Backpack Recomendation

[mediamanrit]

Hi all. I'm looking for a recomendation for a backpack. I currently have and love my Micro Trekker 100, but it will be too small for me in a few weeks. I'm going on a 2 week vacation/honeymoon and want to be able to comfortably carry:

Digi Rebel XT w/ Battery Grip
Canon 70-200L IS USM
Sigma 50-500
Kit lens
Image Tank
Other little stuff

I saw the other thread for a "walk around" bag, but figured I'd ask my question in a seperate thread. I COULD take a day trip up to B&H one weekend and find one that would fit, but time is at a premium with my wedding coming up...so any recomendations would be greatly appriciated.

Thanks!
--Brian

[EOSAddict]

You plan to take all that on your honeymoon??????

Either your fiance is very forgiving or a photographer ;)

Have you looked at Tamrac Expedition?

[Asmodeus]

That's pretty much how I ended up with my Tamrac Adventure 75 pack (except I needed a smaller bag to take some stuff on vacation, rather than a larger one). In the pic at the link attached the bag contains the following:

Canon Digital Rebel XT w/BG-E3
EF-S 10-22
EF 50mm
Speedlite 580EX
Sigma 70-200 F2.8 EX DG/HSM
Sigma 1.4x & 2x APO Teleconverters
Tamron SP 28-105 (on body)
CPL filters for all the lenses
Spare batteries
Extra CF cards
Remote shutter release
Batteries for the flash

Outside pockets/connections hold:

battery chargers
lens hoods for 10-22 and 28-105
monopod
FotoChute

And it really is a pretty small bag, about half the size overall of my big Lowepro Photo Trekker.

http://www.supercharger.net/pictures/bag3.jpg

[mediamanrit]

She's just very forgiving, and wants nice pics from the trip. :) She's even letting me get those lenses for the trip. I've wanted them for a while though...and now that we'll be done paying for the wedding, I can get them. :)

It's a 2 week Carribbean cruise (1 week east, 1 week west), and last time we went, she was a little agrivated that most of the pics we got with her Nikon didn't come out all that nice...so she's letting me do just about anything I want this time. :lol:

[EOSAddict]

How do you find it for getting stuff out to change lenses 'on the go'? That would be my only concern when I start to upgrade. I like the look of the Tamrac velocity packs for that reason.

[mediamanrit]

I just looked at the Adventure 75 and the Expedition 5 and 7. If the Adventure 75 will hold it all, that looks like it may be a more comforatble pack just because it looks to be a bit smaller. I've never used a Tamrac bag before...and honestly, I've never really looked before. I've always used Lowe Pro in the past...but I'm really happy with what I see on Tamrac's site. Thanks guys!

[Asmodeus]

How do you find it for getting stuff out to change lenses 'on the go'? That would be my only concern when I start to upgrade. I like the look of the Tamrac velocity packs for that reason.

That's what I like about the Stealth Reporter bags (I use a 650 when I don't need a pack or need more stuff with me). You just unzip the center zipper and you can reach into the bag and pull out bodies, lenses, whatever you've made accessible.

For me the back pack choice was more fo a "smallest to carry what I need for a hiking/walking vacation" deal. Since the bag is on my back rather than over my shoulder it's more of an issue to change lenses.

[mediamanrit]

How do you find it for getting stuff out to change lenses 'on the go'? That would be my only concern when I start to upgrade. I like the look of the Tamrac velocity packs for that reason.

A friend of mine got a velocity bag not too long ago. It's nice, but it barely fits the body with the Sigma 50-500 attached in the bag. Granted it's not a requirement that it fits it attached to the camera, but it would be nice for when I do wildlife stuff (I'm taking more and more hiking trips).

Changing lenses is a bit of a hassle though with the backback, yes. I considered a traditional shoulder bag, but I've got a somewhat-bad back and they tend to start to hurt after a while. Plus, I figured a backpack would be a little less odvious about what is in it, vs. a shoulder bag. If it wasn't for my vacation though, I would strongly consider a shoulder bag.

[EOSAddict]

That's what I like about the Stealth Reporter bags (I use a 650 when I don't need a pack or need more stuff with me). You just unzip the center zipper and you can reach into the bag and pull out bodies, lenses, whatever you've made accessible.

For me the back pack choice was more fo a "smallest to carry what I need for a hiking/walking vacation" deal. Since the bag is on my back rather than over my shoulder it's more of an issue to change lenses.

Sounds good - is the Stealth Reporter a Tamrac?? Can't see it on their website.

[Edgar in ATL]

If you like the Micro Trekker 100, go for the Micro Trekker 200. I have both, and use according to how much stuff I am hauling.

[EricKonieczny]

in the last 3 months I have taken two trips, and packed my Tamrac Expediton 5 full.

All the stuff listed below, plus manuals, lens cleaning kit, USB cables, Extra AA's, extra BP511's, Battery Charger for BP511's, and Battery Charger for AA's, Power cords for battery chargers, plus many other things.

it fits on the plane perfectly, and not an issue at the airport.

[Wrench]

I've got an expedition 5 and it's a comfortable bag. I cut off the waist strap though since I never used it and got tired of it flopping around. My bag will hold my 10D with grip, 28-80, 28-210, 10-300, 50mm, 550ex, 4-6 filters/polarizers. In the zipper pockets I keep 2 spare batteries, cables, lense cleaning stuff, field guide and small stuff. There's a small compartment on the outside for my keys, small lunch and also a mesh pocket with bunjees where i keep a bottle of water. It's a great bag. Tends to get heavy so if I know I'm going to have to walk a ways then I'll thin it out a bit.

[Danny Boy]

I also have the Expedition 5. It is well padded and is comfortable to carry, even over one shoulder. I even strap my monopod to it in the back center with no problem. I agree w/ you Wrench about that waist strap and I'll have to look into doing something about it.

Dan

[Asmodeus]

Sounds good - is the Stealth Reporter a Tamrac?? Can't see it on their website.

It's a Lowepro. They come in various sizes, with the 650 being the largest (currently)

http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Shoulder_Bags/quick/Stealth_Reporter_650_AW.aspx

If you look at the main picture, the zipper across the top opens to give you access to the bag contents without undoing all the straps, zippers, clasps, etc., that can be used to close it up securely.