I need a new bag....

Contrary to what my wife thinks, I need a new bag. I have four lenses that come with me everywhere I go (I do a lot of birding, but also some landscaping while I'm at it):

400 f/5.6
70-200 f/4 IS
Tamron 17-50 f/2.8
Tamron 28-75 f/2.8

I have other lenses, but these tend to always be my "On The Go" set.

And the other ancillary gear:

Filters, rocket blower, leatherman, etc.

Currently, my bag, a backpack called the Domke Iguana, can hold all these items just fine, but the lay out is such that the 400 has to be the lens in the center (as it's a pretty big lens). Not usually a problem, but if I'm using another lens, say, one of the Tammys, I have to take it off, and re-attach the 400 before I close up for the day. The environments in which I work, changing lenses unnecessarily is not a good idea.

Is there a bag out there that will accomodate all these lenses, and will not necessitate the 400 to be attached at all times while the camera's in the bag? Will the Crumpler 7MDH work for this?

Any thoughts, and/or your experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Looked at the Domke F-1x or F-2 if you're not wedded to the backpack? Or an F-802 Reporter's Satchel with the 720-230 3-compartment insert? The first 2 are long enough to take the 400 horizontally even with a camera on it; the third will take it vertically with or without camera. If the two huge front pockets on the F-802 don't have enough extra room, you can add the F-901 and/or F-902 pouches on the ends. The F-1X and F-2 already have front and end pockets and the F-1X has a huge back pocket.

I have the 7 MDH. You can check it out next time we're together. I can't remember how big the 400 is. The bag is totally configurable inside.

I also have the Brazillion dollar home which I know would work, but it's HUGE and holds a laptop as well. I use it for traveling.

T.D. wrote in post #3393079
I have the 7 MDH. You can check it out next time we're together. I can't remember how big the 400 is. The bag is totally configurable inside.

I also have the Brazillion dollar home which I know would work, but it's HUGE and holds a laptop as well. I use it for traveling.

I've got a big ol' case for traveling. That's not it. It's for those times when we're at the coast, or at the Refuges that I want to shift from one lens to the other. Believe it or not, I don't always want the 400 on the body. Yeah, maybe I will take another look at your 7MDH, thanks.

Jon wrote in post #3393068
Looked at the Domke F-1x or F-2 if you're not wedded to the backpack? Or an F-802 Reporter's Satchel with the 720-230 3-compartment insert? The first 2 are long enough to take the 400 horizontally even with a camera on it; the third will take it vertically with or without camera. If the two huge front pockets on the F-802 don't have enough extra room, you can add the F-901 and/or F-902 pouches on the ends. The F-1X and F-2 already have front and end pockets and the F-1X has a huge back pocket.

Jon, you Domke junkie, you. You know, I've got the F2. I guess I'm having difficulty seeing how to store the 400... vertically, I suppose, but it would stick up pretty far, don't you think? Don't have that much imagination, I guess. Maybe this afternoon I'll play around with it again and see if that will be the answer!

Nope - the 720-230's a 3-compartment insert that occupies half the bag length-wise. It's about the only insert I use, on all my bags. The 400 with or without a body attached can lie down in front of it horizontally. If you want to stow stuff vertically, go with the F-802.

I'm just waiting for a Tamrac Turbo Cyberpro 5618 to dry. Bought it on ebay and it was in a need of a good cleaning up so slung it in the washing machine. I was complaining over not having a bag that could fit all of my stuff (see gear list + laptop, chargers, cables, rocketblower etc). Now I'm thinking I might have too big a bag! Sigh!

Oh well, at least I don't have to carry two bags from now on.

Jon wrote in post #3393634
Nope - the 720-230's a 3-compartment insert that occupies half the bag length-wise. It's about the only insert I use, on all my bags. The 400 with or without a body attached can lie down in front of it horizontally. If you want to stow stuff vertically, go with the F-802.

Thanks, Jon. I'll look into that. I don't have to have the camera vertically. I just want all the lenses previously listed to go with me. Again, at the end of a shoot, I don't want to have to disengage whatever lens I'm using and hook the camera body back up to the 400 so that I can transport. I didn't know about the length wise insert. I will definitely give that a look. Thanks again.

shesgotthepic wrote in post #3393665
I'm just waiting for a Tamrac Turbo Cyberpro 5618 to dry. Bought it on ebay and it was in a need of a good cleaning up so slung it in the washing machine. I was complaining over not having a bag that could fit all of my stuff (see gear list + laptop, chargers, cables, rocketblower etc). Now I'm thinking I might have too big a bag! Sigh!

Oh well, at least I don't have to carry two bags from now on.

I'd be interested in your take on it once it's dry and you've got your stuff in it.

shesgotthepic wrote in post #3393665
I'm just waiting for a Tamrac Turbo Cyberpro 5618 to dry. Bought it on ebay and it was in a need of a good cleaning up so slung it in the washing machine. I was complaining over not having a bag that could fit all of my stuff (see gear list + laptop, chargers, cables, rocketblower etc). Now I'm thinking I might have too big a bag! Sigh!

Oh well, at least I don't have to carry two bags from now on.

How's 5618 working out for you? I'm thinking of getting one too. Any thoughts?