Camera Bag Slingshot
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Lowepro SlingShot 100 All-Weather Digital Camera Backpack – Black $34.99 The Lowepro SlingShot 100AW is a sling design bag made to go from carry mode to ready mode in just seconds. It is carried comfortably on the back and can easily rotate to the front to allow quick access to camera gear. The bag holds a film or digital SLR camera body with a mid-range zoom lens attached 1-2 extra lenses, cables and accessories. It has a full access lid to make loading it a snap. The… |
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Lowepro SlingShot 202 AW $73.99 The next-generation of the SlingShot AW series builds on the inventive design of its predecessor and incorporates enhanced features based on suggestions from some of our customers—also known as big fans of this original camera sling bag. Created to go from carry mode to ready mode in seconds, the SlingShot AW rotates from back to front for fast and easy access to camera gear. The newest design i… |
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Lowepro Passport Sling Camera Bag – Black $44.15 The Lowepro Passport Sling is for those who need tons of flexibility in a small compact bag. Lowepro’s Passport Sling is designed for today’s photo enthusiasts who want to carry an equal amount of camera and personal gear as they sightsee, travel or go out for a walk with their DSLRs . It’s unique and comfortable shape is unlike a traditional sling bag-it truly conforms to the body and easily move… |
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Lowepro Fastpack 350 Camera/Laptop Backpack Go all day with the lightweight, comfortable Fastpack 350 backpack. It protects your pro digital SLR and 17 widescreen notebook compactly while providing generous storage for other gear. Side-entry compartments let you quickly grab equipment and accessories, even while you’re on the move. Customize the easy-to-access main compartment with adjustable dividers. Capacity for 1 pro digital SLR with… |
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Kata KT D-3N1-33 3 In 1 Sling /Backpack with Laptop Slot $122.57 The Kata 3N1 Sling / Backpacks provide photographers with the quick access of a sling and the comfort of a backpack. The 3N1 with laptop slot has the unique ability to be used as a right-handed sling, left-handed sling and backpack In addition to different carrying options, the 3N1 includes ample storage for photo and personal gear. Photo equipment is stored in the bottom main compartment of the … |
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Lowepro Fastpack 250 Camera/Laptop Backpack $73.99 On streets or trails, you can shoot all day when you wear the lightweight, comfortable Fastpack 250 backpack by Lowepro. It protects a digital SLR with an 18-55mm or 17-85mm kit lens attached, plus 15.4″ Widescreen notebook, and extra storage for 2-3 additional 105mm f/2.8, 18-200mm f/3.5, or 70-300mm f/4.5 lenses, flash, and other personal accessories. You won’t miss a shot, because side-entry co… |
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Lowepro Fastpack 350 (Black) $98.12 On streets or trails, you can shoot all day when you wear the lightweight, comfortable Fastpack 350 backpack by Lowepro. It protects a digital SLR with grip and a 24-70mm f/ 2.8 or 70-200mm f/2.8 lens attached, plus 17″ Widescreen notebook. Generous storage for additional lenses such as 18-200mm, 100, 400 VR, or 70-300mm f/4, flash, and other personal accessories. You won’t miss a shot, because si… |
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Lowepro SlingShot 350 AW (Black) $179.99 The Lowepro SlingShot 350 AW is perfect for the photojournalist or serious enthusiast who wants a sling-style camera bag that allows easy access while wearing, plus room for a notebook. The ergonomic sling strap evenly adjusts weight and easily rotates from back to front—making it simple to work out of the bag. The roomy main compartment is outfitted with adjustable, padded dividers to customize… |
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Digital SLR Camera Bag Reccomendations (Lowepro slingshot?)?
Hello there,
I’m looking for a bag to take my DSLR on holday with. I dont consider myself a pro photographer but do carry some bits and pieces. Planning to take my 400D SLR with 28-135 IS lens, chargers, cables and a couple of other lenses with me.
The lowepro slingshot (looking at the 200 and 300) seem to be ace bags and easy to live with and also have a space for additional bits and pieces (non camera related, suntan cream etc etc) but was wondering if anyone else had any good reccomendations for maybe a little less money.
Critical to have space for the above mentioned kit but also need space for other non camera related parephenalia.
any thoughts?
Lowepro sling bags and backpacks are better because the do not announce …”there are cameras here … steal me!”
I have used an ordinary backpack (Crux be Gregory) for over five years and there is room in it for two DSLR’s, three lenses, two flashes and a small reflector and in the small pouch, plenty of room for film, lens cleaning tissue, light meter, pens, notepads, small level, ear plugs and battery charger.
I can also stick two one liter bottles of water and a mono-pod in it when I am hiking.
Lowepro Slingshot 202 Camera Bag at PMA 2010
At the Canopy, Tree Climbing Techniques for Photographers
Being born and living in a country where most of its surface is covered with forests of all kinds, e.g. cloud forests, rain forests, Andean wet forests I have been practicing and developing my tree-climbing techniques in order to get the pictures of the higher zone of these ecosystems. I have to admit that for me (and I guess for any other photographer that has shot in the canopy) it would be most comfortable and easy to just travel by foot searching for wide vistas or stalking wildlife with tripod and camera on my shoulder like one is likely to do in Alaska or, even cozier yet, travelling on a Land Rover over the savanna of Africa but the truth is that getting the images that I want in the country that I live and in the less explored habitats of the world requires overcoming any fear of heights and leaving the very human comfort zone of the ground.
In the Amazon rainforest alone it is believed that between 70-90% of its biodiversity live, travel and coexist in the mid to top levels of the forest. Not only that but going up a tree can give you a pleasant breath of air from the humid forest below, you can even shoot with sunrise and sunset light, a big photographic plus in an ecosystem where several feet below darkness would probably has settled long ago.
THE EQUIPMENT
I’ll talk first about the tree-climbing equipment:
The idea of tree-climbing is that you pass a climbing rope over one or several tree branches of the tree you intend to climb. One end of the rope is tied securely to another tree and the the other end is the one you climb. I use ½ inch. braided rope. I like to have several of these ropes so I can work at different trees in the same area I’m taking pictures at. I have ropes from 90 ft. to 250 ft. which cover basically all the different heights I would like to work at. Here one has to take into account that one needs a rope at least 2 ½ times the length of the intended height since the rope doubles over the tree limb and the angle and knots take away some rope. Having different tree stations allows me to adapt my shooting to the conditions of the place. Many animals have roosting sites where they arrive predictably every afternoon for example so one of my stations surely will be adjacent in order to work in the afternoon and some other station might be better placed to take advantage of morning light.
To support the body I use a standard Petzl harness althought I’m seriously considering getting a seat harness a much more comfortable one in the cases I have to take pictures hanging from the rope.
Climbing a rope requires a mechanical device called the ascender. The harness attaches to the ascender which slides up the rope but when your weight is pulled down it grabs the rope with small teeth that penetrate it. So you need two ascenders: one goes attached to the harness and the other one, fitted with a piece of tubular webbing, allows you to stand up on it and slide the upper ascender up the rope. I use Petzl ascenders.
The last important accesory that you’ll need is a descender. The name says it all: it is used to descend safely through the rope. I have two of these: a figure 8 descender and a rack descender.
Other accessories I use are carabiners, several loops of tubular webbing, cowhide gloves, an etrier (a webbing ladder).
On the next section I’ll talk about the other tools and equipment needed to set the stations.
THE TECHNIQUE
When I first arrive at an area that I plan to photograph I usually don’t go and set up any rope right away. I try to walk the zone for a few days noticing where there are fruiting trees, roosting sites, nests, canopy avenues, rest trees, etc., all places that will attract wildlife at some point during the day hopefully or maybe along the week. Once I have pinpointed a promising tree, I search for larger trees close-by that I can climb safely. Other important points to consider are where the light will come from at any time of day, how clean the view will be (a tree with too many branches will be difficult to work from), whether the species to be photographed is too sensitive to human intrusion, if it is a nest extreme care must be taken so as not to disrupt the cycle), the climbing tree needs to look healthy with sprouting branches at the top.
Once the climbing tree is selected I use a Marksman slingshot adapted with an empty soda plastic bottle pointing forward. Wrapped around the plastic bottle are 300 ft. of 16-pound monofilament. On the loose point of the monofilament I tie a 9-oz. fishing lead sinker. Now it’s just a matter of choosing the best-looking limb of the tree, pointing the slingshot with the sinker and letting go of the mono. Hopefully after a few tries I will have passed the singer and mono over the chosen branch and the sinker will be on the ground at the other side. I now clip the sinker off and tie to this point of the monofilament a 300 ft. curtain cord. Then I pull the mono back to the bottle while the other side with the curtain cord starts going up. Once I have the point of the cord in my hands I repeat the process above but this time I tie the climbing rope to the curtain cord. At the end, I will have the climbing rope over the selected limb. I tie one end of the rope on another strong tree nearby with a double bowline knot.
THE STATION
Although platforms are more comfortable to use up in a tree since I can use my tripod and even sleep on them I usually don’t build them for several reasons: if I am working at a national park or reserve I would probably would need to get a permit, something that I think will probably be denied, I would also need a lot of wood planks which would require carrying for some distance, I think the tree suffers much less with less nails, if the platform is at a place where I don’t plan to return too often all the effort in building a platform will be lost; instead the following method has proved very practical, fast and efficient to my needs.
I prefer to set up my photo station right at the fork formed by the main tree trunk with a secondary strong branch. This is so I can sling my hanging fabric seat from every side easily. Once I arrive at the fork the first thing I do is to nail two traverse logs on every side of the fork. These logs will support the camera/lens via a Bogen Manfrotto Super Clamp and my Graf Studioball ballhead. I then sling my seat at the appropiate height on the fork so as to let me maneuver my camera in a sitting position; this seat is very important since many times I spend up to 12 hours up in a tree and to be standing up all the time would be too tiring. Afterwards, sometimes (depending on the subject tameness) I pin two 6 ft. x 3 ft. pieces of camo fabric on every side of the station to act as a blind. Once all the station is set up I can bring up my equipment which I have tied to the end of the rope. The whole bag is secured with carabiners and webbing loops. It’s very important to have everything, including you, tied to an anchor point in the tree. I have dropped many things from up there and finding them in one piece is a miracle. Changing lenses carefully is specially important since you don’t have any surface to place them; I carry two waist packs, one of them empty, so I can easily put away lenses, filters and accessories.
Before you try tree-climbing I advise you to take a course on techniques and safety. Once you have gained confidence in the process you will be rewarded by magnificent vistas and great images from the canopy.
About the Author
I am a professional photographer who usually writes the text for my assignments. My images and text have been published in many magazines, calendars and books around the world.
Carlos Sastoque Photography