Boda dry -vs- think tank UD30?

Anyone got one that can answer a few questions for me? I've been looking for the ideal "2 tube" camera bag for a while now. I've got a tamrac pro 5 that I don't love. I also picked up a Domke f-5xc that's not perfect either. At this point I have 2 options left, the think than UD30 or the boda. I'd written the boda off @$200, but they're on sale right now for $159.95 shipped, so that puts it in the range I'd consider (still crazy expensive though).

Does anyone have one? I see shots of them with a 70-200 2.8 in there with the hood on the right way... But my question is will a 70-200 fit in there lens down with a camera attached? The hood and a body are similar size right? Also, the center divider looks to be stitched in? Is there any play in this? It seems the lens would fit in the body, but that the body might hang up on this center divider if it's stitched to the top.

I know it's a lens bag and I'm cool with that. That's actually what I want/need 75% of the time, it's just when traveling to a shoot it'd be nice to be able to zip the top shut with my camera in it and not have to worry about it. If it's stuffed but works that's fine for me.

I've been cyber stalking the bag online a bit and this review:
http://matthewdejesus.​blogspot.com …g-boda-final-chapter.html
has some good shots of it....

anyone know if it'll work? I'm actually using it with the 100-400, 24-105 and 17-40, but the 100-400 is the same size (close enough) as the 70-200 everyone is using with this thing.

bump!

anyone have either of these bags?

I dont have UD30, but I do have UD60. The 60 is 1" teller than the 30, It fit xxD/5D+70-200/2.8 just nice. I doubt the 30 will take the combo comfortably.

Have a few questions that actually consider a different bag... :/

1) Why are you limiting yourself to these two cases?
2) Must the bag you choose be able to carry the 100-400 mounted OR unmounted, or will you be able to get by without requiring that it carry the 100-400 mounted?
3) Do you need the bag to accommodate lens hoods (mounted correctly), too?

I have the UD30 and yes it does fit the 100-400 mounted on a 40D
It is my current walk around bag and easily carries my 40D, 100-400, 17-55 and 580ex
It's a little tight when the 100-400 is mounted but it is the smallest and best bag i have found for my needs

UD30 will NOT fit a Camera mounted to a 70-200 2.8 straight down. It's just slightly too large. It will fit the 100-400 sightly tight as well as the 70-200 f4.

You can fit the a camera with another lens face down, and then put the 70-200 face down next to it however. (2 compartment setup) With the 70-200 f/4 I have a 3 compartment setup and can fit a flash on the other side of the camera too.

tigerotor77w wrote in post #7302046
1) Why are you limiting yourself to these two cases?
2) Must the bag you choose be able to carry the 100-400 mounted OR unmounted, or will you be able to get by without requiring that it carry the 100-400 mounted?
3) Do you need the bag to accommodate lens hoods (mounted correctly), too?

1) Because I've tried most everything else that I can find that's similar and these are the last options as far as I can see. I'm VERY picky about my bags, these 2 in particular seem VERY well thought out, so I'm hoping they'll work for me. But I have a tamrac pro 5 that I just sold as well as a month old Domke f-5xc that I also sold. Both do what I want, just not perfectly. The tamrac has too much extra crap/space on the bag. The domke is closer, but I don't like the lower door/flap and their inserts suck. The domke with the tamrac inserts is better but still not perfect.

2) Yes, mounted to a 5D. Basically it should be able to take any of my body/lens combos easily so depending on the event I can just drop what I'm using in the bag w/o swapping and go right back to it later.

3) no, I am willing to reverse hoods, but the hood does need to fit into the bag somehow (considering the 100-400 hood is very wide).

Blue S2 wrote in post #7302172
UD30 will NOT fit a Camera mounted to a 70-200 2.8 straight down. It's just slightly too large. It will fit the 100-400 sightly tight as well as the 70-200 f4.

so the .3 of an inch difference actually lets the 100-400 fit and the 70-200 not? Damn, I guess that means it's just about perfect for the 100-400 then eh? And don't they say on their site it will fit a 70-200 (granted w/o saying which version)?

Thanks for the input guys. I'm afraid both still sound good and neither perfect. But I did order the Boda last night from B&H. Considering it's got a rebate so it's ~$160 I went for it. If I don't love it I'll either return it in a week or sell it used and get the TT UD30. In the end I went with the boda first because I like the concept of the lens bag while shooting and it seems I should be able to just zip it up with the 5D & 100-400 inside it. I also like the belt idea and it just seems to have a better top for what I want to do. BUT it does have more crap along with it in terms of flaps and spaces I don't really need/want. So we'll see how it goes.

Seriously though, all this is making me wonder how hard it would be to either learn how to make my own bags, or at least find someone who has the materials and knowledge to do it for me. This isn't the only bag concept I'm struggling with finding what I want, and I know I could make/have made something better, at least for me.

jacobsen1 wrote in post #7302366
1) Because I've tried most everything else that I can find that's similar and these are the last options as far as I can see. I'm VERY picky about my bags, these 2 in particular seem VERY well thought out, so I'm hoping they'll work for me. But I have a tamrac pro 5 that I just sold as well as a month old Domke f-5xc that I also sold. Both do what I want, just not perfectly. The tamrac has too much extra crap/space on the bag. The domke is closer, but I don't like the lower door/flap and their inserts suck. The domke with the tamrac inserts is better but still not perfect.

2) Yes, mounted to a 5D. Basically it should be able to take any of my body/lens combos easily so depending on the event I can just drop what I'm using in the bag w/o swapping and go right back to it later.

3) no, I am willing to reverse hoods, but the hood does need to fit into the bag somehow (considering the 100-400 hood is very wide).

1) Makes sense. Just wanted to see if there might be other options I could think of.

2) I was going to suggest a Crumpler 5 MDH -- but I don't think it'll fit the 100-400. The 6MDH, however, may be able to take both the 5D and the 100-400 (lying across the width of the bag). You'd then be able to throw a divider horizontally (parallel to the floor of the bag) and then put your other lens on top of that.

3) The 5MDH *definitely* won't work for you, then.

But if you are okay with Crumpler and the image it conjures, the 6MDH might be the ticket. I tried putting my XSi and 70-200 f4 IS along the width of the bag and it worked; I believe there was enough extra room to accommodate the extra length of the 100-400.

The ThinkTank site never mentions a camera ATTACHED to a 70-200 2.8 will fit straight down. They say a camera without a grip, but with a lens will. That is in reference to width, not depth.

A 70-200 2.8, a wide angle lens, and a camera body DO fit. Its just you won't be closing the zipper comfortably or at all if the 70-200 is attached.

If I attach a 70-200 f4 IS WITH a 1.4x and my 5D...the zipper won't close 100%. Its about 80% closed. So that is probably the reality with an f2.8.

A UD50 or 60 should though. It has some extra height. Then again, that might be more bag that you want to carry around. In reality, the 50 and 60 aren't that big.

I have a 30, 40, and 60 depending where I am going and what I need to bring. You would be amazed what you can carry with those bags. A UD30 can easily take a 5D with 24-105, 70-200, 3 flashes, an extra body, and small accessories. Two of those flashes would be going in the outer stretch pockets. Personally I like keeping everything inside the bag. Thats why I have a 40. I have the 60 for when I need the laptop too.

Oh forgot to mention... have you seen the new UD35 ?? That one is basically a UD30 but designed to take a 70-200 2.8 ATTACHED straight down. It can also hold a thin laptop. That might be exactly what you are looking for. I totally forgot they just released that.

Blue S2 wrote in post #7305116
The ThinkTank site never mentions a camera ATTACHED to a 70-200 2.8 will fit straight down. They say a camera without a grip, but with a lens will. That is in reference to width, not depth.

A 70-200 2.8, a wide angle lens, and a camera body DO fit. Its just you won't be closing the zipper comfortably or at all if the 70-200 is attached.

If I attach a 70-200 f4 IS WITH a 1.4x and my 5D...the zipper won't close 100%. Its about 80% closed. So that is probably the reality with an f2.8.

thanks for all that. I really appreciate it. Yeah, I've seen the 35 on the site, I'm just not sure on those -vs- the boda but I like the "thinner" design of the UD series honestly. I don't use grips so I prefer a bag designed for non gripped bodies.

Any chance you have (or could take) some shots with the UD30 loaded with anything you want to toss into it? I've only been able to find a few shots of it... Similar with the boda, some empty shots, but not many loaded...

thanks again!

and for anyone with suggestions, PLEASE throw them out, I'm not against suggestions at all, I've just been buying and trying what I've thought might work, but nothing really has yet.

oh, and I got the tracking on the boda just now, should be here tomorrow so I'll load it up and post some shots.

Pictures! Here ya go!

http://gallery.soundvi​sionpassion.com …038_S8dmN#34682​7172_m22st

Now, the fully loaded setup is really more of transport solution, and not what I consider a fast paced working solution. I use a speed belt system when I'm working generally. If I want to shoot around town with a shoulder bag, I will generally only have 2 lenses and a flash.

very nice, you're not making this any easier!

thanks for the shots though...

boda's here. It's.... interesting?

Haven't had time to put ANYTHING in it yet, but my initial reaction is it might be perfect? it's size seems right for what I want. It even seems like it could be my holster bag for skiing as it's thinner (off the chest distance) and about the same width as the lowepro I'm using. So that'd be rad as this would hold me. The flaps aren't ideal for me as I really want JUST a lens bag with no extra bells/whistles/cubbies​, but I understand I'm alone there. They are thinner than other bags so it's not terrible. I did pick up the waist belt as well and that and the strap are very well done. The entire bag is very well done.

I can't wait to get home and try it out with some lenses though.

Would be interested in seeing some pictures of this bag with different items in it if you get chance

jacobsen1 wrote in post #7311062
boda's here. It's.... interesting?

Haven't had time to put ANYTHING in it yet, but my initial reaction is it might be perfect? it's size seems right for what I want. It even seems like it could be my holster bag for skiing as it's thinner (off the chest distance) and about the same width as the lowepro I'm using. So that'd be rad as this would hold me. The flaps aren't ideal for me as I really want JUST a lens bag with no extra bells/whistles/cubbies​, but I understand I'm alone there. They are thinner than other bags so it's not terrible. I did pick up the waist belt as well and that and the strap are very well done. The entire bag is very well done.

I can't wait to get home and try it out with some lenses though.