Camera bag

[mickeyjuice]

G'day all.

I've run out of room in my Crumpler bag. http://www.crumpler.com.au/public/bagdetail.ehtml?idnumb=233&catid=63

It's a terrific bag, but I can't fit my 70-200 in it. And with the 1.4TC on it, it doesn't fit into the Sigma case either. (Well, not without taking out the bottom padding, which isn't exactly ideal...)

So, I guess I've got a couple of options - either get an external lens tube from Crumpler (AU$60) http://www.crumpler.com.au/public/bagdetail.ehtml?idnumb=89&catid=27 or just get a new bag and sell the Crumpler.

One of the good things about the Crumpler is that it doesn't look like a camera bag, so hanging a lens tube off it is going to destroy that security aspect of it, but it's an easy (if not exactly cheap) option.

I'm also not certain that it's the right style for me. Having used it for a few months, I'm thinking something like the Tamrac 606 http://tamrac.com/606.htm might be more like the thing I need. No idea if I can get them here, of course. (Should be able to, but...)

What has to go in it.

Needs to be accessible quickly:

Canon 10D with Big ED
Sigma 15-30EX
Sigma 70-200 2.8 EX
Sigma 1.4xTC (can be on the 70-200)
Canon 28-70 2.8L
Canon 550EX flash
Various filters (77mm & 82mm)

Can be out of the way:

Spare batteries (BP511 (x2) and AA (x4))
Spare CF cards
XS-Drive & charger


I'm happy enough to leave a lens on the body, or leave the body separate.

I'm also wondering what people do if they need a couple of lenses for a shoot - like the 70-200 and also the 28-70. Belt pouch? Vest?

Any ideas?

[iwatkins]

LowePro Stealth Reporter (http://www.lowepro.com/pages/bySeries/stealth.htm) is your friend. I would suggest a 400 or maybe even a 500 would be suitable for your requirements. The 300 will be too small.

I have the 300 and I love this bag so much I'm on my second one (first one got snagged on a barbed wire fence and although still intact started to look a bit shaggy). Very understated and you can pull the camera out through the lid if needs be and has weather protection. I have the 10d with BigEd and a lens attached plus two other lenses in the bag. Still have room for a 550EX, a big box of square filters, spare batteries, CF cards, more filters etc. Could easily get another small lens in there too.

Oh, and it is a LowePro. :)

Cheers

Ian

[Vegas Poboy]

Also take a look @ Domke J2 it works great for me, everything is easy access and the bag comes in two different sizes.
here is the link
http://www.tiffen.com/domkecat12.htm
good luck

[triumph]

Take a look at billingham bags.

I`ve the following in a 335!

Canon 10D
Sigma 100-300 EX F4 (attached to camera)
Canon macro 100
Canon 50mm
Canon life size converter
Canon 28-128 IS
Sigma 1.4 EX converter

Plus all the usual accesories (filters, cleaning equipment, etc) in the front pockets

:D

[excessnoise]

iwatkins wrote:
LowePro Stealth Reporter (http://www.lowepro.com/pages/bySeries/stealth.htm) is your friend. I would suggest a 400 or maybe even a 500 would be suitable for your requirements. The 300 will be too small.

Cheers

Ian

I just took a workshop and a guy there had the 'Reporter 650'. It was really a nice bag.
I got 1 Lowepro ( Nature Trekker AWII) and a small Tamrac backpack . One is too small except for body and 2 lenses + 550EX. The Nature is too big for everyday use, plus all the straps dangling. It is really for back-packing.

The 650 was fairly big but I don't want to overdue it yet I don't want to got too small as I did the first time.

My question after all that is, I want the smallest bag I can get away with yet not out grow too soon.

Is the 500 reporter much smaller than ther 650. The price is almost the same.

I have 1 10D body+grip, Canon 28-135 IS, Canon 50 f/1.4, Sigma 15-30 EX, Tokina 8-400 II, 550Ex flash plus all the other crap ( filters, light meter, etc. that goes with it.

[iwatkins]

excessnoise,

Not sure if I can help to be honest as I don't know the size of the equipment you list. Well I know most of it, but not the Tokina. I've always found that it is your biggest lens that makes finding a bag difficult.

The link I posted to LowePro has internal and externals sizes for each of the bags. Maybe see if that helps.

From what I remember, the 500 isn't that much smaller than the 650/600. Even so, you can get a Powerbook in a 650/600 but not in a 500.

Best bet (if possible) is to find somewhere local that either stocks, or can order in (on sale or return) the bag you are interested in. Take all your kit into the shop and try and fit it all in. If the camera shop is any good, they should be able to do this for you.

You should note that these range of LowePros have cinch straps. I.e. if the bag is a little too big for the kit you have in there, you can tighten up these cinch straps to pull the bag in tighter.

Cheers

Ian

[karusel]

Forgive me for off topic: the guys at crimpler obviously have a sense of humor:
"Tube-O-Lager
DO YOU LIKE TO LINGER LONGER AT THE LOUVRE?

FEATURES:
For storing beer, dopes, lenses and oh they are also attachable with the easy access belt loop."

You MUST check this: http://www.crumpler.com.au

[MediaMagic]

I use the old standard Lowepro Magnum AW. It's rugged, won't break the bank, and seems to be a good working size. Not so huge that it's hard to carry (or take on a plane) but still large enough to store quite a bit of gear. I don't think you could stand the 70-200 upright with the TC attached without it bulging the top (you can w/o the TC attached), but, I can carry all the following:

10D w/ BG-ED3
100-400L/hood inverted
70-200L/hood inverted
24-70L/hood inverted
500EX
2 420EX's
380 EX
Lumidyne Pocket Soft and Pocket Bounce, the velcro kind for use on the 380
Sekonic L358
Sekonic Spot attachment
Misc filters/cable release/crapola
Battery charger w/ 2 spares
Pelican "raincoat" camera cover


Of course, the bag is full with all the above. It also has a nice built in weather proof cover that's stored in a zipper compartment on the back of the bag.

[JoeTampa]

I have the LowePro Stealth Reporter 650AW, and I love it. It holds:


10D with Big Ed
Canon 100-400 USM IS L
Canon 28-200 USM (usually on the camera)
Tamaron 19-35
Canon 50mm 1.8
Quantaray 50mm Macro
Canon timer remote controller
Sony Vaio R505 laptop (with docking station)
Folder for paperwork
2 Pocket Wizards (RX & TX)
Speedlite 420
Off-camera cord
Pen & Lens Pen
CF -> PCMCIA adapter with backup CF card and case
Business cards
Small 4x6 "quickie portfolio"
Misc cables

...And the bag fits in the airplane overhead.

[Littlebike]

You can also wear the Reporter 650 with the Lowepro belt like a bip-pack, corrent?

It is a bag I am seriously considering but nobody locally has one for me to check out.

[defordphoto]

Yes you can wear the 650 if you want to. It does have the belt slots. I doubt I ever would though. It's a pretty big bag.

[iwatkins]

Littlebike wrote:
You can also wear the Reporter 650 with the Lowepro belt like a bip-pack, corrent?


Yes, all the Reporters from 200 upwards have the padded belt loop. On my 300 I still have the bag over my shoulder but have a belt on as well to stop the bag swinging about when walking up hills, over fences etc. Works fine.

Cheers

Ian

[JoeTampa]

I think that if I put the fully loaded 650 on my belt that I would be buying new pants. Way too big and heavy, plus you'd look pretty silly, IMHO.

[Littlebike]

I have not seen the bag in person so I really dont know how large it is.

I would like to keep the bag off my shoulder due to an injury (though I am sure I would not have any real problems with it) and dont want a backpack due to inconvenience of geting into it.

I have a 5500 cubic inch backpack I use for hiking/backwoods camping that has a removeable top that I can use as a day pack. It is fairly large but very comfortable.

I am 6'2" and 245lbs, so most bags look quite small when I carry them.

it's an idea. I think the Reporter 650 is going to be my bag. Now I just have to decide where to buy it.

[defordphoto]

JoeTampa wrote:

I think that if I put the fully loaded 650 on my belt that I would be buying new pants. Way too big and heavy, plus you'd look pretty silly, IMHO.

Me thinks the 650 hanging on the belt would result in both bag and pants on the ground. Now that would look pretty silly! :)

I use the 650 for carrying ALL my suff but the bags that get the most use are my mini and micro-trekkers. My wife uses the mini and I have the micros and they (currently) carry all I own. After 2004 I know for a fact that won't be the case.

BTW: The 650 is a sweet bag. All LowePro's are, IMO.