holster bag to attach to backpack(advice needed)

need top-open holster bag for 5dii + 24-105 to mount onto my backpacks' shoulder harness. After web search I narrowed my choices to the following bags:

Tamrac 517
Mountainsmith Quickfire medium
Clik Elite Large SLR Chest pack
Lowepro Top Loader Pro 70AW

I am not sure if the first two bags even offer the option to attach it from four points to the backpack. Lowepro has rain gear which is a big plus.

Is anyone familiar with/uses any of them and could offer some help? Thanks,

m

Thinktankphoto.com also has holsters FYI.

But I've had the lowepro TLZ, used a TT UD30, and now have a mountainsmith descent. Get the mountainsmith as long as you're doing this ungripped. Mine (the descent) can hold ~3 lenses with one of them on the body and it's the same width as a lowepro TLZ.

Like I mentioned in your previous thread... I mostly use a TopLoader 70AW and sometimes pull out my trusty TopLoad Zoom 2 for my 5DII and 17-40

1. Discard the shoulder strap.
2. Add 2 carabiners to the D-rings where the strap used to connect.
3. Clip one 'biner to your shoulder strap, low -- well blow the padded section.
4. Clip other 'biner to pack belt next to the fastex buckle.

The bag will now be secured on your hip, within easy reach while hiking without having to remove your pack. I prefer this since I don't need to deal with a formal chest harness (weight, complexity, comfort issues) and it keeps the camera off my chest so I can see the trail and not have the camera "thumping me" when I'm going fast.

I also don't like sweating onto my camera bag when it's clipped right there on my chest. (Occasionally I do place it there if there's some technical terrain that I need hip-clearance... but I put it back on my hip as soon as conditions allow.)

I just started using the TopLoader 70AW, but the TopLoad Zoom 2 works as well. It's lighter and cheaper -- but it's not quite as padded as the 70AW. I erred on the side of extra padding, extra weight and bulk when I got my new 5DII.

Cheers,

Gary

Gary,

Will TopLoad Zoom 2 fit 5dii+24-105?

Also, not really sure if I understand your description of how you attach it to the pack and carry it. Is holster attached only to your pack in 2 places? I would think you needed 4 'biners. I would also prefer not to have it on my chest but closer to my hip.

No experience with the 24-105, I'm afraid. You can check the internal dimensions on LowePro's website and compare it to your setup.

The 5DII and 17-40 fit the 70AW with 1" or so of depth to spare... if my recollection is correct. The TopLoad Zoom 2 is a bit more snug, so it might be a bit too tight with a 24-105. A 70-200 f/4L IS does NOT fit in either, if that gives you a better reference point. I'm sure a 75AW would work -- but now you're adding more bulk and a wee bit more weight.

Nope, just 2 'biners makes a secure connection of the bag between your shoulder strap (low, down near where it ties into the bottom side of your pack) and the hip belt.

Think of the bag sort of hanging from the two 'biners, but there's a enough tension that it's pulled in snug against your hip belt about halfway between you bellybutton and hip bone.

If you had a bag with a D-ring on two sides of the body, just below the lid (like the LowePro bags), it would become immediately obvious how you'd attach it. I'm sorry I don't have a picture... and it is sort of odd to try and describe it in words.

Gary

Think Tank holsters are the most versatile and the least bulky. They are more versatile since you can extend the 'snout' to accommodate longer lenses (70-200 etc...).

J.