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Back with a rather odd question

simonpg

simonpg

Active Member
I've recently returned for 10 days away in the outback. While I await my 6x6 and XPan images from the lab, I remembered a rather odd question I wanted to ask seasoned 500 series users.

I travelled with my 503CW, 3 lenses and 3 backs in the one Lowepro "Stealth Reporter" bag while walking through the bush (or dark red dust and rock!!) from the 4WD.

It struck me that I usually place the camera (with film back and lens fitted) "face down" in the bag - lens facing down with the camera vertical just like the other lenses are stored in their own sections. The film back is facing me at the top.

SO, MY QUESTION IS: is it better to place the camera lens downward facing; or, is it better to place it film-back downward facing? OR DOES IT EVEN MATTER? What is safest for the camera/lens/back?

Many thanks and best wishes.
 
Hello Simon, I have put my Hasselblads in my bags in all orentations and haven't noticed any kinds of differences or problems. Lens in first, back in first, laying on either side. I don't place them in viewfinder down though.

Terry
 
For what it is worth (if it is worth anything?): my backpack holds my 501C/M with the A12 at the bottom. I personally do not like the concept of the cameras weight & vibration resting on the helicoid in the lenses. All my unmounted lenses are also in the bottoms-down position in the backpack.

Wilko
 
My 503 is placed film back down, lens up or on the bottom of the camera with the lens towards the padding of other lenses. The unmounted lenses are base down and the lens up with the lens hoods on.

The 903 SWC is base down with the lens towards the rest of the bag, film back towards the outside of the bag. This camera sits in a folded over lens wrap wrapped around it.

Steve
 
Hi Simon,

Are we an odd bunch of fellows or what? :)

I know what you mean....I always wonder when I put the camera/lenses in the camera bag or camera backpack....what's the best way to do this?

I don't know that there is a best way, but I try to put as much padding between the front end of the lens and the outside of the camera bag/backpack as possible. Don't know that it will actually make a difference when push comes to shove....but that's my feeble rationale.

I lived in Queensland for two years in the mid-70s. Australia....what a wonder place to live and visit. I have alot of great memories from my travels there and a few good pictures. Unfortunately, I only had a little Canonet 35mm rangefinder at the time and knew very little about photography. If only I could go back there now with my Hasselblads! :))

Gary
Alaska
 
Thanks to all! :)

Terry, this has been my practice in the past. But I started to think like Wilko indicated.

Then Jurgen commented to me that {and this is my interpretation of his comments) he's uncomfortable with the thought that with the camera "lens down" in a bag, the weight on the helicoid and the lens mount.

I suppose if the camera, lens, back combination has a "weak-point" where vibration / weight / impact have their most effect, it is in the lens mount region. So, resting down on the back seemed safer.

Steve, I have done much like you and also keep the backs to the outside with the darkslide area facing inwards. Having the odd lens-wrap on hand is a neat way of packing stuff tight when the bag is thrown around a bit like getting in and out of vehicles.

BUT, given Jurgen's comments, I've set up my bag so that the camera rests on its base - I suppose it is the base where the camera was designed to rest! :) And like Gary says, I keep plenty of foam at each end!

Well it may all be a bit fussy stuff but having done 10 days in the outback having packed a StormCase for the flight and 4x4 road trips and then transferring gear to LowePro bags for long walks, it made me wonder.

Gary, I'm glad you had the opportunity and hope you travelled up into the far north of Queensland like the Daintree - God's territory! :)

Here is a link - note the local pets too!!! http://www.daintreerainforest.com/listingView.html?listingId=1046
 
While I can understand the possible stress on the lens mount I still place my 503CW/CFV lens down in the small bag I have, for two reasons:

It is much easier to extract the camera using the strap and I would be worried about resting the camera on the CFV display and the CVF buttons. Since I mainly have a 40mm Distagon fitted, heavy lens, there will always be a stress on the mount anyway, whichever way up it is. Ideally the camera would be best served laying flat but my bag will not allow this.
 
I understand Pete. I too preferred to grab the strap that way and also with the CW winder attached it was easier to "grip, point and shoot" that camera! But I've now changed the set-up and will see how well it works for me.
 
simonpg said:
Gary, I'm glad you had the opportunity and hope you travelled up into the far north of Queensland like the Daintree - God's territory! :)

Here is a link - note the local pets too!!! http://www.daintreerainforest.com/listingView.html?listingId=1046
Click to expand...

Never made it to Daintree, but I did get to Cairns and from there out to Heron Island and the Great Barrier Reef. I lived in Brisbane and made many trips to the Gold and Sunshine coasts, inland from there, etc. then down to NSW, Melbourne, Victoria etc. Never got out to Western Australia or up to the NWT.

I gotta go back for another visit someday.....Australia is a one of a kind, incredible place....and what a joy it must be to photograph with a Hasselblad! :)

Gary
 
Glad you posted this because I've wondered too. I have a Pelican case for travelling and a smaller soft shoulder bag style case for carrying on site. I have been leaning towards storing it on the base even though it takes up most of the bag that way. I'm buying a 120 lens from a forum member here so I'll have to look for a slightly larger bag.

Anyone have recommendations?

It needs to carry H2, 80mm & 120mm, Phase One back (always attached to the camera. As I have a bad hip I find backpack styles unsuitable, wriggling round to get 'em on always hurts my hip and then it aches all day.
 
I am a fan of Billingham camera bags. They give me less freedom to move about than a back pack does but is for me the most convenient bag while moving about and shooting with different lenses and bodies.

The 445 model Billingham holds two bodies with lenses and film backs fitted, 4 extra lenses up till 250 mm focal lenght and two extra film backs.
Lots of space for light meter, spotmeter, films and other useful items.

These camera bags can not compete with hard cases like Pelican for maximum protection.
If maximum protection is needed I use model 712 hard cases from Hasselblad.


Paul
 
I am a big fan of Billingham bags as well.

I use a 550 with removable inserts. You can carry no end of gear in this bag and Billingham has a range of medium format friendly inserts that allow you to store your camera body with magazine attached (works best with lens mount pointing up). Lenses are ideally stored with the lens mount face down and lens hood protruding out. You can increase the storage capacity with the removable pockets on each end.

The best part for me is you can adjust the strap to get the centre of gravity of the bag over the sweet spot in your back (near to the lowest disc for me). Very good for stablity with a heavy load (one body, prism finder, polaroid back, three A12 magazines, three lenses, light meter, filters, lens hoods, and the host of bit and bobs (spirit level, mini thermometer, cable release, you name it) as I walk lots when I shoot .

Also Billingham bags do not look like camera bags so they do not attract a great deal of attention.
 
Welcome here at Hasselblad forum Ziggifromoz.



ziggyfromoz said:
Also Billingham bags do not look like camera bags so they do not attract a great deal of attention.
Click to expand...


Certainly true but a good eye for quality products shows Billingham bags are produced with much attention to detail.
These camera bags enjoy the finest finish with leather trim.
Till now my Billingham did not attract any unwanted attention. TW!

Paul
 
Yes carrying the Hasselblad placed on its "belly" changes the whole space equation.

My soft shoulder-bags are LowePro - Stealth Reporter (650 and 400) which I really like because the back structure is flexible making the bag form around your side, rather than being stiff and non-forming against your side (as much as the equipment load will allow.

The normal rectangular shoulder-bags of other brands are not so "flexible".

But these are relatively deep and great for 35mm gear placed in the bag vertically - I would put my Hassy with the back downwards.

So now if I put the Hassy in horizontally, a lot of precisous space is lost - UNLESS you make a base compartment under the Hassy body for things like backs and filters etc which we only need to access when the camera is out of the bag.

So if you like BEAUTIFULLY Made bags have a look at the ARTISAN & ARTIST range - their "form" design is shallower and the samples I have seen indicate your kit will fit in 1 or 2 of them. These are higher end Japaneses bags so are not cheap.

The other range is the Billingham range - I think they offer a more shallow bag. I have 2 "satchel" style Billinghams for my Leica M and XPan kits - WOW these are SUPERB bags of premium canvas; leather and all brass and nickel fittings. These are English and quite expensive but last a lifetime.

Good luck!
 
Thanks everyone for the feedback. I have ordered the Billingahm 445 as I can carry a mixed kit of Hassy and Canon. I will probably put the Hassy back downwards in this bag, and the canons lens down. It seems to be a good solution to my needs.
 
With the risk of sounding not emancipated I think women have the advantage over us guys when it comes to hand/shoulder bags.

I am curious to hear Odilles comment on the 445 Billingham.
For me a new world opened itself with a bag that simply does not seem to know the word full.
I always manage to drag around all gear even extra gear picked up during travels.

Please note Billingham makes a good shoulder piece that means more comfort carrying the 445 as a shoulder bag.
I have not got one yet, that will be taken care of next week.


Paul
 
polypal said:
With the risk of sounding not emancipated I think women have the advantage over us guys when it comes to hand/shoulder bags.Paul
Click to expand...

That's OK Paul, I know what you mean.

You have a trade off advantage though, I've always wanted one of those photographers vests, unfortunately being well endowed in the front water wings department means I cannot really wear one. I'm large enough without having pockets right there thank you!

Cheers, Odille
 
ziggyfromoz said:
The best part for me is you can adjust the strap to get the centre of gravity of the bag over the sweet spot in your back (near to the lowest disc for me). Very good for stablity with a heavy load (one body, prism finder, polaroid back, three A12 magazines, three lenses, light meter, filters, lens hoods, and the host of bit and bobs (spirit level, mini thermometer, cable release, you name it) as I walk lots when I shoot .
Click to expand...

I agree ziggyfromoz. While my Billingham bags are the satchel style - one for the Leica M kit and the other for the XPan kit, they suit "discrete shooting style of Leica M since they do not look like camera bags due to both their form as well as their look.

I think that the 445 roughly has the same dimensions of the LowePro Stealth Reporter 650. Just like you say, carrying such a shoulder-bag even with much weight need nit cause back ache - adjust the strap to get that bad to sit on the back of your pelvis - just as you do when fitting a backpack on. A good strap and soft section around the neck also reduces shoulder ache.

My only question about the Billingham design would be: does it allow quick access through the top cover? The Stealth Reporter has a concealed zipper in the centre of the top cover which allows quick access to a camera without opening the top cover by the clips down on the front of the bag.

I must confess that I bought my Stealth Reporter bags before I'd heard of Billingham. I do love the feel of the genuine canvas and the leather trims and the absence of any Velcro in the Billingham bags. The inserts are also of top quality.

While I do not own the larger Billingham styles, I do feel that their shoulder strap is a bit "low-tech". On some models you must map extra for the adjustable patch that stops the strap slipping and adds some extra comfort on top of the shoulder. The LowePro shoulder- strap design is better - a curved thickly padded section to sit on top on the shoulder next to the neck.

SO A TIP for Billingham bag users. If you find the rubberised leather section that is attached to the shoulder strap is not thick enough, CRUMPLER makes 3 different sized thick shoulder pads that can fit over most camera bag shoulder straps - opens up to lie the strap in it and closes with very secure Velcro from one end to the other. I have 2 - a large/long and a mid sized version - I put these over both Billingham and computer bag straps when the load is heavy and they work brilliantly.

Ah... yes, Crumpler is an Aussie company now selling millions of bags all around the world. They do make brilliant bags (but the model information etc on their web site annoys me a lot - they use stupid names and hip bulls..t descriptions). And its worth mentioning that their backpacks and roller backpacks are very clever and of a superb quality. The exterior material is patented and absolutely indestructible. Not a style that suits my needs, but I have NEVER felt better quality inserts/dividers from any other manufacturer. They have the softest finish you could ever imagine; superb quality impact absorbing foam - just the right degree of firmness/softness; and have some sort of plastic layer in the middle to provide some structure and added protection.

It is very possible that camera bags are like Hasselblads - they lead to obsessive compulsive disorders...!! :)
 
I did not realise Crumpler were Australian. I've always been put off by the wanky hype they advertise with. Off to have a look at the website.
 
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