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I might be able to get a cellphone shot of it directly to you. But perhaps a simple description will suffice. I use true external frame real backpacking packs, preferring vintage US made ones. These sometimes turn up almost unused at garage sales, on the web etc. One of mine is a 70's Calif. Kelty Tioga (large -they came in sizes). This has a large top compartment loaded from the top under the flap, a separate bottom compartment, and large side pockets suitable for lenses and accessories. I've done up to two-week backpacking trips in the high country or desert canyons which included a full Sinar system plus all my backpacking equipment, food, and supplies - up to 90 lbs at a time. So they can hold a lot, but are much more comfortable to carry than a bookbaggish internal frame "camera pack" with a lot of redundant cushioning rubber foam weight. Of course, for typical day use, you're not going to be lugging anywhere near 90 lbs, may not only a third of that. Empty, these packs weigh less than dedicated camera backpacks.
The camera stays fully set up, with the bellows simply compressed. I typically want 18 inches of rail available for sake of longer lenses; but that can be quickly modified simply by adding or subtracting rail sections. At that length, the two ends simply project a little out from under the top flap. The balance of the camera, including compendium shade simply drops down below, cushioned with my goosedown jacket.
That also pads and insulated the filmholder box, etc. Of course, everything has its own poly trashcan liner
bag, protecting things from weather or dust. Simple bubble packing suffices for lenses etc. The collapsed tripod also tucks under the top flap. Even a favorite lens can be left on the camera if you wish. Very quick set up time, much faster than a folder.
If dividers are needed, I simply use cut pieces of Gator foam board. Or I have interchangeable poly kitchen
wastebaskets with a different camera system in each, which can be interchanged as needed in the pack upper compartment, already ready to go. That even works well for my classic Sinar Norma system, fully set up. That's probably heavier and bulkier than your recent VX purchase; so you should have no problem with that.
I've backpacked well over 15,000 miles with my Sinar monorails, much of it in very steep terrain, in all kinds of weather. As I got older I switched to a lightweight Ebony folder for the longer trips, or for airline carry, but still frequently dayhike with my Sinar monorail (I'm nearly 77, so have stiffer joints than I used to). So don't let anyone say it's too clumsy to carry a monorail, or that you need to take them apart, or fold them down,
to pack them. All it takes is a little thinking outside the box.
Have fun, and don't hesitate to ask if you need further assistance.
The camera stays fully set up, with the bellows simply compressed. I typically want 18 inches of rail available for sake of longer lenses; but that can be quickly modified simply by adding or subtracting rail sections. At that length, the two ends simply project a little out from under the top flap. The balance of the camera, including compendium shade simply drops down below, cushioned with my goosedown jacket.
That also pads and insulated the filmholder box, etc. Of course, everything has its own poly trashcan liner
bag, protecting things from weather or dust. Simple bubble packing suffices for lenses etc. The collapsed tripod also tucks under the top flap. Even a favorite lens can be left on the camera if you wish. Very quick set up time, much faster than a folder.
If dividers are needed, I simply use cut pieces of Gator foam board. Or I have interchangeable poly kitchen
wastebaskets with a different camera system in each, which can be interchanged as needed in the pack upper compartment, already ready to go. That even works well for my classic Sinar Norma system, fully set up. That's probably heavier and bulkier than your recent VX purchase; so you should have no problem with that.
I've backpacked well over 15,000 miles with my Sinar monorails, much of it in very steep terrain, in all kinds of weather. As I got older I switched to a lightweight Ebony folder for the longer trips, or for airline carry, but still frequently dayhike with my Sinar monorail (I'm nearly 77, so have stiffer joints than I used to). So don't let anyone say it's too clumsy to carry a monorail, or that you need to take them apart, or fold them down,
to pack them. All it takes is a little thinking outside the box.
Have fun, and don't hesitate to ask if you need further assistance.
