Lightweight SLR Camera carrying

Hard.
You might be better off with a Ti or Al cooking pot.

Cheers

Peanut butter jars are not practical as a camera case.

I use about three different sizes of Lowepro holster for one DSLR or another, and those are the most practical for normal trail use. For one thing, they have shoulder straps. For another thing, you can get the camera out rapidly (like, if there is wildlife on the trail).

I have yet to see a peanut butter jar with a shoulder strap.
–B.G.–

I don't know that it would work, but what about an industrial/commercial-sized mayo jar, or something like it? Bulk section at your super-mega mart… problem would probably be the opening…

I don't expect to have a shoulder camera bag, I just want to carry it in my backpack. I don't do wildlife shots, just landscapes. During the day, I try to focus on hiking and being with people. I usually get the camera out at night and in the morning to catch the good light.

I must say though, the peanut butter jar has worked really well as a lens case. It's perfectly practical if you're just going to keep it in the pack. the opening is the right size for the lenses I'm carrying, and it's very protective.

I'll have to check out a wholesale store, but I'd still love some suggestions.

I would suggest to start with the basic idea of a commercial Lowepro holster, but then to assemble it with UL components.

Start with a plastic container such as a one-gallon milk jug. Maybe you need something of a slightly different size. Cut it off several inches above the bottom, make sure that the camera fits in there (perhaps with a bit of bubble-pak to keep it from rattling around), and then fashion a lid. The lid might come from the top part of the milk jug and cut down for size. You can probably fashion a hinge to join the two pieces together. Then maybe sew a thin nylon cover over the whole thing with a velcro closure opposite the hinge.

By selecting the plastic jug perfectly and cutting it up perfectly, you will get just enough protection for your camera.

If it works good enough, you may choose to add a shoulder strap later on, or not. For me, if the camera is not out where I can reach it in seconds, it won't get used.

When I go through a grocery store buying normal food, I spend about half of my time staring at the containers. Some are very well-engineered for high-volume production. Others are simple. Often I find myself purchasing a particular brand just so that I can reverse-engineer the packaging or to reuse it for some UL gadget.
–B.G.–

here in MA the supermarkets carry wide mouth sugar containers by Domino. it's gotta be 5.5 inches wide at least maybe up to 7.5. I have the same problem as you, love to have my DSLR, hate to carry it. I'll try tje container when I get home and continue to come up with ideas if a come across any. thanks for posting!

Rick

crookedblueline.blogspot.com

absolutly LOVE the peanutbutter jar idea! Thanks again!

Try a local Dollar Store. I bought a 3 quart food storage container with a screw top for $1. I store metal hardware in it. Tough and cheap and no product to contend with.

Have you looked at protein powder containers? Still, the screw-top will be the

But if you really only bring your camera out at night, you could wrap it in your sleeping bag…?

I thought the jar idea for lenses was a good one. I also use fairly small lenses that would fit in a PB jar.

I use my camera mostly for landscapes. I use a holster for the camera but rarely need to whip it out quickly enough to fend off attackers. If I am somewhere I feel the animal interaction is both imminent and fleeting, the camera will not be in the holster… The holster is a matter of convenience and, primarily, size. It isn't chosen for speed, really.

I keep an extra lens or two in my pack; I will keep the jar idea in mind.

I got the idea he was looking for something a little sturdier than the typical lens case and water tight as well. We may never know; the thread is 3 yrs old…

I gave up on my Canon 50D and lenses due to weight, went with Lumix G2 micro four thirds, gave up again due to weight, but for both I discovered excellent chest packs made by CLik Elite which are lighter than lowepro and made for mating to your pack adjust straps using quick release delrin buckles.
For a lens case, why not make a padded wrap out of Walmart blue sleeping pad, sized for your lens, then stored in a correctly sized cuben fiber dry bag from Mountain Laurel Designs. You get the padding and the waterproofing in a very light package.

I wrap my lens and camera in bubble wrap, then wrap both separately in my down jacket, then put the football in my pillowcase stuffsack. That goes in the pack near the top surrounded by loose baselayers, a foam sit pad, or jacket. I think the peanut butter jar lens case is phenomenal. How heavy is it?

I used to carry the SLR out of the case all the time, but then realized I never got anything but snapshots out of it by carrying it. Nowadays my cell phone or a mirrorless does that job, and I probably won't even take the SLR/tripod along unless I'm bringing it for a specific objective.

What about a bubble wrap lined tupperware for the camera body?