Camera Backpacks

[shelli]

Hi,

I am looking for a new bag for my equipment. I've been looking at the Lowepro bags. I need something that will hold my Canon T1i, 3 or 4 lenses, Canon G9, and misc. cards, cords, etc. I've been looking at the slings & flipsides. I am also open to any other brands or styles.

I was wondering what you have, what all it holds, and how you like it.

Thanks for your help.
Shelli

[dkippen]

Shelli - I currently have two bags, both Lowepro.

One is the Micro Trekker 200. It just barely holds most of my gear and looks like a traditional backpack. It's lightweight and comes in handy when I need to downsize and consider weight, but does not have sufficient padding to protect my gear.

The other is the Vertex 100. This is more a square/rectangle style with extra padding and can carry a tripod on the outside. Because of the extra padding, it will run a bit heavier. This one holds all of my gear and then then some. There is a pockect on the outside to hold a very small laptop or net book and two narrow pockets for small items including camera cards. The inside flap has 3 pockets in various sizes and then then camera area is large enough to hold my gear with a few small accessories.

Getting a bag is a personal preference and then becomes a quest for the perfect bag, which we all know does not exist. If possible, I would recommend taking your gear with when purchasing to make sure everything fits. I don't remember where, but there is a website dedicated to camera bag reviews with pictures of equipment in the bags. Good luck in your search.

[pjfw01]

Hi,

I am looking for a new bag for my equipment. I've been looking at the Lowepro bags. I need something that will hold my Canon T1i, 3 or 4 lenses, Canon G9, and misc. cards, cords, etc. I've been looking at the slings & flipsides. I am also open to any other brands or styles.

I was wondering what you have, what all it holds, and how you like it.

Thanks for your help.
Shelli

I like the Lowepro Mini Trekker backpack. Its pretty roomy, but I have a micro four-thirds set-up so I can’t comment on how good it is with full-sized equipment.

[mvandenburg]

I have a Crumpler "Whickey & Cox" and I love it. It feels very sturdy and protects my equipment, but also looks just like a regular backpack so no one really knows I'm packing thousands of dollars in gear. I have all my gear in it and could easily fit more. It is deep enough to store a gripped body with the 70-200 on it. It also comes with a laptop sleeve that is removable.
https://www.crumplerbags.com/flash/flash.aspx#/english/product-details/whickey-and-cox-wc02a.html
Their website shows everything that it holds with photos.

Good luck,

[jerryph]

I have the LowePro Trekker AW (all weather, which I highly recommend), which can hold a camera, 6 lenses (of course lens sizes will decide if that number is more or less than 6 lenses), a couple of flashes, gels batteries and small accessories and a tripod on the outside.

For me, though, I have reached the limitations and will be looking for a larger backpack (but not the full-sized ones). Something that can carry 2 dSLR bodies and about 9 lenses is what I am looking for at this point.

Did you try a search on the LowePro website or a google search for different models?

[shelli]

Hi,

Thanks for all your imput. I really appreciate it. I have checked out the Lowepro website but was having trouble deciding which one would be best for me. I checked to see where I could find them locally and found a photography store about 35 miles from me. I went up the other day to look at them in person. Naturally they were out of the ones I'm looking at, but, they were already on order. They will call me when they come in. So, I'm still spending lots of time looking at tons of options on the web.

Shelli

[johnnya]

I would just take all your gear into a photography store and see what works best. See how it all fits and how it feels to carry it.

[canasta]

My comments about the Lowepro are that the zips seem to be stitched a little too close to the fabric overlay. I had one for 9 months with fairly frequent use. In December the zip kept snagging on the fabric to the point in the end I had to cut it to get it working again.
With a recent camera and lens purchase they threw a larger bag in...another Lowepro...(couldnt look a GH in the mouth) BUT it does seem as though I may have the same problem with this one as it's already snagged once.
I like the padding and the way you can organise the various velcroed "walls"...but am researching a bigger and better quality bag, myself.

[jerryph]

I am not sure how some here treat their equipment, but with my bag, I was near brutal... lol

- It was with me in the snow
- It was with me in a massive rain storm
- It was with me in the dirt and sand of a beach and off-road truck area
- It was laying in 2 inches of muddy water
- I've had it in the washer and dryer at least 6 times.

It has traveled with me on planes several times as carry on and been in the sun in 100+ degree F temperatures for several days on end.

The darn thing still looks near new and has no tears, no zipper issues, no leaks and for all intents and purposes, does everything I need except hold all my equipment (it is 1 lens short, thats all!)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2772/4279148865_8bbc569cfb.jpg

Going from top left and clock-wise:
- Sigma 105mm F/2.8 macro
- Sigma 20mm F/1.8
- Nikkor 70-200 F/2.8
- Nikon D700 with Nikkor 24-70 F/2.8
- Nikkor 85mm F/1.4
- Sigma 50mm F/1.4
- Just to the right of the Sigma 50mm is the Sigma 15mm F/2.8 fisheye (with a Nikon cap)

I still have a small area big enough to hold 2 microfibre cloths and a camera body cap and a rear lens cap.

On the inside of the lid, I have room enough for:
- 50-60 gels
- 2 more microfiber cloths
- all my CF cards
- room for more small things

On the outside of the lid I have:
- photocopies of receipts for everything in there (proof of ownership when traveling across the border)
- business cards
- several pads
- several pens
- 2 lens pens
- room for 2 bottles of water and 4 sandwiches without crushing them too or 2 battery powered flashes and 8 sets of batteries in plastic holders, either with some room to spare.

Honestly, I could place 2 lenses in the outside container of the lid, but they would be moving around and for me that is unacceptable.

oh, I forgot something... it has a flap that unfolds down and holds either 1 full size tripod or 2 small lightstands and 2 convertible umbrellas for me all held nicely with bungee cords.

[shelli]

Thanks for all the info jerryph! Very Impressive! Sounds like you have found a great bag. I'll have to check that one out a little more.

Shelli

[smbrooks]

Hi,

I am looking for a new bag for my equipment. I've been looking at the Lowepro bags. I need something that will hold my Canon T1i, 3 or 4 lenses, Canon G9, and misc. cards, cords, etc. I've been looking at the slings & flipsides. I am also open to any other brands or styles.

I was wondering what you have, what all it holds, and how you like it.

Thanks for your help.
Shelli
I have a Crumpler "6 Million Dollar home" and I LOVE IT!!!!

[jerryph]

In terms of comfort and minimizing back pains, one thing I will suggest is that you stay far away from the slingpack style of camera bags. They place all the pressure and weight on one shoulder and that transfers into some really nasty back pains in periods as short as 1 afternoon of using a well filled bag.

Not only that, I find them not as convenient as the ads make them look and they are overpriced, thanks to their unorthodox design.