The endless quest for a photo bag : confronting an idea

Draveur · Jul 28, 2021

Bonjour,

I have an aging photo bag (“hand bag” type) that still do the job carrying my medium format, 3 lenses and a 2nd back. I don’t use the shoulder strap as it “goes down” in my hips by the end of the day. Occasionally, I use an “ordinary” back-pack, but it’s not practical has you can imagine.

Once in a while, I look for a replacement, reading reviews of all kinds. But the bag offering seems to be endless… Too much is like not enough!

At some point, I started to wonder if thinking out of the box could not give way to alternatives. So, I came up with an idea — just an idea neither good or bad — that I would like to confront. Or, better, to hear anyone who would of happened to have had the same idea. Collective intelligence is likely to give birth to something better. Here goes…

Since I spent most of my photographic time in cities, I was wondering if a utility dolly (commercial or DIY) or even “hacking” a golf cart would be a practical idea. Some have triangular wheels to go over staircases while others have inflated wheels. A dolly where to strap a bag / box and tripod would have the advantage of “lifting” the heavy weight of “too many gears”. But you still have to push / pull (depending on design) the “thing” all day long.

Is such idea promising or is it just a weird idea ? Has anyone tried carrying his/her photo gear in a dolly ?

Thanks.

Pieter12 · Jul 28, 2021

There are plenty of roller bags available, some even have backpack straps so you can carry them either way. I would be concerned about the impact on the gear of rolling an equipment case over steps and uneven pavement.

jeffreyg · Jul 28, 2021

Tamrac makes a rolling backpack.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

http://www.sculptureandphotography.com/

logan2z · Jul 28, 2021

Do you use the shoulder strap over one shoulder or across your body? I have a bad back as well but carry my gear in a bag with a shoulder strap that goes across my body and I can carry it for hours without an issue. I haven't been as successful when carrying it on a single shoulder, and the bag tends to creep off my shoulder which drives me nuts.

btaylor · Jul 28, 2021

Maybe take a look over at the LFPF. There have been numerous discussions on modified golf caddies, wagons, deer carcass dollies, etc. lots of good ideas.

AgX · Jul 28, 2021

Draveur said:
II don’t use the shoulder strap as it “goes down” in my hips by the end of the day.

What do you mean by this?

MurrayMinchin · Jul 28, 2021

A good camera backpack has all the answers. Keeps gear safe, is comfortable all day long, gear is rapidly accessible, and keeps hands free for photographing.

Atlas Athlete is the best I've owned and have used it in both city and wilderness settings https://atlaspacks.com/pages/learn-about-the-athlete-pack

AgX · Jul 28, 2021

I tend to sweat under backpacks.

Dismayed · Jul 29, 2021

AgX said:
I tend to sweat under backpacks.

Perhaps you'd be more comfortable with an external frame pack. Air circulation across your back will be much better.

GRHazelton · Jul 29, 2021

Amazon Basics has a back pack and a "sling" bag which might meet your needs. They both have moveable padded "partitions" using Velcro which allows changing the internal configuration. I have both, and depending on your medium format camera and kit one or the other might meet your needs. The backpack will accommodate my Pentax 645n, several inserts and several lenses. Both are relatively inexpensive. Of course, YMMV.

AgX · Jul 29, 2021

Dismayed said:
Perhaps you'd be more comfortable with an external frame pack. Air circulation across your back will be much better.

Yes, for hiking or long distance riding on a racebike I got a generic backpack that got a bent plastic plate at its rear thus avoiding direct contact. However that model got at its rear a stretched mesh instead, still pressing the clothing to the body.
For me a photo backpack is stll a good idea for hiking, bot not for gatherings.

I got countless bags, a kind of addiction, being nourished by used camera bags being available for next to nothing now. From dedicated everready bags, belt bags, sling bags, backpacks to bicycle bags and suitcases.
All have their very benefit in certain situations.

abruzzi · Jul 29, 2021

I generally don't like backpacks because to access what is in them, I have to remove them, whereas a shoulder bag I can access the contents while its still hanging from my shoulder. My knees don't really work, so placing a bag on the ground then kneeling to access the contents is quite painful for me. A dolly could make a lot of sense as long as its adapted to the terrain you cover. I'd hate to pull one up a flight of steps (I'm thinking the steps behind the house in the Exorcist). In my area, it might require large diameter fat tires since I'm almost exclusively photographing outside of population areas, and due to all the sand we have here. One thing's for sure, whatever you think might work, don't worry if it makes you look corny, we're film photographers, anything we do is going to look corny to most people.

Patrick Robert James · Jul 29, 2021

Sling bags are great. Easy access to gear and you can push them out of the way. Might be hard to find one big enough for what you want though. Another option is a waist pack. I have a LowePro waist pack that I use for my large format lenses. That way I never have to put anything on the ground. Might just be big enough or what you want. When I do carry a regular bag I carry it across the body. Much easier that way. You could also get a Tamrac rolling bag as has been mentioned above. Looks like a suitcase. Easy to use. I have one of those too but I never use it except for traveling.

cjbecker · Jul 29, 2021

Sling black packs are not good at distributing the weight to your waist. For all my backpacking needs I use a external frame and attach whatever I need to it. Typically a dry bag with all my stuff and camera gear.

I use a Barney's pack frame.

Ya def would looking funny in the city tho.

Besk · Jul 30, 2021

I have a older Photoflex waist pack with shoulder strap. I have used it for medium format and large format systems. It is designed to put most of the weight on the hips.
One advantage is that the flap folds away from the body and you can work out of without putting it on the ground.
They are no longer made but something similar may be available. I have a smaller one made by Tamrac.

Draveur · Aug 1, 2021

Best answer from abruzzi :
whatever you think might work, don't worry if it makes you look corny, we're film photographers, anything we do is going to look corny to most people

Found a guy who modified a fishing trolley : https://1.img-dpreview.com/files/p/TS560x560~forums/59396440/6c692d849d5849089ca0fc778bf3255a

... ... ...

Lots of comments about backpacks... Dollies and trollies are probably not a good idea in the world of photography. I guess I could make a DIY prototype out of recycled parts to see if the idea has a future or not.

For now, I have a Mamiya 645 with the 55, 80 and 150mm + 2 backs. Carrying all this in a hand bag is ok. I’m looking to add a forth lens and probably a third back. It might get heavy at some point. I also have a Bronica SQ (about to be sold).

I’m still not sure that I like the 645 format. I like the square while the 6X7 looks more “dynamic” than the 645 (sorry, I’m not sure how to express that).

I have recently read a lot about the Mamiya RZ67 that I like for the format (67), the revolving back and the possibility to have 645, 66 and 67 backs. So the "heavy" RZ seems to be the only camera that I need (hence the idea of a dolly). But the more I read about it, the more doubts I have about this camera (don’t know why yet… The way it operates? The size and weight?).

I will probably replace my Bronica with a Mamiya 6. What's crazy, is that prices go up with age... My Bronica was finally an investment !

Anyway, I might build something out of scraps to see if I like pulling/pushing a cart.

AgX · Aug 1, 2021

Draveur said:
Dollies and trollies are probably not a good idea in the world of photography.

Why not?
Because one is less flexible in movement than with a kind of bag on the body? Because it is less theft-safe having stuff far away from the body?

Pieter12 · Aug 1, 2021

AgX said:
Why not?
Because one is less flexible in movement than with a kind of bag on the body? Because it is less theft-safe having stuff far away from the body?

Dollies and trollies work wonderfully in the studio or on location where there is a relatively even surface to roll them on. And having an assistant helps from the security standpoint.

The endless quest for a photo bag : confronting an idea

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