going to see a Mouse...

[cryssi]

Well, the stealth reporter was a bust...lol, too bulky and awkward...and we were just in vegas! DH said that this definitely wouldn't work for florida...

back to the drawing board!

oh, and BTW, I e-mailed the Kata bag people, and the 2 bags I were looking at they don't recommend for holding a lot of gear. The lady said that they were just for holding your camera and other personal stuff...oh well.

 

[Steve's Girl]

Have you looked at Crumpler? I, too, have been on the quest for the perfect bag. (come to the conclusion it doesn't exist, by the way) But I want something that will hold my stuff, be easy to access and not be too big. I personally don't like backpacks because you have to take them off to access your gear. I am returning the 2nd bag I have tried - Tamrac Adventure Messenger 4. Bag was OK, but felt like I was carrying around a shoebox. I also have a KATA shoulder bag that I am trying out. (focus Q, I think). Very comfortable to carry, but not sure I like the inside configuration. I have been wanting to try Crumpler, but no one locally carries them. So, I am going to break down and order one and see how I like it. From the pictures, it has the inside configuration I am looking for. Now, will it be the right size and easy to carry? The hunt goes on!

 

[Steve's Girl]

Oh, one other thing, go to cambags.com. They have lots of reviews of bags with pictures of what each bag will hold, etc. Some even have pictures of people carrying the bag so you can see how big they actually are.

 

[cryssi]

lol, thanks I did go to cambags.com...it was very helpful!

I mentioned crumpler to DH and he decided that he didn't like the website so I don't know if he would even consider it...maybe if we could find it locally, but it sounds like that might be difficult. I imagine that the camera will spend most of the time out of the bag anyway, so maybe I should look at different types of bags??

 

[DueyDooDah]

My DW made me a Velcro vest made from the loop material. I applied the hook material to each of my camera components. I just slap the camera and its components to the vest and, tahdah, insta-store. Now I can just rip off the item I need for fast access. Never miss a shot.

 

[DueyDooDah]

When I get a new camera, DW kinda rolls her eyes because she knows what it means. I will be trying to capture EVERYTHING again. I try to be as accomodating as possible and not stall our trips to the parks with a lot of stopping for photo sessions, but rather an occasional stop and click.

Solution: Send wife home then stay one extra week for photos.

 

[cryssi]

My DW made me a Velcro vest made from the loop material. I applied the hook material to each of my camera components. I just slap the camera and its components to the vest and, tahdah, insta-store. Now I can just rip off the item I need for fast access. Never miss a shot.

 

[senecabeach]

ALL... (especially Steve's Girl..since we've been pm-ing about bags since before X-mas)

For kicks I went back to my local camera store today. Well ... they got tons of bags in...and more importantly I HAD my camera & 70-300 lens.!!

OK, now I'm excited!!

Grabbed the sling 100, 200, tamrac velocity 7 and a few backpacks ( I wasn't crazy about one either, Steve's Girl.)

Put my gear in each, adjusted straps, put them on and walked around..swung the slings around..etc.
Hummmm certainly wasn't what I expected.

The overall winner for me, light, fits, bottom of bag hits the small of my back (not down to my seat) + room for growth + fits my monocular/binocs + carries a tripod was the Lowepro micro trekker 200.

Also... days @ Disney I like maybe a top loader (yes, I do hate carrying stuff).. figure my 18-135 is my all around lens..so.. fits the Lowepro Topload Zoom 1...extra cards/batt & stuff.

Think I'm set with my main bag + day bag

This was certainly a very hard decision to make.
Going to look on line now to check prices and order them.

Good Luck cryssi !!!

 

[cryssi]

Ok, so I went back and read through this thread, and I was all over the place!

DH and I went to Fry's yesterday, and discovered that they carry Lowepro. I showed him the slingshot and he said "ew no" like he had been saying before. I saw the micro trekker and really liked it, but it's a little small. So I walk over to the next aisle (we were still by the camera bags) and DH says, "you know, I kind of like this." I look over and lo and behold, there he is with the SLINGSHOT on! I couldn't believe it. He likes the easy access from the side, and it's pretty comfortable on (even for me!). Needless to say, we bought it, and loaded it up last night. It's incredibly roomy (not like the stealth reporter where we had to SQUEEZE the D200 in), and I love the extra area on top. We'll definitely be able to take a couple of lenses if we want. I can carry it easily loaded up, and it looks pretty good too. The only thing is no tripod, but guess we don't really need that? Is there something small that we can stuff in the bag?

I did want to ask what was the biggest lens you can have on the body for that bag? If I get the 70-300 will it still fit?

Thanks again everyone, for all the advice!

 

[boBQuincy]

Crumpler's website may be weird but their bags are very good. I usually carry their $4M or $5M homes with a 70-200 and 10-22 inside. The loops on the sides are good for attaching mini-packs, lens pouches, water bottles, etc.

So where is the camera? My camera is always out, with the strap wrapped around my wrist. By the time I got it out of a bag the photo opportunity may be gone.
I only carry the camera in the bag for traveling, when the lenses are in my carry-on.

 

[cryssi]

you have a very good point, and the camera will probably always be around my neck! LOL Except on rides and stuff...

 

[Steve's Girl]

Crumpler's website may be weird but their bags are very good. I usually carry their $4M or $5M homes with a 70-200 and 10-22 inside. The loops on the sides are good for attaching mini-packs, lens pouches, water bottles, etc.

So where is the camera? My camera is always out, with the strap wrapped around my wrist. By the time I got it out of a bag the photo opportunity may be gone.
I only carry the camera in the bag for traveling, when the lenses are in my carry-on.

I just got the $5mil last week - love it! It is just what I wanted. Not too big, comfortable to carry, my camera fits perfectly, etc.