OK, I need some help finding a backpack that does what I want it to do. No offense to the users of any of the more traditional packs out there, but I've tried front and rear entry packs and HATE them.
"Front" Entry:
"Rear/Back" Entry:
while these are a huge improvement in my eye over front entry, you still have to remove them and set them down to get anything out. All other issues go away, but that last issue is a pretty big one IMHO....
"side/sling" entry:
this is what I have now (although I have a kata 3n1-30). It solves all my issues with taking the bag off, but isn't w/o it's own issues. My biggest being you have to have the longest lens on the body whenever it's in the bag... So you have the 100-400 on the body, but need to shoot with the 16-35 that's in one of the side cubbies... OK:
- sling the bag
- open the bag
- remove the camera w/long lens
- grab small lens
- swap lenses holding the bag, body and 2 lenses mid air (or set down which is something I'd like to avoid)
- put the long lens in the bag
- shoot with the short lens
- swap lenses back
- put camera back
- back to backpack mode....
my issue is in the constant need to swap the long lens on/off most of the time I use the bag.
Here's what I really want, I want a bag that's similar in layout to a "3 tube shoulder bag". I want 3 "tubes" that the camera/lens can be put in at any time so I don't have to keep swapping lenses out unless the shot requires it. I also want SIDE ACCESS to the bag. I'd prefer the bag to only be "thick" enough for a DSLR w/o grip (5D/40D) NOT gripped or 1 series, but I doubt that's possible with it being big enough for a 100-400... I'd LOVE for it to be a "convertible" bag where it works as a shoulder bag with the opening at the top OR a backpack with the same opening on the side. Basically, I want this, but as a photo bag:
and maybe slightly smaller... (that's a patagonia MLC which converts from a shoulder bag to backpack, but it's bigger than I need)
