Gloves for photography

Anyone who does outdoor photography will likely, at some point, do so in the cold.  Handling a cold camera and tripod makes your hands even colder, faster.  You need a good pair of gloves.

My hands get very cold very quickly.  I haven't been diagnosed with Reynaud's disease, but I need more warmth than most.  

I've tried many gloves while trying to find a good setup.  Note that I am not comparing gloves from the same genre; this is simply a list of all gloves I've tried, along with their pros and cons.  

But first, some observations:

• Fingers stay warmer if the rest of you is properly warm.  Keep your core, head, arms, legs and feet warm, and then the gloves don't need to be quite so thick.
• Mittens don't work for me in some situations.  I often photograph wildlife and do so hand-held.  I need my fingers, with all the dexterity I can get.   Mittens might work if you only shoot from the tripod, and spend a lot of time waiting for the right moment rather than operating the camera. 
• Mittens tend to be too long for my fingers and I cannot curl my fingers around something like a tripod leg when that is the case.
• Some gloves have pockets for handwarmers
• Windproof gloves are very helpful.  Wind will steal the warm air from you.
• Waterproof gloves are helpful in foul weather, or when handling snow.
• There is an inverse relationship between dexterity and warmth.
• Layering a liner with an outer glove helps with warmth.
• No gloves I have found, even thin, tight-fitting liners, offer enough dexterity for things like changing memory cards or batteries.  The fingers need to be bare, at least for the gear I've used.

Hand Out

One mitten brand I tried was Hand Out (https://handoutgloves.com/), which unzip around the knuckles and let all 4 fingers and your thumb out of the glove/mitten.  Mine are super warm and water-proof.  I just wish I'd gotten their gloves instead of the mittens because I can't use the camera while they are all zipped up and toasty.  These will be great for snowboarders, and fit people with long skinny hands.  The long cuffs go up your jacket sleeve pretty far, and seal out wind very nicely.  They are so warm I tend to unzip them a bit to vent off some heat.  I have used them standing around in single digit F temperatures with a wind and my hands remained toasty warm.  But the dexterity is so bad that I can't even hold my dog's leash... I just drop it all the time when using these gloves, and I don't notice until I hear the clatter on the ground.  

The Heat Company

A hybrid brand I tried was Heat.  I have the Heat 2 glove/mitten (https://theheatcompany.us/pages/heat-2-system).  They have okay warmth right around freezing, but below that they don't keep me warm enough. They let all your fingers and thumb out as needed, but if you are shooting hand-held then you lose warmth through the tips of your fingers.  I don't need all of my fingers exposed... just the first finger and thumb, but I found I can use the mitten to cover the last 3 fingers and let my first finger stick out.  In mitten mode, the grip isn't very good;  I can't carry my camera or tripod easily.  The mitten part would benefit from adding grip dots.  Also, the thumb covers are too long to have any dexterity while covered. You can get a liner (Heat makes several, or buy another brand), and that helps the warmth a bit but not enough for super cold weather.  Great idea, but the imperfect fit and lack of insulation mostly rules this out for me. 

Heat makes several liners. The liner I bought from them is the wind pro model.  The Wind Pro liner fits me snugly, has excellent touch screen compatibility, great dexterity, and good grip, but by themselves are not warm enough at freezing (32F/0C).  The Heat liner fits inside my Heat 2 gloves but the bulk lowers my dexterity.  The Heat wind pro liner has a long cuff which helps block some air from getting up your sleeves.

Ski gloves

Ski gloves, such as from REI, are generally warm but are very thick and make it impossible to operate the camera normally.

LowePro

I've had these for a few years (https://www.amazon.com/LowePro-Photographers-Glove-L/dp/B019GXBYZG).  They let the finger and thumb out, have good grip, but they are not very warm by themselves.  They stretch quite a bit and I can easily fit liners in them, which makes them warm enough for a morning outing.  Even lined, they give me plenty of dexterity for normal camera operations and the grip on the gear is very good.  They aren't very well made... the velcro used to hold the finger and thumb covers out of the way wore out within a couple of uses, and the thumb cover doesn't stay over my thumb, but when combined with liners they work well for operating the camera.

Outdoor Research (OR)

My overall favorite glove has been my OR Windstopper fleece gloves (https://www.outdoorresearch.com/us/gloves).  I have had them for years now and they are starting to wear out.   I carry them in my coat pocket, and use them by default.  They have a good grip and dexterity, allowing me to hand-hold the camera and operate the major controls easily. They are easy to take off and on as needed.  But when the temps go well below freezing, they are not warm enough. Unfortunately, they are a bit tight when I use them in combination with a wool liner, but that combination lets my fingers last for a very cold morning outing.  If I never went out when it was much below freezing, these would be my only gloves.

I became aware of a newer style from OR, the Vigor Heavyweight sensor gloves, which are supposed to be touch screen compatible.  They are thinner and have similar warmth to my OR windstopper gloves, but the touchscreen aspect simply doesn't work. I tried two pairs and both had the same issue.  Most of the reviews say the same thing; touchscreen doesn't work with these gloves.  I recommend them if you don't need the touchscreen sensitivity.  They aren't for arctic conditions of course, but work for most general uses.  

I also have wool liners from Outdoor Research, which fit snugly. The OR liners originally had touch screen capability, but that has worn out.  They are wool, warm, but not windproof and by themselves have poor grip, so I would never use them alone to hold a camera.  The OR symbol was worn off and I can't tell which is right or left but that doesn't seem to matter.  These liners fit nicely inside my LowePro and Heat2 gloves, but are a bit snug inside my OR windstopper fleece gloves.

Vallerret 

Next, I tried the Vallerret Markhof Pro 2.0 photo gloves (https://us.photographygloves.com/products/vallerret-photography-glove-markhof-pro-2-0).  The first finger and thumb can be uncovered as needed, which gave me the dexterity I needed to change cards and batteries without removing the gloves.  The build quality is very good, and the fit is good for me.  However, the insulation was too weak for my cold hands below freezing, and the holes for the finger and thumb let in the cold air.  I thought it would have a flap to cover it, but these gloves simply use a hole.  I was disappointed as I think the design idea is great, but the warmth just wasn't sufficient.  They have a warmer pair with similar design (but better flaps to cover the finger and thumb holes), the Ipsoot, that I may try (but the price has made me skittish).

Miscellaneous brands found on Amazon

Amazon is wonderful for finding items you would never otherwise know about.  I have tried several gloves I found there that have finger caps, in the hopes they'd be warm and let me have the dexterity I want with my fingertips as needed.  No luck.  Energetic Sky was one brand.  They seemed warm but the fit wasn't good (too skinny, too long), and the finger magnets were sewn in backwards (reversed polarity so they repelled instead of held the first finger flap.  I tried the Palmyth leather ice fishing gloves that look like crab claws; they are very nicely made but I found the finger caps were too difficult to put back on.  Goture was another with bad fit, too long and skinny.  Same for Ozero (the design is very similar to the Caiman gloves I talk about below, but didn't fit).  

Kinco

I read raves about the Kinco 901 leather ski gloves.  (https://kinco.com/product/901).  I found them in a local store and unfortunately they didn't fit me well enough to consider them for using the camera (fingers were too long).  The leather can be waterproofed.  They are inexpensive compared to big name brands ($35 when I looked), and well-made, so they should be worth a look.  Skiers claim to keep warm with these all day.

Caiman

A pair I tried and ended up keeping is from Caiman.  (https://www.caimangloves.com/caiman-2396/)  I've used them on several cold morning outings, from teens (F) to just around freezing, and remained sufficiently warm, if not always completely toasty.  They are thick, but fit pretty well and have good grip and dexterity.  I only have to remove them for card/battery/filter changes.  My pair doesn't work with touchscreen as advertised, and I'd prefer a thinner rib knit cuff, but for $15 I can't complain.  Since these gloves are warmer than my OR Windstopper gloves, they have replaced them.

Cabela's

A friend discovered and tried the Cabela's Glomitts, with GoreTex Infinium and heavy Thinsulate (https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/cabelas-gore-tex-infinium-windstopper-glomitts-for-men).  The design is a convertible mitten that lets the fingers and thumb be exposed as needed, very much like the Heat 2 convertible mittens, except these are much much better insulated than the Heat 2s.  They are windproof when the fingers and thumb are covered, and use 320g Thinsulate on the back of the hand, with 160g on the inside.  My friend raved about them so much that I decided to try a pair.  They fit my short fingers well, are extremely comfortable to wear, and keep me much warmer than most other gloves.  I think they are on par with the Hand Out mittens for warmth.  I've been out in 0 F weather with them and stayed toasty.  I've even had to vent them a bit.  The palms have leather patches for good grip.  They have long thick cuffs like the Hand Out mittens, which cinch down to keep the wind out.  Again, I'd rather have rib knit cuffs to make it easier to fit under my jacket sleeves, but the cuffs do work to keep the wind out.  I'll just come out and say it, these are now my go-to gloves when it is very cold.  That said, there is still room for improvement, and I wrote my requests to Cabela's.  The first con: they are hard to remove.  They would benefit from pull tabs between the fingers like the Heat 2s use.  The second con:  they don't use magnets to keep the flaps out of the way like the Heat 2s.  Instead, they have stretchy bands to stuff the flaps in.  It works fine but isn't as fast or easy to use as magnets. The third con: they don't offer small sizes; if you have very small hands they won't fit you.  FYI, Gore Tex Infinium is windproof, but not waterproof.

FRDM

For those times that I want to use my finger and thumb frequently with the Cabela's Glomits, I bought a pair of FRDM Vigor liners (https://frdmgear.com/products/vigor-liner).  These have flaps for the first finger and thumb, so I can have a little more protection on the fingertips as needed, but still get my fingers out when I need the ultimate dexterity.  They aren't super warm alone, but fit well and have good grip and dexterity.  The cuffs do not stretch as well as I hoped, so they are a little bit harder to pull on vs my other liners.  

Thoughts on the Shimoda Action X50

Sometimes I want to carry more gear than my compact, thin Atlas Athlete is designed to hold, but I didn't want to go as large as the Atlas Adventure.

I picked up a Shimoda Action X50.

It comes in a drab army green or black.  I picked green. I realized this is my fifth green pack... seems like a pattern.

The first Shimoda model, the Explore series, didn't interest me because they lack side water bottle pockets. The Action X50 added hideaway water bottle pockets.

The design seems like a copy of the Nya-Evo Fjord 60, with some nice modifications.

Modified Shimoda Action X50

The front of the pack

Features

• Adjustable torso size
• Internal frame
• Shoulder strap options (e.g. women's fit, thicker straps, etc)
• Pockets on some of the shoulder strap options
• Removable hipbelt
• Hideaway dual side water bottle pockets
• Water bladder compatible (front pocket)
• Rear access
• Side access via new Shimoda inserts
• Various camera insert sizes
• Thin side pockets
• Deep, thin front pocket
• Rolltop access to top compartment, expandable.
• Extra zippered pockets in top and front sections
• Compression straps (can attach tripods)
• Loops for gatekeeper straps
• Waterproof coating
• Stands upright
• Laptop sleeve
• Thick, cushioned carry handles on top and side.

Rolltop

Looking inside the rolltop (winter gloves shown)

Shimoda is known for having nice shoulder straps.  Users like the shape and the front pockets.  The thick straps are a bit thicker than I expected!

Thick Shimoda strap (green) next to the Atlas strap (grey with a common thickness)

The pockets on the shoulder straps are very handy.  One can hold an phone-sized item, the other can stretch enough to hold a thin water bottle or can of bear spray.

The stretchy shoulder strap pocket.

My existing F-stop pro ICUs fit nicely.  Small, Medium, and Large pro ICUs all fit.

This F-stop ICU fits snugly and doesn't pop out

Dual side water bottle pockets are a must for me.

Exposed water bottle holder

Drain holes on both sides for the front pocket

Front pocket unzipped

Side pocket with water bottle holder stowed.

The carry handles are thick and robust, but don't get in the way.

Side carry handle

Top carry handle

Fit

The adjustable torso size helps a ton to get a precise torso fit.  This helps the hipbelt stay where it is needed without slipping.

The strap options means there is likely a strap that will work for you.  

The pack is tall enough that the load lifters help remove some weight from the shoulders and transfer it to the hips.

The included removable hipbelt does a pretty good job of supporting the weight.

I find that the back is too flat for me... it doesn't quite fit me as well as a good hiking pack or my Atlas pack. The lumbar area doesn't push as deeply into my lower back as I need to fit well. But I found a simple fix for the lumbar area:  I added a piece of very dense closed cell foam, about 1/2" thick, inside the lumbar area. That did the trick for pushing the lumbar area nicely against my back.

The thick straps push into my shoulder blades on the back side. The standard thin straps fit fine.  Ian Millar said the thick straps are meant for a much bigger person (I wish they'd specified this up front).  But I've seen smaller guys using the thick straps and enjoying them.

Out of the box, the fit isn't good enough for me for a long hike. I did the same hike (a few miles between 9000-10000 feet) within a couple days of each other to compare the X50 vs the Athlete, carrying the same gear.  I felt sore and beaten up after using the X50 out-of-the-box, while I have always felt fine using the Athlete.  But your back isn't just like mine, so you'll have to try it for yourself.  As I mentioned above, adding the padding to the lumbar area helped.

Modifications

I like the easy access of the Shimoda rolltop for the personal gear, but missed having a top lid, so I added one from Seek Outside.  The color isn't quite a match, but it's close enough if you aren't too picky.  I was lucky that the X50 has loops in just the right places to add gatekeeper straps, which is how I attached the top lid.  The top lid lets me get to some smaller, often-used items quickly.

Seek Outside top lid sitting on the Shimoda Action X50

Gatekeeper and buckles hold the front of the top lid.

Attached on the back

Anyone paying attention to the images above may have noticed the gray hipbelt.  This is from Atlas, their Adventure hipbelt.  Even though the velcro is on the opposite side from the Shimoda, it fits and stays in place.  This combination doesn't seem to work as well for me as using the belts in their respective packs, but I thought it was worth a try.  It squeaked with every step.  My birder friends couldn't stand walking with me when I tried that configuration.

What I like about it:

• Adjustable torso size
• Thick shoulder straps available
• Thick straps have mesh
• Women's shoulder straps available
• Removable belt
• Quick and easy rear access to camera
• Side water bottle holders are deep, wide, and can be cinched down to the right size
• Water bladder option
• Pockets on the shoulder straps
• Stands upright on its own (easy access to the rolltop area)
• Waterproofing
• Very well padded laptop sleeve
• Extra straps and loops
• Rolltop is quick and easy to use
• Thick top and side handles
• F-stop pro ICUs fit perfectly
• Many gatekeeper loops!  I was able to easily fit a top lid/pocket from Seek Outside
• I was able to adapt my favorite hipbelt; the Atlas Adventure belt.
• I was able to get the lumbar support to work via additional foam padding.

What I don't like:

• Standard straps could use mesh
• Thick straps are crazy thick and pushed into my shoulder blades uncomfortably; a little thinner close to the shoulder attachment area would fit me better. 
• Hard to see and find small items in the rolltop section
• Front pocket is on the thin side, and doesn't unzip far.
• Boxy looking (adding a top lid helped with that)
• Back of pack would benefit from mesh/better airflow.  I sweat with this pack even on cool days.
• Belt is on the thin side (could use a firmer layer on the outside and more padding against the body), and could also use mesh.
• The drab green is a little too military looking; I would prefer pine green.  
• The side pockets (behind the water bottle holders) are a bit thin.
• Attachment rings on shoulder straps are plastic (but can be replaced with metal rings)
• The keyring is a propriety design and is hard to locate in one of the pockets inside the rolltop.  A clip, closer to the top, would have been just fine.
• Due to the way the camera cores are held in the pack, the items on the sides of the camera cores can be harder to reach.
• As sold, I couldn't get a good enough fit for longer hikes.  My back and shoulders felt beaten up after a few miles. Adding padding to the lumbar area helped some, but it still doesn't fit perfectly.

I will also note that I am indifferent to the side access. When I shoot landscapes, I hike to a spot and set the pack down. But the Shimoda does manage to offer many features without too many compromises.

Summary

Overall it's a very well-designed pack, even if you don't modify it.  

I still prefer the Atlas Athlete design and fit, but obviously the Athlete isn't perfect for every use case or I wouldn't have tried the Shimoda. If it fits you well and meets your other needs, you'll be happy with it.  Good fit is essential.

The final configuration that fits best for me is to use the standard straps, the Shimoda belt, and add thick padding in the lumbar area.

The Arca-Swiss P0 ballhead

When I bought a smaller travel/hiking tripod, I wanted a smaller lighter ballhead that would match it well.  I love FLM ballheads and nearly bought the CB-32F or CB-38F, but a friend convinced me to give the Arca-Swiss P0 a try.

The head is different from the average ballhead because the mechanism is inverted.  The stem mounts on the tripod and the mechanism sits on top.   This upside-down design prevents water and snow from getting inside.

The main locking control is a bit unusual too... instead of a knob or lever like most heads, it has a ring that wraps around the entire head.  This means you don't need to worry about the orientation of the head.  A quick twist tightens or loosens the head.  It's the same from any angle.

Mine didn't come with a quick release and I ended up using an FLM SRB-60 clamp, which is round and matches the size of the P0 perfectly. The knob is short and doesn't poke out too far either, which was important to me in keeping the overall package as small as possible. I had to modify the clamp to use an M6 screw flush in the clamp, and raised the clamp a bit using fender washers to keep the P0's pano knob from hitting the clamp's knob.

Removing the included screw took just a little force from an 11mm socket.

Be careful what you put on top. When I put a clamp directly on it, I hadn't realized the bottom of the clamp had a protrusion that would dig into the rotating platform.

A gripe I have about traditional ballhead controls is when I want to shoot the sky.  I need the drop notch to face me in that case.  Normally, I'd look down for macros, so I want the main knob to my left while the drop notch is opposite from me.  But when I want to aim up, a normal head has to be turned around, and suddenly using the knob is awkward.  The P0 solves this easily since the orientation doesn't matter.

Also, built in to the head is a rotating platform on top.  This makes panoramas easy... just level the head and rotate the top.  No need to spend more on a leveling base or a panning clamp.  The rotation is smooth and well-damped.

Opposite the pan lock lever is a drop notch that allows the head to be tilted up to 90 degrees if desired. Unlike the Arca-Swiss Z1 that I had for a few years, when I tilt the head into the drop-notch, I can feel the increased resistance from the aspherical ball as it tilts.  So the aspherical ball really seems to work.

I intended the P0 for smaller lenses and landscape use, but I found it plenty strong to hold a 100-400 mounted without slipping.

But here is the big surprise for me... the P0 doesn't shift as it is locked down, which is one of the big features I love about my FLM head.  It makes lining up shots very easy.  It makes precise compositions very easy, particularly for closeups where any shifting is very noticeable.  I haven't compared them directly but I think the P0 may be just as shift-free as my FLM CB-48F.

In a nutshell, I was surprised by how much I like the P0.

Leofoto LS-284C travel tripod

Leofoto is a name that I've seen come up quite often in forums and reviews.  So when I decided to get a compact travel tripod for hiking, I researched the Leofoto LS-284C.  I compared it against several brands and in the end, decided it had the best bang for buck, being at most one-third the price of the equivalent Really Right Stuff but nearly as stiff according to the Center Column.  It's actually #2 in the travel tripod stiffness ranking, behind RRS and just above Gitzo.  Impressive!

It arrived in a nicely made, padded case.  The case has enough room for a head mounted as well as the tripod itself, which is a nice touch.  I wish the case had webbing to make it easier to attach to a backpack.

The tripod came with spikes for certain terrain, and they happen to fit many other tripods via standard 3/8" threads.  To use them, remove the rubber feet on each leg and screw in the spikes.  Try not to stab anyone.

It came with a carabiner to hang your bag for extra stability, which you have to screw in yourself.  I used a little loctite to hold it in place.

There was a nice multi-tool included as well, but the parts have a hard time reaching some of the tripod screws, so I assume it is a generic tool.  It's a cool idea but not actually useful as designed.  You'll need to keep your existing hex wrenches handy.

The build quality on the LS-284C appears to be as good as anything I've seen from any other maker, including my own Gitzo and a friend's RRS. I've read of quality control issues in a couple of Leofoto tripods but mine works beautifully.

The LS-284C has 4 leg sections.  The leg locks take an easy quarter turn or so to loosen and retighten.

Fully extended on a flat surface, the tripod is only about 4' tall.

The legs spread independently which is useful for uneven terrain. It can spread wide and go to nearly ground level.  The leg stops are spring loaded and easy to use.  Just pull them out and they lock open so you can widen the legs and get lower. When you move the leg out to the widest setting, they automatically snap back into position, and snap to the next stops as you close the leg back up.

As low as it can go

Stop pulled out, ready to adjust.

It did not come with a center column.  For my intended use of shooting landscapes while hiking, I didn't need one.

The apex is quite small at about 47mm in diameter.  My FLM CB-48F head is just a little too big for it.  It works fine, but I ended up with a smaller ballhead.  The apex is so small that with the hook hanging and the legs at the narrowest angle, my pack won't hang directly on the hook.

My only real gripe is something I read about from several other reviewers... the legs feel a bit narrow on the tallest setting.  So the first thing I did was take the legs off and void my warranty by filing the stops.  This widened the stance a bit, making it more stable, at the cost of a little less maximum height.

The tripod is very light, and compared to my bigger Gitzo, feels weightless.  Put a small, lightweight (but sturdy!) head on top and you have a winner for hikes.   Given how light it is, I pay close attention when it is windy.  I don't quite trust it in wind as much as my 3-series Gitzo (which was nearly blown over in a very strong wind just once - I caught it).  I will hang my backpack from the apex once I extend the hook.  And maybe I'll widen the stance just a little more.

It was a very good purchase.  If you need a solid travel tripod, take a look.

Camera backpack options

Since there is no such thing as "one size fits all" with backpacks, much less camera backpacks, I thought I'd list a bunch that I became aware of during my searches.  I'll list them alphabetically by brand, and mention features that I think may be relevant to some of you.

One thing I don't take very seriously is volume.  Some companies have very similar sized bags (dimensions), but list very different volumes in Liters.

Atlas

Athlete (adjusts from 20L to 40L)

• Rear loading. 
• Two torso lengths available
• Multiple removable belt options and sizes.
• Dual water bottle pockets
• Hydration compatible
• Adjustable camera core size (non-removable)
• Tripod carry system
• small/thin laptop sleeve

Adventure (adjusts from 50L to 70L)

• Rear loading. 
• Two torso lengths available
• Adjustable torso height
• Removable shoulder straps
• Removable belt with multiple sizes.
• Dual water bottle pockets
• Hydration compatible
• Adjustable camera core size (non-removable)
• Tripod carry system
• laptop sleeve
• room for large telephoto lenses

Burton

F-stop (model name) 28L

• Front loading
• Adjustable torso size
• Dual water bottle pockets
• Removable insert (one size)
• no laptop sleeve

F-stop (brand name)

• Several models in various sizes (32L, 40L, 50L, 70L, 80L)
• Torso sizes are fixed
• Non-removable hipbelts
• Removable camera inserts
• some have room for large telephoto lenses
• Dual side zip pockets
• Hydration compatible

Lowe Pro

• Several backpack models with various features and sizes
• Very few have features I require, such as side water bottle pockets

Mountainsmith

• Various sizes, front loaders
• Some with removable inserts
• Side water bottle pockets

Naneu

• some side loading models, one front/bottom loader
• 35L, 50L, and 80L packs
• Water bottle holders
• fixed torso lengths
• One with laptop sleeve

Nya-evo

Fjord 60-C (adjusts from 44L to 60L)

• Adjustable torso size
• Rear loading
• Dual water bottle pockets
• Removable inserts of various sizes (appears to match F-stop ICU sizes)
• Fixed hipbelt
• tripod carry
• laptop sleeve
• space above the inserts for personal gear

Shimoda

Explore series (40L and 60L models)

• Rear loading, side loading
• Adjustable torso sizes
• no water bottle pockets on sides (small pocket in harness)
• removable inserts
• tripod carry

Action X series (30L, 50L, and 70L models)

• Rear loading, side loading
• Adjustable torso sizes
• Women's harnesses available
• Extra thick men's harness available
• Removable hipbelt
• Dual side water bottle pockets
• Hydration compatible
• removable inserts
• laptop sleeve
• tripod carry

Tamrac

• Several backpack models with various features and sizes

Thinktank

Backlight series (18L, 26L, 36L, 45L models)

• Rear loading
• Fixed torso lengths
• Most have fixed hipbelts (except 45L)
• Most have non-removable camera sections (except 45L)
• Dual side water bottle pockets
• 45L has hydration section
• 36L and 45L have room for large telephotos
• tripod carry
• laptop sleeves 

Many other ThinkTank backpack series are available



Know of another brand or model?  Let me know and I'll add it.

Using a Nikon film digitizer with a crop sensor camera

I've owned two film scanners at different times, one Nikon and one Canon.  Both died eventually.  So when I wanted to scan more slides, a friend suggested I take a look at the Nikon film digitizers, the ES-1 and ES-2.

However, they are meant for "full frame" (FX to Nikon users), 35mm equivalent size sensors, and a 50-60mm macro.  Well, I have an APS-C camera and an 80mm macro lens.  But I did a little thinking and calculation, some searching for an extra couple of parts, and I ended up with the ES-2.  

https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/miscellaneous/es-2-film-digitizing-adapter-set.html

Since the Nikon site does not describe the parts included or what they do, I shall:
 
The package includes a 35mm negative strip holder, a slide holder (2 slides), a telescoping/rotating film adapter, and both 52 and 62mm rings (Nikon mostly uses those two sizes, particularly for macro lenses).

Here is what I did:

Since 35mm slides are bigger than 1:1 on APS-C, I knew I would need more distance between the lens and the slide holder.  Since my APS-C sensor has a crop factor of about 1.5x, I estimated I would need about 50% more distance than is offered by the slide copier.  That isn't exact because my macro is internal focusing, effectively becoming a short focal length at closer focus distances. But the 80mm focal length, being longer than the 60mm required by the stock ES-2, also required more distance from the lens to the slide.

Given those factors, I knew I would need additional extension a bit over 30m. I guessed about 35mm.  I then measured the distance from the lens to a slide that filled the frame, subtracted the length of the ES-2 (my friend already had one and could supply the range of the length), and found I'd been in the ballpark with my estimate.

To get that extension, I hoped to use my old Minolta extension tube set, but learned Minolta had used an oddball 57mm diameter.  That was unfortunate!  Had it been a standard 58mm at least, the tubes would have done the trick, paired with stepping rings.

Minolta extension tube set with odd 57mm diameter rings.  Fail!

Since those old tubes didn't work, I next thought I'd need to buy a bunch of cheap filters, remove the glass, and stack the rings. Doable, but annoying.

With some searching I found 62mm spacer rings, and bought one 37mm long.  I went ahead and picked up a few old used, cheap filters as well and removed the glass to give myself some leeway.  Also, the ES-2 itself has an adjustable distance so I didn't have to be exact, just within range.

62mm spacer ring and old filter rings.

I put the parts together, and voila, the big spacer ring worked with no need for the extra filter rings.

Final product, telescoping film holder with extension.

I'm not sure that the ES-2 works quite as well as a nice scanner, but the scanners haven't been supported for awhile anyway.

If you do something like this, be prepared to clean off your film first, and probably use a spot healing brush on the digital copy.  You will probably need to straighten and crop the image as well.

What I found... 

1) 30 year old slide film doesn't stand up to modern sensors for detail and noise handling, not by a long shot.  

2) Most of my old lenses don't stand up to modern lenses.

3) Since a number of my old slides appear to be misfocused, modern AF is truly useful.

Eagles in the snow at the Chilkat River, Haines, Alaska, November 1989, Kodachrome 200 slide film

Bald Eagle, Kodachrome 200 slide film, November 1989

Here is what happens if you don't pay attention to alignment of the slide in the holder:

Possum babies, made with one of the few old lenses I own that can stand up against modern lenses... a Kiron 100mm macro.

Review of the Atlas Athlete backpack

Note that I buy all of my own gear.  I paid for the pack myself.  I received no incentive or compensation for taking the time to write this review.

After years of searching for the right backpack for hiking with photography gear, I recently bought an Atlas Athlete camera backpack.  I stumbled onto mention of it in a photography forum while searching for unicorns... I mean, good hiking packs that would fit camera gear.

Atlas is a fairly new company, started by a couple of guys who were frustrated by the lack of a good hiking camera backpack on the market. Very simply put, they thought about what they liked in a good hiking pack and added a good camera compartment with easy access.  A couple of iterations later, they have two models, the smaller (but not tiny) Athlete, and the larger Adventure pack.  Both packs have space for camera and non-camera gear, and balance those two needs very well.

The Athlete expands from about 20L to 40L.  The larger Adventure is a 50L pack that expands to 70L.  They have similar suspensions and design features so the model you get depends mostly on the size you need.

As per usual, I read every review about the Atlas packs I could find. I found an overwhelming majority of raves.  I contacted Atlas, and Allan, the General Manager, got back to me quickly and answered all of my questions. By that time, I was excited and very hopeful that this would finally be the pack for me. We talked via text for a bit and then Allan invited me to meet him at conference near me.  Allan spent about 2 hours showing me the features of both packs and how they fit.  Atlas' Customer service is easily in the top 1% in my experience.

The suspension of both packs fit me better than any other camera backpack I've tried.  Way better.  The fit of each is on par with good hiking packs, and the suspension is better than most hiking packs I've tried.  I ordered the Athlete that evening and had it 2 days later.

Features

• Adjustable "origami" camera core size
• Available in different torso sizes
• Removable hipbelt
• You can select the hipbelt size/style you need!
• Removable internal frame
• Load lifters
• Ripstop nylon shell
• Rear camera opening (gear is secure while you wear it).
• Deep dual side stretch pockets (water bottles or tripod legs can fit)
• Front stretch pocket
• Top loading section for non-camera gear
• Lightly padded laptop sleeve inside the top section behind the camera core
• Expandable
• Very thin profile when not expanded; fits under airline seat.
• Side compression straps
• Side water bladder compartment
• Thin pockets inside the camera door
• Top lid has 3 pockets; one is very large, one has a keyclip.
• Thin front zipper pocket
• Attachment points on the top pocket and front for extra gear
• Included tethered rain cover in dedicated pocket
• Emergency whistle on the chest strap
• Hipbelt pockets have pull-out pockets for medium-sized lenses or other items

So how well does this pack fit?

A few things come into play for the good fit:

• Torso size
• Torso shape
• Hipbelt
• Load lifters

Atlas makes different pack sizes to fit different torsos, which is something usually only found in hiking packs.  Both packs also have removable hipbelts that come in different sizes.  So the first step is finding the right torso and belt (Allan has made custom fits for folks who fall outside the usual sizes).

The backs of the Atlas packs have just the right amount of curvature (not obvious until you feel it) for me with a good lumbar pad.  The backs are nicely padded and breathe.

Given my back problems, I asked Allan if I could have the heavier duty hipbelt from the Adventure pack on the smaller Athlete.  He customized the belt to fit for me.  And Atlas is now offering your choice of hipbelt style for the Athlete... need a smaller one, thicker one, wider one?  You get to pick now.  I have the "retro" adventure style belt.  It is the heaviest duty hipbelt they offer.

The 'retro adventure' hipbelt is made with stiff material on the outside and thick padding that goes against your hips.  The shape is just perfect for me.  The shoulder straps are likewise thickly padded, but in this case, you won't use the shoulder straps for much except to keep the pack held against you... the weight is all very nicely directed to the hips.  The shape and fit let me move naturally. I feel no restriction at all while I'm wearing the pack.  The hipbelts are attached through a slot behind the lumbar pad and held by velcro, rather than sewn onto the sides.  This design means the pack won't sag and pull on your shoulders, and you won't over-tighten the hipbelt.

To demonstrate just how well the hipbelt could handle weight, Allan had me put all my gear in the Athlete, then had me over-tighten the hipbelt so that no weight rested on my shoulders.  It rested easily on my hips.  The balance and weight distribution are amazing.

Allan said the retro adventure hipbelt can support 65 lbs.  They say "overbuilt suspension" and they aren't kidding.  They make most other hipbelts look like cheap toys.

The height of both packs is also sufficient for the load lifters to come into play better than short packs.  The large Athlete is 23" tall.

load lifter

How about the gear/access?

The Athlete pack is designed for smaller kits... mirrorless and small DSLRs.  The camera compartment is shallow.  My 6" macro lens has to lay flat, for example.  If you have a larger kit or many lenses, the Athlete isn't the right pack; the Adventure will suit your needs better.  My 100-400 fits mounted to the camera in the Athlete, with room for more lenses on the side. If I carry the 100-400, it has to be mounted.  The Athlete works well for me as a landscape kit, or a small tele kit, but not both. It doesn't quite have enough room for all of my lenses at once, forcing me to pick a subset.

Another interesting innovation, and first, with the Atlas packs is what they call their "origami" core.  You can "push in" the core at the top for more space for gear.  Or, if you have a smaller kit and/or need more space for non-camera gear above, you can "pull out" the core.  In general I think most landscape shooters will be fine with the smaller configuration.  It lets you optimize the balance between your camera gear and non-camera gear.

Origami core "pushed in" for more camera gear

Origami core "pulled out" 

Fuji X-T3 with L-bracket laying in landscape orientation

Fuji X-T3 with L-bracket in vertical orientation

The padding on the outside of the camera core is very thick and quite rigid; this adds to the stability of the pack.  The padded dividers are of medium thickness, soft and flexible.  They can mold around your gear.  The Athlete came with 3 long dividers, 2 medium dividers and several small dividers.  The dividers can attach to each other to provide more length as needed.

The zippers for the main back panel are side-mounted, so they don't have to work as hard going around the curved top of the panel.  This design also leaves more surface area on the back panel.  The zippers are smooth and easy to use; easier than most zippers.

When you need to get into the top section, the pack stands up on flat surfaces, even when the top lid pocket is full. Most packs can't do that.  The top section is a drawstring open/close mechanism, very common on hiking packs.  It works quickly and easily.  The top/front section expand greatly; you can fit items about 2 feet tall inside.

Thin profile, thick padding

top loading front section

I can reach my water bottles in the side pockets while wearing it.  There is no need to remove the pack.  I have a tall, thin 24 oz water bottle that is held nicely without falling out (only the very top sticks out from the pockets).

If you carry a laptop, keep in mind that the height of the padded laptop section isn't quite enough to completely protect most laptops.  My intended use is hiking and I don't carry a laptop while hiking, but for those who would use it as a travel pack and carry a laptop, I suggest adding a layer next to it for extra padding.

When my daughter got tired of carrying her volleyball, we found the Athlete's top loading non-camera gear section expands just fine to fit it, and the pack really didn't appear much bigger.

When I hike with my dog, I can attach a water dish on the outside via carabiner, keeping the interior totally clean.  Yes, many other packs can do that too; but it is a nice touch that I appreciate.

The hipbelt pockets contain hidden pull-out pockets in which you can fit items you want at the ready... up to medium-sized lenses will fit.  These side pockets can serve the function of allowing lens changes while standing anywhere, or hold water bottles, filter cases, etc.  It's a neat idea, but I also wish I could fit a cell phone in the hipbelt pocket without pulling out the hidden pocket.  Maybe Atlas will make the hidden pockets removable in a future iteration.

In the largest of the 3 top lid pockets, I can fit my gloves, hat, flashlight, multi-tool, lip balm, snacks, neck gaiter and even a pair of small notebooks, and still have room for more.  This isn't unusual for a hiking pack, but pretty rare for a camera pack.

It holds so much stuff that it's like having a Tardis (a geeky Dr. Who reference), which is bigger on the inside.

large top lid pocket

top

underside of the top lid

Color

The Athlete currently comes in a bright yellow or plain black color.  I love the yellow but picked black on the assumption it would be less obvious to wildlife.

In Use

As of writing this, I've used the Athlete a few times. I've carried my camera gear, snacks, water, first aid, rain jacket, flashlight, etc, over 5 miles of up and down trails on very hot days.  The verdict is... I barely notice it on my back.  Being hot and working hard going uphill, I did get sweaty where the pack touched me, but it is the most comfortable camera backpack I've carried by far.  The fit and comfort is right in line with the best hiking packs I've tried.  The hipbelt fits nicely; I never needed to over-tighten it.  It never dug into my hips or hit my legs while climbing. The weight stayed on my hips. I never had the shoulder straps dig into me; the pack doesn't slip down my back like most camera bags.  My back, hips, and shoulders all felt fine after hiking.  For once, I don't feel like someone beat me up after a hike.

It looks so much like a typical hiking pack that people have been surprised when they realized I was carrying a camera system.

Pros

• Outstanding fit and comfort.
• Quick, easy access to camera gear (the zippers are easier to use than most packs).
• Large top lid pocket.
• Rear access to gear means the straps don't get dirty.
• Dual, deep side water bottle pockets (my bottles never fall out).
• Adjustable "origami" camera core.
• Nicely made.
• Thin profile.
• Nice separation between camera and non-camera gear.
• Nice organization.
• Very expandable/collapsible.
• Looks like an ordinary hiking backpack.
• It stands up on the bottom, doesn't fall over unless very top-heavy.
• Lots of extra attachment points

Cons/Tweaks I'd make

• Pricey (but not out of line vs other camera packs).
• I would add mesh to the shoulder straps and lumbar area to further improve airflow.
• The laptop sleeve is a bit short due to the design of the origami camera core (can't think of any way around it except to make a bigger camera core).
• I would like bigger hipbelt pockets, make the pull-out pockets removable, or maybe have molle/pals webbing on one or both sides of the belt so I could add a camera clip or my own pouches.
• Small mesh pockets on the shoulder straps would be nice.
• I'd add loops on the sides for gatekeeper straps for still more lashing options.

Compared to the larger Atlas Adventure

The two packs have a similar fit.  The Adventure pack is larger (taller and deeper) and a better option for those who need to carry larger lenses, or more of them (I am weaning myself off of that habit).  The Adventure can adjust the torso size a bit and is potentially a better fit for some people.  The entire back of the Adventure unzips and swings open to the side, making gear access even easier.  The Adventure only comes in black. It was tempting but in the end I wanted a smaller pack to force myself to carry less gear.

Compared to the F-stop Loka 37L

F-stop doesn't make any bag with different torso sizes.  If you need a 40L pack, they only have one size.  The Loka doesn't expand. It doesn't have mesh and gets sweaty. The straps are thinner vs the Atlas.  The hipbelt is thin, too flexible, and sewn on the sides, allowing sag.  The shape of the Loka doesn't fit me well compared to the Athlete.  In fact, most hiking packs fit better than the Loka. It doesn't carry weight nearly as well as the Atlas packs. The water bottle pockets of the Loka are too short and my bottles fall out when I set the bag down.  I like the Loka design concept.  I like the exchangeable ICU concept used by the F-stop mountain series packs, however the separation between camera and non-camera gear on the Atlas is better.  With some tweaks, F-stop could make a much better pack but I doubt they will ever do it.  I sold my Loka after using the Athlete a few times.  The difference in fit is just night and day.

Compared to the Mindshift/Thinktank Backlight 26L

The Backlight is very well made, nicely padded with good mesh.  It has easy access and plenty of space for camera gear, more so than the Atlas Athlete. Non-camera gear storage is very limited with the Backlight and difficult to access, with very little expansion. The Backlight hipbelts are nicely padded and stiffer than the Loka, but still sewn onto the sides and it doesn't carry weight nearly as well as the Atlas packs.  It lacks load lifters, lacks the torso length I need for a good fit, sags over time and eventually hurts my shoulders.  By about 4 miles, I find it uncomfortable.  In contrast, my first outing with the Atlas was 5 miles and I never had any of those comfort issues. 

Compared to ski packs

The Gregory Targhee 45 was the only ski pack (rear access) I tried that fit me well enough to consider.  And the Targhee fit me extremely well. It lacks water bottle pockets by design, lacks mesh for breathability (by design, it's a snow pack), and I found the zippers difficult to use, so after fiddling with it, I returned it.  I also looked at the Mammut Trion 50, Osprey Kamber 42, and Deuter Freerider packs but none fit me as well as the Targhee. 

Compared to hiking/day packs

I looked at so many hiking/day packs that I lost track.  I spent a lot of time in REI and Jax.  The Gregory Zulu series stood out for the panel access and good fit. However, there were many straps and snaps in the way of the panel, and then I'd have to find an insert that fit and unzip that as well... Camera access is slow and annoying.  So I passed on the Zulu.

The Mountainsmith Apex 60 (it seems more like a 45L pack) has an incredible harness and good fit.  It is one of the very few I tried that fits me and supports weight as well as the Atlas packs.  But with the front panel access and straps and snaps, I felt the camera access would be a burden, like my Seek Outside Exposure.  And for some reason, none of the current Mountainsmith camera-specific packs have good harnesses.  I tried the Borealis and had shoulder pain within half a block!  I'll mention that the discontinued Mountainsmith Paragon is much loved by a photographer friend of mine; he has 2 extras for when his current pack wears out.  I haven't tried his pack.

Summary

Before I found Atlas, I got so frustrated with both camera and hiking backpacks that I was seriously looking into how to make my own pack.

The Athlete is an extremely well-designed pack. It ticks all the boxes for me. There isn't much I would change.  The more I use it, the more I appreciate the design.

Atlas packs are one of the only camera packs on the market available in different torso sizes to fit different people.

It fits like a good hiking pack, carries my camera gear well, and is easy to use.

This pack is worthy of the best from any hiking backpack company.  I think the hipbelt beats 99% of the best from the top hiking companies.  No, I haven't tried them all.  Yes, that was a made-up statistic.  But in a nutshell, it's a keeper.

If you need a good hiking pack that can carry fragile gear well, take a look.  If you need a camera bag that carries well for long distances, take a look. If you think that there is no such thing as a camera backpack that fits well, take a look.  If you use a hiking pack with a jury-rigged insert for the previous reason, take a look.

It is no longer true that camera backpacks don't carry well.  Atlas balanced both needs extremely well.

One of the reasons these packs are so good is Atlas listens to feedback.  If you get one and have ideas to improve it, talk to Allan about it.  They aren't done improving their packs by any means.  I've provided Allan with plenty of feedback and he listened closely, asked questions, and I'm pretty sure he'll make another version that's even better.

The Athlete is now my primary pack.  I've sold my Loka and Exposure 5000.  I'm debating on the Backlight since it can hold more camera gear and works well out of a car.

I will add more images of the Athlete in the field... when I can remember.  I seriously keep forgetting because I pay more attention to the world around me than the pack.  I forget I'm wearing it.  That means the pack is doing it's job.

I highly recommend Atlas.

Lake Isabelle, Indian Peaks Wilderness, Colorado