Again with the camera bag questions ...

[Experiment_626]

So, necessity is forcing me back into the market for a camera bag. I've enjoyed my LowePro Slingshot (I believe it's the middle-sized one -- I'll check and report back soon). But I've added lenses and am about to add a second body, and even without the latter, I'm bursting at the seams.

Once I get my D7000, I know there will be times I'll want to carry it and my D300. I also have a Tamron 17-50, a 50mm f/1.8, a 35mm f/1.8, a 55-300mm, a Sigma 10-20, and a Rokinon 8mm fisheye -- and an SB 600 speedlight that I'll need at times as well. A backpack or sling-type bag seems to work best. Budget is a factor, though I can't say where the limits are as yet. A provision to attach my tripod would be welcome.

Any suggestions?

SSB

 

[Marty Joe]

I'm looking around as well. I'm adding a new lens (my wife doesn't know yet) too and I have the smaller Slingshot. I have not really liked the Slingshot anyway because it doesn't hang right on me. Its awkward and a pain to get my camera (and other stuff) out.

 

[HPS3]

I have the Slingshot 102 and felt the same way. It feels awkward with a tripod. I bought a Flipside 300 that is very comfortable and can fit tons of stuff. It has a wasteband that allows you to flip it around for easy access that acts like a tabletop. It also carries my tripod very comfortably.

 

[Frantasmic]

I like my Kata 466 backpack. It holds tons of stuff and a computer. It isn't that expensive for the size it is

 

[Marlton Mom]

I got this for my last trip:http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/672935-REG/Lowepro_LP36144_PEU_Pro_Runner_350_AW.html

It's a LowePro Pro Runner 350 AW Backpack.

Fits D-SLR Camera, 4-5 Lens Kit
Holds Notebook with Screen up to 15.4"
Weather-resistant 600D Ripstop PU
Padded Interior
Padded Inserts and Adjustable Dividers
All Weather AW Cover and Rain Flaps
Hideaway Tripod Mount
SlipLock Attachment Loops
Exterior and Interior Pockets
Backpack Harness

I carried two camera bodies, (D90, D60), a SB700 flash and a Tokina 11-16, a Nikon 18-105, a 10.5 Nikon fish and a Nodal ninja pano rig to the parks. I also fit in a slot for my 2 filters and assorted lens cleaning crap. The tripod mounted beautifully on the outside with enough straps (3 plus a tripod foot support cup type thing that strapped on the back below the bottom of the bag)... so that the tripod was not a PIA and wobbling around.

I didn't carry a lap top in the sleeve but I did stuff my cotton carrier harness in there so that was super! The side pocket only holds a small H20 bottle and that's my only beef with the bag. Carrying around all this stuff is heavy but the bag does come with a padded waist belt that you can use. If you don't want to use it you can stuff it back into it's pouch like area.

Carrying all this crap around was heavy so when I did want my full gear selection with me in the parks (Like on One More Disney Day) I checked it in at the Lockers at the front of the parks and they kept it in a closet for me, which was GREAT! (I could go to the lockers repeatedly and they would bring out my bag and then put it back in storage until I needed it again, all for the low price of approx. $7 bucks!)

I could see walking around for awhile with this thing loaded, especially if I used the waist belt. It wouldn't be "Fun" but if it meant not taking the stuff I wanted, I definitely would pack it any way and just deal with the weight because the bag has the waist belt to help distribute the heavier loads.

Last week I was schlepping this bag back and forth to NYC on the train with my D90, 18-105, filters and some pathology slides and medical records. I took out the velcro dividers and rearranged them to pack that configuration. The bag is still heavy because of all that it was carrying but I didn't feel like it was too enormous or bulky. Then again I take great joy in whacking people with my camera back pack so that is an added bonus. Think of all the extra personal space you will gain for yourself in crowded areas when you are 'rockin this beast!

The bag is solid and well built with plenty of padding so I don't worry about normal use like stuffing it on the floor of the train seat.

I also have the Pro Runner 450 AW Backpack which I use for storage and transport. Talk about a beast, this model is HUGE and Heavy!! It's great for keeping "all that" in there but it was a little too much for me to schlep around to the parks and elsewhere. It is a place to put things like lenses I'm not using and all the other camera ephemera like cords and chargers.

So there ya go. Personally I feel you can't go wrong with lowepro. The bags take a licking and keep on ticking and the zippers are great.

I ordered two bags from B&H to compare before my trip, the LOWEPRO 300 and the Lowepro 350. I wound up going with the 350 because I could stash my cotton carrier in the lap top sleeve. The 300 has the same size interior as the 350 but does not have the lap top sleeve.

B&H has a great return policy so no worries there.... I sent the 300 back in 2 days with zero problems from B&H.

Hope that helps...
~Joanie

 

[wbeem]

I'm a big fan of ThinkTank bags. You can find them at Adorama.com if your local shop doesn't carry them.

I have the Sling-o-Matic 30, but that may be larger than you need. They also make two smaller sizes of that sling bag.

If you prefer a backpack, I also have an Airport Ultralight. It has just as much space capacity of the Sling-O-Matic 30, but I think you can fit more inside because you load it from the top instead of the side.

Both can also carry a laptop. The Sling-O-Matic has a side pocket & straps to carry a tripod, but the Airport Ultralight doesn't.

Very high quality & durable stuff. I'm always amazed how much you can fit inside these bags.

 

[Experiment_626]

As I said, I've enjoyed my Lowe Pro Sling Shot. However, I've carried it stuffed to the gills, pretty much, and the main strap has torn loose at the top connection to the bag proper about a third of an inch. It has been that way for at least a year and doesn't seem to have ripped any further in that time, but who knows how long that will last? And anyway, it's officially too small now.

Another thing that has always bugged me a bit is that the Sling Shot gets warm against my back. I'm very hot-natured and I start to sweat when the temperature gets much above 75 degrees, and it is worse when my mind is really active, as it is when I'm shooting photos or even actively planning to do so. A bag with improved airflow or some consideration for reduced heat trapping while being worn would be welcome. That is something I have heard said that the ThinkTank bags do well. They are expensive, however -- not sure yet whether they're in my price range.

Finally, I really like the idea of the high-visibility yellow interiors that Norazza puts into their "Ape Case" bags, and they have good prices, relatively speaking. However, they only offer one sling bag, and it doesn't sound from reviews as if it is large enough. They make larger backpack-style bags, and that would be fine, but I've read several reviews that mention these don't offer fast access to your equipment. I don't want getting to my camera to be such a chore that I hesitate to do so just because of the hassle. The yellow interior seems smart and I don't understand why other companies don't offer something similar (a few seem to offer a light gray interior, but while that's probably better than nothing, the bright yellow sounds better for the purpose). I do lots of shooting at night, and I hate not being able to find items when I need them. On my most recent trip, in fact, I was at the Magic Kingdom and wanted to shoot Wishes with my variable ND filter. However, I only had a couple of minutes and I couldn't find my step-ring so I could mount the filter, and I concluded that I must have left it on another lens back at the car. I abandoned the effort and didn't shoot the show, even though I was in a good spot with my tripod already in place. Later I discovered my step-ring was in the bag all along; I just couldn't find the black ring in the black bag, especially with the reduced lighting once the show started.

I guess I'll take a closer look at the ThinkTank bags because I've heard such good things about them -- just wish they had a high-vis interior option.

EDIT: I see that Kata offers at least some bags with a yellow interior as well. Hmmm.

SSB

 

[giantstu]

Lowepro have a brilliant lifetime warranty so take it back to the shop where you got it and get them to have a look.
They will send it of to lowepro who normally replace it.

I understand you want a new bag, but having a decent slingshot as a spare is always worth having isnt it?

I have returned my Vertex 300 twice and my Magnum 400 once and they were replace with no questions asked (even covered in mud from shooting on muddy Rugby fields in the UK winters! )

I would recommend the Vertex range and also am tempted with the flipside 500 myself as i can get the 400 in it.

 

[MICKEY88]

I use a naneupro U220, it's an awesome bag, they have a lifetime warranty. I actually had purchased the model prior to this, one of the wheels broke, so I contacted them to see if I could get a replacement. They said, the good news is our bags have a lifetime warranty, the bad news is we no longer make that bag, however if you ship the bag to us, we will send you the new replacement model, it's not even listed on our website yet, you will be getting the very first one..


http://www.naneubags.com/products-by-series/urban-gear/u220n

here is mine fully loaded it is deep enough that there are actually 2 flash units on top of each other

 

[mabas9395]

When you absolutely have to take it all with you, I love my Lowepro Pro Trekker 400.

http://www.amazon.com/Lowepro-Pro-Trekker-400-AW/dp/B002PU9UE0

 

[Marlton Mom]

I'm starting to acquire a lot of camera stuff so I may need to consider this:

http://www.aconcordcarpenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PODS.jpg

The only down side is that it doesn't have wheels so pushing it around is going to be an itch....

~Marlton Mom

 

[Experiment_626]

I'm starting to acquire a lot of camera stuff so I may need to consider this:

http://www.aconcordcarpenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PODS.jpg

The only down side is that it doesn't have wheels so pushing it around is going to be an itch....

~Marlton Mom

Well, you have to ask yourself, "Do I really want the shot? Am I a photographer, or am I a Muppet?"

And when it comes to considering that as a choice ... well, let's just say I'm a very manly Muppet!

The other two choices above yours meet all the criteria, except one: They provoked sarcastic laughter from my financial "advisor."

I have seen one that might be doable, and which got a good review elsewhere from another photographer moving from the same bag I currently have. That would be this one: http://products.lowepro.com/product/Flipside-400-AW,2116,14.htm It appears to be available for a real world price of around $125, or even lower if you go eBay. Another that looks promising is this: http://www.thinktankphoto.com/products/streetwalker-harddrive-backpack.aspx, but the price gets a raised eyebrow and a difficult-to-interpret expression from the advisor.

SSB

 

[Shutterbug]

I also am looking for a new bag, though my needs are a lil diff.

I currently have a Crumpler 6 million dollar bag. Its a great bag as an everyday type bag. It holds all my current gear. There are times though thats too bulky and it doesnt hold a water bottle or attacha tripod.

What I am looking for is this. When I am out shooting photos the camera is basically around my neck. The only thing I need the bag to carry are these following items: A 70-200 F4 lens, my fish eye lens, couple of filters, PLUS be able to attach or carry a drink bottle and tripod. I would like it to be something that has a thick shoulder padded strap. My 6 mil is contantly sliding off my shoulder, even with the so called "anti slip" pad.

I really dont want a full backpack type thing. My back would sweat too much with that bleh lol