My favorite activity is taking my Nikon gear hiking. I carry the camera around my neck with other lenses and accessories in a fanny pack and hiking necessities (food, water, extra clothing) in a day pack. Then I carry my tripod by hand or with a sling over one shoulder. My 12-year-old son, however, thinks that a hike isn't really a hike unless it includes scrambling up rocks and steep climbs. I'm still agile enough to go with him, but the problem is that camera swinging from my neck. Too many times I've come close to bashing a Nikon's brains in against a rock, so I need a solution.
I can't stow the body and lens in the fanny pack, because there's not enough room and I'm leary about getting a bigger one because I not sure how well balanced I'll be with that much weight riding around in the small of my back. I'm considering a bag like the Lowepro Topload AW or the Tenba Zoom LZ. Each of these is designed to hold an SLR with long lens (e.g., 80-200 f/2.8) pointing downwards and comes with a chest harness so that in can be worn in the front. This would keep my camera in an almost at-the-ready position while keeping it from swinging and providing some protection.
Has anyone tried this? Any other suggestions?
Thanks
Dennis
-- Dennis Schuchman &nbs p; Merck Research Laboratories Research Fellow ; P.O. Box 2000 -- RY50-SW100 phone: (732) 594-5135 ; Rahway, N.J. 07065 fax: (732) 594-4224 & nbsp; email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
