Camera & Diaper Bag

[tertius]

I need a double duty bag to carry my gear. My wife will be having a little one in a few months and I want to carry my gear with me some of the time.

I am not too picky but the ability to carry it comfortably is a must. It would also be nice to keep "tainted" objects away from my gear.

Currently I have
D90
18-105
35 2.0
85 1.8
sb-600
tripod - not a must to carry all of the time.

I am lost, there are too many and I would love some direction.

Thanks!

[chris00nj]

I have a 4 month old and have thought about another bag for vacation at some point to combine diaper & camera needs. I think it would be better to buy a larger camera bag, and use spare slots and pockets for diaper stuff.

I was thinking about something like Tamrac Adventure Messenger 5 (Model 5535). It has a pocket for a laptop, which could be used to store some diaper bag stuff.

Nothing terribly gets tainted in the diaper bag. If you have soiled outfit keep a plastic bag for that. Here's generally what goes in:

• Diapers (usually keep about 5 in there)
• Wipes (a small travel pack will last)
• Burb cloth (you can get a smaller one)
• Changing pad (optional, but useful)
• Blanket (depends on weather)
• Change of clothes
• Spare Pacifier
• Rattle/ Toys (depends on length of where you are going)
• Any ointments. (small travel pack)

A diaper bag generally has a big open center and pockets on the inside, which is not idea for carrying a camera. I can keep something small or flat in there, such as point & shoot, a folding camera, or one with lens that collapses into the body.

[humminboid]

Congratulations on your forthcoming little one. They are a marvelous learning experience!
My suggestion would be for 2 bags...one for the baby necessaries, which, in my experience, is always full, and the other, perhaps matching, for camera gear. Or different, to tell them apart, avoiding the unthinkable

The "Slinger" style of bag comes to mind. I can't remember who sells it now, but Spiratone used to, in the Stone Ages.

In the case of outings with the wife and offspring, the watchword is "light" and plan ahead...one lens on your camera may be all you need, (Get to know it, and what it can do for you...it'll be much more than you think.) at most, one other lens, and minimal accessories, such as flash, filters, spare batteries, memory, and cleaning gear will make the day much better. (Little chubby sticky fingers do find lenses almost automatically, you know.) Enjoy that...they grow up so fast!

Just looked at your equipment list. I don't really see the need for another bag. The D 90 and 18-105 are as good a "walking around" combo as there is! 27-~155 mm equivalent on your DX body..."hog heaven", I calls it!

Of course, if you need to carry extra stuff, like your flash, a filter or three, extra memory card, cleaning equipment, which can all be compact and light, Cargo pocket jeans work fine, or a belt pack of some sort or, a surplus field jacket, or bush jacket with the extra pockets.

Orrrrr...a photo vest! They look cool, and carry lots. (but,you don't have to) Back to the original premise...disinformation...didy bags, no logos yelling "STEAL ME!" go light...And, at the end of a long day, your back will thank you! Enjoy!

[Jessica Merritt]

For a while, I was using a Diaper Dude bag to haul gear. We are expecting, too, so that bag may be making a comeback. The outside pockets are good for small lenses, batteries, and certain flashes, but there's virtually no padding except for a bottle holder pocket inside the main compartment. If you get one with an outer flap, it will have a vinyl pocket for...wet stuff. There's also a wet pocket in the very bottom that comes up into the main compartment. I stopped using it because it was just too big and clunky for me, but if you're doing double duty, that may be inescapable for you anyway.

[mramos]

I've seen on another forum a couple of guys using an actual diaper big that can fit camera gear. This way it doesn't scream "camera gear".
Amazon.com: Skip Hop Dash Deluxe: Clothing

[Canonopathy]

I would look at one of the camera inserts on Ebay and use it with a larger diaper bag or back pack. On Amazon, you can find PacSafe and Click Elite camera inserts too. The only problem will be making sure you keep bottles, powder, etc in seperate zip locks or enclosed containers to avoid spills.

[the kid]

Will you be sporting a breast pump? Just kidding.

[tertius]

Well since there are no referees in breast pumping, I guess it's a sport?!?!

[the kid]

Sporting as in carrying around. Like, "sporting a woody" to use the parlance of an old Texas metal band. Sorry, we have a four month old and I've had to deliver the breast pump to my forgetful wife at work. Fun, fun.

[chris00nj]

So what did you end up getting?