Please help me find the best bag for my needs...

I would appreciate ANY advice or help to point me in the right direction...

I am looking for the ever elusive "perfect bag" that meets my adamantly strict criteria...

For what its worth, I no longer try to shoot professionally, only for enjoyment...


I'd like to be able to carry my 5dmk2, 24-70L 2.8 , 70-200L 2.8 IS, and 100L 2.8 Macro (all with hoods attached). (I'd also like to configure the bag in such a way that the camera can be stowed with any of the lenses w hoods attached)

I also want to fit my 580exII 270ex flashes along with small accessories (chargers, release cables, and maybe a small gorilla-pod.


I need this bag to be as low-profile as possible, and not scream "camera gear!!!" I also want it to be a backpack style as slings have started to bother my shoulder. I want this to be strong enough for hiking through the woods, light enough for a day of shooting in the city,and small enough to be within airline carry-on limitations.


My ultimata bag would be able to replace my job bag when I commute to the city in the morning, should I want to hang out and shoot at night.

This means, I'd need to fit a 13" Dell Latitude 4300 notebook, or an iPad. A separate compartment for a small packed lunch would be ideal too.

I have tried the following so far:


Modular style: (LowePro Streetwalker with various lens cases)
Slings: (Tamerac Velocity, LowePro Slingshot)
Shoulder Bags: (Crumpler 5mdh & 7mdh)
Backpacks: (Kata 3n1-33, R-103, R-104, LowePro Fastpack 350)

Currently I am evaluating the Kata 3n1-33 and like the R series, there is so much to want to love, but I find the equipment area layout awkward and very tight for a hood-on-lens setup.

So there you have it... if anyone can recommend any other brands or bags, I would really appreciate it. I know my "criteria" is quite narrow, but I really do want to find the holy grail of bags for my personal needs: One that comfortably holds everything, and I can take anywhere for fun, or for shooting during or after my work commute to the city.


Thank you.
-John

I have the Urban Disguise 40, which is close to what you need, but it may not fit the 100 and the flash. I was going to suggest my faithful F802, but you need it with the laptop and that won't work. In that case, I would get the Domke and get a little laptop bag like this one:

http://www.amazon.com …ics&qid=1279499​288&sr=8-1

I don't always carry my laptop, actually I rarely take it. When I shoot an event, I usually take my Domke F-802 and a NOVA 5 bag. If I need everything, I add the TT International and it's way overboard. But if I am just out and I need the 5D2 with 24-70 and 7D with 70-200 2.8 IS with a 580 with accessories, the Domke is the best. But it doesn't have a laptop slot. The UD40 takes the laptop, 5D2 with 24-70, 70-200 2.8 IS and 580.

You are asking a lot, as putting a lunch in as well seems like overkill, but I'm sure someone has a bag that does all this, but I fear, it'll weigh a ton.

Good luck!

A sneaky bag--Tenba Messenger.
But...I wonder how you'll get all that stuff in a single bag. I know it won't all fit in a T. Messenger.
I would be inclined to take 2 bags, but that's just me.
My experience with backpacks is limited. I have an early LowePro and it's darn heavy empty. Load it and I need a helper to carry it.

DaveL

I have the Tenba bag. It's too small for all that.

You can get a laptop insert for the Billingham 445. It would hold all that easily.

But, you must be ready for one. They are not for everyone.

The Kata 3N1-33 IMO, is crap. Its so awkward to access your things. (I spent about 30 mins in the shop sussing this out). Not for me.

Have you seen a Karachi Outpost? An M or L size should suffice. Its an awesome bag, I'm thinking about buying it to compliment my 7MDH when I need to lug my laptop and gear.

Especially if you want "low-profile"?

Did you look at the largest older Domke Messinger bag?

http://www.amazon.com …ics&qid=1279540​326&sr=8-7

If you want to try Domke's newest messinger bag?

http://www.amazon.com …d=1279540762&sr​=1-3-fkmr0

Domke F2 would do this (it does it for me, with the same setup as yours).

You'll need to the get the 3-compartment insert for it though, if you want to use the 70-200 mounted to a gripped 5D2.

[edit] Nevermind, just read that you want to put a laptop and a lunch in there...

Thank you all for the suggestions, and please keep them coming

I looked at the Domke and Billingham and while they do look like fine bags, I am trying to stick with a backpack style. I know that limits my options considerably, but I have used sling and messenger style bags, and I have found them to be very uncomfortable for my needs.

The Crumpler Karachi Outpost looks VERY interesting, and having owned the older 7mdh (and still have the current 5mdh) I can say that I do enjoy their styles and quality. If anyone has any pictures of the Outpost in various sizes with gear, I'd love to see them.

Even at night, I always prefer to keep my hoods on my lenses... One of my biggest challenges seems to be finding a bag that will hold my lenses with hoods attached. Most of the pictures of gear loads I see in advertisements omit these "accessories" entirely... Is this just the way it is, or is there some alternate solution that I may be missing?

Oh, and no worries about not fitting a lunch I'd like to be able to have an extra "safe" area for food or a light rain jacket as I would want to be able to commute with this bag and my camera gear, but thats not a major need. If i can afford to buy a bag, I can splurge and eat out for lunch that day.

I have been looking for something very similar. I like the Lowepro Fastpack 350, but have also been looking at this Vanguard bag which looks good as well.

http://www.dentonimage​s.com …Rise_48_Camera_​Bag_Review

I found the Fastpack 350 to be absolutly ginormous for my needs...

The Vangard looks great though, I may have to give it a try...

In looking at the pictures from B&H, again I was concered that they show lens combinations without hoods... Am I just being too picky to want to keep the hoods attached (normal or reversed) at all times? Obviously I could store the hoods in the top accessory pocket, but it would be nice to keep them attached.

Oh, the pains of larger lenses

Have you taken a look at the Lowepro Pro Runner 350AW?