Camera holsters / waist packs

[AlbertP]

I'm looking for a waist pack for my 1-series Canon camera. These cameras are fairly large and all of the packs I've tried are too small. Anyone?

[bavanor]

Try looking at these products
http://www.thinktankphoto.com/ttp_products.html

Haven't used them, but came across their website the other day.

[bavanor]

You might want to look at these too:
http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Belt...ist_85_AW.aspx

I like Lowepro's products. They have held up for me (both the mini trekker and the Off Trail 2)

[JohnC]

I have the Specialist 85, it is my primary bag for a 1DmkII, 70-200, 24-70, and 16-35. Can also get a flash in there if needed.

If I'm out with only one or two large lenses I'll take a Tamrac 707 "half moon" case. If I'm using primes instead of the zooms I can get the body and 3 lenses in the Tamrac, too. Again with a flash in the outside pocket.

Both cases have a shoulder strap and a belt strap. With the Tamrac I use the shoulder strap. With the Lowepro I use both (mainly the belt strap with the shoulder strap for stability).

Both have no problem fitting the large camera body.

John

[mikej]

I have been using the Lowepro Orion AW for several months now. It's pretty good for carrying my 1DMKII with a 70-200 2.8L IS or 24-70 2.8L lens on the camera. There is still room for another lens, extra battery, memory case, filters, and a number of other items. It has both the waist belt and a neck strap so I can support it both ways. If I carry the camera around my neck, I can carry my 100-400 lens in there.

I also have a Lowepro backpack and another waist pack that is smaller that my wife uses with the 10D now.

I wish I had another few inches, but to get a much bigger waist pack would start making it hard to carry it on your waist.

Mike

[dweldon]

I have tried the Think Tank Speed Freak waistbag and think it a great product.

However, I did have a need left over with this the largest of the Think Tank waistbelt bags.

I have a series of emails, that I will insert using the quote function, that I had back and forth with Doug Murdoch, Think Tank President. They will detail my thoughts and Think Tank's responses about the Speed Freak waistbelt.

Hello Again Doug,

I just realized that I had failed to answer your question regarding a need to keep the flash attached to camera while storing in the bag.

It would be a great idea if practical, although in my usage at weddings or other events I typically have the flash on a stroboframe bracket.
This opens up even further requirements to a waistbag or modular belt system's usage application.

I look forward to any further information as to your companies direction on accomodating a flash mounted application.

Regards,
Dan Weldon
----- Original Message -----
From: Doug Murdoch
To: Dan Weldon
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2005 4:28 PM
Subject: Re: Think Tank Feedback


Hi Dan,
Great to hear from you!
Did you have one of the older Speed Racers or the newer one on our website? The new one has slightly changed dimensions – it is taller, etc.
Actually, we did not consider the L Bracket, although recently I have heard that from 3-4 photographers wanting to keep the bracket on with the lense. Some photographers also want to keep the flash attached. What is your preference?
The bag is about 2 cm higher now, so there should be enough vertical space. Otherwise, you really have to just rip the dividers out of the bag and start from scratch to get them in the right position.
Cheers, Doug

On 10/24/05 4:23 PM, "Dan Weldon" <d.weldon@charter.net> wrote:


Hi Doug,

First I want to say that I do really like your products.

I had bought a Speed Racer and was trying to use it with a D1X and Kirk Enterprise "L" bracket as well as a D2H with the RRS "L" bracket.

USing the bag with camera stored vertically and lenses mounted.

Both of these cameras were really tight in the depth of the bag due to the "L" brackets being mounted. It appeared to be straining the zipper.

Another feedback is that I also thought that the distance allowed to the rear of the cameras, (vertical top), was a minor amount short.
The camera as rested on the ear pads, (if you understand the ear pad analogy), caused this condition come into play, in addition I was using the DK-7 eyepiece on both cameras which does extend a bit out off the bodies.

I mistakedly sold the bag, but now, even with the above comments, I wish I had not.

Great products!!

Regards,
Dan Weldon

----- Original Message -----
From: Doug Murdoch <mailtooug_Murdoch@ThinkTankPhoto.com>
To: Doug Murdoch <mailto:CustomerService@ThinkTankPhoto.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2005 11:19 PM
Subject: From Doug/ Think Tank Photo/ Latest News

Message from designer Doug Murdoch:

Hello from Santa Rosa, California! There are a lot of new developments here at Think Tank Photo, so read carefully!

New Products/ New Website
We have added a dozen new products to our newly designed Web site. Many of these new products are the result of input we received from photographers during our first Test Drive program. (The two most requested new products are the Lens Drop In, which is designed for changing teleconverters, and the R U Thirsty, which is designed to carry a full size water bottle and an energy bar.) You will discover these, and new in-depth product specifications, by going to www.thinktankphoto.com <http://www.thinktankphoto.com/> and clicking on the "Products" link at the top.

Free Modulus Set / RobGalbraith.com
Through < http://www.robgalbraith.com/ >, we are offering a free Modulus set once a week for the month of October!!!
Rob’s site is THE resource for the most current digital SLR information worldwide. Look for our ad to sign up! (if you don’t see our ad, refresh your browser several times and our ad should come up)

Free Airport Article
I interviewed a number of photographers concerning airline travel and wrote an article specifically about traveling through airports with photo gear. Among others, we interviewed Jack Gruber and Robert Hanashiro of USA Today, Deanne Fitzmaurice of the San Francisco Chronicle, and Donald Miralle from Getty. Should you find the article of value, we hope that you will alert your friends and colleagues and post it where other photographers can gain access to it. We have posted this free article at: < http://www.thinktankphoto.com/airport >.

Penn Camera and Think Tank Photo - Remote Control 10 and 20
Think Tank Photo and Penn Camera teamed up to create waterproof rain covers for remote cameras that are triggered by a Pocket Wizard or hard wired. You can read about them on SportsShooter.com - < http://www.sportsshooter.com/news/1472 > Please contact Jeff Snyder at Penn Camera if you are interested in purchasing these products.

Share the Moment.....
We will be updating our Share the Moment section of our website in a few weeks with photos of photographers using our gear......if you have not done so already, please send me your photos directly! I will let you know when they post!

As always, we'd be grateful if you'd forward this email to your colleagues and friends so that they can be alerted to the latest news from Think Tank Photo. Thanks again for all of your support.

Cheers, Doug

Doug Murdoch, Product Designer/President, ThinkTankPhoto.com
ph: 866.55THINK (558.4465) fax:707.579.8168
2360 Mendocino Ave A2 Box 307., Santa Rosa, CA, 95403

[mikej]

Dan, I see some nice ideas, but from looking at the products on their web site, the Think Tank seems too small for most of the stuff some of us carry. And to add all the bags and extras to carry the extras, it looks like one would have to have a very big waist.

From the pictures he had on his web site, I don't see how some of the photographers in the pictures can carry much more than the camera and a lens they had showing in the pictures. The bags were just too small looking.

I can see there are a few of his add on bags that would be a good addition to my LowePro Orion waist pack though or to hook on to my LowePro Photo Trekker AW. I wonder how easy they are to use with other backpacks and bags?

Mike

[dweldon]

Mike,
I agree with you about the waist size required to carry alot of what I need at times. The largest of their waistbelt bag line the Speed Freak's interior was a skosh small for me as well.

Also when you have the waistpack on you have a large obstacle in your lap if you go for the large ones.

If you want to kneel on a knee or both knees to get a shot it is in the way or up in your chest. The belt and modular system will let you swing this away behind you.

I have not tried a modular belt system but in theory it may work out to have lense pouchs from which to swap out lenses. I would have kept the Speed Freak for special circumstance use but it was too tight for D1X and D2H with "L" brackets attached.

Still looking for the perfect bag.........................

[mikej]

I like the fact that the LowePro Orion AW can be slid behind me when I'm walking, kneeling, climbing, etc. and then slid back around to the front when I need to access it.

It also has a shoulder strap that I use to help stabalize it so it doesn't sag when fully loaded. If I tighten the belt the neck strap barely adds weight to my shoulder.

I'll try and get some pictures of it tomorrow.

Mike