Messenger style bag question...

[Mr. Bill]

I currently have a Lowepro Nova 200 that I use primarily for lugging around all my equipment.

What I need help with is that I would like to find a messenger style bag that I can use for those times that I just want to bring the camera and maybe 1-2 extra lenses for when I am walking around downtown or maybe even shooting a concert. Something that is easy to access and not high profile.

What recommendations can I get on a lightweight, messenger style bag that would have easy access to the camera.

Thanks.

[kokakaste2]

Crumpler bags looks good and dont have camera bag look. Also it might get very heavy if you put all your gear in bag.

[Jon]

Take a look at the Domke F-803 or, with an insert or two, the F-802.

[Mr. Bill]

Take a look at the Domke F-803 or, with an insert or two, the F-802.


Do you think my xti w/grip fit in one?

[Philco]

I highly recommend the Think Tank Urban Disguise bags. I use the UD40, but there are a variety. They're really well made and very functional. Mine looks like a laptop bag, but it's configured for lenses, etc. on the inside.

[Jon]

Do you think my xti w/grip fit in one?
Sort of depends on what lens you want and how you want to arrange them. While it's a shoulder bag, the Domke F-3x isn't messenger bag style; it'll swallow a bunch easily, including up to a 1D3 and 24-70, and not look conspicuous.

[jacobsen1]

I'd highly recommend Domke inserts with ANY old messenger bag you like. Easier to customize, cheaper, and much more stealthy.

Here's mine:
http://gear.benjacobsenphoto.com/wp-content/gallery/zoo-york-diy-messenger-bag/b5da0705.jpg

[Shahid]

I second the Domke F-802. Just ordered one a few days ago with a 2 compartment insert.

[Lester Wareham]

I currently have a Lowepro Nova 200 that I use primarily for lugging around all my equipment.

What I need help with is that I would like to find a messenger style bag that I can use for those times that I just want to bring the camera and maybe 1-2 extra lenses for when I am walking around downtown or maybe even shooting a concert. Something that is easy to access and not high profile.

What recommendations can I get on a lightweight, messenger style bag that would have easy access to the camera.

Thanks.

I use the little Lowepro Rizo 170 AW for that. Quite a tight squeze but I can get 20D + either 24-105+hood and 10-22+unmounted hood (you can do a lot of general photography with this set) or 100mm macro and 17-40 + hood. On top of that there is room for spare battery and cards, possibly an angle finder. Other alternatives would be 2-3 compact fast prime like 28/1.8 and 50/1.4.

http://www.zen20934.zen.co.uk/photography/mybags.htm#Rizo

http://www.zen20934.zen.co.uk/photography/images/bags/slingshot/RIZO%20170%20AW%201.jpg

http://www.zen20934.zen.co.uk/photography/images/bags/slingshot/RIZO%20170%20AW%202.jpg

[Mr. Bill]

Take a look at the Domke F-803 or, with an insert or two, the F-802.

I second the Domke F-802. Just ordered one a few days ago with a 2 compartment insert.


I was looking online at the 802 and if I get an insert, it comes out to be about $10-15 more than the 803 that already has inserts.

And I thought picking out lenses was tough. :lol:

[Shahid]

I was looking online at the 802 and if I get an insert, it comes out to be about $10-15 more than the 803 that already has inserts.

And I thought picking out lenses was tough. :lol:


Yeah, finding the perfect for yourself can be hard. I went for the F-802 due to its versatility, and I believe it is slightly bigger than the F-803.

[Rudy M.]

If you look at the photo above of the black bag--everything is stuffed in there tightly. I like easy access. I have been using this wonderful bag for a lot of things plus as a camera bag. http://www.filson.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2092394&cp=2075128&parentPage=family

They did not make it in green when I got mine, but the brown has "weathered" nicely. I'd post a photo of mine with my 40D in it, but I left my P&S at the office. Anyway, all I use is a folded towel in the bottom for padding. It will carry my camera with attached 70-200 f/2.8 with hood deployed and even a 1.4x TC. I normally carry my 40D with or without grip with 18-200 OS attached, hood deployed, no lens cap so it is at the ready, and a 30mm in a lens case. I can carry a 580EX in its case under and between a towel layer. Spare batteries, Epson P-2000, light meter, ham radio hand held and other stuff in the two pouches; and a newspaper, a few files and magazines in the back pocket. This has been in court with me, up tree stands hunting in the rain, in museums, on a ski slope, on a motorcycle and bicycle, day hikes, motocross tracks....

I had a TimBuk2 medium laptop messenger bag and tried Domke inserts. I returned both the bag and inserts. The medium bag is too small with a lap top insert. The laptop insert was not removable. My filson bag without inserts carries more than the medium TB2 bag with inserts--largely due to the lap top insert. The Domke inserts are too thickly padded and take up too much interior room. You are also stuck with the size inserts you have as they are not configurable. The TB2 medium messenger bag without a laptop sleeve hold 12 rolls of TP, the large holds 16 rolls and the XL holds 20 rolls(my Filson medium field bag holds 7 rolls). I ordered the medium TB2 on sale a few days ago from Performance Bike. I going to make my own padded inserts from some nylon taffeta and 1/4 inch closed cell packing foam. These will be lighter and thinner than Domke, and by using a separate lap top sleeve, I can go with computer or without.

BTW--when I put my camera, two lenses, a flash and computer in the TB2 medium bag, it was extremely heavy! I would not want to carry it much farther than house to car in garage!

For me--I forget the kitchen sink and just carry the bare necessities of what I need. One or two lenes, sometimes a flash, sometimes the P-2000 (but rarely since I got 4gb cards).

[Rudy M.]

BTW--those think tank bags look nice, but man are they expensive for the bigger ones!

[Pinto]

I was looking online at the 802 and if I get an insert, it comes out to be about $10-15 more than the 803 that already has inserts.


You do realize that they are two entirely different bags with the 802 being larger.

[Mr. Bill]

Ended up getting the Domke F802 from another member here.

Thanks to everyone for the help. :D

[Pinto]

You should be very happy with your choice. Take a look at the Temba insert for use in that bag. Discussion here: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=5678541#post5678541

[pipspeak]

The Domke 802 will take an XTI/grip with lens attached? It doesn't look deep enough to me. I'm planning to get a Crumpler bucket (the 02) to drop into a regular messenger bag. The problem with a lot of smaller bags/inserts is they won't take my 1Ds2 with a lens attached because they're too narrow.

[ed rader]

The Domke 802 will take an XTI/grip with lens attached? It doesn't look deep enough to me. I'm planning to get a Crumpler bucket (the 02) to drop into a regular messenger bag. The problem with a lot of smaller bags/inserts is they won't take my 1Ds2 with a lens attached because they're too narrow.


i'm not grokking you here. wouldn't that depend on the length of the lens?

my 1d mark III + 100-400L will fit (lens first hood reversed) in my f -802.

ed rader

[Pinto]

i'm not grokking you here. wouldn't that depend on the length of the lens?

my 1d mark III + 100-400L will fit (lens first hood reversed) in my f -802.

ed rader

I'm thinking that the poster means deep(wide) and you're thinking height. He means it's too tight a fit with lens attached held vertical in the bag instead of the body only in the bag. My guess.

Your answer should clarify it for him though.