Stylish way to carry an SLR?

Originally Posted by Tokyo Slim

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Um... it does have a shoulder strap. Thats why its a shoulder bag.

Maybe you missed that part of my post.

How is it useless for shooting? Why wouldn't you be able to hold the bag and the camera at the same time and you would the lowerpro? The Billingham bag is widely regarded as one of the best and most functional makers of finer camera bags out there. They were one of the first companies to ever make a soft bag.

I cannot imagine spending several hours walking around with a strap that only goes over one shoulder. Good camera equipment is heavy. It's one thing if you have a plastic prosumer camera and kit lenses, but good glass is heavy. Not to mention, i've owned a messenger bag in the past, and it bounces around on you in a way that's really annoying. I just find it completely uncomfortable. I'd rather look like a tourist than be uncomfortable all day. Maybe if I had meatier shoulders I would feel differently, but even the current weight of equipment in my LowePro is annoying. Besides, I'm really not concerned with looking styling when i go out with my camera. I don't wear my good clothes because the rub of the bags creates too much wear.

And to address your other question about fumbling around, the LowePros are compartmentalized.

Originally Posted by Tokyo Slim

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Assuming you only shoot from a tripod, or fixed position, and not walking around or taking shots on the street. Thats sort of not the point here though.

i'm saying i've done all sorts of photography, including street, and a few weddings for friends, and i've never found it necessary to wear a bag, even with film.

Originally Posted by GQgeek

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I cannot imagine spending several hours walking around with a strap that only goes over one shoulder. Good camera equipment is heavy. It's one thing if you have a plastic prosumer camera and kit lenses, but good glass is heavy. Not to mention, i've owned a messenger back in the past, and it bounces around on you in a way that's really annoying. I just find it completely uncomfortable. I'd rather look like a tourist than be uncomfortable all day.

I dunno man, maybe you should grow a pair.

These types of bags have been hauled around on African safaris and ****. The strap is way more comfortable than you probably realize. (if you are wearing it properly, of course.) They have leather shoulder pads that do a very nice job of distributing the weight.

Oh, and BTW genius, the Lowepro slingshot only has one strap. And you wear it pretty much like you would a shoulder bag if you knew how to wear a shoulder bag.

Originally Posted by GQgeek

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I cannot imagine spending several hours walking around with a strap that only goes over one shoulder. Good camera equipment is heavy. It's one thing if you have a plastic prosumer camera and kit lenses, but good glass is heavy. Not to mention, i've owned a messenger bag in the past, and it bounces around on you in a way that's really annoying. I just find it completely uncomfortable. I'd rather look like a tourist than be uncomfortable all day. Maybe if I had meatier shoulders I would feel differently, but even the current weight of equipment in my LowePro is annoying. Besides, I'm really not concerned with looking styling when i go out with my camera. I don't wear my good clothes because the rub of the bags creates too much wear. And to address your other question about fumbling around, the LowePros are compartmentalized.
then why enter this thread? your responses have nothing to do with the o.p. or you could have just answered, "no."

Originally Posted by matadorpoeta

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i'm saying i've done all sorts of photography, including street, and a few weddings for friends, and i've never found it necessary to wear a bag, even with film.

It's easier to avoid carrying lots of stuff if you know specifically what you will be shooting. If you're doing street photography, you may only be using one lens anyway. When you don't know what you're going to do, unless you're just carrying a super-zoom, I don't see how you can avoid it. Personally, I like having a bag so that I don't have to have 4-5 lbs weight hanging around my neck for 8 to 10 hrs a day (when I AM benig a tourist, for instance).

Originally Posted by matadorpoeta

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i'm saying i've done all sorts of photography, including street, and a few weddings for friends, and i've never found it necessary to wear a bag, even with film.

Well... you obviously don't shoot like a lot of people do. Personally, i don't like the thought of leaving my bag laying on the ground in the middle of a high foot-traffic area where people aren't paying attention. Not when I can keep it slung over my shoulder, and safely off the ground/out of the street/etc.

Originally Posted by Tokyo Slim

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I dunno man, maybe you should grow a pair.

These types of bags have been hauled around on African safaris and ****. The strap is way more comfortable than you probably realize. (if you are wearing it properly, of course.) They have leather shoulder pads that do a very nice job of distributing the weight.

Oh, and BTW genius, the Lowepro slingshot only has one strap. And you wear it pretty much like you would a shoulder bag if you knew how to wear a shoulder bag.

Yes, I know it has one strap, and I stated that I find it uncomfortable now that I have a heavier camera and glass. I couldn't imagine putting anything more in it, so i will probably get a backpack to more evenly distribute the weight. And yes, I'm a *****.

Originally Posted by Tokyo Slim

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Well... you obviously don't shoot like a lot of people do. Personally, i don't like the thought of leaving my bag laying on the ground in the middle of a high foot-traffic area where people aren't paying attention. Not when I can keep it slung over my shoulder, and safely off the ground/out of the street/etc.

Not to mention it could easily get stolen.... Nothx!

Originally Posted by matadorpoeta

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i'm saying i've done all sorts of photography, including street, and a few weddings for friends, and i've never found it necessary to wear a bag, even with film.
You've done street photography, and have never felt the need to use the bag that utilizes a strap? I wish I could say the say the same, but I've always thought of the strap as one of the most important if not underrated features.

I have numerous styles of bags, ranging from a smaller Lowepro TZ holster bag to a Lowepro backpack (which I rarely ever use, due to size). However for street photography, I prefer something somewhat stylish, with just enough room for necessities. If you're looking for something stylish, a simple SLR messenger or Crumpler Prettyboy would likely serve it's purpose well.

Originally Posted by GQgeek

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Besides, I'm really not concerned with looking styling when i go out with my camera.
Yeah, but that is sort of the entire point of this thread. The OP wasn't asking what was the "most functional" way to carry a camera. Personally, the most functional way I can think of to carry a camera is to have a guy with a wheeled Pelican or procart who always walks behind you wherever you go, and like a caddy, will anticipate your hardware requests and needs. You call out a lens, unhook your current one, and he's standing there ready with the one you just requested ready to swap. You don't have to carry anything.

And to address your other question about fumbling around, the LowePros are compartmentalized.

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Of course they are, most professional camera bags are. Padded and or armored in some way, compartmentalized, and with forgiving surfaces on the interior and opening surfaces to prevent scratching. One of the nice things about the Billingham is that there are no velcro closures, and no zippers near where your camera goes. thus you can LITERALLY one handed, open the bag, insert a lens, remove another lens, attach it to your camera, and re-close your bag while never taking your wrist strapped camera off your other hand, and barely, if ever, having to look down at your bag.

When I'm walking around with a 600mm lens fixed to a monopod while wearing a photog's vest and a backpack hauling my gear around, I tend to toss out the "stylish" nature of photography, going more with a function over form look. I think if you're worried about looking stylish while carrying around an SLR, you might be best ditching it in favor of a small point and shoot you can hide away in your pocket.

Originally Posted by Roikins

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When I'm walking around with a 600mm lens fixed to a monopod while wearing a photog's vest and a backpack hauling my gear around, I tend to toss out the "stylish" nature of photography, going more with a function over form look. I think if you're worried about looking stylish while carrying around an SLR, you might be best ditching it in favor of a small point and shoot you can hide away in your pocket.

You seem to be missing the point. Or being purposefully difficult.

It depends on the kind of camera.

Those old cameras used to have nice leather cases that you could buy.

Originally Posted by Tokyo Slim

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You seem to be missing the point. Or being purposefully difficult.

Nah, I have the point... as the OP originally asked, "Does it exist?" So, to me, the answer is no, it doesn't exist. Then again, when I'm getting paid to snap photos, I'd rather not worry about getting what I'm wearing dirty or a camera strap rubbing the fabric under it.

Originally Posted by Roikins

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Nah, I have the point... as the OP originally asked, "Does it exist?" So, to me, the answer is no, it doesn't exist. Then again, when I'm getting paid to snap photos, I'd rather not worry about getting what I'm wearing dirty or a camera strap rubbing the fabric under it.

No, I think you did miss the point. The OP isn't asking whether or not it exists for YOU, the professional sideline sports photographer. The OP was asking whether or not such a thing exists for HIM the regular person who walks around with a camera and wants to take pictures of cool stuff he may encounter.

Whether or not you can use one is besides the point. The fact that such a thing is of no use to you is not relevant.

I'm just not sure why this is such a difficult question or why it inspires so much snobbery and derision? I mean, am I really the only person who's seriously tried to answer the OP's relatively simple query?

Personally, when I take my camera out, I throw it in a small over the shoulder backpack. It is non-compartmentalized only somewhat waterproof, and very minimally padded. its usually sitting in there with a small video camera, batteries, chargers, spare SD cards, cables, filters, smokes, and my keys. I don't really give a crap what my camera or bag look like, as long as they continue to work. Thats all besides the point, obviously, as that wasn't what the OP was asking for.