help me spend money, i need a bag!

[NicD]

Hey everyone, i understand that there are thousands of threads and reviews and i have gone through them all already!

I am looking for a backpack, preferably waterproof or water resistant.

It needs to hold:

400D + gripped with 70-200 2.8 attached
17-50
50 1.8
580EXII
430EXII
Filters
OC-E3 cord
and more little bits and pieces

I would also look it to be able to hold another camera (50D) for when i get around to purchasing it.

The reason i am asking because a) i need a backpack for the longer trips when my 7MDH will not do enough b) I have a trip to the snow coming up so would like to have a reliable backpack with me.

So any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

cheers, Nic

[Karl Johnston]

Lowepro Dryzone 100/200 would be your best bet as for waterproof.
It would fit most of your equipment, including the extra camera but it'd be a bit snug. It's about 6 lbs and patented as waterproof.
http://products.lowepro.com/product/DryZone-200,1935,18.htm

Tad on the expensive side, about 300-400$
But waterproof.

These aren't waterproof, but they're reliable and will hold your gear for cheaper:
I use a tamrack exhibition 5 and that holds my 5d2, odds and ends, 50 1.8, 70-200 2.8L, 50D, 11-16 tokina and 100 2.8macro with quite a bit of room left over. It's also got a handy tripod carrier on the front. It's durable and light, for about 160 $.

Lowepro compu trekker is another good one, about on par with the bag I have now if not a little bit bigger for around the same price.

Nature trekker AW is a slightly bigger backpack for a little less than 300 $

All prices in CAN dollars, mind you, I'm sure it's the equivalent for AUS.

[NicD]

Lowepro Dryzone 100/200 would be your best bet as for waterproof.
It would fit most of your equipment, including the extra camera but it'd be a bit snug. It's about 6 lbs and patented as waterproof.
http://products.lowepro.com/product/DryZone-200,1935,18.htm

Tad on the expensive side, about 300-400$
But waterproof.

These aren't waterproof, but they're reliable and will hold your gear for cheaper:
I use a tamrack exhibition 5 and that holds my 5d2, odds and ends, 50 1.8, 70-200 2.8L, 50D, 11-16 tokina and 100 2.8macro with quite a bit of room left over. It's also got a handy tripod carrier on the front. It's durable and light, for about 160 $.

Lowepro compu trekker is another good one, about on par with the bag I have now if not a little bit bigger for around the same price.

Nature trekker AW is a slightly bigger backpack for a little less than 300 $

All prices in CAN dollars, mind you, I'm sure it's the equivalent for AUS.

Thanks Karl, $300-$400 is quite expensive indeed, i will have a look at the ones you suggested.

and just also, it doesn't have to be waterproof, it would be best if it were at least water resistant for when i do go to the snow.

[sonofjesse]

Flipside 400 might work for you. VEry nice bag with waterproof shell you can use

[AdamC]

A Fastpack 300/350 would do that, with the advantage of access without having to put it down. The second body would have to go in the top section though. Not waterproof, but pretty water resistant.

[c2thew]

sounds like for your needs flipside 400 and or the computrekker.

[NicD]

Flipside 400 might work for you. VEry nice bag with waterproof shell you can use

sounds like for your needs flipside 400 and or the computrekker.

Thanks guys, i will go have a look at both of these sometime soon.

cheers

A Fastpack 300/350 would do that, with the advantage of access without having to put it down. The second body would have to go in the top section though. Not waterproof, but pretty water resistant.

I'm really not a fan off fastpacks, if i want a camera backpack i want it to be just that, i have a flipside 100 (my first camera bag) and hated it simply because it couldnt fit enough things in.

[AdamC]

I'm really not a fan off fastpacks, if i want a camera backpack i want it to be just that

Um, what?

[NicD]

Um, what?

Haha, i just realised how stupid that sounded.

what i ment was that i don't like the extra compartment that is in the fastpacks, i want a camera bag that stores all my gear properly.

[jcothron]

I'd seriously consider the Nature Trekker as well. I've had one for over ten years and it's basically bomb proof. Perhaps a little more size than you need at the moment, although not terribly too much more. Would allow you a little room to grow.

[AdamC]

Haha, i just realised how stupid that sounded.

what i ment was that i don't like the extra compartment that is in the fastpacks, i want a camera bag that stores all my gear properly.

To each his own I guess. I love it because it gives me room for filters, batteries, random bits and pieces, baseball cap, apple, sandwich, etc, etc..

[shaggymatt]

M-Rock Arches. Love mine. Can fit my 70-200/2.8 mounted on a gripped body, and still have 4 pockets in the bag, and another separate deep pocket that could fit an even bigger zoom. Built in rainshield and a bunch more odds and ends storage pockets.

[crouchingtiger]

Think Tank Photo Streetwalker would be perfect. Best camera backpack I have ever owned.

[tvphotog]

Look also at the Tamrac Expedition series, very well made, the best of this type in MHO.

Take a look at the ThinkTank Rotation 360, www.rotation360. It's a backpack that you can access without taking it off. A bit more expensive, but it was worth it to me. You can get your gear in it, despite the fact that it's a medium backpack.

[TempExp]

Think Tank Photo Streetwalker would be perfect. Best camera backpack I have ever owned.

I'd also recommend checking out the offerings by Think Tank.

I'm very happy with the backpack I have. Well made and does the job.

[Mark]

I'd recommend a lowepro vertex, they are very solid, have sealed zips (mine has withstood two days of uk rain without the AW cover on), and are far far more comfortable harnesses than the Thinktanks I tried...

[colorfoto]

My friend got his cam backpack at Think Tank too. Worth visiting. http://www.cookiewriter.com/trafficreport/img/3721/j09s0423emrh/a.gif

[Pauly_G]

I've just purchased an Expedition 5x - which I can highly recommend. Excellent build quality with plenty of packing flexibility.....my lens collection quickly outgrew my Slingshot 100AW.....damn this forum ;)

[NicD]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I have decided on a ThinkTank streetwalker pro, the bags look incredible so can't wait to order it tomorrow!

[Mark]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I have decided on a ThinkTank streetwalker pro, the bags look incredible so can't wait to order it tomorrow!

Just try the Vertex series first... I preferred my ones harness to the TT's I tried alot...

[Djhyper66]

go to costco and get there dope camera bag for 80 bucks.
http://www.costco.com/Common/CostcoCategory.aspx?ec=BC-EC18767-Cat2109&pos=6&whse=bc&topnav=&cat=1238&eCat=bc|79|2109|1238&lang=en-US

[AdamC]

go to costco and get there dope camera bag for 80 bucks.
http://www.costco.com/Common/CostcoCategory.aspx?ec=BC-EC18767-Cat2109&pos=6&whse=bc&topnav=&cat=1238&eCat=bc|79|2109|1238&lang=en-US

OP is in .au - no Costco here.