Packing cameras for use in the outdoors is an art itself. Never mind the images, how do we carry the cameras with us? This subject can be a constant source of frustration for photographers and ultimately is dependant on the type of photography that is planned and the equipment to be carried. This begs the next obvious question – what will I take and what will I leave behind and this is always a balancing act. If I'm planning to camp overnight on a mountain, the camera and tripod are just a part of what I need to carry. Into my rucksack goes tent, sleeping bag, mattress, fleece, waterproofs, stove, gas, cup, pan, cutlery, food, liquids, map, midge spray and something is missing – oh, of course the cameras and tripod.

What determines what's not going in my camera bag is weight and this simplifies the decision making process. Whilst I would otherwise carry a Lowepro Nature or Photo-Trekker, these by their nature are designed like rucksack and as I'm already carrying one, so I need to look elsewhere for a solution.

If I'm planning to shoot a ‘big image' I still take the Fuji GX617 panoramic camera with both the 90mm and 180mm lenses. Up until recently I carried the camera and 90mm in a twenty year old Lowepro bag hung on the outside of my rucksack and the 180mm in a separate smaller Lowepro bag inside. Age however has taken its toll of the bags (and of me too) and I had been looking for a new solution to transport the panoramic camera uphill. This year at Focus, whilst on the Lowepro stand, I came across the new SlingShot bags and looking at the largest, the 300AW I visualised the camera and lens in the one bag. While clearly designed for the digital SLR market, this also proved to work well with the panoramic camera sitting horizontally at the bottom of the bag and the 180mm lens held firmly in place on the opposite side with the divider.

At the front of the back is a zipped compartment, which I filled with 120 roll film, and into the internal mesh pocket placed the cable release. On top of the main access flap to the main compartment is another zipped pouch into which I placed the exposure meter and filters – all the necessary components were housed and protected with the SlingShot 300AW which was extremely compact and easily accessible. This could now be hung from my rucksack and when I reached my location I could jettison my heavy rucksack and work with ease from the Slingshot.

The bag is ergonomically designed and is suspended by a wide strap which is diagonally slung across the back. Access to the equipment is easy and can be accessed via the zipped opening on the side and top, revealing the equipment within. The bag is supplied with a All Weather Cover™ as standard which is invaluable. There is also two points onto which SlipLock accessories can be added such as a Film-Drop pouch or Phone Pouch.

Whilst, the bag wasn't design specifically for medium format equipment, it does offer an excellent solution to those photographers shooting panoramic images. It is without doubt, the most compact and efficient use of space for carrying these large rollfilm cameras. Whilst Fuji has ceased production of the GX617, both Linhof and Horseman are producing their own models and are likely to be for some time to come. Shooting panoramas on film and scanning still remains a better option than trying to manipulate the results from stitching software – after all photography is all about capturing the moment. With the re-introduction of Velvia 50 and Horseman's new film-based 6x17 camera, panoramas will be around for some time and the SlingShot 300AW will take the art out of carrying them.