markster, that looks an awful lot [awful chosen on purpose] like one of those dread digi-snappers and not a REAL camera! :eek:
Steve

 

[Markster]

Well I exercise the 5th on that one!! It was a birthday gift and I sorely needed one...

See the attached images (these I took of my own bag rather than quick google search)

It's not bad really.. just about perfect height to stand a 35mm on its end, but not much room for lenses... I have two stacked on top of each other, and then the long 200mm takes up its own area... Creative use of the velcro spaces but overall cramped.


EDIT: Oh, P.S. That's most of my kit there. There's a 50mm f/1.8 I left out and in lieu of the 28-75mm zoom (which may be bad, so the 50mm may go back in). Other than that, my old tripod, and my Power Winder A (which I don't use all the time) that's my gear.


EDIT2: P.P.S. When I just had a couple lenses and didn't bother storing the flash in there, it was rather nice. But as your kit grows, so must your bag.

 

[JayGannon]

I climb with my gear and I find holster cases on webbing belts to be invaluable. I use Lowepro TLZ cases with my Nikon F3/5/6's and some newswear pouches to hold film. All on a 1" webbing belt.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Well I exercise the 5th on that one!! It was a birthday gift and I sorely needed one...

See the attached images (these I took of my own bag rather than quick google search)

Ahhh ... much better. Now I can call of the lynching party.

Anyone need a long coarse tie?

Steve

 

[Markster]

I climb with my gear and I find holster cases on webbing belts to be invaluable. I use Lowepro TLZ cases with my Nikon F3/5/6's and some newswear pouches to hold film. All on a 1" webbing belt.

You mean like this? (Another google result):

P.S. Sirius that would be nice if you could call them off

 

[JayGannon]

Yep except I would have mine lower, more like just above my waist if Im having it to the front, or even on my waist depending on the climb.

 

[Sirius Glass]

P.S. Sirius that would be nice if you could call them off

DONE!!
​

 

[Markster]

A-basin showboarding trip was today. I carried a vest under my jacket and packed the AE-1P and a 50mm and a 28mm. Finished off a roll of film there.

Wasn't too bad, but bending over to undo/redo bindings all morning was rather uncomfortable with the eqiupment over my stomach area.

So the end answer was I didn't land on it and didn't break anything

 

[Sirius Glass]

I just got a wrist strap for my Tessina L, a single frame 35mm camera. This my be a camera that can go skiing. The last camera that I used which was good for skiing was a Fisher-Price 110 camera.

Steve

 

[c.w.]

I've found when skiing that less is more, but then again, i'm there to be on the snow, not to photograph it. I used a minolta hi-matic 7s, which turned out some awesome pictures, but was a bit bulky in my jacket pocket. (which is why i'm selling it)

If you want to take pictures while actively sliding down the hill, get used to shooting from the hip, and forget about dealing with a bag. If you want a bag full of stuff, probably something like a sling bag would work well. You could swing it in front if you're afraid of falling on it, and swing it in back to be able to get around easier.