Laptop Bag?

[NYC2SOCAL]

I see a ton of camera focused bags with a notebook computer as a secondary, which is rightfully so on this forum.

Photography is not my profession, but the laptop is. So I was wondering if anyone has a recommendation on a laptop backpack which accommodates a XTi with a 17-50 and a 430ex? What I've been doing is just dumping the camera and flash in the main compartment with my other laptop stuff (power cords, hard drives, etc). It would be cool, just to have a small padded section just to carry the basic camera gear. I actually thought of putting velcro in my bag, and adding the padding, but I'm not that skilled with a needle and thread. ;)

[Bryman]

There are several camera bags out there that can accommodate a laptop. Off the top of my head: Lowepro Fastpack 250 (or the bigger 350), Tamrac Adventure 9, Crumpler 7 million dollar home, and Crumpler Brazillion dollar home.

[_aravena]

For just that, while I know Think Tank's UD series is good, although unsure of which one. Depends on style really. Do you want something professional looking, fun, inconspicuous?

Crumpler has buckets you can use as inserts for camera equipment and it fits in their laptop bags. I have one and used to use it as such when I went to school. Check out their site an see. Then go to gearx.com and see if they have what ya like for cheap. Size of laptop?

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=4008175&postcount=2

[broadcast_techie]

I know it's a photo bag, but have you looked at the Lowerpro Fastpack 250? (I don't own it, but will soon hopefully) It seems to have very generous storage for accessories and looks to provide great protection for your camera.
I'm not aware of any laptop bags that would provide enough protection for a camera, they don't always seem to do that much for the laptop...
Kris

[NYC2SOCAL]

Thanks everyone! I was actually looking at the Fastpack 250.. It is "almost" ideal (especially the price).. I think it actually allocates "too much" space for camera gear.. Well, let me take that back.. I can use some of that camera area for some of the laptop stuff (harddrive, etc), but it lacks the paper/document space. So besides the laptop (Macbook Pro 15.4"), I need space for some papers as well (e.g. hardcopies of presentations, etc) I'd say 1-1.5" of paper (which includes a notepad,etc)

The crumpler bucket doesn't do it for me.. Instead of the bucket, I would probably just put it in a holster style bag and insert it in my current laptop bag. The thing I have against that is the extra bulk and a non-integrated fashion.

In regards to style.. Business / Discrete.. No neons, floral patterns or what not. Probably the basic black. I might just have to relook at the fastpack 250 again...

[sanity1082]

you can also check out the tamrac adventure 9 (http://www.tamrac.com/frame_adv.htm). It is similar to the fastpack 250

[NYC2SOCAL]

Yes, I was looking at both the fastpack 250 and the adventure 9, but they both lack the extra 8.5"x11"x1.5" space I need. I could cram it in the laptop compartment, but thats not ideal.. What would be real cool is if the Adventure 9's top compartment actually extends down to the bottom between the laptop compartment and the camera area.. But alas, it doesn't...

[SuzyView]

Have you considered the Adventure 10? It's huge. I have the 17 inch Dell and it's tight, but it fits the Adventure 9. I would seriously consider the Think Tank bags as they are very padded and wonderful.

[JouerCanon]

Have you looked at The Customary Barge from Crumpler? I can hold a 40D with kit lens and an 18-200mm Sigma lens in it along with some accessories. Further, it holds my 14.1" tablet with an extra bit of space (so it can hold your Mac Book) and there's an extra slot next to it for papers and stuff (I've held two document envelopes mildy full with two magazines). And it extends the entire length of the back. There's a space for misc. stuff on top, and the camera stuff goes on the bottom.

The only quirk I found with it is that the flap that goes over the laptop compartment is too long and can be a hassle to open when you have stuff in the top compartment.

[cricketboy75]

i use a Lowepro Compudaypack. i also take it to work.

[tunin]

I have the CRUMPLER DAILY (over the sholder) and it can accomodate a note book, two camera bodies and a couple lenses and other stuff no problem... got to www.cambags.com and take your pick...

[NYC2SOCAL]

Thanks everyone!! I was just looking at the Crumpler bags.. I don't know.. They just don't do it for me.. The Thinkpad Urban Disguise 50 looks great.. But its not a backpack (and I don't quite like the look of that harness).

I think I'll have a look at the Lowepro Fastpack 250 again..

[brecklundin]

I just bought a National Geographic NG5737 Large Backpack bag and, it's HUGE...but it has a padded slot for my 17" laptop. Plus it has a camera specific compartment.

I actually love this NG bag...and they have smaller sizes. Here is the site with all the info on the various models.

http://www.ea-bags.com

I can say that the NG is not too friendly if you need to carry work papers and such. There is only so much flexibility a bag might have. I suspect the most flexibility is a messenger style bag.

I use Tom Bihn bags for my laptops. My favorite bag is the Super Ego. You can easily fit a 40d and a couple lens into my Super Ego as well as slip some documents into the bag. but the gear simply will not be as fast to get at...I also use the Absolute Shoulder Strap which is this wonderful bag strap and is just about the best thing around. It costs around $25 and is easily worth 3x that to me. (http://www.tombihn.com).

Take a rough measurement of your gear to determine the actual volume it needs to occupy. Then you will have a better idea what bag might fit your needs best. Make sure the specs you look at for the bags give the actual volume of just the main compartment. Many advertise the bag's total volume...kinda like when realtor's add in shelf space as square footage for a home...put enough shelves on the wall and that 40x40 home is suddenly 5000 sq. ft. ;)

[chromewaves]

have you looked at the Kata DR-467?

http://www.kata-bags.com/Item.asp?pid=401&cid=28&perentId=4&ProdLine=4

It'd certainly hold your gear and is pretty small and lightweight for a backpack.

As for your comment earlier about wanting to be able to combine the top and bottom compartments of the Adventure 10, check out the Lowepro Compurover - the floor of the top compartment is only attached by velcro and can be removed to make one big honking compartment.