Looking for a bag to meet my needs

OK, I have been looking at camera bags all day. Both at a local shop and online.

I am looking for a bag for basic walking around in the city. My basic requirements in order of priority are:

- It needs to hold my 5d2, 24-105L, 70-200L 2.8 IS, 50 1.4 and maybe a flash.
- I need easy access to my gear. I want to be able to see something, pull it out, take a few pictures, put it away and keep walking.
- I want something that will help me handle that much weight without destroying my back or shoulders.
- I want it to be as small as practical given the gear I am trying to carry
- I would prefer it not scream out "The is a camera in here come steal me!"

I have a traditional lowepro camera backpack that I picked up years ago but the big problem I have with it is that it is good for transportation but there is no way to easily access the equipment.

Is there anything out there that might be a good fit for me?

Thanks in advance!

Check out F-STOP. I am about to purchase their Loka pack but the Guru bag may be what you need.

ender78 wrote in post #12454834
Check out F-STOP. I am about to purchase their Loka pack but the Guru bag may be what you need.

It looks like a nice bag but is there an easy way to get the camera out?

Does anyone use a messenger style bag to carry this much equipment? If so, how is the weight on the shoulders?

Domke F2 with the Post Office Pad will do nicely with that. Weight's not bad. I usually have 2x bodies and 3-4 biggish zooms (24-70, 70-200 2.8 IS, Sigma 15-30, 100-400) and a flash or two in my F1x and keep going all day.

I would either go for the domke f2 or f7.

I use a crumpler 7mdh. Good all around and easy access.

Think Tank Retrospective 20 or 30

Perhaps the Kata 3in1 30 or maybe the smaller 3in1 20. They can be worn as a sling for easy access to your gear or as backpack. As a backpack, you can wear the straps in the traditional way or in an "X" configuration. It also has a belt strap to use when wearing it as a backpack. They're very well made, IMO. Kata also make what appears to be an identical line of bags called the "123Go" series. These are not made with the same build quality as the 3in1 series.

I purchased the ThinkTank Retropspective Pinestone 20 for its "stealth" appearance. It's the first gear bag I've ever purchased that was not black in color. I believe it will be able to carry the equipment you mentioned. It's not really built for protection but rather journalism style photography. I bought this bag specifically for street photography and plan to take it through the paces next month on a week long street photography vacation in NOLA.

Good luck!

cebuRyda wrote in post #12459259
I purchased the ThinkTank Retropspective Pinestone 20 for its "stealth" appearance. It's the first gear bag I've ever purchased that was not black in color. I believe it will be able to carry the equipment you mentioned. It's not really built for protection but rather journalism style photography. I bought this bag specifically for street photography and plan to take it through the paces next month on a week long street photography vacation in NOLA.

Good luck!

Have you stacked your gear in it yet? How comfortable is it on your shoulder?

dalto, I have the following gear in my bag. The 7D gripped, 70-200, 50.1.4 , 17-40 and the 35 2.0 mounted on the body, a 580exII, seconic light meter, a couple of Cybersyncs transmitters and receivers and a few other accessories.

This bag is super comfortable due to the wide and padded strap. I like it because I can grab the body quickly, take a shot and put it back in the bag. I just ordered the Heringbone handstrap to avoid using a neck strap. I didn't want to walk around exposing the body for various reasons.

The Retrospective is a great walk around bag but for event gigs I use a Tamrac Super Pro 14 (model 614). The strap is also great but the shear weight of additional gear will wear anyone down after long usage.

dalto wrote in post #12459699
Have you stacked your gear in it yet? How comfortable is it on your shoulder?

It's not possible to take the 70-200 out without feeling the weight. I travel a lot now and I don't take the 70-200 unless I know it's going to be used a lot. I like sling bags, but for that configuration, the Domke bags are going to be heavy, but will be good for easy access. I use the Domke 5XC, I think, for just the 5D2, with 24-70 attached and the 70-200, no flash. If I take the flash, I can't get away with that and have to go with the F-802. But that bag is not for just walking around, too heavy loaded on one shoulder. I would check out the flipside or one of the backpacks that loads and unloads 2 ways. Those are quite nice, but pricy.

I've got a DIY bag. So sex it is.

It ain't gonna happen!!! I've been at this for 35 years. I've bought that "perfect" bag at least a dozen times. Most of them are on a shelf in the storage room off my garage. For my wedding work, I take a large lowe pro roller case. Occasionally I take the roller into the church but most of the time it's left in the car and I take just what I think I'll need and put it in a small Canon shoulder bag. Works better than those "perfect" bags I have purchased in the past.