Lowepro Exchange Messenger bag for light duties??

Hi,

I saw a Lowepro Exchange Messenger bag last week at BestBuy, and kinda liked it. It's small, doesn't look like a camera bag, and it's a shoulder bag. I'd like to use it when going lite, like my 30D and EF-S 10-22mm lens, and some bare accessories.

Anyone of you have this bag?? Would you recommend it?

Thanks.

Sample below
http://www.adorama.com​/LPEM.html

funny you mention this as I'm on a quest for a "three tube" small bag right now that can take a 24-70 on my FF DSRL. ... I also saw these at BB (actually found them browsing B&H's shoulder bag pages, yes all 31 pages). It's got very little padding and my other complaint is there's no way to store a magazine or paperwork in it if you needed to (the back side should be 2 layers with a zipper). But if you want ultra light it looks to be a hell of an option. I just wish there was a black option as well as the gray.

Here are 2 cell shots of my D700 in it though, one with the hood reversed, one with it on normally:

$30 is a great price for that bag, might as well give it a go.

30 bucks is still 30 bucks...that doesn't look like it provides much more protection than a cloth shopping bag.

No zipper up top, no meaningful padding...I wouldn't trust my gear in something like that...

LowriderS10 wrote in post #8997721
No zipper up top, no meaningful padding...I wouldn't trust my gear in something like that...

Yep, just like a Domke. Some consider the lack of exterior padding a benefit.

scot079 wrote in post #8997764
Yep, just like a Domke. Some consider the lack of exterior padding a benefit.

yeah, exactly. But I'm questioning it myself right now because half of the time I use a shoulder bag it'd be nice, the other half it's just added weight/bulk. So should I go with 2 bags, or one with padding? My bigger issue with it is the only way to close the top flap are the 2 clips. No velcro, no magnets (which lowepro has on some of their other bags) no zippers. I don't mind clips as one of 2 ways, but as the only way I'm not so sure.

Also, the tamrac 7 is only $35 at KEH:
http://keh.com …319990975130/CS​31/FE.aspx
it's similar in size (I've heard) and has padding.

What's the benefit of the lack of padding? (As far as your camera goes, NOT your style/comfort)

^I guess it's a bulk thing like jacobsen1 mentioned. As long as the bottom and the interior of a bag is padded, the multi-layer exterior fabric, whether it be canvas or other, is usually enough of a buffer to keep bumps from damaging your equipment.

LowriderS10 wrote in post #8998047
What's the benefit of the lack of padding? (As far as your camera goes, NOT your style/comfort)

well do you just DROP you bag all the time? How often do you actually slam it into things? Basically, all that padding makes the bag probably 2" bigger in all 3 directions. If you just want the bag to HOLD your gear, not protect it, then that's wasted space/weight.

But this also comes down to how you approach your bags. There are really 2 types of bag usage IMHO, traveling/protection and shooting. When using a bag to travel with and or protect you'll be wanting padding. But when you're just shooting, probably not as much. Look at the thinktank line. Their padded bags run thinner padding than other brands because they're focused on shooting (until you get into their airport line). They even offer some belt bag options w/o any padding at all. The boda is similar, the shootsack is just neoprene etc. So for shooting with something very small on your body, slim or no padding is ideal. This is when you're actively shooting though and the camera is NOT in the bag, just a few lenses accessories are.

Wedding shooters do this a LOT. Then they'll have a pelican or some other massive roller or big shoulder bag for protection, but something like a shootsac for shooting out of (holding the few lenses they're constantly rotating between). When I landscape or shoot my architecture shots that's how I work, I have my camera in my hands or on the tripod. But I'll have the other lens and my filters, level etc in the bag still. In these cases (walking around a really nice house) I prefer to have the smallest bag possible so I don't run into things with it. A vest would also be an option here.

But when I'm driving to and from a shoot I don't really want zero padding when it's in the car. Or when I'm traveling somewhere. This is why some of us end up with a group of bags, not just one. What works for one situation doesn't for another. So you either compromise and have one bag that's OK at a lot of things, or you buy ~5 bags (or more!) that are specialized. I've been down that road before, but have come back to "only" three bags. But I'm working towards better versions of what I have for what I need right now. Something super small/light is perfect for me for the shooting aspect of landscapes/architectur​e, but the lack of padding is a concern for traveling with it. I'm still toying with the idea though.

^ I totaly agree with the above statement.

All I need is something light, minimum padding is fine as I don't (ever) drop my bags.
On my recent trip to NYC, I left my Slingbag at the hotel, and just carried the DSLR camera on my shoulder at all times. I found the bag got in the way too much. A messenger type bag would sufice, for just one camera and an extra lens.

I'd rather have something bulky that can take a few bumps regardless of where they're coming from...oh, and one with a zipper in case of light rain/snow/dust/etc

LowriderS10 wrote in post #8997721
30 bucks is still 30 bucks...that doesn't look like it provides much more protection than a cloth shopping bag.

No zipper up top, no meaningful padding...I wouldn't trust my gear in something like that...

It's only $15 here !
http://www.sellnsend.c​om ….4%20Inch%20Lap​top%20Case

And the laptop section affords some padding. You could buy dense foam which is used as a ground pad for sleeping bags on the ground, and cut it to width to pad the bottom of the main compartment.

A Lowepro shot of this bag...http://products.lowepr​o.com …_LRG.jpeg&Title​=Messenger Factor M

Wilt wrote in post #9008465
It's only $15 here !
http://www.sellnsend.c​om ….4%20Inch%20Lap​top%20Case

that's the wrong bag, they have the exchange for $29.99:
http://www.sellnsend.c​om …SLR%20Camera%20​Bag%20Case

Wilt wrote in post #9008465
It's only $15 here !
http://www.sellnsend.c​om ….4%20Inch%20Lap​top%20Case

And the laptop section affords some padding. You could buy dense foam which is used as a ground pad for sleeping bags on the ground, and cut it to width to pad the bottom of the main compartment.

A Lowepro shot of this bag...http://products.lowepr​o.com …_LRG.jpeg&Title​=Messenger Factor M

correct me if I'm wrong, but that looks like a laptop bag, not a camera bag...

LowriderS10 wrote in post #9011511
correct me if I'm wrong, but that looks like a laptop bag, not a camera bag...

Well the OP stated LowePro Exchange Messenger and that was the only thing I found that fits that description on the LowePro web site!