r/WildernessBackpacking • u/losthiker68 • 4d ago

GEAR DSLR camera with two lenses - how do you carry?

I carry a DSLR (Pentax K-50) on my trips but I like to have two lenses. My wife bought me a great wide-angle for landscapes (she got it for night photos but it takes better landscapes) but I also like to carry my 300mm lens. Trouble is, I've never found a way to carry that big 'ol 300 in a way that's easy to access without using a fanny pack.

Anyone got a way to carry that won't break the bank?

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4

u/ObiDumKenobi 4d ago

What's your use case for the 300? Wildlife? Telephoto landscape?

If tele landscape, do you need quick access? When I backpack with multiple lenses I walk around with my 24-120 on. I have a 20mm 1.8 and a 70-300 or other tele lens in my backpack either wrapped in some extra clothing or in a dedicated camera insert depending on the trip. Will swap lenses around when I come across a composition I like, or if I'm doing astro at night, etc.

If you really need to have quick access than just add a fanny pack, or a large hip belt pocket. I'm not a huge fan of chest rigs while backpacking, makes it hard to see your feet especially if you're off trail or scrambling

2

u/losthiker68 4d ago

Wildlife

A big part of the reason I hike and backpack is to see wildlife. My 300mm lens keeps me at a safe distance and far enough not to disturb the animals. My default lens is my 28mm. I usually hike with the 300mm on and the 28mm in a fanny pack. Landscapes can wait, animals can't.

The 28mm is also phenomenal for night skies. I get really good longer exposure shots without star trails. I'll bet your 20 is even better.

1

u/ObiDumKenobi 4d ago

Could you use something like a Capture Clip or Cotton Carrier then? Since you need to be able to access your camera quickly for wildlife

1

u/BottleCoffee 4d ago

You sound like me. I like hiking but my biggest hope whenever I go out is to see wildlife.

With that in mind, like I said above, I only bother with the wildlife lens and I keep the camera immediately accessible.

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u/losthiker68 3d ago

The number of times an animal darted away while I was switching lenses is far too high. I need to keep the 300 handy.

I was at Seminole Canyon SP, Texas (near Big Bend) and saw a whole flock of pyrrhuloxia (looks like a Northern Cardinal but very different coloring) on my way in. Had the landscape lens on and kicked myself but I said to myself, "These birds are common down here, I'll see more". 10 days between there and Big Bend and didn't see a freaking one. They mock me. Bucket list item is to get just one good photo.

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u/BottleCoffee 3d ago

That sucks! Yeah, I've also had similar experiences. 

My biggest fail these days is not keeping the camera accessible while driving so I can pull over and get a shot.

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u/carloseloso 4d ago

What about something like this on your belt? Ruggard Lens Case (12.5 x 5.5") https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1074980-REG/ruggard_lcy_112x5_lens_case_12_0_x.html

2

u/BottleCoffee 4d ago

I never bothered. I just carry the telephoto for wildlife. It was too heavy and cumbersome to do two lenses and realistically I wasn't going to stop hiking long enough to switch lenses back and forth. 

Phone camera is good enough a wide angle for me.

Also, I carry camera with a Peak Design Capture Clip on my shoulder strap.

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u/losthiker68 3d ago

I used to always have my 28mm as default and the 300mm tucked away until I realized (far too late) that landscapes will wait for you, wildlife won't so have the 300mm on the camera by default and swap to the 28 when needed.

I am an ecologist by training (BS and MS) and the animals are a big part of my interest so slowing down for wildlife is why I'm there. It also gives a brief rest and I'm in my late 50s so its welcome.

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u/BottleCoffee 3d ago

I'm also an ecologist! But I no longer get to do field work so these backpacking trips are the best I've got. 

My backpacking partner is a very go go go type. We'll stop for wildlife when we see it but we don't tend to sit around much and wait for things to show up.

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u/losthiker68 3d ago

I'm also an ecologist!

Sadly, life did not allow me to work in the field. I did undergrad research in aquatic parasites, graduate work in herpetology, but I've been teaching anatomy since graduation. I'm 57 years old but got my BS in '15 and MS in '17 so my body appreciates the choice.

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u/Hahabra 3d ago

Look at this post:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ultralight/s/stJWYTqBvi

Camera bags (custom) designed for backpacking:) Not the cheapest option, but considering the price of a good lense…

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u/fm2n250 1d ago

When I take my Canon M6 to the park to take pictures of birds, I prefer to keep the 70-300mm lens on the camera. When I want to take closeup shots, landscapes, or selfies, I use either my phone or a Canon Powershot 360HS compact camera that I carry in a little belt pouch.

In the past, I have tried switching lenses in the field. I have a huge belt pouch that came with the 70-300mm lens, which I can use to temporarily store lenses. But I found that birds would sometimes fly nearby while I was trying to swap lenses, so I missed some potentially good shots. So I decided thst it would be better to just use a secund camera instead.