camera bag for India
 

Is wearing a camera backpack bag a hazard in India? And which one? I have a Lowepro Mini Trekker for my Canon 5D Mark2, Rebel XTi, 70-200 L IS 2.8 lens and a 24-105 L IS lens. I have looked for a sling type so I wouldn't have to take my backpack off to get it out, but not having great luck. Will I have a problem taking my backpack off to get it out? That is--with any potential thieves? I am visiting Mumbai, Delhi,Agra, Indore, and Udaipur. I am female and not big.

I recommend the Lowepro "Slingshot" either the 200 AW or 300 AW I have both and I have the same camera and lens as you have. Both bags have very good water repellent properties as well as a slip-over plastic covering in case it rains.

200 AW: Will fit a 5D MK2 with the 24-105 mounted with the lens hood inverted and you will have room in the internal compartment for the 70-200 L IS 2.8. Smaller than the 300 AW BUT it only has one shoulder strap to hold the weight which will be hard on your shoulder.

300 AW: Will fit the 5D MK2 with the 70-200 L IS 2.8 mounted with the lens hood inverted and the 24 - 105 easily with room to spare in case you want to carry more lenses. The 300 AW have one strap as well but it has a backpack style belt harness which take a lot of weight off the shoulder. I recommend this version over the 200 AW.

Picture of me with the 300 AW: http://khun-pook.smugmug.com/Travel/...13_RXhuQ-M.jpg

http://products.lowepro.com/product/...-AW,2036,4.htm

Thanks, Hanuman! I have the 200, but thought it would be too small. I'm about 125 lbs, so thought the 300 might be a bit large for me. What do you think? Maybe it's not. I'm glad to know you have the same equipment and it works for you.

With a very reluctant model, my daughter, who is roughly 125 lbs:

http://khun-pook.smugmug.com/Other/L...99_7ixZF-M.jpg
http://khun-pook.smugmug.com/Other/L...81_NxgnF-M.jpg
http://khun-pook.smugmug.com/Other/L...35_k46DR-M.jpg

Fully loaded and she says she's quite comfortable carrying the Slingshot.

You are so kind and your daughter is so gracious! Tell her I SO appreciate her modeling. That is so helpful. Since I have to wear it around all day everyday, I wanted to be sure I could handle the weight and the size. It sure seems to me that the easy access would be a safer bet for keeping ownership of my cameras! Thanks again,

I like a bag that I can slip round to my front when walking through a crowded market or whatever. (The only difference in my collection is the f4 70-200 instead of the f2.8.)

So silverwool, which bag do you use? I said I have the 200, but actually I have the 100 which is too small. I'm still debating between the 200 and the 30.
Hanuman--would the 300 be too loosely packed with what I want to take? If the 20 would hold all my stuff as mentioned above, I think I'd go with it?

I travel with an anonymous looking backpack with home made padded compartments for camera, lenses etc. The idea is to to disguise the contents but I suspect the average street thief would not recognise custom made camera bags. ie Lowepro et al.

I would suggest taking all your gear with you when you go to purchase a bag. Load it up and wander round the shop to see how the weight and balance feels. If you feel the slightest bit uncomfortable look at something else. Its not a perfect trial but better than nothing.

Patty,

I suggest that you take the equipments you're planning to take to India and try them out loaded in both the 200 and 300 at a shop which have both of them.

For me the 300 with the 70 - 200 L F2.8 IS mounted fit snugly in the main compartment. The 24 - 105 will be loose in the compartment since the 300 is quite "deep". How ever, I normally carry a pack of "Pec Pad" as well and I would use it to cushion the lens to stop it from moving around inside the bag. The other free compartments I carry one or two flashes(a 270 EX and a 580 EX) which I use for fill flash or general flash purposes. When I take a light tripod with me I normally just strap it on the belt of the 300 as well.

You can definitely get by with the 200 but I prefer the 300 for the extra room that I use to carry things like a cap or a small towels plus it is easier on my shoulders with the 300.

Picture from the net of a 200 AW and a 1D2 + 24 - 70L and 70 - 200 L F2.8 IS: http://www.fototime.com/0BD92A5E34E2769/standard.jpg

Other bags that you might want to consider = Kata 3n1 - 30. A backpack but can be use as a sling bag as well and looks quite nice. I haven't try it out but another choice for you.

Post at the same time as silverwool!

Just want to add that the most important factor for me is the comfort of carrying a lot of weight with any type of a sling bag. A backpack is the most comfortable but you can't use it as a sling bag. If you are worried about thieves then carry just a small point and shoot camera.

Found it: http://www.kata-bags.com/productFRM2...&Version=Photo

Thanks Hanuman! I am still undecided and will look for a camera store near us, but think there aren't any very accessible. That, of course, would be the best idea. And I absolutely could not go to India with a small point and shoot! I just want a bag that will give ease of use, comfort to carry, and minimize stupid mistakes. (Did I say I am 62?) I am checkingo out the kata bags also. Thanks mucho for that link!!!

Lordy, that's enormous! You're going to wear that around all day? In India? It's a bit like carrying a neon sign that says 'Tourist'. lol. If you want to attract the attention of every hustler in India, grab a huge camera and start waving it around.

Hanuman is the expert on the right bag. I wouldn't imagine you'll do better - but you're missing the issue.

India is a place where it all happens fast. If you are really gonna lug that stuff around with you, by the time you've got the camera out of the bag the moment will have gone. It is the land of a thousand missed photo opportunities. You don't know what I'm talking about right now - but within a day of arriving you'll understand everything I say.

Discretion, immediacy and speed are your key points. You make yourself a target for thieves, not that I've ever seen any, by faffing around with cameras, lens, focus and light. The minute you stop in the street - particularly the tourist areas, you'll be zoomed in on by everybody whose business it is to make a living out of tourists or a thousand kids who want their picture taken. It's a grab and shoot quick country, whether you like it or not.

Unless, of course, you only want to take pictures of architecture. If you want people, you're already dead in the water. The minute an Indian sees a camera pointed at them, they'll snap to attention, pose like someone stuck a pole up their bottom and lose the magic in their eyes. Your only hope is to get a great zoom lens, stand out of the way, preferably back to a wall, and click wildly.

When you delete the one million pictures where somebody has walked in front of your lens, you'll get something, I guess.

'I absolutely could not go to India with a small point and shoot!'

How do you know that? Yes you could.

Maybe you should give yourself a choice, eh? Take both. If your mega-bag ain't working out, [and I promise you, it won't], then you have another option.

Also, check the temps when and where you're going. Wanna carry that thing around in the 35% sun every hour of every day? Wanna lug a great, sticky, sweaty thing anywhere close to your body? Not for long.

Sorry patty, I know this is the last info you want to hear. But it's my truth. I'm sure someone smarter than me will chime in.

On the thieves issue - well, actually, I don't think there is one, really. There are SO many people in the places you are likely to go that you are, in effect, surrounded by security. Sounds odd, but true. I'd say you were in more danger of camera-nicking in the tourist areas of Europe.

They don't want your camera - they want rupees.

And, as a complete aside, may I highly, highly, highly recommend this hidden gem to stay in Indore: Rashid Kothi.

www.ahilyafort.com/your_stay_indore.php

The hidden gems are the family.

dogster,

Us photographers are strong... we lift weight in preparation for a photographic vacation and when we get tired we hire coolies to carry our camera sling-bag.

Hey Dogster. Thanks for your input. Of course I will listen to it and think, think, think, but Hanuman knows the craziness of photographers well! I may be 62, but I work out with a trainer so I can haul this stuff around (his photo is on my site at www.pbase.com/pattyroth towards the latter galleries). Of course I have NO experience in India, but I have been to Africa 4 times (I know they don't compare). I'll be with American-Indians and their families. So I'll give it a go and trek up to a camera store some distance away to check out these big bags. I know I can handle the Lowepro mini trekker, just don't know if I can handle the big sling bags. And yes, the heat. But I think it will only be bad in Mumbai.
But, I REALLY appreciate your reminder about the immediacy and hope that prepares me to be ready a bit more. So, thanks for your recommendations.
And Hanuman, once again, many thanks to you. My husband suggested we make the trek today to a distant camera store. I just like to be prepared as much as possible, since I know so many things can go "wrong." (He's not going on this trip, so I don't have his back as a back-up. :-( ) Thanks!!! I know this will likely be a life-changing journey.

Oh, and thanks for the Indore rec. I think the local relatives are making the plans, but I want to keep it in mind.

Nice photo Patty! When you said "American-Indians" do you mean Indians from India or native Americans?

Patty,

Is this picture an HDRI? http://i.pbase.com/o2/58/831458/1/97...ngziwildWS.jpg

Thanks, Hanuman. I'm not sure which photo that is as my computer won't go to that link. But I have not yet done any HDR. I did use filters on a Yangzi one, though. Just for fun. I meant Indian-American. Americans of Indian (from India) descent. My traveling friend's daughter-in-law has grandparents and uncles and aunts and cousins in India, who we will be visiting as well.

So where are your photos posted, Hanuman???

Patty,

I just take photos for fun and normally just pictures of my family or friends when we travel. You're welcome to look at them - http://khun-pook.smugmug.com/

Thanks, Hanuman! I just glanced and want to go back when I have time to really look at them. I picked Myanmar and want to see more of all of them.

The sage continues..... So I went to the great camera store. No Lowepro 300 or Kata like I wanted to look at. The guy there suggested the Think Tank Speed Racer, which is a belt system. Looked and felt great in the store (I couldn't take my equipment as we went from a different place than home where my equipment resides. So I bought it. Now home with the equipment is another story. Guess it's not made for smaller frames. The belt will barely tighten enough and the shoulder strap won't even come close. Plus it feels a LOT more unwieldy with my gear. Sooo, I went back to your photo, Hanuman, of the 200 and thought okay, I'll try that. (Now that I am home, I discovered I really do have the 200, not the 100.) I would never have believed that I could fit it all in, but thanks to your example, I tried it and it worked and it feels pretty good on my back. All that to say that I probably will return the Think Tank and use my Lowepro!! But I'll wear it around the house a bit more to decide.

So another long trip back to the store next weekend. But it is worth it to get the right one.

I am happy to hear that the example picture help you! When I was using the 200 I normally have the camera out, carrying it on the other shoulder opposite the sling bag's strap and this helped to distribute the weight a lot. When I travel, and I'm not using the camera and have it in the sling bag, I would rest it on my wheeled carry-on.

Good luck!

Thanks! (and I meant "saga" not sage!) Your advice has proved golden so far.

You're welcome. The Myanmar pictures were taken with my old 5D using the 24 - 70 F2.8L (7 years old) and the 70 - 300 DO IS which I have happily sold and bought the 70 - 200 F2.8L IS and a 70 - 200 F4L IS - my favourite for it's weight and sharpness. Thinking about the new 70 - 200 F2.8L IS mk2 now.....

One last thing if you look at my pictures, especially the "HDR" gallery, you will see a few pictures from Switzerland that I took with the then new 5D MK2. I was really surprised to see the how dirty my sensors was when I reprocessed the pictures into the HDR format. So much for the auto sensor cleaning of the MK2 and I was careful when I was changing lenses. Recommend you take your pec pads, sensor wipe and Elcipse E2 along to India as well.

P.S. Hanuman, RE the image you set a link to: From my home computer (bad wireless before) I could connect to it and that is an image I played around with on the computer--with various filters from Photoshop--so it's hardly a photo anymore!

not to brag, my point and shoot fits in my pocket easily...

I'm with Dogster on the point and click. Why not?

Since I've really become engaged with photography, I now travel with two camera bodies, three lenses, two battery packs, multiple filters, tripod--on and on.

However, some of my very best pictures that I ever took were with a Cannon point and click, which is the only camera I brought to India in 2006. http://photos.patpom.com/2358069 Two of these point and click photos have been published-in a London texbook and in a Darthmouth college poster-to my great surprise and delight.

If you have a good eye, you can take great pictures even with a disposable camera.

Although I drag all my camera equipement on my journeys, I never travel without my point and click. I love my point and click. It is always in my pocket, and like dogster alluded to, you might just catch that fire in the eye of your subject where a huge camera and hood would dim that light.

Never, ever travel wthout a point and click. Never.

Oh, and Hanuman, thank you SO much for the tips on the sling bag and the great photos of how it looks on an actual person (your charming daughter).

I'm off to Machu Picchu with all my gear and need a new bag. I've bookmarked this thread, so again, thanks!

BostonHarbor,

That's a place I'm planning to visit in the near future. Please post a review and pictures!!

I carry a small Canon Ixus as well and in good light the picture is quite good but the IQ(image quality) is no where near a DSLR. It takes pretty good HD video as well, but again only in good light.

Hanuman, I'm finally getting back to check your photos, which is what I'm doing right now. I LOVE your HDR photos! Thanks for posting the originals and the enhanced ones. Very cool.

I'm so happy that you like them! HDR is something new for me and I'm still learning.

Camera bag is packed! We get up at 3:30 AM tomorrow and we'll be off for our adventure.

Bon Voyage Patty. Looking forward to seeing your photos from India.