Lowepro Classified 200 AW or Think Tank UD 40?

How do these 2 compare to each other, and to the Tenba Small Messenger? I want to carry my 50D (non gripped) with the 24-105 attached, and have room to also carry my 70-300 DO and my 100L macro, for sure, and also my 17-55 if I can squeeze it in. Add in a flash and I'm good to go. AND I saw in a pic that one of the TTs could get a little 10" netbook in a front pocket - being able the carry that would be a big plus.

I have the small Tenba, and it won't carry all this. And even though it's supposed to carry a notebook, it's too tight a squeeze to get one in with the camera and 2 or 3 lenses. So I want a bit more space, and more pockets that will actually hold stuff! ( the Tenba pockets don't hold much of anything.)

I've looked at all the pics I can find online, and read the reviews. I'm not anywhere where I can see either of these bags close up, so I'm depending on your info and opinions to help me out. The Lowepro looks nicer, but the TT seems to have more pockets.... So it's hard to choose!

OR, should I be bypassing them both and looking instead at the Lowepro 250 and the UD 50?

Decisions, decisions!

I've got the 200 AW and don't think you would find it sufficiant for what you listed, I don't have alot of gear (less than you) and I'm already thinkin I should have gone larger. I find it's really shallow I can't even fit my flash in standing up in one of the partitions. My Tamron 70-300 LD only just fits in and it's really not a big lens.

Also have you been to the Lowepro site? As you are in a position where you can't see before you buy their website should serve you well as they are very specific about model capacity. They mention specific lenses and speedlites and other gear.

I recently bought a Classified 200 AW and I think it's a great bag.

First outing with it I carried:
- MkIII + 24-70mm f/2.8L Ready To Shoot (Hood Mounted)
- 70-200mm f/2.8L IS Hood Reversed
- 135mm f/2L Hood Reversed / 50mm f/1.4 (No Hood) <---- Stacked Back Cap to Back Cap
- 17-40mm f/4L (Hood Off and stashed down one side)
- 580EXII Flash in one outer pocket
- Tiffen CPL, Lee .6 GND and Cokin 1-slot Filter holder in other outer pocket
- Honl "Snoot/Bounce" slipped into a slot pocket

IMO, this bag is deep enough even to carry a 1-series or gripped body with the 70-200 mounted hood reversed.

I found it entirely more convenient than a backpack or even a sling-style bag.
It balances well and is comfortable to wear. I was out for about four hours of steady shooting.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #9644632
I recently bought a Classified 200 AW and I think it's a great bag.

First outing with it I carried:
- MkIII + 24-70mm f/2.8L Ready To Shoot (Hood Mounted)
- 70-200mm f/2.8L IS Hood Reversed
- 135mm f/2L Hood Reversed / 50mm f/1.4 (No Hood) <---- Stacked Back Cap to Back Cap
- 17-40mm f/4L (Hood Off and stashed down one side)
- 580EXII Flash in one outer pocket
- Tiffen CPL, Lee .6 GND and Cokin 1-slot Filter holder in other outer pocket
- Honl "Snoot/Bounce" slipped into a slot pocket

IMO, this bag is deep enough even to carry a 1-series or gripped body with the 70-200 mounted hood reversed.

I found it entirely more convenient than a backpack or even a sling-style bag.
It balances well and is comfortable to wear. I was out for about four hours of steady shooting.

Wow - that's a lot of stuff! Is there a pocket in the front flap? Or just the pocket underneath? And could I get a netbook in it?

Supra_t wrote in post #9644619
Also have you been to the Lowepro site? As you are in a position where you can't see before you buy their website should serve you well as they are very specific about model capacity. They mention specific lenses and speedlites and other gear.

I've been to the site, and seen what they will say fits, but I can't visualize how it would fit without seeing better pics of the inside of the bag - the inside pic on the site isn't as helpful as I would like.

In this regard I find the Tamrac pics helpful because they always include that cutaway drawing. But on the whole I don't like Tamrac bags as much.

Supra_t wrote in post #9644610
I've got the 200 AW and don't think you would find it sufficiant for what you listed, I don't have alot of gear (less than you) and I'm already thinkin I should have gone larger. I find it's really shallow I can't even fit my flash in standing up in one of the partitions. My Tamron 70-300 LD only just fits in and it's really not a big lens.

How do you have your bag loaded? And how many sections are inside the bag, 3 or 4?

Does anyone with a UD40 or UD50 want to weigh in on this? Thanks!

Kasrielle wrote in post #9647915
Wow - that's a lot of stuff! Is there a pocket in the front flap? Or just the pocket underneath? And could I get a netbook in it?

There are two pockets under the flap and in fact, I'm able to fit both a 580EXII and a Sekonic Meter side by side in one pocket.

There is an expansion zipper that runs around the outside to allow for the bag to expand and yes, you probably could fit a netbook in the pouch slot but I have no first-hand experience with doing so.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #9648017
There are two pockets under the flap and in fact, I'm able to fit both a 580EXII and a Sekonic Meter side by side in one pocket.

There is an expansion zipper that runs around the outside to allow for the bag to expand and yes, you probably could fit a netbook in the pouch slot but I have no first-hand experience with doing so.

Thanks - that's really helpful!

The UD40 isn't tall enough (10.25") to carry any two of your lenses stacked in one of the three sections, so there might be a problem getting all 4 lenses in there. The UD40 also doesn't have a notebook pocket like the slightly larger UD50 does.

You might be able to get it into a UD35, which is essentially a 40 rotated 90 degrees. The UD35 is taller (13.25), but only has 2 lens compartments. However, your camera/24-105 and 70-300DO (7.5" + 4.8") could fit in one compartment, and the 100 and 17-55 (5.5" + 5.3") could be stacked in the other. You can make a small compartment for the flash that the camera body overhangs. There is a compartment for the laptop too. If you can live with the stacked arrangement, it might all fit in the UD35.

I really like the UD35, but I am usually carrying one long lens and want to be able to fit it with the camera in the bag. I stack 2 lenses in the other compartment with or without the camera mounted on one of them.

You might also consider the UD60 if you want better horizontal access to your gear.

-howard

My classified 250 is on its way back to Lowepro for repairs. the handle brokw within 1 month of purchase. I ordered the UD60 today.

Kasrielle wrote in post #9647937
How do you have your bag loaded? And how many sections are inside the bag, 3 or 4?

Oh sorry guys scratch what I said, I have the slingshot 200 AW.

Large Tenba works for me. Laptop, 5DII, 70-200 f.2.8 L IS; 24-105; 50mm f.1.4; 1.4 TC; filters, cables, small flash unit, gray card, all sorts of stuff. There's still space for more. I sold off every bit of my Think Tank stuff; UD60; Changeup; modular belt kit. I'm done with bags now.

Savas K wrote in post #9649122
Large Tenba works for me. Laptop, 5DII, 70-200 f.2.8 L IS; 24-105; 50mm f.1.4; 1.4 TC; filters, cables, small flash unit, gray card, all sorts of stuff. There's still space for more. I sold off every bit of my Think Tank stuff; UD60; Changeup; modular belt kit. I'm done with bags now.

Wow - maybe I need to repack my small Tenba and see what the options are...