Another bag thread...

Hey guys, I know this is a pretty common thread..... But im going to the local shop tomorrow to buy a new bag..

Im looking for a backpack style bag to make it easier to move at sporting events...

I have currently:

40D w/grip, 70-200 f/2.8, 100 f/2.0, 50 f/1.8, 20 f/2.8, 28-135 f/3.5-5.6, Speed light 430 EX, and some other little stuff...... Im also considering getting a back up camera for the 40D which means I need a little more space.

Any one have any suggestions?

Just go to the shop tomorrow and see what they have in stock. The bags are not wrapped up so you can open them up and see whats inside.

See if they have the Kata R-102 or R103

I have the Tamrac Aero 80 and I'm extremely pleased with it. The storage pocket is deep enough to fit my camera with the grip attached, three lenses and two flash units. Plus it has storage for my laptop, external hard drive, cables, camcorder, lunch and a lightweight jacket.

Theres got to be a tamrac expedition the right size for you, maybe the 7, that's what I have, carries a tripod as well.

You can take a look at the ThinkTank Photo Rotation 360 or the Speed series. However, you won't find it at local stores.

I never carry my full load of equipment except for transport from one place to another. As an example, I have attached a load which I was planning to take to Alaska. I have since modified the load but, have not re-shot the image of the bag full of the equipment I am actually going to take. This will give you an idea of my equipment that I will often have at my base camp. I will never carry this kit when out shooting simply carry it through the airports and from the rental car to my lodge, cabin or motel room

I never do the cruise boat thing, so I always have a vehicle and a lodge, cabin or motel site that will be my base. I usually rent a sedan instead of an SUV so that I have a secure trunk in which to lock my gear (a trick I learned from an ABC News crew in the 1960's). I don't like hot weather so I won't usually travel where it is very hot (preferring to go to those places in the late-fall thru early-spring. I am retired so I have my travel time free to use as I like - when I like. However, if I have to travel and keep my gear in the trunk in hot areas, I will buy a cheap large Styrofoam cooler and dump the entire Vertex case into the cooler (no ice or frozen bags). Even it the hottest weather, the camera equipment, protected by the Styrofoam cooler and the padding of the Vertex bag, never gets hot. I will dispose of the cooler before traveling home, a couple of bucks I regard as well spent.

Another reason I don't do the cruise boat thing is that when a cruise boat docks or lays up close to shore, it disgorges hundreds, if not thousands, of bright eyed, straw hat and shorts wearing, tourists who have loads of fun and screw up the photo opportunities greatly. I was photographing the early Gemini Astronaut shots and was based out of Bermuda in the mid-1960's. I absolutely loved Bermuda and shooting there (I had plenty of time to shoot - I would report to the operations tower at 5:00 AM and if the splash down was not going to occur, I was off until 5:00 AM the next day). Bermuda was a wonderful and magical place. However, when two cruise boats docked, the capitol, Hamilton, Bermuda became a trashy, tourist oriented Caribbean Disneyland. All of the hookers and con artists came out of the woodwork to prey on the tourists and the vistas were spoiled by the herds of those tourists. I vowed that i would never be among that type of herd.

Here's how I carry my gear when shooting.

Using two cameras, I will carry one camera with a shorter lens around my neck on an OPTECH strap and the camera with the longer lens in a Thinktank holster case at my side.

When I use three cameras, I carry two of them on the OPTECH Reporter strap with the shortest (physical size) lens on the top strap and the longer on the bottom strap and the longest lens in the Thinktank holster case.

I have a hand strap connected to the camera in the holster case and use a OPTECH Hood Hat in lieu of a lens cap.

If the camera/lens in the holster case is my 70-200mm f/4L IS lens (which it very often is because the 70-200mm and my 17-55mm IS lenses are my go-to duo) I use a screw-in lens hood in lieu of the OEM hood because I can get the unit into operation quicker and easier with the smaller (but totally adequate) screw-in hood. If the longer lens is the 300mm f/4L IS, I have it in the holseter with the hood retracted and wearing a Hood Hat. It is quick and easy to extend the hood and at the same time rip of the Hood Hat. I wish all canon tele-zooms had retractable hoods.

I use a shooting vest for my extras such as batteries, CF cards, filters, etc. My wife has sewn a Velcro epaulet on the left shoulder of that vest and that secures the strap of the holster case and keeps it from falling off. If I am doing a lot of moving around, I will pass the belt loop of the Thinktank over the waist cinch strap of the vest to prevent the holster from swinging. However, most often, the shoulder strap and Velcro are sufficient.

If there are any times that I need to carry additional equipment that doesn't fit into my vest or holster case, I will carry a very small Tamrac 603 bag over my right shoulder. This happens very seldom.

By the way, if you ever watch any sports photographers or photojournalists in general, you will seldom see them carrying anything like a backpack.

When I am home, I usually store my gear in the Vertex except for the 30D, 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens and 550EX flash (with diffuser) which I keep in the small Tamrac 603 bag along with an extra charged battery, an extra CF card and a set of batteries for the flash. This way, if I have to shoot something quickly, I can just grab the small bag and be fully prepared.

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I just bought a Mountainsmith Odyssey- it's HUGE- I love the way it wears, and the storage, but I have one gripe- the bag doesn't open up 100% of the way- the adjustment straps for the waist belt keep it from opening all the way, but then it wont flop open either. It was way cheaper than Lowepro, Tamrac or Kata bags of a similar size, and better made.

I have Burton Zoom 28L and it fits the following:
XTi-gripped, 17-55 f/2.8IS (reversed hood), 70-200 f/2.8IS (reversed hood), Sigma 30mm1.4 (reversed hood), Tokina 11-16mm (reversed hood), 580EXII with the pouch it comes with. It still have some extra space, but i can't fit my other lens (28-70mm f/3.5-4.5) without having uneven space or double stacking the lens.

I could actually put the 580exii on the outside pouches and put some more lenses, but decided that i don't really need my 28-70 in that bag. I also can put my tripod at the front without any problem. I'll post my setup when i have chance.

Here's some picture:
Left most is a padded Gripped Rebel XTi with 17-55mm 2.8 IS attached with the reverse hood. Top right is 70-200mm 2.8 IS. Center right is 580EXII with a bit of wiggle room. Bottom right 30mm 1.4 and 28-70mm right on top of it (left), Tokina 11-16mm 2.8 (right).

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The Burton bag is nice. I have the same one in the psycho pinstripe. Using only the camera compartment you can carry:

30D with 300 F4 attached
50 F1.8
70-200 F4
24-70 F2.8

If you use the top bit as well, you can carry a 300D with a 24-70 attached as well. Along with this there is space for a drinks bottle, lightweight jacket, memory cards/batteries, and monopod.

EDIT: Correction, mine is the older Burton Zoom bag, which is slightly different.