What do you carry your DSLR in in the park?

[nannye]

Last year I had my Nikon D90 and a small point and shoot in a regular camera bag which was then easy to hang on the stroller, I have an 18-200 lens for it and generally do not ever change lenses so lens room is not essential. At home I have a lower Pro crossbody/swivel backpack. This one does the job, but I don't love it. I'm looking for another bag that will carry my camera as well as my small sony cybershot point and shoot and potentially (likely/maybe) a small video camera similar to a sony handy cam size. It will be on the stroller, but I also need to be able to get it off and put it on relatively quickly when going on rides. Need something light and not HUGE but big enough to carry what I need and be able to fit on rides. I will likely carry/put a backpack in the stroller to hold water, snacks etc...

What do you use for your DSLR at Disney?

 

[2Tiggies]

I have a Tamrac Adventurer 6. Not overly huge, has a separate compartment at the top just big enough to carry ponchos, mesh side pockets for drinks and small internal zipper pocket in the camera compartment, with a mesh elasticated one at the top. It takes my D90 with 18-105 lens, external flash, 55 - 300 mm lens, and 50 mm prime. I also have about 6 filters which I keep in their plastic cases and they all fit in there. I don't take the whole lot with me to every park every day and in spite of taking all the abovementioned, it is still very compact. They do the same bag in a smaller size too if that is too much for you. I prefer backpack style as we park hop and like to stay out from rope drop to close so I find it easier. You may have a different preference, however this one works perfectly for me

 

[wbeem]

I just hold it. Sometimes I'll have it on a tripod and carry that with a strap. Most times, I avoid carrying any kind of bag into the park.

 

[k5jm]

Tamrac Velocity 9 and 7x/ I normally use the 9. I carry 3 lenses, a flash, and a small video camera. I will rent a locker if I am taking a tripod or monopod.

 

[photo_chick]

It's around my neck on a comfy strap. I have a Lenscoat bodybag that I put on it as well. If I take an extra lens with me most of the time I just stick it in my hip pack. If I want to take more I'll grab my small bag, a Tamrac Adventure Messenger 4, or I'll swipe DD's Crumpler.

 

[YesDear]

I use a Black Rapid strap and usually only take one lens. I might stick a 50 mm in my pocket. If I take a tripod it is usually only for a specific purpose and will leave in a locker until needed.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Mine stays around my neck the whole time. I use a Black Rapid RS-7 with a few attached pouches for things like memory cards and batteries. Unlike previous straps I've used that go around the back of the neck, this one is comfortable enough that it stays on all the time.

I also wear a Think Tank Digital Holster 20 V2.0 on my belt. This normally has an extra lens or two and some other accessories in it. If it starts to rain, I expand it to full size and use it to hold the camera too.

 

[nannye]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, I'll have a look at them. One thing I forgot to mention too is that I need to be able to take the camera out really fast, which does hinder my current lower pro bag. hmmm

 

[meanpc]

I use a Lowepro Slingshot 202, which I bought just before we left. I had inserted a few images, but my post count is too low.

In the bag:
Canon T3i
28mm f/1.8
85mm f/1.8
200mm f/2.8 - Fits perfectly in the top compartment.
48 GB Flash cards (1 32gb, 1 16gb)
Programmable shutter release
Garbage bag - to shove the whole bag into on a water ride
48 GB Flash cards (1 32gb, 1 16gb)

On the bag, sometimes:
Slik sprint Pro II tripod - I havent gone in with the tripod yet, but I can tell you I missed not having the tripod at several points each of the 3 days we've been in Disney.

This bag is nice and small, and after getting used to a sling - comfortable. I love how easy it is to slide the bag around and have easy access to the compartments without taking the bag off my shoulder. So much more convenient than a backpack.

The 202 is a snug fit for what I'm bringing but I wanted the smallest package possible. If you are a walkaround zoom shooter, you will have plenty of room for a flash too. I have trouble getting my phone and wallet in my bag.

Bringing the gear and tripod back to EPCOT today.

 

[meanpc]

nannye - the Slingshot series is perfect for getting the camera in and out quicklyl. Be sure and watch a few videos of how it works. My other big bag is a LowePro Trek-something, so I know what it's like. I'm shoot only primes so I'm in my bag a lot, and the Slingshot has been perfect.

 

[2Tiggies]

One thing I forgot to mention too is that I need to be able to take the camera out really fast, which does hinder my current lower pro bag. hmmm

Although I always carry a bag, 90% of the time the camera is around my neck on the neckstrap. I DO like to have the bag with me for the reasons I mentioned in my previous post, but quick retrieval of the camera has never been an issue to me because I find it easier not to put it away unless we are going on a ride where we are going to get wet, or something like RnR where they CM's don't always take kindly to cameras in hand.

nannye - the Slingshot series is perfect for getting the camera in and out quicklyl. Be sure and watch a few videos of how it works. My other big bag is a LowePro Trek-something, so I know what it's like. I'm shoot only primes so I'm in my bag a lot, and the Slingshot has been perfect.

That was the one I looked at before getting the one that I have and I have to say, those youtube videos showed it off to be really impressive

 

[mom2rtk]

I have a slingshot 202 but it once it's full, it hurts my back. So I never bring it to Disney. For Disney, I mostly keep my camera around my neck on a comfy strap and keep a couple extra lenses in my regular backpack in pouches. That gives me plentyof space for jackets, snacks, etc.

 

[boBQuincy]

I carry my camera in my hand. My current camera (Panasonic G3) is on a wrist strap since it is lightweight. For quick access carrying it in your hand is hard to beat!

 

[ireland_nicole]

I have an epiphanie lyric bag that I adore; gorgeous, doesn't scream camera bag come try and steal my equipment, carries everything I need for a day in the parks and comfortable with either the shoulder or cross body strap

 

[OKW Lover]

No bag for me either. If the camera is in a bag its not ready for pictures.

 

[njtree]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/693294-REG/Case_Logic_SLRC_205_SLRC_205_SLR_Sling.html

thats what have and plan on bringing that to disney this year. great for walking around nyc with it. So disney should not be a problem.

 

[zackiedawg]

I have so many different carry solutions/options, it's insane. But that's mostly because I learned long ago that there is no right answer for every situation. Here are the various options I'll use, depending on the park, the day, and what I intend to shoot:

1. Simplest method - camera with one mounted lens on the strap around my neck, shoulder, or wrist...no bag or extra bits. If I'm confronted with potential for rain, I might stick a large freezer Ziploc bag in a back pocket so I can throw the camera in there in a pinch.

2. Next lightest method - Spider Black Widow belt holster. A small piece screws into the tripod mount on the camera, and slots into a small belt plate that sits on my belt, so I can grab the camera on the go but leave my hands free. Very useful for when I want to shoot with two cameras but travel light - one stays in my hands while one is on the holster, and I can swap them as needed.

3. Next - small Tamrac video camcorder bag. This is designed originally for the old mini-DV camcorders, but happens to perfectly fit my DSLR with 18-250mm lens, plus one more small lens like my 30mm F1.4. I can generally bring one camera & lens with one extra lens and room to fit the camera in a rainshower, or one camera & lens with two extra lenses but the camera has to stay outside the bag with one lens mounted.

4. Next: Tenba shoulder bag - this one is larger, and can fit up to one DSLR with mounted lens and 4 additional lenses, 2 camera bodies each with a lens, and 2 additional lenses, or any similar combination. I use this often when I want to bring both my cameras with me plus an extra few lenses, and still have room to stuff it all away for transport or rain protection. It's still not a huge bag - about the size of a toaster oven.

5. Next - Think Tank holster bag. This is a specialty holster that can handle two very long lenses side-by-side - I use this mostly when I want to shoot with longer lenses - I'll occasionally use it at Animal Kingdom where I can bring my 300mm F4 and TC combo, and maybe my 18-250mm and 10-24mm or 30mm stacked in the other holster. When I'm out birding, I'll bring my 300mm F4 and 200-500mm lenses together, with one mounted on camera and the other in the holster - I can easily slot the mounted lens in the empty chamber, release the camera body, and mount the other lens to switch between them without having to put anything on the ground.

6. Finally - the big solution, when I need to bring almost everything - Kata R102 backpack. This can handle various combinations of up to 2 camera bodies and 7-8 large lenses, or up to 12 smaller lenses. It's my main travel bag that I carry most of my gear in on planes and such, and will bring most of my gear to Disney in this bag, but it rarely goes out into the parks as most of the time I only need at most 3 lenses at my disposal for each camera body, and bringing the large bag would just be overkill.

 

[ThurlFan]

I use the Lowepro slingshot 100. Carries the camera (Canon XSi), kit lens, 50mm prime, 55-250 zoom in the main compartment (plus spare memory cards) and camcorder, spare battery, snacks, other assorted smalls in the 'nosecone' compartment. I really like it, though DD shudders at my lack of fashion sense.

I admit to being an overpacker; in the parks I don't always take all three lenses leaving room for other stuff. I have made use of the waterproof cover that comes built in, and was glad to have it on more than one occasion.

 

[MICKEY88]

optech dual harness with 2 cameras attached. never a bag, as others have stated always ready to fire..

one thing I will mention though, be careful hanging a camera bag on the back of a stroller, years ago I worked at ritz camera and every year we would get several cameras or camcorders in for repair, that were victims of stroller hanging. people would hang them on the back of the stroller while the child was in the stroller, then the child would either get out or the parents would lift them out, and without the weight of the child to counter balance the stroller would tip, dropping the camera onto the hard ground.

 

[nannye]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone, so many options!!! I'm just gonig to have to start looking one by one.
On a side note, I'm heading to Michigan tomorrow (from ontario) and we are stopping at Great Lakes, and Birch Run outlet malls. We'll be making a few other stops as well, but I will be hunting/looking at different camera bags. Can you guys recommend some good stores to look at if we see them (or seek them out)
Thanks
Erin