Photojounalistic/Street Photography bag reccomendation

Hello.....I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on a bag that could be used for photojournalistc/stree​t photography. The most important feature I would look at would be storage and ease of working out of. I'm trying to store the following in it:

Canon 10D w/ grip
Canon 28-135 IS(usually attached to 10D)
Canon 75-300
Canon 50
Canon 580EX
Batteries, Cards...etc.

Thanks for the input

Maybe any of the Stealth Reporter series from Lowepro? Or perhaps the Slingshot series by LP as well? Domke seems to be popular around here as well but I have no experience with their shoulder bags.

Dorman wrote in post #2598563
Maybe any of the Stealth Reporter series from Lowepro? Or perhaps the Slingshot series by LP as well? Domke seems to be popular around here as well but I have no experience with their shoulder bags.

I was thinking the Slingshot myself.. I've got the 200, and I'm pretty sure it could hold all of that, I just have never seen a 28-135 IS so I don't know how big that is.. I keep a Sigma 24-70 EX on my 300D +grip in the 200 and it fits fine, along with my 75-300 and 50mm and 580ex. plenty of room for cards, batteries remotes, manuals, cleaning kits, etc..

This was my issue as well - finding myself strolling around the park/lake and downtown for hours at a time. I got the Lowepro Stealth Report 550 AW thinking it would fill the bill. It did not. Great bag but I found that anything I *carried* and put down to shoot was a major hindrance. After a few bags - and some more research - I opted to go with a Think Tank Speed Freak (www.thinktankphoto.com) and a lens case/strobe case on the side. It is comfortable, has top zipper to work out of, doesn't have to be sat down to get gear out of, is not too large (there is a larger and smaller waist bag...this is the Goldilocks - not too big and not too small) and very well built - also a built in rain cover. The waist bag system is a winner for me (just my thought) - the shoulder bag (Stealth Reporter) and backpack (I have a Canon backpack) both need to be taken off/sat down to do gear changes. I can't really comment on the Slingshot. When I wander about - for hours at a time - I have my Rebel XT w/ grip, 17-85 w/hood, 70-200 F4L IS w/hood, Speedlite 430 EX, pens, moo cards, filters and a Kata rain cover in a side pocket...with just a little miscellany left over...Really comfy system and easy to work with. Hope it helps and hope you find your solution.

Domke bags were designed by a PJ for PJs. You'll find an F-2 nice and roomy for your gear.

I'll add my vote to the Domke F2, they hold more than you think and I've never found any thing easier to work out or and carry around.

Jack

Silly thought, but have you considered no bag at all? I try to force myself to go out with just one lens. No bag needed.

If you do need a bag, definitely check out the slingshot. If you don't load it up too much, it's a great bag. You don't have to put it down, just swing it around from back to front.

mark

I have a Billingham 335 which fits my 1D with 2 lenses (even my 70-200 fits), 430EX, spare batteries and othe loose stuff. For a 10D the 225 will be big enough too.
Billinghams are nice bags for a few reasons: they're 'stealthy'. The bag doesn't look like a photographers bag at all. The nice tan color with leather patches looks great and adds character to the bag.
Furthermore it's a smart bag. You can fold the sides of the main compartiment so that the bag stays open. You can take out and put in stuff easily that way. To (sort of) protect you stuff, the big flap can cover the gap. Also the side pockets are big enough to keep lots of stuff, but remain flat when not filled completely.
In short: Billingham are great looking, sturdy, inconspicuous and handy. But expensive.

one more vote for Domke F-2.
I can even put umbrella, book, water bottle, mobile phone, compact tripod, flash with softbounce, glove, a hat, everything.
you know, the essentials

Technographer wrote in post #2598430
Hello.....I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on a bag that could be used for photojournalistc/stree​t photography. The most important feature I would look at would be storage and ease of working out of. I'm trying to store the following in it:

Canon 10D w/ grip
Canon 28-135 IS(usually attached to 10D)
Canon 75-300
Canon 50
Canon 580EX
Batteries, Cards...etc.

Thanks for the input

I'm not sure if the Domke F2 would be big enough. I used the F1X during my six years at a daily newspaper and that was with two bodies and five lenses. I got a J bag as it was a little taller when I wanted something bigger and prettier for my medium format gear at weddings. I use that now for my Canon gear and my most recent F1X (this one is my fourth) is a strobe bag.

The totally canvas Donke bags lasted me about two years with day to day use at a newspaper. But I think that kind of wear would take a many, many years of regular, non journalism professional use to duplicate! My most recent nylon F1X has lasted - in good shape - for almost a decade now and it has plenty of life left in it. One side of the bag is still canvas, so that the bag wears and not your clothes; and it looks a bit gnarly, but overall it's fine.

The lens inserts on the J bags are not as good as the F bag inserts (assuming that they are still the same) and I use the F bag inserts in the J.

In any case I really like the layout of these bags, and that's a big reason why I've gone back to them over and over again. I could get at the gear when it was on my shoulder - although I much prefered to put the bag down. And when the time comes there will be another Domke bag in my future.

For super stealth, I use a generic messenger bag with Domke inserts.

When I want to pretend like I'm a pro PJ, I carry a Lowepro 75AW (with or w/o various attachments) and my photo vest.

Sometimes it's just my cameras and my photo vest.

Check out Karl Grobl's set-up...
http://www.karlgrobl.c​om/EquipmentReviews/in​dex.htm
http://www.karlgrobl.c​om …entReviews/Came​raBags.htm

Lowepro 85AW?
Mine holds Rebel with 70-200 F4L (attached), 17-85 IS zoom, cards/batteries etc and still has a lot of room in it. I don't have a flash gun, yet! It's a top loader so contents are easy to get to, can be worn around your waist or carried overyour shoulder of even as a combination. Can also be caried on your back by use of a lowepro harness, although the contenst are a bit harder to get to then (you have to take it off).
Richard

DaveG wrote in post #2602898
I'm not sure if the Domke F2 would be big enough. I used the F1X during my six years at a daily newspaper and that was with two bodies and five lenses. I got a J bag as it was a little taller when I wanted something bigger and prettier for my medium format gear at weddings. I use that now for my Canon gear and my most recent F1X (this one is my fourth) is a strobe bag.

The totally canvas Donke bags lasted me about two years with day to day use at a newspaper. But I think that kind of wear would take a many, many years of regular, non journalism professional use to duplicate! My most recent nylon F1X has lasted - in good shape - for almost a decade now and it has plenty of life left in it. One side of the bag is still canvas, so that the bag wears and not your clothes; and it looks a bit gnarly, but overall it's fine.

The lens inserts on the J bags are not as good as the F bag inserts (assuming that they are still the same) and I use the F bag inserts in the J.

In any case I really like the layout of these bags, and that's a big reason why I've gone back to them over and over again. I could get at the gear when it was on my shoulder - although I much prefered to put the bag down. And when the time comes there will be another Domke bag in my future.

He's only got one body and no huge lenses. I get 2, 24-70, 70-200, 15-30 and a flash easily into the F-802. Similar into the F-2. The F2 used to hold 2 of my FD bodies and 5-6 lenses. When I've got most of my stuff, I also use the F-1X.

Crumpler 6 or 7 Million dollar bag!

They will comfortably carry all that and don't even look like camera bags! Pretty comfortable to walk about with too.

I've looked at all the great suggestions everyone has given. I'm considering the F-2 since that was the majority of the reccomendations everyone gave. Seems like it would hold everything I need it to. I have yet to go down to my local photo shop and see it, before ordering. I was also looking at the Lowepro Nova 5. Has anyone had any experience with that? Seems like it would hold a lot of equipment, and it's reasonalbly priced. Thanks.