Tamrac backpacks

[Dew]

I'm considering getting a Tamrac 5574 Expedition 4 (http://www.tamrac.com/5574.htm). Has anyone got one, and if so what do you think?

[scottbergerphoto]

Too small for me. I use the Expedition 5 and love it. I can carry two bodies, their lenses and a flash easily.

[Dew]

Scott,
How's the quality? Is it wearing well? I think it should be ok size wise for me, I only usually carry 1 body + 2 lenses, but I think I can fit my film body on the odd occasion too.
Chris

[jojiboy]

I have the Expedition 4. I think for what you plan to carry in it the bag should be big enough. It's a pretty sturdy backpack with plenty of pockets to put accessories in. I use it if I don't plan to carry more than 1 body and 3 lenses. Otherwise, I bring out the Kata R-103.

[nat869]

I initially bought the Expedition 4 pack myself. I outgrew it really fast and when I added the 70-200 2.8, it was pretty much worthless. I do a fair amount of traveling and I like all my gear in one bag, so I bought the expedition 7, which arrived last week. It is big, but comfortably fits my 10D + Grip, my lenses, flash, lightmeter and Mamiya 645. Sure is bigger and heavier, but should still stow easily on an airplane or trunk of the car.

[craniac]

I have one of those and it holds a fair bit. This is the big stuff that I manage to cram into it.


EOS 300D body with 2. or 3. attached
Sigma 18-125mm with hood reversed
Sigma 70-300mm with hood reversed
Canon EF-S 18-55mm
Canon EF 50mm
Sunpak flash
Hoya close-up filters in pouch
2 Hoya filter boxes holding 58mm filters


That fills up the main section. Into the mesh pockets inside the flap I put CF card case, spare battery, 2 x 4 AA battery cases (for flash), Hoya 62mm filter in plastic case, remote cable for camera, A6 notebook, pens, lenspen and there is still some space for a few other small bits and pieces.

In the front pocket I keep battery charger and power cable, USB card reader and cable, mini maglite torch, emergency poncho, sun hat and I could cram a few other smallish items in there. I I was going out for the day I could leave the charger and card reader at home and use the space for a small packed lunch.

My biggest problem with it is that it is so short and I am tall so it rides high on my back and feels a bit odd and unstable unless I buckle the chest strap. I have n't been able to successfully carry my tripod (a Manfrotto 390 Junior with integral head) on it but haven't tried seriously more than once. When I did try emulating the way they should carrying a tripod on the pamphlet that came with it I found that the mesh concertina section at the bottom was too small to successfully hold the tripod head and when strapped on the tripod stuck out at an angle and stood up quite high above the top of the backpack. This made it awkward considering the pack already rides so high on my back. Clearly there were many compaints about this as I see from the link you gave that the front of the packhas been redesigned to hold the tripod in a different way, and looks like it would work much better than my one does.

[Dew]

That's some great info Steve - thanks.
Looks like the 70-200 fits ok on the link Nat869 - did you just have loads of stuff? I ask as I'm about to get a 70-200 IS from HK when the right price comes up on ebay!

[nat869]

That's some great info Steve - thanks.
Looks like the 70-200 fits ok on the link Nat869 - did you just have loads of stuff? I ask as I'm about to get a 70-200 IS from HK when the right price comes up on ebay!

I would try it in a store if you can. I have the 70-200 IS and it really did not look like it would fit very well. I still have my small pack, so I will see when I get home.

[Vetteography]

I would try it in a store if you can. I have the 70-200 IS and it really did not look like it would fit very well. I still have my small pack, so I will see when I get home.

I fit an XT with battery grip mounted, a 70-200 F4L, Kit Lens, Nifty Fifty, Flash, a couple of collapsible hoods, spare batteries, notepad, memory cards, filters and two removeable bases for my tripod in my Expedition 3 so you should be able to fit your 70-200 IS in an Expedition 4.