Camera Backpacks

[malling]

There is a difference between in your own country and on another continent, and in normal part of town vs slums/ghettos/poorer districts/ rough neighbourhoods.

That written on another continent your never going to blend ind with that approach, unless you happened to have the same skin colour. I get the exact same approach no matter if I take on my normal clothing and fancy shiny camera backpack or if I wear old rags and an old worn out bag. I have taken pictures in some of the worst slums in Asia, India as well as some very poor part of the African Continent.

I would be seen as rich white dude no matter what I wear. So in those situations it doesn’t really matter much. I don’t know how many times I have been surrounded by a flock of kids in those areas of that reason alone, even when I looked liked a homeless guy. And some of the worst pickpockets in those regions are, yes, Kids!

If I went on shooting in Paris or other major western city, then it might be better to keep it low profile in certain part of town, but again the moment I take that shiny thing out of my bag it blows the cower.

Secondly I worked in such areas, they can spot a visitor, photographer miles ahead. That doesn’t mean I would walk into those areas with a huge sign on my back, especially not after dark. But every where’s else I would not be concerned about a camera bag that says expensive equipment, especially as it’s pretty dam difficult to find a spot these days where you would be the sole one.

Last but not least the risk isn’t really that great, you have a bigger risk of getting hit by a car. Reality is that the world has never been safer, it’s relatively safe to take pictures most places especially if your friendly and kind. As written I have walked around in very poor areas with a extremely expensive camera dangling around my neck, I have never been assaulted, because I eat, talk to, take my time with the locals. If I behaved like an ass then that might not been the case.

I'm guessing you don't live in o rnear one of these deprived areas, you simply visit. If such is the case, your arguments, while valid for your application, carry no weight on what I am talking about.

No I don’t, I also doubt many who can afford such equipment do, at least in the western part of the world. But I did live in Southeast Asia a few years back... there you always live next door to deprived areas.

I’m guessing your approach work because you don’t flash it, but only travels through it. But that isn’t gonna work if you do.

 

[dennyr]

I have been using my Case Logic for 5 years.
It has been fabulous...held up to lots of Use/Abuse.
I see people spend 200-300 bux on a shoulder bad, and i am shocked

www.amazon.com/Case-Logic-SLRC-206-15-4-Inch-Backpack/dp/B002DW99H8/ref=sr_1_3?hvadid=78683920532748&hvbmt=bb&hvdev=c&hvqmt=b&keywords=case+logic+slr+camera+backpack&qid=1578552596&sr=8-3

 

[Sharpshooterr]

I have been using my Case Logic for 5 years.
It has been fabulous...held up to lots of Use/Abuse.
I see people spend 200-300 bux on a shoulder bad, and i am shocked

www.amazon.com/Case-Logic-SLRC-206-15-4-Inch-Backpack/dp/B002DW99H8/ref=sr_1_3?hvadid=78683920532748&hvbmt=bb&hvdev=c&hvqmt=b&keywords=case+logic+slr+camera+backpack&qid=1578552596&sr=8-3

Denny, there are sooo many packs out there that can all get the job done.
The pack you list here has a few things I like, like the laptop area if one has a need to carry a laptop. The somewhat rigid bottom is a nice touch but that in itself starts the 3 things I see immediately that I wouldn't like.
1, That bottom creates a situation where the zippers don't go all the way down allowing the entire front to not open up to access.
2&3, no chest strap or waist belt. They don't need to be heavy duty but they DO need to be there!
SS

 

[petrochemist]

I've got 4 different camera backpacks:

A cheap Hama model medium sized & not often taken out. I tend to keep some of my M42 lenses in it. Functional but nothing special.

An Orion Trecker II, which has a smallish lower camera section & an upper section for other kit. For several years this was my preferred mirrorless bag, holding 2 bodies & 4 or more lenses.

A case logic CL SLRC4 a fairly large backpack with a camera pocket & a separate compartment for 6 lenses, as well as a laptop pocket & some space for extras. Still my DSLR bag

Most recently I've added a huge red snapper bag for my FF mirrorless, so far I've avoided filling it up

 

[crackhouserooster]

i use a lowepro tactic 350aw to carry a fuji xt3, 16-55, 50-140, 23, 56 and 90mm lenses with batteries, charger, memory cards, extension tubes and polarizer filters. pretty sure a 13" laptop fits in the sleeve. very comfortable to wear for long periods and very safe for your gear.

 

[dennyr]

I have been using my Case Logic for 5 years.
It has been fabulous...held up to lots of Use/Abuse.
I see people spend 200-300 bux on a shoulder bad, and i am shocked

www.amazon.com/Case-Logic-SLRC-206-15-4-Inch-Backpack/dp/B002DW99H8/ref=sr_1_3?hvadid=78683920532748&hvbmt=bb&hvdev=c&hvqmt=b&keywords=case+logic+slr+camera+backpack&qid=1578552596&sr=8-3

Denny, there are sooo many packs out there that can all get the job done.
The pack you list here has a few things I like, like the laptop area if one has a need to carry a laptop. The somewhat rigid bottom is a nice touch but that in itself starts the 3 things I see immediately that I wouldn't like.
1, That bottom creates a situation where the zippers don't go all the way down allowing the entire front to not open up to access.
2&3, no chest strap or waist belt. They don't need to be heavy duty but they DO need to be there!
SS

I suppose it depends on how OCD you are about.....All The Way Down...
I have no trouble accessing whatever i need from the bag.
It certainly is not perfect for everybody.

I wish it did not have a space for a laptop.

But for a street photographer or anybody that needs to hall their stuff around, it seems fine to me.