Think tank Change up or Urban Disguise 20

Just wondering if anyone knows how the Change up measures up to the UD 20 or would a speed demon be a better choice for a small bag? Its appears the Change up is slightly bigger but as far as being used as a small bag which is better for holding a 5d + a lens or 2 ( thinking 17-40 or a few primes ) ? How does the change up work when its not used as a waist belt? does the belt make the bag clumsy as a shoulder bag?

any change up users?

Tommydigi wrote in post #10637295
any change up users?

Not me, but all I can tell you is that the UD30 has just about cured me of camera bag lust. Just about. It's that good, I really don't any of my other bags at all. But to be fair, I am such a ThinkTank fanboy that if I had a change up instead, I'd probably love that bag as well. Just do what I would do, buy both with the intent of selling one after you decide. My problem is that I can never seem to sell it later, or I keep it too long.

I am with you Jetrho. I have a UD 35 and Retro 10 and a UD 20. I am considering selling the 20 to get the Change up since it has the belt option that can work with some pouches I got for the Retro 10. Whats funny is with all of these Thinktank bags the bag I use most is my Domke F5xc. Its a lot like the UD30 in what it can hold as far as camera gear but its much lighter and easier to shoot out of.

I have a "Change Up" and am surprised to find that it is my most used bag out of an extensive (too much so ) collection of Think Tank and Domke bags. I like it because it is pretty slim as far a belt bags go.

I use mine without the padded insert which makes it more roomy and less bulky. I usually carry a 5D-II with 24-105 and a 70-200/4 in mine with occasionally a flash and I usually have a bottle of water in the outside-end mesh pocket. I find it more comfortable for me to have one of the large sections of the belt deployed as the shoulder strap attach point when using it as a shoulder bag (the web-belt section tucks into the large part so it doesn't just hang out). I can also then have a small modular bag attached for a P&S, cell phone, and other stuff. If it gets too heavy on my shoulder, I simply deploy the rest of the belt and transfer the weight to my hips, using the shoulder strap to keep it up while I walk (too much gut ... not enough butt ).

I find it the perfect size for long-day walk-around when traveling, and it carries just enough for a given outing. It also packs easily in my carry-on luggage where I usually have some additional alternate lenses for special occasions which can be swapped out depending on the nature of day's activities.

I had a "Speed Freak" which is the mid-sized bag in the Speed series you are also considering. I liked that it had a large wide-open top for easy entry, but I found it a bit bulky for me as a belt bag, so it never got used and I eventually sold it. They are really nice bags as well, as are the Multimedia series (I have a Multimedia 20 ... which alas also hasn't been used yet ), but are much bulkier than the Change-Up. I also am using the Retrospective 10 and 20 as well as the Domke F-5XC and F-5XB, all of which I am finding useful.

Hope this helps with your choice...
-howard

I recently bought a Change Up. My previous bag (which I still have) is a LowePro Stealth Reporter D300AW. It is a great bag but I find it carries more gear than I really want to carry on one shoulder. I bought the Change Up because its smaller and has the versatility to be a waist bag. I have a 5D with a RRS L-plate. I can carry the camera with any of my small lenses mounted (hood down & ready) plus the 100-400 (hood reversed) next to it. The small lenses would be the 24-105, 17-40, 50/1.4 or 15mm FE. The 580EXII flash can be barely stuffed in one of the side stretchy pockets.

I do find that when I tuck the belt flaps in their intended home (when used as shoulder bag) that they tend to make the back pocket inaccessible and even the main pocket tougher to access. My solution was to borrow a strap from my Canon backpack and bind the flaps together on the outside. It doesn't look at neat but I get some interior space back. If I didn't have the L plate or if I had a smaller camera, it would fit much better. Forget carrying a gripped camera . Like the poster above, I removed the main compartment's padded liner and the bag still doesn't feel under-padded.

I really like having the versatility of one bag that can be carried by hand, shoulder, or waist. If you use both of the included shoulder straps, it'll carry a lot of weight around the waist very comfortably. Having a bag securely on my waist makes it so much safer and easier to access lenses, filters, etc. I big problem with other shoulder bags I've uses is that they get heavy and want to swing around especially when trying to work out of them. I plan on buying a lens changer for the 100-400 and carrying it on the belt. The Change Up is a good foundation for quickly configuring a setup that meets that particular day's needs.

I would think a digital holster would go nicely with a change up. I like the r-10 but I use that more as a transport bag. I usually shoot out of the domke. I may just exchange the us 35 for the change up and digital holster. I like smaller compact bags. Thanks

Several people here have mentioned that the Think Tank "Skin Chimp Cage" works very well with the "Change Up". When not in use, they just stuff it into the back pocket of the Change Up. I haven't tried it out yet, but intend to do so soon.

I just use a "All The Other Stuff" bag on mine when I need to carry small stuff like a P&S which I like handy for unexpected shots where I may not want to change lenses, or when a fellow traveler offers to take our picture and I don't want to hand over my DSLR to someone totally unfamiliar with one.

-howard

How easy is it to get the camera in and out of the changeup?

I find it pretty easy to put the camera in lens-down in the center of the bag, with the other lens vertical to the side, and a flash or small lens on the other side. It is less so than a wide open flip type lid (probably why they call them the "Speed" series), but I usually pull the camera out and keep it out on a R-Strap while I am actively shooting and mainly use the Change Up as a lens bag. I like being able to pull the bag around to the front when I am getting into it, then push it back to the side when I am done.

-howard

Seems like a practical bag, maybe a little over priced? I think it will be more useful then a UD35 since I have an R-10 that holds about the same gear. I seem to end up with many bags that do the same thing. Does anyone use a change up with a digital holster? For travel it seems this would make a nice discrete combo.

The Changeup is one of my favorite bags. It's my favorite to shoot from. It's not a bag to carry a camera around in and occasionally shoot - it's meant to be used with camera out and actively shooting.

Best carry around bag - TT Retrospetive 10. Best for shooting from: Changeup.

j.

But it can be used for the camera correct? I just want the option and when I use it to shoot out of I can pair it with the holster. I have yet to hear a negative review of this bag

You can fit a 5D/40D style body in the bag without grip and a lens (maybe two if small) especially if you take out the insert (you really don't need it). You can also hang a lens changer the side rails. It's true strength is as a bag to shoot out of not for so much for transporting gear.

Many people confuse functionality in camera bags: There are bags to store or transport your gear in and there are bags to shoot out of. They are few, if any, bags that do both well. The ChangeUp is most definitely a bag to shoot out of.

J.

That's a great point. I like the r-10 to carry gear but want something else to shoot out of. I am going to give the change up a try. Thanks all this is a great forum