Crumpler 5 or 6 million?

[RivaLJ]

Gear: Sonya300 with an 18-250 zoom, 50mm, flash. I have other lenses 70-300 and 18-70 which I am not taking.
I would also like to put a cell phone and small wallet in there too.
Would the 5 million be sufficient or should I move up to the 6 million?
Thanks!

 

[edolyne]

The 5 Million should be sufficient for your kit, if you would like the extra room just in case you change your mind spend the little bit extra and get the 6 Million Dollar Home.

 

[C&B Young]

We recently did a Disney trip and used the 5MDH as our primary bag. For what you want to carry, I'd go with the 6MDH. Space will be a little tight between your camera, extra lens, flash, plus the phone & wallet. Plus the 6MDH comes with the padded shoulder strap (which is a big plus for comfort), I don't believe the 5MDH does.

 

[diputs]

IF you do not mind getting a knockoff or saving a lot of money, you could get the versa bag. It's actually a knock-off of the 7MDH, but for the price...

http://www.sigelectronics.com/Gift-ideals/Under-20?search=versa+bag

A lot of people on the POTN forum have bought this bag, and while it's not exactly a Crumpler, it is worth the money!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Will you be using it for every day (ie keeping all lenses in there) or just for your trip?

I have the 6 Million and it's getting pretty tight.

 

[annnewjerz]

I have the 5 and 6MDH and can say that I am 100% sure I wouldn't want to walk around WDW all day carrying the 6MDH. Up until recently, I used the 6MDH for storage of my gear at home and transporting all of it to my destination---but after a long weekend of using it in DC I determined it was just too big, bulky and heavy for extended use.

The 5MDH shoudl be able to fit your body with attached 18-250 in the center. On one side you can put your 50mm lens with miscellaneous extras and on the other side you can keep your flash. I'm assuming that most times your camera will be out, so the only time it might be a tight fit is when you go to put everything in at once---but it should still all fit, regardless of being a little tight.

The 6MDH does have the padded strap, but it's not all that padded and still not all that comfortable when you're wearing it all day long. If you Google "Planet Wave Gel Guitar Strap" you can find a gel padded strap that you can hook right onto the strap of the 5MDH. Total you'll spend less and probably won't feel as bogged down by your bag.

 

[RivaLJ]

Will you be using it for every day (ie keeping all lenses in there) or just for your trip?

I have the 6 Million and it's getting pretty tight.

Just for the trip. I have a Kata waist pack- but it wasn't all that comfortable.

 

[Groucho]

My wife has the $5m bag and has used it... well, almost not at all. Her main excuse is that, with the kids, she wants to be able to carry diaper supplies and so on, and it just doesn't have the room. The gear she carries is a K100D with kit lens and 50-200mm lens. It fits those more or less OK (though a bit clunkily) with room for another lens or flash or non-camera thing, but overall, there really isn't a ton of room in it. Hopefully she'll return to it when we don't need to carry diaper stuff any longer, considering that it wasn't particularly cheap!

The other thing is that it's got a huge amount of Velcro so it's verrrrrrrrrry noisy when you open it!

 

[annnewjerz]

The other thing is that it's got a huge amount of Velcro so it's verrrrrrrrrry noisy when you open it!

Agreed, however while it is loud, I've never had to worry about anything falling out in the event that I missed doing the buckle up---that stuff is strong!

 

[Khokhonutt]

I just got my 5MDH and I love it, but... The first day I used it all day at a band competition, I had my A700, beercan lens, 30mm lens and 28-75mm lens. Granted, I just had surgery and am still working on getting my stamina back, but that sucker was pretty heavy by the end of the day.

I'm like annnewjerz, I have a backpack style bag that I carry all my extra stuff in (flash, charger, other lens, etc). For me, I like the size of the 5MDH with the camera and 2 lenses. Our next trip to the world, I'll probably carry the whole shebang to the parks, but park the backpack in a locker, then walk around with the 5MDH and 2 lenses.

My point, the 6MDH may hold more stuff, but do you want to lug it around all day?

 

[WillowBelle]

I have the $6M to carry my stuff and it has become too small. I have a Canon 50D with attached battery grip + speedlight and a few lenses. It is extremely tight with the stuff that I have, even if I lighten my load. I had to go back to an old school Tamrac bag that is HUGE because I don't have a good in between bag. *Note: when I got the $6M I didn't have the speedlight, yet it was still tight with my kit lens and a 50mm + a fisheye that I brought.

I agree with the other postings that the velcro is wicked loud when you go to open it. Typically if I was in a show, I would just keep the bag flipped open so that I wouldn't have to disturb the people around me - and like Ann said - you never will have to worry that it will come open on a ride.

Needless to say, DH is none too happy that I have to purchase "yet another bag". Doesn't he understand that bags are like shoes - 1 bag is not going to cut it for everything .

 

[VVFF]

I have the $6M to carry my stuff and it has become too small. I have a Canon 50D with attached battery grip + speedlight and a few lenses. It is extremely tight with the stuff that I have, even if I lighten my load. I had to go back to an old school Tamrac bag that is HUGE because I don't have a good in between bag. *Note: when I got the $6M I didn't have the speedlight, yet it was still tight with my kit lens and a 50mm + a fisheye that I brought.

I agree with the other postings that the velcro is wicked loud when you go to open it. Typically if I was in a show, I would just keep the bag flipped open so that I wouldn't have to disturb the people around me - and like Ann said - you never will have to worry that it will come open on a ride.

Needless to say, DH is none too happy that I have to purchase "yet another bag". Doesn't he understand that bags are like shoes - 1 bag is not going to cut it for everything .

The new version of the 6M has velcro "silencers" which solve that issue.

I agree...the bad is a bit tight with my 50D, 100mm F2.8L and 17-55mm. I have enough extra room for some accessories but I would sometimes like more. It really isn't that bulky of a bag though. If I was at WDW though I might want a backpack style to be a bit easier to carry around.

 

[WillowBelle]

The new version of the 6M has velcro "silencers" which solve that issue.

I agree...the bad is a bit tight with my 50D, 100mm F2.8L and 17-55mm. I have enough extra room for some accessories but I would sometimes like more. It really isn't that bulky of a bag though. If I was at WDW though I might want a backpack style to be a bit easier to carry around.

I have a backpack bag that I've had for a few years. Unfortunatelly - it will only fit my EOS Rebel but not my 50D -- ESPECIALLY with the battery grip attached. Since getting my 50D, I haven't taken a single picture with my Rebel. My issue with carrying a backpack is if I want to change lenses then I have to stop, remove the bag to swap them out (unless DH is with me, then he gets to be my caddy . I'd like to try a sling bag but have read mixed reviews from ladies dealing with the cross-chest strap.

I wonder if the Crumpler Co. have lurkers here who have read all of the responses concerning that velcro .

 

[DebºoºS]

The other thing is that it's got a huge amount of Velcro so it's verrrrrrrrrry noisy when you open it!

What are these manufacturers thinking!? My Domke bag let out a rip on the GMR once. That was enough for me. I silenced it for the rest of the trip then ripped it out when I got back home. No women would design a bag with that much velcro.

I was debating over the 6M or 5M after my August trip. I had such a bad experience with the Kata backpack the whole trip. The strap was abrasive and painful. I couldn't carry it. Thankfully DS (lil sherpa) was with and took over. When I got home I almost ordered the 5M but never did before the October trip. I really wish I had. After a few days of lugging around the Domke in the heat (which I think is the size of a heavy 6M) I bought a cooler tote bag at the W&F festival. It worked out very well.

I travel with 2 bags usually. One backpack has the works in it and a smaller bag with whatever I'll need for a few hours. I might go for the 5M before the Dec. trip. Oh yea, my DH will be thrilledwith yet another bag.

 

[annnewjerz]

What are these manufacturers thinking!? My Domke bag let out a rip on the GMR once. That was enough for me. I silenced it for the rest of the trip then ripped it out when I got back home. No women would design a bag with that much velcro.

I was debating over the 6M or 5M after my August trip. I had such a bad experience with the Kata backpack the whole trip. The strap was abrasive and painful. I couldn't carry it. Thankfully DS (lil sherpa) was with and took over. When I got home I almost ordered the 5M but never did before the October trip. I really wish I had. After a few days of lugging around the Domke in the heat (which I think is the size of a heavy 6M) I bought a cooler tote bag at the W&F festival. It worked out very well.

I travel with 2 bags usually. One backpack has the works in it and a smaller bag with whatever I'll need for a few hours. I might go for the 5M before the Dec. trip. Oh yea, my DH will be thrilledwith yet another bag.

Completely OT but Deb, I saw your ticker---looks like we may be at MVMCP on the same day---December 15th?

 

[DebºoºS]

Completely OT but Deb, I saw your ticker---looks like we may be at MVMCP on the same day---December 15th?

Yes! How cool! Love to see you there. We're at SSR from the 12th-16th.

 

[annnewjerz]

Yes! How cool! Love to see you there. We're at SSR from the 12th-16th.

We'll be at BWV from Dec. 12-18.

 

[Groucho]

I had to go back to an old school Tamrac bag that is HUGE because I don't have a good in between bag.

I still haven't found anything that I like better that can hold as much as my old Tamrac.

Here's an older photo... there's even a K1000 hidden under a lens here.

I generally fit the camera with attached lens plus 4-5 additional lenses and a flash in the main compartment. I put an Op/Tech SOS Strap on it and it's not too bad to carry around; my only complaint is that it tends to sag in the middle of the bottom.

I wouldn't mind going to a more modern bag, but everything seems to hold less or be less convenient. (The latter keeps me away from backpacks or sling bags.) Switching to a BlackRapid strap may force me to change how I hold my bag though, since it's usually hung on my right shoulder, putting the bag where the camera is now.