Omni Trekker vs. Tamrac Super Pro 14

[Double Diamond]

I am looking for a new camera bag or case and believe that I am down to two choices, that is unless someone here has a better solution.

Here is what I have:

Canon Digital Rebel with 18-55mm Kit Lens
550EX Flash
Canon 50mm 1.8 Lens
Canon 28-105 3.5/4.5 Lens
Canon 70-200 L f4 USM Lens
Canon 100-400 L f4.5/5.6 IS USM Lens

I am also looking at adding 2 other lenses sometime next year. A Canon wide zoom and a 100mm Macro.

As with all of us I also have assorted CF cards, filters, and other items for which I need room.

The two cases I am looking at are the LowePro Omni Trekker which is a convertible backpack/shoulder bag (and comes with a hard cases for those times one may need it) and the Tamrac Super Pro 14. At this moment I am kind of leaning towards the LowePro. Anyone use either of these?

Comments, suggests, whatever are appreciated.


Thanks,

Skip

[Scottes]

I'm looking for a new bag for a similar set of equipment. I don't have either, but my thoughts are that the LowePro wins. Maybe my thoughts will jog your choice, who knows?

I have a bag similar to the Tamrac (but smaller) and don't like it because it's too "lumpy." The exterior dimensions of the Tamrac are 21.75 x 13.5 x 11.5 which means that you'll have your left arm 14" away from your body - not comfortable. The LowePro is slimmer which I think would be more comfortable carried over the shoulder.

I like the quick access of the LowePro - flip the top up and you're at everything. With the bag I have I find that something always goes underneath something else. The limited depth of the LowePro lessens this.

The LowePro can convert to a backpack which is convenient as hell, and you can get a hard case if necessary. However the Tamrac seems to have more little pockets and a place for a laptop. The Tamrac is a lot bigger inside (1600 cubic inches vs 1200).

Those are my thoughts and I lean towards the LowePro. (Alas both B&H and Adorama are out of stock at this time.) I'd be curious as to your thoughts between the two, and anyone else's with experience. Buying a bag online is tough, and locally it's expensive.

[Double Diamond]

Well, it seems we are thinking about the same thing. I also looked at the Expedition 7 and 8 Tamrac backpack, but it dosen't really do what I want. It just seems that the LowePro offers the most options and is the best choice. Slimmer to carry, converts to a backpack if you need to do that, has both top and front access. I believe there will be room in the top pockets and in the bag itself for my "other" items like filters, etc..

Also, kind of like the idea of being able to put it in a hard sided, element secure case if needed. The price of it (with the hard case) and the Pro 14 are about the same at both B&H and Adorama so that is no factor.

I, like you, have a smaller Tamrac (actually 2) that have served me well, I have just out grown them since going digital and with Christmas this year (the 100-400 and the 70-200 Ls were both from my wife. She let me have the 100-400 about a week ago, but made me wait on the 70-200 even though I had to order them both.) ;-)

I just want something that will allow me to carry a single bag, in some comfort and above all offer a good level of protection for my equipment.

I am going to New Orleans tomorrow and had to put my stuff in 2 bags. Want to get away from that.

Let me know what you decide.


Skip

[Scottes]

I've done some more poking and I decided on the Omni Trekker. I was toying with the idea of the Omni Pro - it's an inch short but and inch deeper, but the 10D + 70-200 + 1.4 is 12.25 inches long - a snug fit in the Pro. And 5.25 deep is perfect for the same rig - the extra inch would be wasted.

Besides, the 100-400 will be mine this spring so I'll want the extra inch of length.

Now to find it in stock somewhere. I may go local and pay the extra. Besides, a visit to the large camera shop I go to is always interesting. (If I find either/both I'll let you know what I think about them "in person")


Thanks for this message - I was going bug-eyed looking for a bag and never came across Omni Trekker. (Even though I shopped LowePro's site 4 or 5 times.) When I saw your list of gear I knew this would be worthwhile.

[Scottes]

The store near me has a sale: 20% off all LowePro bags ordered online. The Omni is $159.95 - 20% = $128.

Given that Adorama and B&H are both out of stock, that's not bad at all. http://huntsphotoandvideo.com/site/home.htm

But order now - the deal's off at midnight eastern time. That's 1:18 from now.... Ooooh, that sucks.

[Scottes]

I took a look at the bags at the local camera store.

The Super Pro 14 is a monster! Put a strap around a small microwave oven and you have the idea, except it's a bit longer. But it has pockets for everything - there were countless little pockets and pouches and such. One of those all-weather flaps over the top, though I thought it just makes access more difficult. Definite gear bag, made to hold a hundred small things, but too bulky for me. I'm not so sure that it's a good fit for long lenses - it's a top-loader style and not hugely deep with the stuff inside. I don't think it would hold my 10D + 70-200 + 1.4TC all in one piece. It might, though.

So I walked away with the Omni Trekker and I like it so far. It's about the size of a laptop bag, maybe a hair shorter. One big compartment with 13 small (4x4) dividers and 4 big (4x13) ones. 2 small flat pockets about 6x6, and one large one about 14x14. Pretty flat though. Small pocket on the outside, about 6x6. Laptop space in a big back pocket, but it better be a slim laptop. Top access zippered opening, but it seems too small to easily pull out a camera with long lens. Lotsa clip-loops on the outside - made for the backpack rigging but good for exterior lens bag or tripod, etc.

I've got the Omni stuffed with everything I own - 10D + 1.4 + 70-200 in one piece, 4 other lenses, hoods, filter packs, 420EX, and a few more doo-dads. I still have a space open for the 100-400. Nothing in any pockets yets, and it's packed pretty tight. Now it's definitely the size of a laptop case with normal accoutrements. Exterior is now about 8" thick and of course it weighs a ton.

It has a couple loops with quick-clasps - looks about right for a tripod. These can be removed with a small amount of bother. It also has a large waist belt for use in back-pack mode. This can't be removed, and I definitely don't like this as it just gets in the way. Backpack straps are clip-on and completely removable, and seem adequate. The shoulder strap is very nice - large, well padded, with a good non-slip surface.

[Double Diamond]

Thanks for the info on the bag. I ordered one with the hard case from B&H this morning. I am on my way to New Orleans. My wife and I stopped to spend a couple of days with our Daughter and our Son-in-law and their family. Anyway. it is supposed to be there when I get back home next week. Sounds like it will work and after your comments on the Super Pro 14 sounds like it will be better, can't really see careing a microwave (kind of looked at my daughters, nope, con't do that :-) ) around. I have two Tamrac bags with me and that is kind of the pits.

Sounds like you feel it will work for you. Keep me posted. I'll let you know what I think when I get mine.

Thanks,


Skip

[Double Diamond]

Well, the UPS man finally dropped off my Omni Trekker and I got a little break from work. So. . . Got it out of the box and loaded it up. This is what it looks like with everything I currently have in it. I really thought that it would have more room, but the L glass and hoods take up a lot of space.

http://spogue.home.mindspring.com/Lowepro1.JPG


Anyway, everything fit and that is good. It seem to have good padding and looks like it will be fairly easy to carry. Has to be simpler then carrying two bags.

[Scottes]

DD glad you like it. I do like mine and it's working out quite well. I do have to fill my hole with the 100-400 soon. :)

One thing I've found is that it's a bit of a pig in the field. I often like to carry everything I own since I may take landscape wide or wildlife long or macro and need the flash. And the tripod (luckily a light one) goes everywhere. So everything goes into the bag and on over my shoulder. And thus, what a monster this bag is when full. The bag weighs about 10 pounds on it's own. With the 10D & 70-200 around my neck it's more manageable, but it still leaves a 25 pound bag over my shoulder. However, the shoulder strap is the best I've ever seen (and I've been lugging laptops around for many years) and even full the bag is relatively slim and stays out of my way.

My only complaint would be with the filler strips of padding. For some unknown reason they limit you to where/how you can put them. I also couldn't create a nice cradle for my camera - mine's tighter than yours but not tight enough for me. Mild complaint though - all in all this is a great bag.

[Double Diamond]

You are right about the camera being a little loose. I have to work on that. I am also trying to figure out a way to put the two hoods together without scratching the inside of either. If I could do that it would free up some space for some stuff (batteries, filters, etc.) that I have in the lid pocket. I do like the bag and like you want to be able to carry everything with me. I travel quite a bit on business and have to haul a laptop around with me so I know what you mean. I have a laptop bag with wheels so my plan is to put this one on top of it and take it with me. Hopefully, that won't be to much of a hassle, just have to see. If you get a chance take a picture of the inside of yours so I can see how you placed things, maybe it will give me an idea.

Oh, I am not sure how easy it really is to get the camera out through the top, although I tried it a couple of times and it seems to work. BTW, I tried the Tamrac Expedition 7 backpack and it didn't work nearly as well as this bag. Couldn't get everything in it the way I wanted. So, for now this looks like the way to go.

[Scottes]

I'll take a pic, hopefully tonight if I get a minute.

I have the bag set with the 10D connected to the 1.4 TC and 70-200 L and can get this behomoth out through the top, though it's not easy. Still better than taking the bag off, laying it down, opening the top.... I've actually got it rigged in the center of the bag, but will probably move it over to make it easier to get out when the bag's on my shoulder.

As to the hoods I happened to have saved one of the baggies they came in. So my 105 Macro hood - which is rarely needed since it's recessed anyway - is in the baggie "inside" the 17-40 hood. The 70-200 hood stays on the lens reversed. I'd say that's why you're losing so much room - the big lenses can take the hoods reversed but you're not doing this. (Or maybe you don't want to...)

[Wickedfn4u]

Did either of you look at the back packs? I roughly have he same equipment.
300D
1.4x & 2x TC
18-55
50mm 1.8
28-75 2.8
28-135 3.5 is
70-200 2.8

And now have out grown my canon bag 4200. I was looking at two the computrekker (lowepro) and the Tamrac 5259. These are medium backpacks and have a thin 2 inch pouch in the bottom (touching your back) for a notebook. You can buy with out but since I carry my notebook in a computer back pack already this would cut down my bags on trips. Anyway I was wondering why you went suit case style if you have that much weight and only one shoulder strap?

Looking forward to your thoughts and input.

TC

[Scottes]

Anyway I was wondering why you went suit case style if you have that much weight and only one shoulder strap?

Actually the Omni Trekker that we got has backpack straps, so you can go either backpack or over-the-shoulder. I didn't want a pure backpack because I really don't like the things in general - but at least I have the option. Over-the-shoulder allows much quicker/easier access. I'm also very used to lugging a laptop around so this seems natural to me.

I will admit that many of the backpacks seem to have the optimum configuration for carrying a lot of gear.

[Double Diamond]

TC, I actually odered the Tamrac Expedition 7 backpack and tried it. The stuff that I have just didn't fit well, maybe it was just me and not taking the time to try it in different configurations. I had also been looking at the Lowepro Omni Trekker and the Tamrac Super Pro 14. Based on the size of the Super Pro I decided to go with the Omni Trekker and so far am glad that I did. Still have to do a little rearranging, but I believe that I will really like it once I get everything in it the way that I want. One problem is the L glass and hoods take up a bunch of room. BTW, the Omni Trekker does have backpack style straps (and they seem to be well padded and all) that hide away if you don't want to use them so you can carry it like that if you want. That was another thing I wasn't to fond of on the Exp 7, it had all kinds of straps and stuff and I couldn't really find a way to keep them out of the way. I know several people that use the backpacks and really like them, just didn't seem to be what I needed.

[Wickedfn4u]

Thanks for both of the responses, I will have to go and do a hands on with the Omni Trekker before I decide. Thanks

[Scottes]

http://www.itsanadventure.com/postimages/LoweProBag.jpg

Rebel Ti standing in for the 10D in my hands. 28-90 not shown since it's on the 10D. The big space with the 420EX, blower bulb and diopter pack is for the 100-400. It doesn't look it in this pic but it's really quite packed.

Hmmmm..... I need a bigger bag!

[Wickedfn4u]

Ok ordered my omni trekker now I cant wait.