Which walk-about Camera Bag?

[Yorkshire_Jon]

Hi Guys,
After a few suggestions...

I have a fairly large Crumpler bag / Rucksack that I can get all my gear in and am perfectly happy with it.

What I want now is a decent walk-around bag that I can get my 5D Mkiii + 70-200 f2.8 in, i.e. something smaller than the Crumpler.

Im not sure if it would be best to get something simple like a Lowpro Toploader, or whether I should be looking for another smaller, over the shoulder bag. Problem is I like to walk around the city and also the bush - two different protection requirements / likelihood of damage I guess.

Access needs to be pretty quick and uncomplicated.

Any thoughts?

thx
J

[Chucaro]

Thinktank Urban (http://www.techbuy.com.au/p/169005/index.asp)can be a candidate I guess.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/06/1080.jpg

[300+]

I have the same problem. I've a Tamrac backpack which has a side loading entry and takes the camera with the 70-200 F/2.8 fitted. However, take the lens off and you need to put it back in that slot as it is too large for anywhere else. Now you have a camera fitted with another lens which won't fit inside the camera section and rattles around the unpadded gear section at the top, assuming you don't have that full already. To put the camera inside the main part you need to refit the 70-200. Which is annoying.

I need a bag which will give me options to correctly stow any random combination while providing easy access, comfortable carrying, etc. It would be nice if it made espresso as well...

Cheers, Steve

[Yorkshire_Jon]

I was in the strand yesterday, popped into the Crumpler store to have a look at their "Enthusiast" bag. Logos quite good, and i think big enough, but still a slingshot style where you have to move the bag around your body to get quick access.

That design seems a trend at the moment, it may work very well. I don't know, but remain unconvinced.

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[dullbird]

I have a crumpler but its an over the shoulder bag.....they come in two sizes I think I have the larger one I cant remember the model name though.

only thing that bothers me about quick access is someone else accessing it when your carrying it like a rucsac

[300+]

My work bag is an STM Velo messenger. It carries a laptop and a camera with the 70-200 fitted. When the flap is closed with a zip & two clips it is safe enough. However I can't easily get other lenses in with that lens fitted - they just pile up on top. With bit of padding it might be workable, but would be heavy. It might fit better with the 70-210 removed and standing vertically, but I'd need something to hold it this way, or it will wobble & fall on the other kit.

If I don't need the 70-200, it does a great job of a camera with a couple of normal sized lenses and I frequently use it this way when I'm popping out after work for a quick shoot. I was planning on getting the Crumpler Haven to store the lenses in, but the STM is well enough protected that I haven't bothered.

A Crumpler messenger would work as well. I just preferred the STM when I tried them out. I'm yet to see a sling which allows you to store the 70-200 and the camera fitted with another lens at the same time. All the ones I looked at required the 70-200 to be fitted to the body to fit everything inside.


Cheers, Steve

[WhiteD3]

I've got a Kata bumblebee 222 UL. Great bag. Easily hold my 7D, two lenses, filters, etc and the tripos can strap onto the back when needed.

You can take out the innards and use it as a standard back pack too.

Bumblebee-222 UL For 1-2 Pro DSLR W/70-200 Lens + 4 Lenses KT UL-B-222 - Ultra-Light | Kata Bags (http://www.kata-bags.com/bumblebee-222-ul-for-1-2-pro-dslr-w-70-200-lens-4-lenses)

[Brad]

Domke 700-02A F-2 Bag (Brown Waxwear Finish):Amazon:Camera & Photo@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41y%2BCJNK6%2BL.@@AMEPARAM@@41y%2BCJNK6%2BL

I lugged one across Asia for a month carrying a 5d mkii, and three large L lenses. They are brilliant. Easy access, discreet, simple.

[Yorkshire_Jon]

Guys, thanks for the replies, but can we keep recommendations to bags that are small but big enough to keep an SLR and 70-200 f2.8 in and provide quick, easy access.

My big Crumpler backpack carries all my gear so I really do just need something for 1 body and my largest lens.

Thx
J

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[Yorkshire_Jon]

I have a crumpler but its an over the shoulder bag.....they come in two sizes I think I have the larger one I cant remember the model name though.

only thing that bothers me about quick access is someone else accessing it when your carrying it like a rucsac

Thanks Dullbird,
From the quick access sling shot style bags I've seen, "quick access" isn't actually that quick. Usually it's an unbuckle then unzip procedure. Once that's done it's quick access, but of course before you can unbuckle you need to rotate the bag around your body. All this brings me back to thinking a traditional backpack may still be the go, or as someone else suggested the Crumpler Messenger style bag, which is more of a long strapped hand-bag!

Choices, choices!

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[dullbird]

John I think my crumpled is the 5 million dollar home I can carry my D80 body and my 70-200 lense I can also fit another lens in as well or my speed light really depends how i pack it.

It's a good bag with Velcro dividers the only down fall to it is it's not easy to carry body with 70-200 on the camera it's a tad to long you can but can't have much else in the bag.

The million dollars also come in other sizes my one is mid sized

[shining]

I have used a Lowe Pro Slingshot 100AW for a number of years. It will carry my SLR, with lens. There is space for additional gear (for me a camcorder and flash unit) A top pocket carries compact binos and other small accessories. Additional pocket (for spare batteries) and internal stowage for memory cards. Carries well on the back and when security(against pick pockets) in an issue it carries across the front and this is also a good position when quick access is required. I can leave the flap open(when carried in front) and just drop the camera in and pull it out (when in a castle or museum etc) or if walking around and carried on the back it takes 2 seconds to slip around to the front and maybe 5-10secs to get the camera out. I am sold and will always use a sling back when travelling light and is small enough to count as a camera bag on planes (I have not had to argue the point) although I sometimes drop it inside a larger backpack.