lowepro - All Weather vs Designed for Digital?

[producerism]

I'm lookin on the lowepro website, and they have the top loading bags seperated into classic, all weather, and designed for digital. Other than a marketing term, why would one bag be better suited for digital? I'm looking at the AW65, or just the normal AWZoom for my 30d, kit lens, and eventually a sigma 100mm, and 10-20mm. Would this (smaller AW) be big enough?

anyone have a better suggestion? (ive also been looking at the crumpler 4 million dollar home)

[Wilt]

'For Digital' seems to only relate to the fact that there are little pockets for storing extra memory cards, etc! (yawn)

If you ever will be ambling about on foot, and ever expect to unexpectedly get caught in a sudden rain shower, the AW feature is nice to have (along with one of those cheap fold up clear plastic ponchos)!

[producerism]

ah, makes sense, yawn indeed.

So i'm really caught between the AW65, and the 4 Million Dollar Home. I like that the AW can be strapped to the body using the chest harness, which looks to be a weakness of the crumpler, is it is just a sling instead of being able to strap it to you - but the crumpler can hold more, and is cheaper.

ah, decisions decisions...

[Pinto]

'For Digital' seems to only relate to the fact that there are little pockets for storing extra memory cards, etc! (yawn)

If you ever will be ambling about on foot, and ever expect to unexpectedly get caught in a sudden rain shower, the AW feature is nice to have (along with one of those cheap fold up clear plastic ponchos)!

I have several of the AW bags and find that the weatherproof bag part takes up too much space that could be used for gear. I cut the strap that holds the weatherproofing in its compartment and put it back in if I think there's a chance for need.

I think it should be the least important feature when you evaluate a bag. For my money a plastic trash bag takes up less room and works just as well.

[Wilt]

I have several of the AW bags and find that the weatherproof bag part takes up too much space that could be used for gear. I cut the strap that holds the weatherproofing in its compartment and put it back in if I think there's a chance for need.

I think it should be the least important feature when you evaluate a bag. For my money a plastic trash bag takes up less room and works just as well.

I don't see how a small amount of material adds all that much bulk to the bag, unless it is simply stuffed into place and filled with lots of air space! I have a tiny Stealth Reporter 200AW, and could hardly tolerate much loss of space if the AW was bulky!

[Pinto]

I don't see how a small amount of material adds all that much bulk to the bag, unless it is simply stuffed into place and filled with lots of air space! I have a tiny Stealth Reporter 200AW, and could hardly tolerate much loss of space if the AW was bulky!

I don't think I was clear that it takes up space just in the accessory storage pockets. Maybe it's just me, but on bags like the Toploader AW 75, which is cramped for space as it is, the weatherproofing totally fills the bottom compartment that I can use for two batteries. On the Nova bags, it constitutes at least an inch of fill clear across the outside pocket. I use the space. YMMV

[producerism]

after spending a few more hours looking into options, I'm leaning towards the slingshot AW 100 right now, as it has the ease of a toploader, and support of a backpack. plus it should be able to hold more than enough

[Rudy M.]

I have the Toploader 75 AW and do NOT find the AW cover takes up much room at all--in fact, it affords some padding for my 580EX flash that I sometimes carry in the front pocket, with room for some batteries below. I can carry a 20D with grip and attached 17-85 with a 30mm down below, or the 20D with grip and attached Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 with a 1.4x teleconverter attached. I love this bag for what it is.

I think the Slingshot 100 AW is too small--you will be wishing you got the 200 instead. I got the 300 because my 20D with 70-200 attached won't fit in the 200.

Back pack companies sell wx proof covers in various sizes if you should get a pack you like but it does not have an AW cover. Campmore has several sizes. I got one for $10.00 that covers day packs up to weekenders--it has a nice draw cord. I used it on a day pack on a dirt bike trip with no issues. It wads up to about the same size as a large Lowepro pack AW cover.

[producerism]

im thinking that the 200 may be bigger than I need, since it holds 3-4 extra lenses. I dont expect to have more than 3 lenses in the near future. Im reading lots of mixed reviews on the space of the 100 - a big factor to me is the weight. obviously, a bigger bag means ill stuff more into it, which is sort of straying from where i want to be.

[Wilt]

im thinking that the 200 may be bigger than I need, since it holds 3-4 extra lenses. I dont expect to have more than 3 lenses in the near future. Im reading lots of mixed reviews on the space of the 100 - a big factor to me is the weight. obviously, a bigger bag means ill stuff more into it, which is sort of straying from where i want to be.

If all you want is the camera, kit lens and not much else, the 100 will work. But even a 'weak' flash like the 430EX is pretty darn large! And the 100 is incredibly tiny...it might work fine for my diminutive Olympus OM-1 and a spare lens!

Unless the lenses are small single focal length lenses, even the 200 won't hold a lot more than the body+lens plus two add'l lenses, and some accessory items like spare battery, etc.

[Grentz]

Just be on the lookout for the weather zipper some lowepros have. It is the big rubber weather sealed one and can be a pain if you frequently go in and out of yoru bag (just harder to open IMO than a standard zipper).

[producerism]

thanks, 200 it is! (I'll be going to Best Buy / Ritz to check them both out in person before buying)

[Grentz]

You should like it, it is a very nice bag and easy to work with/out of.

[_aravena]

Ritz doesn't sell it. At least last time I checked, it not int the system. Stupid....and I've only ever seen Best Buy's have the 100AW. Good luck though.

Back to the AW cover. I didn't even know where mine was on the 200AW. Just randomly found it one day.