Pine1
Loc: Midland & Lakeway
We are going to London (Kensington) and Paris this summer. I have a D7100, 18-200, 70-300, 105 f.28, 50, 35 and an SB910. I need a sling bag and the options have driven me nuts. I am a small man 5'6" & 148 lbs and I am 71 and reasonably fit. I hate to leave anything behind, including my tripod and mono pod. I will appreciate "any" suggestions regarding a sling bag. I have searched B&H, Amazon and Best Buy. Some of you have great experience with this sort of thing.
Pine1 wrote:
We are going to London (Kensington) and Paris this summer. I have a D7100, 18-200, 70-300, 105 f.28, 50, 35 and an SB910. I need a sling bag and the options have driven me nuts. I am a small man 5'6" & 148 lbs and I am 71 and reasonably fit. I hate to leave anything behind, including my tripod and mono pod. I will appreciate "any" suggestions regarding a sling bag. I have searched B&H, Amazon and Best Buy. Some of you have great experience with this sort of thing.
Oh my goodness! You will need a rolling suitcase. LOL
Sounds like a great trip so have fun. But personally, I would not take all of that gear.
I'm jealous!! But on to your question.
You will most certainly find a bag to carry all of your gear but I think you are making a mistake planning to do so. You would be much better off taking your best "walk-around" lens and perhaps one other. This will save you a lot of hassle getting in and out of your bag and more, importantly, mitigate the fact that you will be exposing some pretty expensive gear to possible theft or loss. I've traveled to both cities and have found that the Tamron 18-270mm lens on my Canon 7D was (is) the perfect lens for 99% of the photos I chose to take. Have fun on your trip and let's see some of your shots!!
Pine1 wrote:
We are going to London (Kensington) and Paris this summer. I have a D7100, 18-200, 70-300, 105 f.28, 50, 35 and an SB910. I need a sling bag and the options have driven me nuts. I am a small man 5'6" & 148 lbs and I am 71 and reasonably fit. I hate to leave anything behind, including my tripod and mono pod. I will appreciate "any" suggestions regarding a sling bag. I have searched B&H, Amazon and Best Buy. Some of you have great experience with this sort of thing.
I'm also 71, and my concern with a sling bag is shoulder soreness. Lowepro makes a comfortable lightweight backpack in different sizes (
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004XNLR48/ref=oh_details_o08_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) that has the added advantage of opening from the inside to prevent theft (in Paris especially). Another lightweight and comfortable option would be Cabelas Fishpond fishing vest (
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Fly-Fishing/Mens-Fishing-Vests-Chest-Hip-Packs|/pc/104793480/c/104721480/sc/103928580/fishpond-Sagebrush-Mesh-Fly-Fishing-Vest/1732872.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fmens-fishing-vests-chest-hip-packs%2F_%2FN-1104263%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_103928580%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104793480%253Bcat104721480&WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104793480%3Bcat104721480%3Bcat103928580), but people might look at you a little funny.
Actually, my vacation camera is a Canon SX50, stored on my belt in a Zing pouch (large?) with two snap locks (Builders Square-$1.00 each). Has room for a spare battery, card, & CPL filter, as well as the camera.
Selkii
Loc: Oakland, CA & Vancouver Island
With that amount of gear, you would need an awfully big backpack!
I don't have as much gear as you do, but I recently spent an inordinate amount of time researching sling bags that would be big enough to carry what I have, but not be so big as to be cumbersome. I am now awaiting the delivery of two Lowepro sling bags (202AW and 302AW). One is to carry most of my gear when boarding a plane (the leftover will have to go in suitcase) and a smaller one for when I am out and about. Both purchased from B&H as that store had the best prices.
What was most important, besides size and weight, was quick access, even if I choose to carry the larger of the bags while out shooting. A backpack that held more negated the quick access. The additional body strap was important for comfort. There also had to be a tripod strap and pockets for wallet, keys, etc.
I visited a couple of brick and mortar stores to try out bags first hand for comfort and internal layout. Also to see if the more expensive bags were worth it for me. They weren't. I would have bought the bags at the b&m except I can get two online for not much more than the b&m was charging for one - and no tax.
My one complaint was lack of security. There are backpacks where the zippered compartments are against your body while carrying, but sling bag compartments open to the outside. That means, when they are slung on your back, they are vulnerable to pickpockets. I asked about this at several well known camera shops and was told, without exception and with a straight face, that no one has ever asked about this.
Pine1
Loc: Midland & Lakeway
Thanks for the help. I ordered a Lowepro 350.
From past mistake do not put breakable equipment of any kind in checked luggage. My wifes Kindle wraped in clothes was not usable again. We did find Paris not near as bad as expected. Great city as was London and their theater district (can't recall the name its called).
Tpharm wrote:
From past mistake do not put breakable equipment of any kind in checked luggage. My wifes Kindle wraped in clothes was not usable again. We did find Paris not near as bad as expected. Great city as was London and their theater district (can't recall the name its called).
Even though some ladies in our group had their purses taken at a recommended restaurant (had to have been wait staff- purses were recovered minus money) we found the vast majority of Parisians to be very friendly and helpful. In fact, many went out of their way to help show us the way and interpret for us. Nothing like the horror stories I heard prior to going.
BHC
Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA
Pine1 wrote:
Thanks for the help. I ordered a Lowepro 350.
There are a number of Lowepro 350 bags. Did you get the Pro Runner or the Scope Photo Travel?
London's theatre district is in the "West End"
Hello Pine1, I would not consider taking so much equipment, the thought of carrying all that through the crowded London Streets horrifies me. The though of trying to put a tripod up in Trafalger Square, Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace or the Eifel Tower and so on would be a nightmare to me.
Personally I would limit myself to the 18-200 and your favourite prime such as the 35mm.
Whatever you decide have a great time,
John
Pine1 wrote:
We are going to London (Kensington) and Paris this summer. I have a D7100, 18-200, 70-300, 105 f.28, 50, 35 and an SB910. I need a sling bag and the options have driven me nuts. I am a small man 5'6" & 148 lbs and I am 71 and reasonably fit. I hate to leave anything behind, including my tripod and mono pod. I will appreciate "any" suggestions regarding a sling bag. I have searched B&H, Amazon and Best Buy. Some of you have great experience with this sort of thing.
Will this be a pleasure trip, or are you being paid to take pictures?
When I travel, I travel light. I'd never bring multiple lenses on a trip like that. I would bring the 18-200mm and the 35mm.
On the other hand, have you considered getting a good quality pocket camera, like the Sony RX10 II?
Pine1
Loc: Midland & Lakeway
I don't plan to run on the streets with a bunch of equipment in a back pack but I do plan to hand or backpack carry on he planes & train. While I haven't been to London I have spent time in Paris and Avignon.I found the people to be kind and fun. Because I'm new to digital photography, I want to spend as much time as possible with my D7100. It seems that I have become a lens junkie with little talent. I still plan to purchase a 70-200 f2.8 Nikon before I go. I am looking for a good quality pocket camera now. Sony is high on the list.
We just made the same trip. D7000 with Nikon 18-200. Took
4000 shots. Could not have taken a better lens.
If you want to reply, then
register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.