I want a shoulder bag, I think - recommendations?

I currently have 2 bags:
* a Lowepro toploader 45 - snugly fits my 600D and 15-85, spare cards, filters and small stuff - useful for quick outings with just body and 15-85, comfortable slung over the shoulder/neck, quick and easy access.
* a Kata 3N1 20 sling/backpack - fits all of my current gear (body, 4 lenses, 2 flashes, extras) comfortably, but really only allows quick access to the body and attached lens (via the side pocket).

I want a mid size bag to carry body plus 1-2 lenses, plus a speedlite, to take on outings and that I can comfortably work out of without having to take it off. I don't want a bag that can carry all my gear.

I think that I want a shoulder bag to allow easy access to change lenses or access the speedlite. In looking at shoulder bags, am I missing a whole style of bag that is suitable for my purpose?

If no, suggestions please? There seem to be a couple of styles - messenger type (taller), and classic squarer styles (e.g. Domke). My next lens will probably be a 70-200, so that gives an indication of desired size.

Have you thought about the Crumpler series of bags? a 5MDH or 6MDH would suit your needs, and there're some great reviews on POTN.

Crumpler bags are good so are the Thinktank and Lowepro , I just got the Lowepro Pro Messager 180 which will fit a camera with the 70-200 atttached , very easy bag to work out of

Jperture wrote in post #15384229
Have you thought about the Crumpler series of bags? a 5MDH or 6MDH would suit your needs, and there're some great reviews on POTN.

I have had a look at those Crumplers. The quality looks good, and the bag seems to be well set out. What are the dividers like? They looked a little flimsy, and didn't seem to reach the edges of the bag all the way down (i.e. they have convex edges?).

lucasmcd wrote in post #15384264
Crumpler bags are good so are the Thinktank and Lowepro , I just got the Lowepro Pro Messager 180 which will fit a camera with the 70-200 atttached , very easy bag to work out of

I saw the Pro Messenger 180, and also the 200, which seemed significantly larger.

Does your 180 fit the body and 70-200 upright, or prone? How is it for changing lenses on the move?

The crumpler dividers and padding is very thick and they are not convex , the problem I had with them was some very small pieces of the velcro came off and stuck to the bottom of the bag, I also found it a little hard to work out of , but is still a great bag.

The Lowepro 180 with fit the 70-200 and body in the upright position ( it is higher than the other two ), the 200AW is not as high but is longer and you would have to lie the body and lense down , the 160 will not fit a body with the 70-200 attached.

I have only had the bag a few days but love it very easy to carry and work out of , the flap can fold back on itself and act as a velcro silencer , very easy and quick to access the camera , changing lenses was easy

Sounds like a shooters' bag is what you want. One that is easy to work from.

The advice above is great. (I just bought a Pro Messenger 200AW, and wish I had not waited so long to get it.) It was priced cheaper than the 180AW and it followed me home. It's now my every day carry bag. It gets nasty and dirty where I go. It carries my ipad easily too.

I have Domke bags that are great. Jon is the Domke expert. Just guessing, Domke F2? I don't know what insert to recommend. I'm not keen on the 4 chamber insert that came with mine.

My Billingham bags are great. The Hadley Pro is wonderful with my lenses. I don't have Canon gear, so I can't comment on what will fit.

The Pro Messenger--you can hang the bag off your shoulder, and turn the flap back between you and the bag so that the bag itself is open. Absolutely great for quick lens changes. (My Speed Racer from Think Tank is easy too.)

The Hadley Pro was cheaper for me than Domke and Think Tank bags are here (Canada). That's because of choices the retailers make.

Let us know what you choose and how it works for you!

I had a sling bag and a backpack. The backpack is too big for most use. The sling seems convenient, but I found it wasn't.

I liked the Lowepro Event, Exchange, and other messenger bags. Good price and well made. I liked the Crumpler and ThinkTank bags, but they cost way more than Lowepro.

I ended up doing a stealth bag:
https://photography-on-the.net …634&highlight=s​tealth+bag

It fits anything: cameras, laptop, iPad, whatever. You can make it as small or as large as you need. Very easy to access. I think this is a great idea as it is flexible and cheap.

I'm partial to ThinkTank and one of their Retrospective series bags may work. I have the Retro 20 but that one may be a little big for your needs so have a look at the Retro 10 or possibly the Retro 7. Their bags are very high quality and I have been happy with every product I have owned from them. ThinkTank's customer service is also top notch, I wanted an extra bottom pad (because I'm anal) and I emailed them asking how much it would be and they sent me one completely free of charge.

http://www.thinktankph​oto.com …nestone-shoulder-bag.aspx

dodgyexposure wrote in post #15384218
I want a mid size bag to carry body plus 1-2 lenses, plus a speedlite, to take on outings and that I can comfortably work out of without having to take it off. I don't want a bag that can carry all my gear.

My next lens will probably be a 70-200, so that gives an indication of desired size.

I'll second yourdoinitwrong about Think Tank quality and customer service, top notch. I use their Urban Disguise 35 to carry a 5D3 with 70-200 f2.8 attached, a 24-70 f2.8 with hood in shooting position, and 13" Macbook if needed. I have room for a short lens on top of the 24-70 if I reverse the hood and also room for a speedlite on the side, plus various junk in the zippered pockets. It's a small and comfortable bag, and my gear fits upright with quick access.

Edit: Here is a link to Think Tank's product page, perhaps along the lines of what you are looking for.

I have a ThinkTank Retrospective 10. It carries a 60D with a 70-200 2.8 attached, along with a 10-22 and 18-200. I don't have a speedlite but could easily accommodate it by swapping out one of the lenses.

lucasmcd wrote in post #15384359
The crumpler dividers and padding is very thick and they are not convex , the problem I had with them was some very small pieces of the velcro came off and stuck to the bottom of the bag, I also found it a little hard to work out of , but is still a great bag.

Do you have the current model Crumpler? I recall some discussion that the padding had become thinner on the current models. And how did you find it a little hard to work out of - the front flap, possibly?

Thanks for all your replies, some good ideas for me to check out. Unfortunately, my local camera shops don't carry a wide range of bags, so I'm a bit limited in which bags I can actually try out.

yourdoinitwrong wrote in post #15386203
I'm partial to ThinkTank and one of their Retrospective series bags may work. I have the Retro 20 but that one may be a little big for your needs so have a look at the Retro 10 or possibly the Retro 7. Their bags are very high quality and I have been happy with every product I have owned from them. ThinkTank's customer service is also top notch, I wanted an extra bottom pad (because I'm anal) and I emailed them asking how much it would be and they sent me one completely free of charge.

http://www.thinktankph​oto.com …nestone-shoulder-bag.aspx

I second this. I'm probably the most obsessively picky person around and I've been thoroughly impressed by the Retrospective line. I own a Retrospective 10 and it's able to carry a gripped 5D2 with lens attached (24-70 f/2.8 or shorter) plus a separate 70-200 & 1 additional lens, and a speedlight or two plus all the usual bells and whistles (batteries, cards, gels, cables, etc). I am also able to fit a micro apollo softbox and rogue flashbender in the bag when the main compartment is fully loaded, something no other bag I've seen of its size can do. The Retrospective will also accomodate a small water bottle. I wish that it had lobster clasp closures for the main flap in addition to the velcro and a tripod strap à la the Crumpler 6MDH, but I think I might just add those myself.

LostArk wrote in post #15387012
I second this. I'm probably the most obsessively picky person around and I've been thoroughly impressed by the Retrospective line. I own a Retrospective 10 and it's able to carry a gripped 5D2 with lens attached (24-70 f/2.8 or shorter) plus a separate 70-200 & 1 additional lens, and a speedlight or two plus all the usual bells and whistles (batteries, cards, gels, cables, etc). I am also able to fit a micro apollo softbox and rogue flashbender in the bag when the main compartment is fully loaded, something no other bag I've seen of its size can do. The Retrospective will also accomodate a small water bottle. I wish that it had lobster clasp closures for the main flap in addition to the velcro and a tripod strap à la the Crumpler 6MDH, but I think I might just add those myself.

That sounds like something from Star Wars - "psssht, we have a rogue flashbender in sector 9, psssht".

Thanks for the info - Thinktank is one brand that is carried locally (well, some of the range, anyway), so I have a chance of being able to handle one.