What camerabag for mountaineering??

For climbing...rocks, ice, etc....I would use a large fanny pack. Something like the large one that LL Bean offers. This would hold all the equipment that you mentioned (plus a lightweight mini-tripod). It would also be out of the way and easily accessable by simply bringing the pack to the front when you wanted to take pictures. Also, I assume that you are using a small climbing pack for the rest of your gear and the fanny pack should be able to fit up under this if you need to carry both at the same time.

Check out the "Photoflex" bags that Galen Rowell pushes. They are claimed to be designed for "active" photographers and since Rowell is a climber - and uses these bags - I assume they are what you are looking for. Note though a few comments in the photo.net forum that the bags are not particularly well built. I can't confirm that since I've never used or owned one.

I, too, like fanny packs. I often use one when running around after birds. I use it for film, tele-extenders and extension tubes, lens caps, etc. As a previous poster mentions, it is nice to be able to swing it 'round front when you need stuff, and you can then swing it 'round to your butt when you're truckin' and want it out of the way.

I don't use a camera-specific fanny pack, but if I were climbing I'd want to either use one of those, or design padding for a regular fanny pack, to protect stuff inside from being bashed on rocks.

Just a word of warning:

I bought a Lowe Off Trail for climbing, and it generally suits me quite well. However, the buckle is positioned in such a way that the gear in my harness loops can pop the buckle loose (has yet to happen, but come close several times). I safeguard against this by clipping a spare quickdraw from my harness to the bag.

If you do get a fanny-pack, make sure that it won't come undone by accident!

Jeff

Thanx for the advices!! This site is a goldmine of wisdome.

The Galen Rowell Chest Pouch works, but I find that I'm usually happier just stuffing the camera in the top of my pack. My N70 with the 35mm f/2 AF has become my camera of choice for general climbing and hiking and I found that it fits nicely in a Neo's neoprene pouch made by Tamrac. I miss the faster synch speed of the N90s but the built-in flash of the N70 is very handy.

I've been using an Ortlieb camera dry bag which is big enough for a body with 75-300 zoom attached. I've used it skiing, sea kayaking, hiking and rafting - in all weather including pouring rain. It has large D rings that you can use to attach a strap. When carrying a pack I use small straps to attach it to the front straps of the pack. In general I keep it strapped to my chest for easy access.

Accessories go in a small fanny pack (worn either in front or behind).

I just came back from a trip in Tuolumne Meadows, where I did some x-c. Tho' it wasn't mountaineering per se, I was scrambling up some steep stuff with my pack, bushwacking, bouldering here and there, etc.

I was carrying a Fuji GS645 (a MF RF), which is still probably a smaller package than your FM and a couple lenses. But what I got worked really well- a LowePro Nova Micro (got mine for $30 at REI), which was just big enough with room for 8 rolls of 120 film, a rubber lenshood and a cable release. I strapped an Ultrapod II onto the top handle. I put a waist strap on it, and while on the trail with my regular pack, I had it in front. I even kept my map there too. So- for the first time ever, I had a system in which I could whip out my camera (not hanging off my neck) while on the trail or scrambling cross country.

This worked in front with my big pack, or low and in back with a day pack for day hikes, etc.

It's a nice little bag- padded, rigid, deep enough for what I need- with an internal separator that you can move/remove. Zippers close and has a quick release buckled flap.

A Pentax MX with a couple lenses (20mm/f4 and 50/1.7) is a tight fit. There might be a bigger one that will work. The Lowe Photorunner seems _quite_ big, and less padded.

HTH, Tse-Sung

I think Ron Goodman had probably one of the best solutions. I was a climber and hiker before I was a photographer. I have search for numerous solutions since taking up photography several years ago and am convinced that there is a better solution than what I have come up with.

I don't like the backpacks designed for cameras because they seem to have left out the fact that while you are out in the wild you might need more than your camera. When hiking in Big Bend I need to carry lots of water. In Colorado, I'll carry several layers in case I get caught in bad weather above timberline. Camera bags just don't give me the flexibility I want. So what I do is find the best backpack I can. Generally, you would want one for serious, several day backpacking, and one for those day trips, which for me seem to be more strenous because I am trying to get somewhere in a short amount of time.

Then what I do is pack all gear, putting the camera gear at the top. I like Rob's neoprene pouch idea. I need to spend the money on something like that. I usually poor boy it. I slip my lens into a thick sock, stuff it in a Ziplock or stuff-sack and go.