Which Pretty Boy?

[mdr]

Want to buy a Crumpler Pretty Boy shoulder bag for carrying some of my gear in, but I'm not sure what size to go for. There are no shops in the area where I can see these to check them out.

I'm looking for a shoulder bag that will hold (at most) my 5D with Kirk L bracket attached, 16-35mm f2.8 L, 50mm f1.4, 70-200 f4 L IS with tripod ring, 1.4x TC II, Lee polariser, 3 spare CF cards, cleaning cloth and very small brush/blower.

Should I go for the L, XL or XXL.

Cheers,

Marc.

[FelixP]

I've had the XXL since September and it's been great!

I got the one with the beige exterior and orange interior, and it's easy to see in poor light, and it doesn't look too grubby either.

I can comfortably pack a gripped 30D with 17-55 mounted, the 50 1.8 and either the 80-200 f2.8L or 550EX. And in the front compartment a couple of 77mm filters, batteries and CF cards. Or if I put the 550EX in the front compartment I can carry all my gear:

30D with grip
EOS 30 with grip
550EX
17-55 2.8
80-200 2.8
50 1.8
Spare batteries and CF cars, some filters too

But that's at a push, and it doesn't close sufficiently to be weather resistant.

I'd put some photos up, but my PC is broken at the moment. Jacobs has the whole range in stock, if they've got a chain near you.

I would recommend the XXL, the quality of the bag is very good, intense use since September and it's still perfect. I would lean towards the XXL anyway, since there's not really a big jump in price, and it's nice to have the extra space. The size of the bag really isn't obtrusive at all, it's a subtle, casual bag, probably why you're looking at it really!

A few other points:

I only use 2 of the dividers supplied, one to support the camera and lens, with the 50 1.8 underneath and another to keep my 80-200 or 550 seperate. This way, I can open the bag and put in or take out what I need, with the camera still strapped to my other hand. The bag comes with a plethora of different dividers of different shapes, sizes and 'degrees of bendyness':lol:
The one gripe I have is that after a day, the strap can feel as though it's cutting into your shoulder, but swapping it to the other side is usually alright. The removable padded part that covers and area of the strap has a tendency to slide down aswell.

[da_nige]

Not 100% relevant but useful all the same, I posted a topic asking something similar last week. Its here (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=505302) In fact one of the posters in that thread has an XXXL for sale here (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=510935)

Neil

[da_nige]

FWIW I ended up getting a Company Embarrassment. blu82 had one for sale so I bought it on a whim and its great.

Neil

[riyazi]

Thanks for the referral Neil :)

Marc - its difficult to say whether how different equipment will fit into a bag and even if it fits, how easy it would be for the user (as each person's preference is different) but I CAN say that, with your equipment, you should be looking at the XXL as a minimum if not the XXXL.

As posted by Neil, I have an XXXL for sale. Check out the post and let me know if you want any more pics with my new gear (Sigma 80-400 etc) in it for you to get an idea.