Bag Choice

A recent discussion on another forum about insurance for a dropped lens actually highlighted the importance of choosing appropriate peripherals in the first place.

The owner of the damaged $2500 lens had dropped it after stuffing it too carelessly into his bag to move quickly to another location without reversing the lens hood.
His Nikon D3 was attached to the lens, but fortunately seems to have avoided damage in the fall

In his words "As I was only going down to the next floor I stuffed the camera/lens into the holster without reversing the hood...so it was top heavy and slightly proud of the holster. With my light stands and strobe case in the other hand I had no time or ability to grab the body - I felt it fly out centrifugally as I rounded a corner."

It is imperative that our bags and cases are very carefully considered.

In the situation described it would have paid the photographer to instead use a Tamrac Velocity bag which is narrow enough not to tip yet deep enough to stow long lenses, hoods, flash etc

http://www.tamrac.com/5769.htm

It is not the only bag to own, but is the ideal 'haste' bag
Wear it on your back and spin it to the front for quick equipment access then swing it out of the way to shoot.
Stow your gear and swing it out of the way to climb a ladder, tie a shoelace, run up a flight of stairs and care little that you forgot to do it up properly.

Ideal in a crowd, scrum or mosh pit you will rarely need to make yourself or your gear vulnerable when haste makes common sense go out of the window.

It can also be worn, with a quick adjustment to strap length, over the shoulder at waist height.

It is also worth combining the Tamrac Cyberpro rolling bag with a Lowepro Reporter for easy access to a larger range of gear.

http://www.tamrac.com/5263.htm
http://www.tamrac.com/5261.htm
http://products.lowepro.com/product/Stealth-Reporter-D550-AW,2048,20.htm
http://products.lowepro.com/product/Stealth-Reporter-D650-AW,2049,20.htm

If you are spending a lot of time on smooth surfaces (pavement, carpet, tarmac etc) then the wheels of the Tamrac make moving the bag very simple

The similarly sized Lowepro will slide over the handle too so that it sits securely on top of the low slung Cyberpro.

Need to pick it all up and climb a flight of stairs?
The two similarly sized bags can be separated and carried one in each hand so that you are well balanced.

Also look at the Kata Trolley which has extending wheels to prevent the tipping that can occur with bags like the cyberpro when we go to fast or turn too quickly.

http://www.kata-bags.com/product.asp?p_Id=104&Version=Photo

In fact, were I not already the proud owner of abou t$1000 worth of bags, I think I would have just convinced myself to get a Kata InsertTrolley and two Lowepro Reporter 400s?

If you travel a lot that would be ideal since the Lowepro Reporters can pack flat to be utilised as working bags at your destination, while your gear travels safely in a pelican case.

You might also note that flash stands were being carried also, and perhaps choosing Manfrotto Stacker Stands would also have helped him to avoid the incident. Three of these can be strapped together and carried over one shoulder.
http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/site/manfrotto/cache/offonce/pid/3576?livid=24&lsf=24&child=14

The above choices will also help us avoid stress to our musculoskeletal system and the savings in physio and lost work should pay for the bags easily

Any ideas why backpacks which most photographers gravitate towards for capacity might be a poor choice for non trekking photographers?