Buying a waist pack for G9 in Melb.

[mickeyjuice]

G'day guys,

I'm trying to cart my Canon G9 around with me everywhere I go, and keeping it in my computer backpack isn't really doing it. (It's not the world's best camera, but for street photography and media conferences when I don't have the big rig with me it's fine.)

So I figure the next thing to try is a waist pack (fanny pack to some, I guess). It'll need to carry the G9 (106 x 71 x 42mm, 320 g) along with a 550EX (at this stage, might try to get a 420 to save weight and size) and probably my ST-E2. A spare 4-pack of batteries would be smart as well, I guess.

Any suggestions as to where I should go to try for something that will do the job? I'm still thinking that the ThinkTank setup would be good for my 40D, but something simple for this would be great. Cheaper the better, but willing to pay to get something really good.

Your ideas gratefully received. (I'm in South Melb and getting around by tram, mostly, although I do have a car, I just never use it

cheers, juice

[DaveB]

I had to buy a belt pack recently to carry audio recording equipment, and the one I ended up with could suit you. It was the Lowe Alpine Mini Belt Pack. I've since inked in the embroidered Lowe logo on the front to make the whole thing black and "stealthy".

My G9, a 420EX, and some spare batteries fit fine. The 550EX will be tighter: take your gear to the store and check it out. I bought mine at The Wilderness Shop in Box Hill (sister store of Bogong in the CBD).

[ozimax]

Mickey, I have a G9 and I got my missus to sew up a little double sided draw-stringed bag, comprising soft faux leather material. The G9 sits nicely inside and can then be stuck into any bag I wish eg rucksack, fanny bag, suitcase et al, and be pretty well protected from bumps. I will try and post a photo.

Ozi

[mickeyjuice]

Thanks for all the help guys, much appreciated.

I was on my way to Bogong to have a look, and dropped in to a few places, and bought a pack from MacPac in Elizabeth St (?), IIRC. (Yeah, must be Eliabeth St as it was just near the camera shops. Slowly learning my way around the city...)

Here's what I ended up with:



It's actually a much lighter blue than that.

This pack accessory is a side pocket and hip bag, and weatherproof protection for your passport, camera and other valuables. Easy to put on quickly and fill with the essentials when you want to leave your pack behind. AzTec® HP is weatherproof long-term, with proven puncture resistance.

Easily holds the G9, 550EX, spare batteries, Zoom H4 recorder, Zoom H2 recorder, keys, AFL media pass Need to add the ST-E2 to the kit, but it's in my other camera bag which I've loaned to a mate for a couple of days - PWs would be overkill

Looks like really tough material, but isn't too abrasive or stiff. Super-quality zip which is really easy to open. Waist strap long enough to go around a fat bastard. Weatherproof.

Also can throw a couple of lenses, flashes, PWs etc, in there when I'm shooting with the 40D.

Best bit? $24 while they're on special. Well recommended.

http://www.macpac.co.nz/public_catalogue/displayItem/UUID,6d21aa56-59ed-4941-bea7-46094e129c10

[DaveB]

Looks good.

Sounds like a bigger bag than the one I'm using (but I specifically didn't want it to be too bulky).
You're carrying an H4 *and* an H2? Why both?
The audio equipment I'm carrying in mine is an H4 with XLR microphone adapter, battery pack, and the microphones store in there too. There's room for more, but I'm not stuffing it full.

[mickeyjuice]

Sounds like a bigger bag than the one I'm using (but I specifically didn't want it to be too bulky).
You're carrying an H4 *and* an H2? Why both?

I didn't think I wanted something this big either, but it's pretty comfy. I just put the G9 down the left end where the zip opens and it's dead easy to get out.

H2 & H4 = redundancy. Nothing worse than recording a media conference and finding the battery died in the middle of it, or you only fully pushed the record button once rather than twice (I've heard that this can happen to other people, apparently...). So yeah, just a backup.

I owned the H4 for a year before getting the H2, and I'm very glad I got the H2 - it's a LOT lighter for stand-up press conferences... Of course, it doesn't have the XLR inputs, but if I'm getting the Rodes out, I'll take the H4. And the bag would hold both my Rodes mics as well!