January 21, 2001


What's an all-weather camera case that can fit inside a daypack?

I got my wife a Minolta STsi 35mm SLR camera for Christmas. We do quite a lot of day hiking and weather typically doesn't stop us from going out. Can you recommend an all-weather camera case that can fit in her daypack (or mine — I will probably be lugging the hardware while she gets creative), yet can easily be carried separately in adverse conditions?

— Patrick Fetizanan Chicago, Illinois

Depends on what sort of lens you have attached to your Minolta, and how "weatherproof" the case needs to be. But there are a few things I can recommend. One is a case from Ortlieb, a German company best known for its waterproof bicycle bags and courier pouches. That company's Aqua-Zoom ($85) is a waterproof, roll-top camera bag designed to hold a 35mm SLR with a medium-length zoom. It also has a room for a few rolls of film. The Aqua Zoom is lightly padded, so it's perfect for carrying inside a pack with occasional forays out in the rain. It has an optional harness system ($22) that keeps the camera close to your body and secure when you're on rough terrain.

I also like Lowe-Pro's Topload Zoom AW bag ($65). It's a bit larger than the Aqua-Zoom, and can handle a good-sized zoom such as an 80-200 f2.8 or a 300mm telephoto, plus film, filters and other small accessories. It has a built-in harness, and an integrated waterproof cover that unfurls from a pocket in the bag. A top-notch case; well made and well padded. It also has a little brother —- the Topload Zoom 2 bag ($35), which is a little more compact and does without the weatherproof cover. But it's a good all-around single-camera bag.

Good shooting!