Good Holster Bag?

[Johnnynf]

Hi all!!

I am going on a trip to Colorado next month and wanted to get a good holster bag to carry my Digital Rebel, 28-135 IS lens (with hood attatched backwards for storage), two filters, and extra CF cards. Currently I have a LowePro Nova 5 AW and a LowePro Nova 4 AW. Both of these bags are too big to carry while doing a lot of sightseeing/hiking, so I wanted something smaller...to hold just the above items. As I already have LowePro bags, and I like them very much, I would generally prefer to stick with this brand. I was thinking about the following:

http://www.lowepro.com/pages/series/toploads/top_aw.htm

I absolutely love the AW bags from LowePro...that little pocho to cover the bag works beautifully.

So basically, I was wondering if anyone had the above bag, or could give me some other suggestions (preferably LowePro). It is very hard to tell the exact size of a bag just looking at it on the internet and I want to make sure it will hold everything I need it to before I buy it.

Thanks a lot!!

[Johnnynf]

Ok, now I found this one...I think I like it better. More expensive...but bigger also. Thoughts? Is this extra size needed?


http://www.lowepro.com/pages/series/street/top75aw.htm

[CoolToolGuy]

I have the Tamrac 517, which seems to be a little smaller than the Top75 AW that you linked to. The 517 holds the Drebel with the 24-70 L or the 28-135. The point is that both the Tamrac and the Lowepro have straps on the side that allow you to add pouches to it. I have a large lens pouch as well as a water bottle holder on mine most of the time. So you don't need to get a holster that holds everything, just add a pouch when you need it. :wink:

Have Fun,

[rpcm]

Hi
Just bought the Lowepro 75 AW -Its big but it takes my 10d and 70-200 f4 lens. I like it a lot and dont think you will regret getting it.

Richard

[topeju]

I am going on a trip to Colorado next month and wanted to get a good holster bag to carry my Digital Rebel, 28-135 IS lens (with hood attatched backwards for storage), two filters, and extra CF cards.

[...]

So basically, I was wondering if anyone had the above bag, or could give me some other suggestions (preferably LowePro). It is very hard to tell the exact size of a bag just looking at it on the internet and I want to make sure it will hold everything I need it to before I buy it.


I recently bought the Lowepro Topload Zoom 2, which is somewhat smaller than the TLZ AW you listed, but still fits my 10D with 28-135 IS attached (with the hood on the right way), and the 50/1.8 at the bottom. These are a little bit of a tight fit with the hood on. I carry extra batteries and filters in the (unpadded) outside pocket (the filters are in plastic cases for protection), and extra CF cards in the top pocket.

I'm very satisfied with the TLZ 2 as it is the perfect fit for this combination - not a bit too large or too small. It doesn't fit my 550EX though, so I have to carry that separately (it would just fit in the outside pocket, but it would be a bit dangerous in my opinion). I might have to get another bag if/when I get a wide angle lens though.

[scsmith10D]

I have the Toploader 65 AW. It easily holds my 10D, 28-135 IS attached. In the zipper pocket of the lid I have CF cards and spare AA batteries for the 420 EX. In the inside pockets (in the spaces on either side of the lens) I keep a spare camera battery, USB cable and card reader with cable. In the front pocket are the 420 EX, Sto-Fen omni-bounce, bottle of lens cleaning fluid and cloth. It is a large holster and would even accomodate the battery grip on the camera.

The case is black with sliplock loops. I sometimes attach a lens case on one or both sides of the Toploader. When I'm dragging the entire kit along, I have the S&F large belt. That makes for a heavy load, so I'm thinking of ordering the shoulder harness as well. (Can you say "camera geek?")

[Johnnynf]

In case anyone is following...

I went ahead and bought the Topload Zoom AW. I was expecting to have to order from B and H as my local dealer usually has a very limited supply of bags and other accessories. I went in anyway to just see what they had, and they happened to have one of the Zoom AW on the shelf. As this bag was even much larger than I was expecting, and I could buy off the shelf (and not have to pay shipping), I decided to go ahead and get it (even though I was probably leaning toward the more expensive Toploader 75 AW).

Boy am I glad that I didn't order the Toploader 75 AW...as it is even bigger than the one I got!! In the Zoom AW, I have crammed in my DReb with attatched 28-135 IS (with hood reversed). On one of the sides next to the camera I was able to fit my 550EX flash. In the top compartment I have some lens cleaning stuff. The front pocket holds my CF card case and two filters in plastic cases.

The Toploader 75 AW is almost $30 more than the Zoom AW...and I can't figure out why. The dimensions are nearly identical, and they seem to have similar features. I think I made the right choice.

Just a side note...the chest harness seems to be a very nice thing to have. I always take a big ski trip to Colorado between Christmas and New Year and I have never had a convenient way to carry an SLR camera with me. I have always had to rely on those crappy disposable film cameras. Now I can finally get some good pics with my DReb. I will just have to be sure not to ski any Black Diamonds while carrying the camera bag on my chest...might hurt a bit to fall on that bag...not to mention what damage a 250 pound man falling on the camera could do.... :D

Thanks a million to those who responded!!

[tarves57]

I have the TLZ1 with 10D camera and 28-135 lens. It fits exactly and the good thing is it the lid zips towards you so you can cover your gear without zipping it up for quick access, yet hiding the camera from prying eyes (paranoid, I am).

No room for anything else except cards/battery in front pocket and other small items.

Susan