Unhappy with my bags!

Ok, my Tamrac Pro Digital 9 holster arrived today with flash case and a large lens case to attach to the sides.

The 5D w/ grip fits in it...it works.
Neither of my L lenses fit in the lens case with reversed hood. I have to keep one hood on, and one hood off and under neath my 5D. A bit annoying when trying to switch lenses quickly.

The pocket in the front is VERY tight. Decent, but not the most convenient.

It works...but im just not quite happy with this. And it SCREAMS "look I have a large expensive camera, AND a lens hanging on me!!!" Not something I particularly like to advertise.

I am going to order the Crumpler 7mil and see how that works out.

EDIT: Title is plural...so.... my other bags are a Tamrac System 3, and a Lowepro sling 200. Tamrac 3 can't even pretend to hold my stuff. The Sling holds a rediculous amount of stuff perfectly...but the sling gets incredibly tiring to hold.

Your signature only has one L lens listed.


Lowepro Toploader 75AW will take a body and grip (20D and BG-E2 in my case - but your 5D isn't that much larger even if it has a BG-E4) mated to an EF 24-70mm f/2.8L (hood forward) or EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS (hood reversed) or EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS (hood reversed).

Lowepro Lens Case 4 will take any of those three lenses in the listed configuration (I can't be 100% certain on the 100-400, as I don't own one - but I am certain on the other two). I also know that the front pocket of the Toploader 75AW will take a Canon Speedlite 580EX.

EF 24-105mm f/4L IS is smaller than EF 24-70mm f/2.8L, so you should be able to use both a Toploader 75AW and a Lens Case 4 with the hood forwards on the 24-105 (whether you'd want to is another matter; the 24-70 extends at the 70mm end so you can get the lens cap off without removing the hood, but I don't believe the same is true of the 24-105).


In other words, if you go for a Toploader 75AW and Lens Case 4, you could continue to build a Lowepro system whilst forgetting about the Tamrac bag that clearly doesn't work for you.

Just a thought.

David

Oh yeah, iforgot to mention my 5D has an attachment plate underneath the grip! HAHA, i always forget about that. It makes the squeeze a little tighter.

And yeah, i forgot to update the sig. when my lens came. Thanks!

This is why buying something like a bag, for me, has to be done where I can see and test it out. I might not buy from that store and choose to get it online but sometimes it's impossible to tell if a bag will hold your gear or know how well it will hold it, how convenient the pockets, zippers, compartments work for you. It's another one of those personal things and I find even after getting recommendations from others, it's a suggestion based on that persons needs and how they work. It may not work for you.

I bring my camera and at least give the bag a test drive in the store first.

Yeah, I like doing that too. I went to my local stores and they are either always out of everything, or never have what I need and want to special order it.

The crumpler will likely work. I am currently using a Nat. Geographic medium shoulder bag. with my 5D plus grip plus plate (makes to a big unit doesn't it). The camera is a tight fit but the bag is made from cotton/canvas and I like working with natural fibers. I ordered it but that is not something I would normallly do but when I did it was not availably locally. (Of course a week or two later it was available for the same price as B&H but in Canadian rather than US dollars so really 15% plus shipping less, oh well.) You really need to try bags in person. The shoulder pad on the NG bag slides off the shoulder too easy is my biggest complaint.

The bag carries a lot. 5D (grip and plate)35/1.5, 85 1.8 lensbaby, right angle finder, ST-E2 2x 430 flashes, small grey, white and black cards, lensbaby macro kit, some cables and filters. If I reverse the hoods on the lenses not on the camera I could get a 24-105 in as well. There is a bit more room for some small items. I usually leave the 24-105 out as a) I am not crazy about it when I have my 35/85 set and b) I can only carry so much.