Review: Crumpler Million Dollar Homes (5MDH, 6MDH & 7MDH)

[randy98mtu]

I've looked in the past for answers to my questions and never found a satisfactory answer. So here is an overview of my situation, my wants from a bag/set of bags, and how I came to buy what I have now.

Originally I bought a 7MDH so I could carry all the gear I'd ever own in one bag. I love it, but I seldom want to carry all the gear I own, so I bought the 5MDH. It's almost perfect. Then I got a second DSLR and my wife started taking a camera and I take a camera, so 2 bags made more sense. Still not often wanting the bulk of the 7MDH, I wanted to add another bag. The kit I want to load in the bag I will carry won't quite fit in a 5, so I picked up a 6MDH this week. So while it seems odd to have all 3, a 5 6 and 7 MDH, I find the collection to be perfect for our needs.









On to my gear, I have a 7D and 5D2, both without grips. For glass I have a 24-105, 70-200 f/4L IS, 35L, 85 f/1.8 and 135L. Then I have a 580EXII, 430EXII, and a 430EX. The 5D2, 35L, 135L and 580EXII are recent additions and I don’t see anything more coming for quite a while. For our travel kits, my wife likes to carry the 7D, 24-105, 85 f/1.8 and a 430EX. I think the 5MDH was made for this kit. It fits like a glove and doesn’t leave me wanting anything different from a bag. However, this makes my travel kit essentially a 5D2, 35L, 135L and 70-200 f/4. So when I started deciding what bag to buy for myself, I tried putting this kit in the 5MDH. Without hoods, I could fit all 3 and it wasn’t too bad. However, the first trip I’m taking with this new bag will be to Florida. Not really interested in going to the sunshine state without hoods. I put the same kit in the 7MDH, and it was swimming. I hate to carry a bag that much bigger than what I need. So I ordered the 6MDH. Once again, it’s like the bag was made for this kit. I tried a few things to squeeze a 430 in and I couldn’t find a way to comfortably do it. There is more room left in this bag than the 7D kit in the 5MDH, so I have plenty of space for a battery, filters, etc. Not to say I couldn’t fit a filter and a battery in the 5MDH with that kit, but the 6 has a bit more space left. I’m not giving up on fitting a flash in there.

[randy98mtu]

As for specific bag information, as I said the 5MDH fits the 7D with 24-105, 85 f/1.8 and a flash with no problem. I can tell you that while I was doing my trials with the 5D2 in this bag, I could fit any combination of 2 of my other 3 lenses (35L, 135L and 70-200 f4) with hoods and still have room for a flash. The 5MDH is a great size on the outside. It doesn’t feel too big to take into a restaurant or something. It’s about the size of a woman’s purse I’d say. I have the black with green interior. I think it looks great. It did not come with a shoulder pad. I’m not sure if newer versions of this bag do. Mine is about 2 years old and is the 2 buckle design. Here are a couple shots of the 5MDH alone.





The 7MDH is my oldest bag. I think it’s about 4-5 years old. It’s the 1 buckle design. I really wish it was the 2 buckle, but can’t justify the cost to upgrade it. I seldom carry this bag. I keep it because it will fit both bodies and most of my lenses. Here is an iPhone 4 shot of it with both bodies, I don’t remember for sure, but I think one body has the 35L mounted without the hood (it’s sitting in the middle there) with the 85 tucked in under the camera side grip. The other body has the 24-105L with hood reversed, and I think the 70-200 is in the middle there with my 430’s.



This bag has a lot of room inside, but it’s big on the outside as a result. I have the oatmeal color which has the green interior. It’s been a great bag and I’m very happy with the build quality. The build quality of all 3 is top notch and I don’t anticipate any problems with any of them. Here are a few shots of the 7MDH by itself. This was before reconfiguring the dividers slightly to accommodate the 2 body kit.





That brings me to the newest, the 6MDH. My very first impression is the color is much darker than the beech shows in online store pictures. I picked it up from a 3rd party on Amazon, but it was fulfilled by Amazon, so I’m not concerned about it being genuine since it came from their warehouse. As I said from the start, it fits exactly what I wanted it to with a little space to spare. In the initial shots of the 3 bags closed, the 5 and 7 are empty and the 6 has the kit inside. It’s a 5D2 with 35L, hood reversed. The 135L with hood reversed and 70-200 f/4L IS with hood reversed on the sides. As you can see here, there is still a bit of space to spare by the 2 lenses. Might be enough to cram a 430 in there, but it will be tight. Maybe if I put the 35L on the side and perhaps put the hood somewhere else in the bag (loose above the lens?)





So that’s my little review of my Crumpler setup. All 3 bags are perfect and I think suit slightly different needs. The 5 is very compact, the 6 is a small step up. I feel that the 7 is a much bigger jump from the 6 than the 6 is from the 5. Hopefully this information can help others deciding between these 3 bags. If anyone has any questions or requests to see something with one of the 3, let me know and I’ll try to accommodate within the confines of my abilities and my gear I have available.

[bps]

Outstanding review! I know this will help a lot of people, especially when they compare each model. As an owner of a 7 MDH and a 5 MDH, I can very much appreciate what you've done.

Thanks for being a part of makes POTN so great!

Bryan

[Voaky999]

I love the Crumple bags, own 6 and a 7 million dollar bags. Great reviews. Thanks,

[g0bl0k]

nice set of MDH....i've been using 6MDH for more than 2 yrs now and still loving it. sometimes i switch with sling bag though cos it could get heavy on your shoulder.

[randy98mtu]

Thanks guys. I hope to get some better pictures. I only got the 6 last night, so I was just trying to get a few shots of it to start. I need to work on my product shots.

I'm sure I didn't answer all the questions people will have about these bags, but hopefully knowing someone who has all 3 to try things will help some people.

[GOBIGRED]

Thanks for the review, randy98mtu. Lots of folks have questions about the relative size of these models so your pics are very helpful. Per your response to my thread, I hope you can get a pic or two of how a 70-200 f4 mounted on a 7D fits in a 6MDH. Also, wondering if you can include pics of how each of these bags look when they're actually worn on a person's shoulder/hip. Much obliged.

[randy98mtu]

I will try to get some shots of the 70-200 mounted in each bag later. Unfortunately I'm the only willing model for shots of them on a persons shoulder, but I'll see what I can do. To be honest, I think I just carry the 5 by the handle most of the time. I do throw the 7 over my shoulder when I take it to my parents place and such. It's not much of a day trip bag though. Can't see taking that much gear on a hike. Not sure how I'll be carrying the 6 yet. I'll know for sure in a few weeks time!

[FLiPMaRC]

Great review. I also have the old 5MDH and the cheap $25 7MDH knock off

[HazChem]

Thanks so much for the comparisons. I've owned the 6 Million for two years and love it. I just got a 7D and I've been searching for a bag to house that. Now I know how the 5 and 7 compare to the 6 and it will be a matter of picking to go bigger or smaller.

[RHChan84]

Thank you so much. This is going to make my purchase easier. I couldn't decided on 5 or 6 and I need to search a few stores to find both to compare at once. But this is a better comparison then going from one store to find one and another store to find another.

[randy98mtu]

Thanks. I'm glad folks are finding this helpful.

[randy98mtu]

I already posted this in your thread, Gobigred, but I thought I'd post it here as well to keep all my MDH shots in one place.

Here are a few of this combo in the 6MDH and how it doesn't really fit. Sorry I didn't adjust the white balance, I see now it's off a bit.





And with the flap down. I wouldn't like carrying it like this, though if you expanded the clasps you could probably get it to close. It may close better if I had turned the camera body 90 degrees.



Hope that helps. I wouldn't recommend the 7MDH for your setup, as it's just too much extra space. Not sure you mentioned why you want to carry the 70-200 mounted. I presume you shoot with it the most and want to have it mounted. Otherwise the 6MDH would work if you just put both lenses and the body in the bag, no lens mounted or with the 17-55 mounted.

[duane0524]

Thanks for the information in this thread, great write up. I have a 7MDH and am looking for a smaller bag that I can use when I just want to grab the camera and flash.

I have a question about what the 5MDH can hold, specifically what if it can hold your 70-200 mounted to the 7d. Any chance you can post a shot of that setup?

Thanks,

[sweetpea44]

Thank you for posting this. Do you think the 5MDH would be enough for one body and potentially 3 lenses? Or, would getting the 6MDH be better if I also wanted to have room for my wallet/keys? The 7 seems to big for what I have.