Camera Bag Help!!

Guys,

I have a Canon350d with the kit lense. This I managed to fit snugly in a top loading lowepro pouch thing with a couple of small odds and ends (cokin ND grad filter and spare CF card).

Now I have blown it and got a 70-300 lens and it doesn’t all fit any more! I have looked about for a bag or rucksack to carry the gear in but would like to know what others have to carry their gear in, why they chose it and how they find it. Any help or advice gratefully accepted. I’m not sure whether to go for a rucksack or a top-loading bag.

Thanks!

Maybe you should think about the Kata T-214. Very nice bag. You have the equipment in front of you or you can swing the bag at the back. It have enough room for:

Eos350d with 100-400
Sigma 18-50 2,8
Canon 50mm
spare batteries, few CF-cards, charger, Imagetank(or EX430), PDA, gloves

I have it for short trips beside my Computrekker Plus AW

thanks for the comments so far. I have still to commit (think of me as that kid in a large sweetshop 🙂 ).

What do you know about, or how do you rate the Crumpler bags? They are a bit different from the LowePro stuff that a lot of folk go for in that they don’t seem to look like camera bags, but are they as sturdy as the LP stuff?

Thanks again!

I have a Tamrac which have sufficient space for 2 camera bodies (1 digital + 1 film) 3 lenses (inc 100-400) batteries / spare cards + space for a laptop. (idea of you wish to take a laptop with you which I do sometimes.

Depending upon how much walking you are going to do – have a look at the Lowpro SlingShot series. I picked up a 200AW in HK for about 20 quid and its been the best bag I have ever used. Very comfortable to wear – and very easy to use – you dont have to take it off to get access to the bag – you just swing it round to your front , get your camera out and swing it round to your back again!

I have a particularly bad back and Ive always found it comfortable especially when you use the extra strap.

I can get 3 lenses and a body in it at a push but usually (for airshows) its just got my body and 100-400 in it. YoOu have also got room for other bits and bobs and it doesnt look too much like a camera bag. They do 3 sizes – I took the middle one.

but it does help to make sure you can try some configurations before parting with hard cash – this means using a camera dealer you may have cultivated with patronage..

I agree fully, unfortunately sometimes the net is all thats left. I had a great relationship with 2 excellent dealers in our town, but due to high rent/rates etc, they had to close down:( But thats another story for another thread.;)
Dean:)

Guys,
Now I have blown it and got a 70-300 lens and it doesn’t all fit any more! I have looked about for a bag or rucksack to carry the gear in but would like to know what others have to carry their gear in, why they chose it and how they find it. Any help or advice gratefully accepted. I’m not sure whether to go for a rucksack or a top-loading bag.

Thanks!

He! He! I know the feeling.:D

Since going digital I have had to change plans.

I have collected a range of Lowepro bags over recent years as one size does not suit all occasions.

These include the then largest Toploader for a Dynax 7 + VC grip with Sigma 50-500mm attached and worked (by using magic double sided Velcro strip cut off a roll – from CPC) attachments for 4 lens pouches, a film organiser bag above poches one side and an accessory bag above lens pouches on the other side. In the main body of the bag was space for a 5600HS D flash gun, Stofen, Flash/lightmeter and Data Saver. This can be heavy.

Because of back-trouble I used a large Lowepro belt, with useful loops for pouches and a shoulder harness.

I have other smaller Toploaders for an old X700 setup with zoom, macro and teleconverters in lens pouches each side. Unfortunately this Toploader (700 IIRC) will not take my Dynax 7D + VC grip so purchased a small Lowepro shoulder bag which despite its compact size takes the Dynax 7D + VC grip (on its side across center) which allows 2 lens sized bays each side in which I fit a 24-100mm, 75-300mm, 17-35mm and a 5600HS D flash and Stofen. Spare camera batteries fit under the 17-35mm and Compact Flash cards in a pouch along the front. I have managed, with that magic Velcro strip, to attach a pouch for Flash/lightmeter + lens cleaning kit and another for a Sony Alpha. Two cases each containing 6 x AA and 4 x AAA (for mini torch) rechargeable (I now use Ansmann batteries and a versatile range of chargers – see: http://www.ansmann.de/cms/index.php?L=en) can be found space in this assemblage.

The pouches used above came with a VLarge Lowepro shoulder bag which can, with lens and other pouches attached, hold most of the kit I would care to take. Unfortunately, due to back and heart trouble I can only lug this around if I have a helpful grip.;)

I just love the variety of Lowepro, get hold of one of their product catalogues, which detail sizes, if you can but it does help to make sure you can try some configurations before parting with hard cash – this means using a camera dealer you may have cultivated with patronage. I find this much better than going for the cheapest option by buying mail order or net. Besides, with a good relationship dealers can be accommodating on price etc.

Hi Si.
If your budget does not stretch to the cost of a Lowepro or similar, have a look at the Hama photo rucksack. I have used one for the last 3 years. It is very comfortable, watertight for heavy rain, is small enough to take on a plane but can hold lots of gear. I currently have the following in mine…..
Eos 10d with grip
Eos 350d
100-400is l lens
28-135 is lens
80-200 ef lens
430ex flashgun, various filters, spare batteries, cards etc, and still have room for a little bit more. It is well padded with rearrangable padded inserts. All this and it only costs £20 approx. I got mine from a company called LOTNABOX, you may have seen them at airshows, they do also sell on the web and ebay.
Dont know if this is up your street or not, but i thought id mention it in case any others were looking for one.
Dean

I have also gone Lowepro just like Si. I got the slightly bigger Computrekker Pro though.

I found the bag to be the exact size I need. It will take all my current gear, as well as sufficient room for some future toys I got in mind. Take that in mind when buying a bag! You should not buy a bag in which everything barely fits. Sooner or later you will get more equipment. Or you may want to pack some underwear and T-shirts to avoid carry-on luggage on planes. Speaking of planes, make sure the bag is not too large either so as to avoid having to check it in.

Other factors that made me go for this bag is that it is watertight. You should not drop it into the river, but it will survive heavy rain better then you will.

Also, I just love the waistbelt. It may look geeky, but after a full day hauling my gear around with the old bag my shoulders and neck hurt a lot. This is no longer the case with this bag, as most of the load is transferred to the waist. I really had not expected this basic strap to make so much difference!

Lastly, a bagpack does not draw as much attention in a city from the would-be pickpockets. A side-bag draws more attention since they are more likely to have cameras and valuables, whereas a backpack is more likely to have dirty underwear and tourist maps! 😉

The Lowepro range is rather expensive, but I never looked back after buying it.

Thanks Si for the advice. I’m still hunting around shops for hands on and the internet for deals! Might make a decision soon!

Mate, I use a Lowepro Mini Trekker AW camera bag; it the best camera bag I have owned with shoulder straps for trekking across fields, plenty of space in the main section for my camera + 100-400 IS USM + a 28-135. You could definatley get more lenses in the main compartment but I only use the 2. As for the rest of the maion compartment it is sectioned off how you want it to be with velcro stiffners. On the inside of the cover there are plenty of compartments for all sorts of gear; I use them to store CF cards, Card reader, Airband radio, Cloths, Compact 400D manual, and Blower. It has straps for a tripod also. I know it has been voted best buy in Digital Photography Monthly…what makes it even more special….my wife bought it for me so I didn’t spend a penny!

Heres the link to the Lowepro website.

http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Backpacks/allWeather/Mini_Trekker_AW.aspx

Hope this helps in your decision.

All the best

Si