satchel/messenger bag suggestions

Domke F-802 or F-803. Actually the Safrotto knock-offs sold on eBay are better made and less expensive. They're natural canvas so your gear breathes inside, spray with Nikwax TX.Direct to rain-proof. Wonderful bags to work out of!

MOkoFOko wrote in post #10593353
I think I may have to try a crumpler next--so many people seem to recommend them...

i dont use mine anymore... i wouldnt mind selling it. havent posted it up or anything yet
its my grey and green 7 millions dollar home.

i was able to fit my

- gripped 5d2 16-35L attached
- 35L
- 85L
- 135L
- 2 430ex flashes
- 589ex2 flash.
- and a bunch of random things like flash triggers and receivers, AA batts, straps, mem cards, more lp-e6's, filters and so on.

i probably could have fit more lenses in place of the flashes too. but i dont have anymore lenses

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Got a link to the imitation crumplers?

I have a Crumpler 8 MDH which fits all the gear in my signature quite nicely. I'm a female, 5"3', and find it pretty bulky but if I wear the strap just right it's not too intolerable.

schliefert wrote in post #10599019
Got a link to the imitation crumplers?

http://www.bagmanworld​.com/products

depends where youre from, theyre either called "kani" "caseman" or "bagman"

My usual bag is an older LowePro Nova 5, so I usually carry my entire arsenal on my shoulder. But last year I needed something to hold a smaller "travel kit" when I was away on vacation. I went into a local camera store last year where they let me lay all my travel gear out on the floor, and try to put it in all the different over-the-shoulder bags I wanted. My budget was limited, so I didn't try everything, but my main consideration was that I wanted a zip-top bag - I don't like having a giant flap over the top/front of the bag that I have to hold or somehow stash just so I can get to my camera. The only one that allowed me to carry 3 lenses and had the zip-top was the Naneu Pro Lima. It holds my Nikon D80 & 18-135, 70-300VR, Tokina 11-16, plus accessories, it's very light when empty, and comfortable when loaded. I recommend you check out their lineup if you haven't already.

I use a Billingham Hadley Pro with a Domke Post Office Shoulder pad. The shoulder pad helps a lot and will work with almost any messenger type bag. My Billingham is great! I can change lens and other accessories without having to put the bag down. I carry the following in the Billingham:

• Canon 7D
  
• Canon 100-400L (with the tripod mount removed - but still in the bag)
  
• Canon 24-105L (hood reversed)
  
• Canon 50mm 1.4
  
• Sigma 10-22
  
• Canon 580EX II
  
• extra battery

Billingham 335 or 445

treck_dialect wrote in post #10611532
http://www.bagmanworld​.com/products

depends where youre from, theyre either called "kani" "caseman" or "bagman"

Am I the only one who's not willing to take a chance on a generic case with $2000+ equipment? A few of them don't look bad though.

Diamond D wrote in post #10613261
My usual bag is an older LowePro Nova 5, so I usually carry my entire arsenal on my shoulder. But last year I needed something to hold a smaller "travel kit" when I was away on vacation. I went into a local camera store last year where they let me lay all my travel gear out on the floor, and try to put it in all the different over-the-shoulder bags I wanted. My budget was limited, so I didn't try everything, but my main consideration was that I wanted a zip-top bag - I don't like having a giant flap over the top/front of the bag that I have to hold or somehow stash just so I can get to my camera. The only one that allowed me to carry 3 lenses and had the zip-top was the Naneu Pro Lima. It holds my Nikon D80 & 18-135, 70-300VR, Tokina 11-16, plus accessories, it's very light when empty, and comfortable when loaded. I recommend you check out their lineup if you haven't already.

The pro lima has a very unique look to it--never heard of the brand before. The price is definitely right, but it looks rather unwieldy, no? I'd probably give it more thought if I hadn't decided to settle for an Think Tank Retrospective 20

René Damkot wrote in post #10625131
Billingham 335 or 445

They definitely look useful, but way too much like a saddle-bag... soooooo wide.

Not sure if you'd consider this a messenger bag as it lacks the typical flap over the main area, but I recently picked up the ThinkTank Urban Disguise 35 after loving my UD60 so much, but looking for something to push myself to carry less gear on a day to day basis (tendancy to overpack). Sadly (for my shoulder's sake) I can still cram a ton of gear into this bag when I need to.

Right now, I've got a 1D mkIII, 24-70, 17-40, 70-200 2.8 IS, 2x 580ex II, 50 1.4, 3x PW, spare batteries, memory wallet, and a Dell 9" netbook, and I could still fit more in. Because of the way the bag is laid out, I can stick the camera back in the bag with any of the zooms mounted pretty easily. The UD35 is also compatible with the shoulder harness which is small enough to pack in into the bag and takes a bit of the strain off shoulders when needed.

Another important fact for me is that it'll fit in the Canadian sizing devices as my second carry on along with my TT International V2, which means I can stuff even more strobist kit into a safe spot

Update - quick iPhone pic showing what a fully loaded UD35 looks like next to the UD60. The pouches on the sides of the UD35 are 580ex II's.

I use a tenba messenger bag, yes its wide and its not chic but it is all about the function. I carry 1 body 4 lenses or 2 bodies and three lenses, three complete Lee filter systems, flash pocket wizzards and a tripod all wrapped up in there. A fantastic bag to work from but to look at, it screams photographer so it would fail you.
I remember seeing a shoulder bag recently i forget the name sorry, but it was designed by a wedding photographer to act as a lens change bag, it had interchangeable covers and it was mighty pricey, anyone else here seen that?

I went through this same sort of dilemma a few months ago. I work for an event company and often have to go to meetings with high end clients and take site photos for reference or to do design mock ups. I had been lugging my gear around in my lowepro fastpack (which I still love and use regularly) however, I felt out of place being all dressed up to meet with these corporate people and carrying around my backpack. I wanted something that would fit in a bit more in these types of meetings but most importantly, be able to carry and protect my gear. After researching a bunch of options online and then literally several hours playing with bags at B&H I ended up going with the Tenba Messenger bag.

Tenba's site - http://www.tenba.com …rge-Photo-Laptop-Bag.aspx
B&H - http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_Messenger_Bag_​Large.html

It was between the Tenba Messenger and the Lowepro Classified but after looking at both I personally liked the look of the Tenba a bit more and it was just a bit thinner detph-wise than the Lowepro. Tenba makes two versions of the Messenger bag a large and small. I had planned on getting the small version but after seeing it in person at B&H and comparing it with the large version I went with the large bag. From a visual standpoint the size difference was so minimal and the price difference was only about $5.00. However the storage difference did allow me to carry an additional lens in the large bag vs. the small bag. I definitely don't think this bag screams camera bag as that was another one of my concerns in selecting a new bag. If anything it may look more like a laptop bag but no more than all the other messenger bags people are walking around with these days.

Overall I would say that I am very happy with my decision and it works very well for the purpose that I had intended it for. With that being said, these are meetings where I know I will be able to put my bag down from time to time and not have to worry too much (I still keep my eyes on it at all times!) about it growing legs and walking away or somebody grabbing it and running off. The bag can get very heavy when its on your shoulder for an extended period of time and for those instances I'll typically use my fastpack.

-Dave

Wow, lots of bag suggestion for you to muse over, so here is my thought. I have a Tenba Messenger Bag(small) and have a 40D. What i lke the best is that it has a top zip for easy access to camera, comfortable on shoulder, and lots of storage overall, and doesnt for me scream out "camera bag".
Best of luck. Bill NZ

Just picked up a Domke J-1. Liking it a lot so far. Big enough to stuff a ton of gear, or can easily just throw in a few things and it doesn't look like you're wasting space. Looks like a plain bag, doesn't scream camera gear. Got the extra shoulder pad and it sits well on my shoulder.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #10569030
I highly reccomend checking out the Lowepro Classified 250 AW...

It can hold a helluva lot of gear if you want it to!

I have the 200AW and hate it!