Thread: Carrying fullsize SLR / bridge camera while hunting

How do you guys carry / store / protect a full sized SLR or bridge camera when out hunting / tramping ?

What pouches or starage bags have you found that work well, providing protection, but also reasonable ease of access ?

Saw a guy on one of the tracks around Ruapehu with a "Capture Camera Clip" on his backpack strap. Obviously no protection, but super easy access. Got me thinking about what else is out there.

@Gillie

My sx50 fits nicely in a padded case/bag I got same shape as camera, can't recall brand. Has a zip top and a belt loop on the back. Usually it lives in the pack and use phone camera but if I know I want it easy to access the belt loop works on the chest strap on my pack. Leaving the zip undone to save noise.

Have one of the Capture Camera Clip but camera is a bit exposed.
I use a Lowepro AW 200?.when out walking.
You drop the shoulder straps,swing it around to the front keeping waist strap done up.
You can then open from the back and get camera out.
The one I have has enough room for coat,lunch etc when doing touristy day walks.
I take it on holiday as my day bag.
Mine is about 22l from memory the one in the clip is a bit bigger.
Have a look at 7.05 min mark to get the idea how it works.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXhHBw-RGGk

I have a Lowepro padded case for my Sx 50. Has a shoulder strap. I have it over my head and hanging off one shoulder. Easy to access while walking etc.

I have mine in a no name padded case and then if its wet or hunting near water have it in a dry bag.

ebf you teach me something every time you post. Who knew there were special cameras for my favourite military rifle and for bridges. As always you have left me with questions though. Why take a camera for bridges out with you while hunting?

@stug, could you see if you can find the model no pls. I suspect my FZ80 is about the same size as the SX50

When I think about the back opening idea would be mint on a hunting daypack.
No need to take it off.
Just swing it round and get what you want out.
May look at engaging the resident seamstress to add some zips and padding to a day bag as a trial.
With the camera bag I have never dropped anything.

i have one of these
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...rt_200_AW.html
works well as a day pack too

Sorry @ebf it doesn’t have any model no on it. Bought it too long ago to remember what it is.

Now waiting for an incoming request for several photographs of said bag from ebf so he can commission the construction of one from a local saddlery.

Originally Posted by scotty

i have one of these
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...rt_200_AW.html
works well as a day pack too

Yep thats about the size I have.
Would take a photo but buried with house renovations in progress.

I have an aliexpress copy of a capture clip on my pack strap (actually I have a couple on different packs so I don't have to swap it around all the time), when tramping or hunting easy ground the camera lives on there. Really good system for quick camera access on the move, it has made a big difference to how many photo opportunities I take advantage of as I don't have to stop and get camera out of pack the way I used to. Sometimes I have a spare lens in a pouch on my belt or pack strap too so I can do a quick swap say between a wide angle lens for landscapes and a telephoto for wildlife.

I do keep the camera strap loose around my neck as a backup in case it ever gets accidentally unclipped, though I might try a small stretchy cord onto the pack as a different option for that.

For nasty weather, thick bush-bashing or climbing steep stuff using your hands as well and chest close to rocks etc, then it goes inside pack in a small case - usually a generic neoprene one.


If I'm doing something with the main purpose being photography (ie out shooting rally photos for a day) then I use a dedicated camera backpack similar to the one scotty linked above (but mine is an older model) which has padded dividers for different lenses etc.

@ebf, what I am doing will determine what camera and what carry system I use for it.

For photographing a shooting match I almost always use my SLR and if the weather is nice I will just have it slung around my shoulder using a Peak Design Slide strap (LINK). As you explain before this is excellent access but little protection.
For hiking if I want to take excellent photos I'll carry the SLR slung around my shoulder in a Hazard4 Forward Observer bag (LINK). I have the Peak Design strap set up to work with both the camera and this bag. In my mind this is still very good protection but also very easy access.
If I take the SLR while hunting then it normally is carried in my day pack. If it is in the day pack I generally just use a dry bag rather than the bigger padded Hazard4 bag. This offers excellent protection but the least convenient access.

If I am primarily hunting and aren't so worried about excellent photos then I will just use my phone. If I am at all looking for decent photos or am going for a specific photo then I use the SLR.

I bought a basic neoprene case from aliexpress for the FZ70. Snug fit and a pain to extract camera in a hurry so I'll go a size bigger next round. With digital you generally want to carry a spare battery. With the FZ80 you have a damned good zoom range so shouldn't need to carry too much extra.

One I really found useful with the old OM10 film camera had an extra long lens nose. Could fit in one large lens fitted or a small one attached and another small lens in the end plus a few other bits. Generally carried the 50mm and a 35-70mm zoom.

Need to look at new cases as just picked up a couple of M4/3 cameras. Not that impressed with the quality of modern lenses so will use adaptors for my quality older stuff that has wall-wall glass.