My search for work/laptop bag with camera possibilities ends.

For now atleast.

I waded through a whole lot of bag information on this wonderful forum. I think I read through 75 + pages of posts on one thread alone. At the end everything left me with tons of options but I did not find any posts dealing with my specific needs (or could have missed from the lack of concentration induced by such extensive reading). I am posting this in the hope that it will help someone in a similar situation.

I was motivated by all the people who reportedly do take their cameras everywhere (and some get amazing shots on the way to work or back) and I was thoroughly impressed. I know how painful it is to remove my backpack (loaded with the occasional reference book and a laptop), put it down (and worry about the crap on the ground), get the camera out, put it back again and so on and so forth. The idea of a messenger style bag never did occur to me. Those were for the fashionable and not the practical I thought! The glowing crumpler reviews made me think different.

I work as a software engineer and I usually carry my laptop to work. I also carry some printed articles/papers as well as the occasional reference book. Random pens, USB keys etc round out the inventory. My needs, judging from the numerous threads seem to be somewhat different from the common ones of

• Plane travel with laptop and camera equipment (and maybe a change of clothes and magazines)
  
• School going person with lots of books and laptop and a camera.
  
• Photo professional who wants to lug camera stuff and laptop around.

• Allowed easy access to the camera.This meant a bag that could be swung around. While lifting a flap (and then holding it under your chin) to get the camera out was ok, a zipper to get at the camera directly was the best. If the bag kinda opens up when zipper is open, even better.

• Can be reconfigured easily to take all photo stuff out and stuff some books in. The industrial strength velcro with which the dividers of a typical camera bag are made (and the fact that they tend to stick while being pulled out making me swear frequently) are not what I consider easily reconfigurable. I wanted a pull out compartment without much bulk.

• carrys a laptop *and* it's power supply Meant built in laptop padding and space in the laptop sleeve for my slim charger as well. I have a Lenovo X61T which is weirdly shaped with it's battery sticking out.

• Is stiff enough to occasionally carry some papers and printed articles and a book. Did not realize how important this was till I started experimenting with a nice keen messenger bag. Was excellent (Had magnetic clasp on front with no velcro noises and such) for laptop. I was still searching for the ideal camera insert when I had to carry some printed papers home. The suppleness/flexibility of the bag (wraps around the body's angles) killed the papers. They ended up all crumpled by the time I got home. So Stiffness turned out to be a must have.

• A bag that looks like an everyday messenger bag was ideal Did not want a bag to draw attention to myself. Somewhat decent but not too polished or briefcaseish.

• wasn't tall enough to actually hold my laptop with cushioned protection (with extended battery).
  
• very miserly on divided compartments for pens, usb keys, etc etc.
  
• Could not be reconfigured to be a work bag (unless I keep pulling out those velcroed tabs which I hate).

• It holds my laptop and it's charger (side by side) in the laptop sleeve. My 5D with 24-105 (looks like I can keep the hood facing forward as well) sits well without making the bag bulge.
  
• I only want to cary the 5D with one lens and keep half of the removable insert for a posible book. I can remove the entire insert (slides nicely out) if I want to carry more books and forego carrying the camera.
  
• It has pockets for pens, keys, laptop screen cleaner, cables etc. Bag doesn't look too rich and doesn't look like a laptop bag.
  
• The zipper on the top allows me to expose the camera compartment and get to the camera without using any pesky flap.
  
• It has two velcro panels (like the new crumplers) and retains it's shape when lifted using it's handle. The strap is also very nicely padded.
  
• With the camera pushed to one half of the insert, I can put a hardbound book in the other half. Space for more than one actually.

• I now realize that a strap can be too grippy. I miss being able to slide the bag forward instantly like I could with the keen alameda. The bottom of the cushioned part of the strap is simply too grippy. I have to do this shrug/hop step and then slide it front/back the instant the bag's weight is no longer on my shoulder.
  
• I tend to not use the buckles at all (two of em). It is fine with just the velcro straps (not as sticky or loud as the crumpler, just right, even when loaded). When I walk however, the buckle ends make this rythmic plat, plat noise as they swing and hit the bag. Makes people look. I will have to devise some mechanism to keep then locked down without actually having to do something (I was less lazy I would have always used the buckles)
  
• With the bag on the shoulder and weighted down, the camera is best located in the center of the bag to allow it to be pulled out from the top. I did prove to myself that it can be placed at the edge of the compartment and then pulled out and replaced, but this requires marginally more effort. So far I haven't carried any books and so the camera is in the middle making my life easier.

joove, thanks for the rundown. I've been in a similar position for a while. Looked at a bunch of bags and nothing really jumped out at me. For now I think I'm just gonna use my Tumi laptop bag (expanded) and just buy some inserts.

Question about the Tenba Messenger - is it small enough to fit underneath an airplane seat? Or would you have to put it up top? That's one of my most important criteria, because when I travel I hate to check bags so will always have a carry-on rollaboard with me, which usually means my laptop/camera bag needs to fit underneath the seat.

Thanks!

batch wrote in post #7526731
Question about the Tenba Messenger - is it small enough to fit underneath an airplane seat? Or would you have to put it up top? That's one of my most important criteria, because when I travel I hate to check bags so will always have a carry-on rollaboard with me, which usually means my laptop/camera bag needs to fit underneath the seat.
Thanks!

Sorry. Just saw this. I'll measure the bag loaded with my laptop and 5D + 1 Lens and update this thread. Will also add photos over the weekend.

Thanks joove, much appreciated.

That Tenba looks like a nice bag. I have used a lot of the other bags you listed (Thinktank, Crumpler, Naneu) and can agree with your comments.

batch wrote in post #7526731
Question about the Tenba Messenger - is it small enough to fit underneath an airplane seat? Or would you have to put it up top? That's one of my most important criteria, because when I travel I hate to check bags so will always have a carry-on rollaboard with me, which usually means my laptop/camera bag needs to fit underneath the seat.
Thanks!

The bag loosely measures (17" Length X 11.5" Depth/Height X 8.5" Thick at the widest bulge) when loaded with

• laptop (X61T is 1.4" thick so adjust according to your laptop)
  
• Canon 5D + Kirk Plate + 24-105 (middle pocket of Insert)(this combo is 4.75" thick. Basically the height of the camera body)
  
• 430 EX (irrelevant really as this doesn't cause any more thickness increase)
  
• Pens, WD Passport hard drive etc.

simple question will the tenba large hold a 30d with 70-200 IS mounted?

kimmylixx wrote in post #7555071
simple question will the tenba large hold a 30d with 70-200 IS mounted?

It holds my 5D2 with 100-400 so I see no problems with your setup

I have the Tenba bag here http://www.tenba.com …t-Large-Shoulder-Bag.aspx and it is a great bag that will hold a 15" lap top. I carry my XSi with 300 F\4 IS attached, a 70-200 F\4, Sigma 50 F\2.8, 1.4EX II TC, 430EX II flash and lots of other nicknacks. It has waterproof zippers and it comes with a rain cover. It also has an outside magazine pouch and you can attach a trippod or monopod to the bottom. A little costly but IMO well worth it.

kimmylixx wrote in post #7555071
simple question will the tenba large hold a 30d with 70-200 IS mounted?

It will hold it easily, but not in a very cozy hug. The supplied inserts are not that deep. Once I attach my 70-200 2.8 IS to my 5D (Your 30D will be close in body size), the LCD of the camera is 2" above the end of the camera insert padding. If you have lenses in the other pockets that run the full-depth of the inserts, the camera itself will be snug but there is still that 2" of exposed area (Which is not bad). The laptop compartment/padding is longer still so the bag itself is deeper than the combo providing some protection.

To compare: On my crumpler 7MDH, the 5D + 70-200 2.8 + Cap + Filter combo is enough to make the eye piece be outlined (and in danger) after the flap was closed. The Tenba atleast conceals everything.

I also have a Tenba messenger bag. I picked it up for a trip but ended up using it as my daily laptop bag. I have some of the same complaints as the OP with the buckles dangling but the "grippy" does not bother me. The biggest complaint I have with the bag is carrying my laptop and a gripped camera. The width of the gripped camera body does not fit well.

I also have a Tenba sling bag that I picked up as a day bag. Has enough room for camera w/lens although a 70-200 or 100-400 is pushing it. I just can't get it to fit well with this combo. As a tourist bag for the lack of a better phrase, it works quite well. Camera and bare essentials plus a couple bottles of water work great. It is pretty comfortable unless you really get it weighted down.

I find myself drawn toward the Tenba brand. Their designs just tend to fit my needs. I also have a stealth reporter but load that thing down and it's 50+ lbs. I tend to use that more as luggage than anything else. My carry on bag w/laptop and camera gear and enough room for my travel stuff. It never ceases to amaze me what I can get in that bag.

Well, if you're going to routinely be carrying your laptop, I suggest that you take another look at the Domke bags, in particular the F-804 Super Satchel. I carried the very similar F-805 for years. The laptop adds rigidity where needed; there are pockets front ands rear for papers, so you can put the laptop in the front of the bag if you like and let the back conform to your body, or in the back and have a "flat" bag. There's enough room for a body and a couple of lenses along with your lunch and a thermos along with the computer and papers. And you can add the F-901 or F-902 pouches onto the end for smaller items like a flash, book, or water bottle if you need more room.

Sp00ks wrote in post #7593321
I also have a Tenba messenger bag. I picked it up for a trip but ended up using it as my daily laptop bag. I have some of the same complaints as the OP with the buckles dangling

The solution seems fairly simple. leave the straps dangling but pull the straps so that the buckles are pulled all the way into the edge of the bag. No banging any more. When I want to actually buckle it, easy to pull it out. Try it.

That is a very well written, well thought out trip through bag acquisition nightmares.

It almost seems as if, given half a chance, you could probably design an excellent bag.

I enjoyed reading your post.
mark

[QUOTE=joove;7526344]F​or now atleast.


Tenba Messenger This was the most ideal bag on paper. The reviews were very good but I did not have a local source. Keeble and Suchat in Palo Alto carried them and had one copy. They wanted 150$ for it as oposed to amazon's 95$. No way! I did not want to try it out there if I was not willing to pay them for that service. So I ordered the large in chocolate from amazon and was wiling to send it back and pay shipping if I decided to return it.


I love that you wouldn't stoop to using the local shop to try out the bag and then undercut them by ordering online. Those are my sentiments exactly. If we all did that we would soon be out of local shops. Well done Joove

Furthermore, thanks very much for your insights. I think you've done a great job letting us follow you on your quest.