Need bag recommendations

For the past year, I've been using an off-brand knockoff of a lowepro fastpack. The bag served me very well on our vacation to the Rockies last summer, but since then, I've purchased a 70-200, and upgraded from a Rebel to a 7D. I've outgrown my bag.

I'm thinking about buying two new bags, a small messenger style, for general walkabout, and a big pack to carry most of my gear. But there are so many options, and it can be difficult to tell online how big a bag is. Sure would be nice if one of the vendors had a buyers guide that allowed you to select bag style, and camera/lens combinations, and provided recommendations of specific bags.

I'm making my way through the "show me your bags" thread and taking some notes, but there's a ton of information in there, too. I thought I'd solicit advice as well.

For the walkabout bag, I'm looking for a something that will carry my 7D fitted with a normal zoom (currently the 18-55, though I may upgrade to a 17-55 or similar in the future), the 70-200, and perhaps an third lens (currently that would be the nifty-fifty, but in the future, it might be a 10-22). I know that with the 70-200, I'm limited in how small I can go, but I'd like a messenger/shoulder bag that's relatively small and inconspicuous, that I can get into without too much trouble with multiple clasps

For the backpack, I'd like something big enough to basically hold everything.
7D, normal zoom, 70-200, 50mm 1.8, 10-22mm (future purchase), speedlight, radio trigger, spare AAs, battery charger, lens cleaning kit, etc, etc, etc. This one isn't going to be as hard to identify, I think. I doubt I'm going to be as picky about the backpack, since I'm already aware it's going to wind up being huge. But the messenger bag, I'd like to be no bigger than necessary.

Any advice would be appreciated.

The Tamrac Expedition 6 would work well for you for the backpack. I've owned the 3 and 5 and currently have the 6

Everything in my signature fits in there

By the way, how is that 70-200 working out for you?

I'm in a similar situation as you. When I first purchased my 60D, I didn't realize how many lenses I'd end up with so I bought a basic Canon 2400 bag. It is a bit awkward to carry around and I'm having trouble fitting all of my lenses with my gripped body.

I am looking for a backpack to hold all of my gear (lenses in my signature) and my gripped 60D. I would like something I could take on day hikes that will hold up with rigorous use and protect my equipment while being comfortable. The Expedition 6 looks good, any other ideas?

Thanks for the recommendation, Chris.
The 70-200 is working great. I had it up at Rockford yesterday, attached to my new 7D. When I woke up this morning, I couldn't figure out why my arms felt like I was up all night doing pushups. Then I remembered the four hours I spent holding that lens up at the airshow. Duh.

I don't suppose you still have that 10-22 you were thinking about selling?

I have Kata 3n1-22 for my backpack and Think Tank Retrospective 10 for my shoulder bag. I can highly recommend both of them for your need. You may want to adjust the size up and down in their series to fit your exact need.

Thanks! I've been looking at the Retrospective line. What camera/lens combinations are you carrying in your Retro 10? How do you think it would handle a Canon 70-200, and a 7D?

I just bought a Tenba Shootout Medium backpack. There was a similar discussion a few weeks ago and I had never heard of Tenba before but it turns out, several POTN members have this bag and like it. If you are interested in reading the thread, here is the link: https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1186615
I've only had it for a couple weeks now but it is nice. I was close to ordering a Tamrac Expedition 7X, which is also a very nice bag.

So far I'm enjoying the LowePro AW 75. That size is supposed to fit your 7D and 70-200L perfectly (according to the review I read).

Dingbat Shutterbug wrote in post #14528818
Thanks! I've been looking at the Retrospective line. What camera/lens combinations are you carrying in your Retro 10? How do you think it would handle a Canon 70-200, and a 7D?

I carry a 5D3 + 24-105L attached and a 70-300L. I also carry a flash, a 580EXII or a 270EXII. There is plenty of room left for a 50mm or another small zoom. The 70-200L will fit, but not attached, you'll need the Retrospect 20 for that.

Dingbat Shutterbug wrote in post #14528477
Thanks for the recommendation, Chris.
The 70-200 is working great. I had it up at Rockford yesterday, attached to my new 7D. When I woke up this morning, I couldn't figure out why my arms felt like I was up all night doing pushups. Then I remembered the four hours I spent holding that lens up at the airshow. Duh.

I don't suppose you still have that 10-22 you were thinking about selling?

No, long gone.

ahendarman wrote in post #14529262
I carry a 5D3 + 24-105L attached and a 70-300L. I also carry a flash, a 580EXII or a 270EXII. There is plenty of room left for a 50mm or another small zoom. The 70-200L will fit, but not attached, you'll need the Retrospect 20 for that.

Dear Ahendarman,
Will your 5D3 with attached 70-200f2.8mkII (assume LOA approx 10.5") fit if placed in the Think Tank RETROSPECTIVE 10 bag horizontally (ID: W12" x H9.5 x D6")?
Based on product spec I assume it would, but hoping you can confirm for us.

[I.e. bag configuration say-
horizontally on top: 5D3 with mounted 70-200f2.8mkII;
horizontally on bottom: 24-105(or24-70) & 50;
outer pocket: 580EXII]

It is such a common chronic dilema of many users(including the OP) for a walkabout/shooting bag - for a camera body with mounted 70-200 that is easily yet steathly available. [& perhaps not wanting to go the Domke F-2 or F-3X route, due to the closure buckles, even though both Domke are nice bags]

Thank you.

Mary

I use a Retrospective 30 and one of my friends uses the Retro 10. In a nutshell, the Retro 10 has 3 lens "slots" while the 30 has 4 "slots". I think the Retro 10 would be good for you, it would fit a 10-22mm, 17-55mm and 70-200mm just fine. The only issue is that you would have to have the body mounted on the 10-22 or 17-55 (70-200 + body is too long). The 30 Retro is the essentially the same idea.

I love my Retro 30 and I feel it is worth the $185 price that I bought it for. Great bag to walk around in and shoot out of/switch lenses, but it does get a bit tough on 1 shoulder when shooting all day with a full bag. I'm usually carrying a 5D mk2, 24mm TS-E, Fuji X100, Sigma 85mm 1.4, and 100L in the bag. I have also attached a modular skin component (the Skin 75) to carry an extra lens or flash. I also have all the little accessories like a Lens Pen, memory card wallet, extra LP-E6s, extra NP-95 (Fuji X100 battery), AA Eneloops, and an ST-E2. This all fits in the Retro 30, with some room to spare. Too much for 1 shoulder in my opinion so I never run with it completely full.

If you want the 70-200 mounted on body, fitted in the bag comfortably, the Retro 20 will let you do that. I've never looked at a Retro 20 in person but I believe it's the same as a Retro 10, but taller so you can fit longer lenses in there.

happy2010 wrote in post #14530023
Dear Ahendarman,
Will your 5D3 with attached 70-200f2.8mkII (assume LOA approx 10.5") fit if placed in the Think Tank RETROSPECTIVE 10 bag horizontally (ID: W12" x H9.5 x D6")?
Based on product spec I assume it would, but hoping you can confirm for us.

Yes, it will fit with some room to spare. Thank you for bringing it up because I never thought about this configuration before.

AHENDARMAN, thank you for the product insight and the picture (very helpful indeed).
Lovely camera/lens combo, 5dmkIII with 70-200f2.8mkII - happy shooting!

Thanks again.

Mary

cdo221 wrote in post #14530559
I use a Retrospective 30 and one of my friends uses the Retro 10. In a nutshell, the Retro 10 has 3 lens "slots" while the 30 has 4 "slots". I think the Retro 10 would be good for you, it would fit a 10-22mm, 17-55mm and 70-200mm just fine. The only issue is that you would have to have the body mounted on the 10-22 or 17-55 (70-200 + body is too long). The 30 Retro is the essentially the same idea.

I love my Retro 30 and I feel it is worth the $185 price that I bought it for. Great bag to walk around in and shoot out of/switch lenses, but it does get a bit tough on 1 shoulder when shooting all day with a full bag. I'm usually carrying a 5D mk2, 24mm TS-E, Fuji X100, Sigma 85mm 1.4, and 100L in the bag. I have also attached a modular skin component (the Skin 75) to carry an extra lens or flash. I also have all the little accessories like a Lens Pen, memory card wallet, extra LP-E6s, extra NP-95 (Fuji X100 battery), AA Eneloops, and an ST-E2. This all fits in the Retro 30, with some room to spare. Too much for 1 shoulder in my opinion so I never run with it completely full.

If you want the 70-200 mounted on body, fitted in the bag comfortably, the Retro 20 will let you do that. I've never looked at a Retro 20 in person but I believe it's the same as a Retro 10, but taller so you can fit longer lenses in there.

Awesome, that's good information. Thanks.
I don't see myself needing to carry the 70-200 with the 7D mounted, in the bag. I should be able to get by with the camera mounted to a smaller lens, and having the 70-200 on it's own. Generally, if I have the 70-200 mounted, it's on a strap around my neck. My whole objective with the casual bag is to have something just big enough to serve my need, and no bigger. So I think the Retro 10 sounds about right. Thanks for the great assessment.