Low Pro Vertex 300aw or 200aw

[Anto Modded]

Im trying to decide between these 2 backpacks. Read the review on the 200aw and seems perfect. But i dont want to get it and then think i should of gotten the 300aw. I have a 40d and 350 d with grips and one with a 70 - 200 f2.8 and the other with a 24 - 70 f2.8. i always keep the 40d and 70 - 300 attached and would like to do the same with the 350d if possible but not too fussed. 300 aw seems bloody massive cause i got a tape and made a rough size of the 2 bags from cardboard. I reckon the 200aw for the win but thought someone that has one could shed some light on which would best suited.

Thanks
Anthony

[Lowner]

Anthony,
I use a Vertex 200 for a 30D, Eos3, both with grips fitted, 24-70L, 70-200L, 100-400L IS, 055ProB tripod and assorted junk (things like filters, shutter releases, film for the Eos3).

I cannot carry both cameras with lens attached, so tend to have the 24-70 attached to the 30D.

Edited to add: Forgot the 550EX flash, batteries by the gross, 1.4x converter.............!

[Anto Modded]

but would be grand for the 40d and 70 - 200 and be able to seperate the 350d and put it in althought i think will sell it soo but im still unsure thats why one the 40d and 70 - 200 fit and even the 24 - 70 and a possible 150 - 500 lense would fit i'd be happy. That 300aw looks tham big. i dont want to look like a hiker. I usally bring the car into the paddock at most tracks anyway so i can always nip back to change bits if need be. Thanks for the info, the 200aw seems light the better choice for me.

[Snow001]

Anthony,

The 300 is very big. I decided to go with the 200. Also although I have not tried it myself yet, I read somewhere that the 200 passes airline carry on dimensions while the 300 does not. Dont know if this makes any difference to you.

To be honest, I find that the 200 is too big as well for my needs ( I only use one body (40D), however, the AW 100 is not that significantly different in size either so I went halfway thinking that i could put other stuff in the bag along with my laptop in case I needed to go anywhere with my photo gear and other gadgets.

The bag was given to me so I could not exchange it for something else.

FYI someone is selling a 300AW right now here in the forums for a very good price.

[Anto Modded]

thanks for your comments. i feel the 200aw will be more than ample for me, i compaired to a cheap bag im using and its seems to be just about right for me, although i might check the dimensions on the 100 aw and see aswell

[Lowner]

I can confirm that provided the laptop compartment is empty, the 200 will squeeze past the airline rules by the skin of its teeth.

I tend to use it as my personal "Base Camp". For example, we spent a long weekend in Venice and I took my small Nova 5 which I loaded up each day with what I thought I needed, leaving other kit in the Hotel.

[callous]

Hi, I want to jump on the end of this thread and ask the same question.. Vertex 200 or 300? I want a bag I can put everything in so it can all be together, not really for shooting out of but we'll see, I guess it depends what I'll need in each situation.

Gear to squeeze in is:
Only one body - 50D with BG-E2N,
Lens - EF-S 17-55, EF-S 10-22. EF 70-200 f2.8L IS, 50 f1.4, 100 f2.8L IS
Filters - 4 77mm screw-in filters, a pretty basic Lee system with 3 filters (in the Lee 10 filter pouch)
Other stuff - Gitzo GH2750QR off-center ball head (with the tripod on the outside obviously), 1.4 extender, 25mm extension tube.. Kata E-702 Elements cover (just got this, it's much harder to stow away than I thought it would be due to that fat velcro strap).. the usual assortment of microfiber clothes and air blower and cleaning fluid, Canon Angle Finder C.. all lenses with hoods and a 13.3" laptop with power pack and a portable hard drive (WD passport)

The thing is I'd like to be able to put the 50D in with the 1.4 extender and 70-200 attached, but have a horizontal slot for the 70-200 when not in use.. I've read the (great) 200AW and 300AW reviews on this forum and however hard I look at the pictures and visualise the bags with my stuff in them, I just can't decide. :(

I originally bought the 100AW (because the 200AW was out of stock where I ordered from and I'm impatient) but didn't even need to get it out of the box to see it wouldn't be big enough, so returned it. Unfortunately I'm not in a position where I can go to a shop and look at the bags in the flesh.

I don't want it to be a tight fit and I'm thinking potential future expansion as well.. maybe a 100-400mm and a flash..

The 300 is only 300g heavier than the 200 when empty, but it does look epically (is that a word) big.. but I like the cover for the straps on the 300 which you don't get on the 200. Oh I just can't decide! :(

Thanks for any helpful words. :)

[Lowner]

The problem is you need a tight fit, otherwise everything bounces around. I'd say that the 200 would suit you gear list. All the lenses except the 70-200 would fit upright with the backpack lying on the floor, leaving plenty of room for the longer lens either on the camera or to one side.

I frequently have to adjust my dividers to get different arrangements.

I still think the 200 is enormous, heaven knows what I'd make of the 300!

[callous]

Thanks, I was thinking 200AW all the time but then the moment came to place the order (with Warehouse Express) and the 200 was suddenly out of stock. Then I received the 100AW and wondered if the 200 would be big enough. But the 200 it shall be, methinks. :)

(Looking at your location, I was born at Odstock :P)

[tvphotog]

Look at the Tamrac Expedition series, the 7X or 8X. They're constructed better and have a better layout than the Lowepro, IMHO, and have the same purpose. They have a wide padded waistbelt for support, as do the two Vertex models.

The only difference is that you should buy the Tamrac backpack cover separately, if you're worried about bad weather.

[dennisgibson]

I had a 300 and it felt and looked like I was carrying a mobile home on my back. I sold it and now have a shapeshifter and love it. Can't put my 300 2.8 IS in it though but I make due with one of my other bags (flipside 300 or glass taxi) when I need to lug it around.

[Lowner]

Callous,

Warehouse Express seem to be out of stock of almost all the external hard drives as well. I've got two on back order as we speak.

We retired to Salisbury. Well I say retired, actually just went from Electrical Engineer to Sailing Instructor in one easy step. Wish I'd done it 40 years ago, a job I love instead of a job I tolerated.

[DeaconG]

I just purchased the Vertex 300 for my use, and yes it's rather huge, but I bought it to be a bag to work out of and/or transport, not necessarily for hiking. It's also one of the few bags that can take the HP Pavilion 9000 series 17 inch laptops (although with the actual width of my HP 9030us I probably could have gotten away with the 200, but I wanted to be sure). It takes everything in my sig plus the laptop, power brick and a couple of USB drives, but good God does it mass (including the bag, about 33-35 pounds fully loaded)...the harness and waist belt are superb and transfers the weight well.

The biggest problem you'll have is lifting it when you get it fully packed (and you KNOW you will!:lol:).

A couple of small nits: I'm not too thrilled with how you have to stow the harness cover, if it had a detachable cover it would have made storing it less of a chore. Lenses with especially wide hoods (the EW-83 for my 10-22 in particular) will not fit with the hood reversed, you'll either have to make a separate storage section for them or do without.
Those aside, it's an impressive bag.

[callous]

Thanks for the tips people - tvphotog I hadn't looked at the larger Tamrac bags but I will see what they're like. :)

With the filter pocket on the front of the Vertex bags, one of the reviews said the (72mm if I recall) filter boxes were a tight fit in these pockets behind the left-hand front flap. Is it "safe" to put the filters straight in these pockets without their boxes? I forgot to even look at this on the 100AW before I sent it back but are boxes for 72mm filters the same size as you get with 77mm filters? I only have 3 boxed filters (the "4th" I mentioned above is a B+W 67-77 adapter ring) so i could probably find room for the boxes in the bag if need be. Two of the filters in question weren't cheap (circular polariser and B+W 093 infrared) so if there's a chance that damage could occur I will use the boxes! Wow, way to make what seemed like a pretty simple question into a longwinded paragraph. :\

And Richard, I lived halfway between Salisbury and Southampton (a village called Landford, if you go to Southampton via the A36 you go through it, kind of) for my first 15 years then moved to Coombe Bissett for a few years before leaving the area. Sort of the opposite of you I suppose, but I wouldn't mind retiring back there as long as it doesn't change too much. :)

And I've only encountered stock problems with Warehouse Express with a few things.. Lee GND filters (which wasn't just them, after looking elsewhere), a Gitzo tripod that I eventually went to Robert White for and this Vertex bag.