Toronto Photography Meetup Group

I'm going to Las Vegas in January 2010 and would like to carry some camera gear along with me as I visit the different sites (Casinos/Hotels/Conventions/Shopping/Restaurants).

I am looking for a bag that will hold a D700, SB900, 24-70, 70-200, and some accessories. Would like a bag where I could access and stow away the gear quite easily and not an eye sore. Also, I may bring a tripod along, or would that be too much?

There will be a lot of walking going on so something comfortable is paramount.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

I'm positive this isn't the best bag, but I use a Tamrac backpack with a small camera and laptop compartment. http://www.tamrac.com/5549.htm. I loved it in New York, i could put all my maps, papers, and small raincoat in the top part, my laptop in the back, and had most of my camera equipment (body+lens, 2 small lenses, flash, filters, cable release, charger) in the bottom (today it doesn't hold everything).

It wears like a normal backpack which is great for walking. Unfortunately, I've been unsuccessful with tripods and this bag. Overall, it works for me because I don't want/need a dedicated camera bag when I travel. If I did my girlfriend would have to one-up me and bring a dedicated makeup bag!!

Tripods are definitely noticeable. You can probably do without it unless you really want to stop down for night landscape photos.

Trying not be biased here but Crumpler's Million Dollar Home series is great. How about spending $20 at SIG Electronics for the 7MDH clone?

might not be the most comfortable to walk around whole day, I'd get a backpack for travels, but at $20 you can just take it for smaller list of gear when you don't need all of it

+1 on the discomfort. I took the 7MDH with me to the UK and the weight on one shoulder + walking around all day is not very comfortable at all. Plus it is bulky and gets in the way, whereas a backpack is more elongated, so should have less bulk. I am looking into getting a backpack for trips as well.

Hm.. I haven't had much problems with that. But bags are personal. There are a lot of choices out there. Go to the stores and try some bags out.

I had a Lowepro Toploader with me in Paris for a week. It was not fun carrying that around all day long.

I have the same bag. I've used the strap attachment loops on the bottom to secure my tripod. Works well since it's a small manfrotto modo mini, if larger - it would be awkward.

I was just shopping for the straps!! If I do get the straps I would only use it for trips around the city.
Thanks, I think I'll swing by Vistek and get some!

<sorry>
When I got it a year ago, I had to go to Amplis Foto in Markham to get it from their parts store (the distributor). I found out from the product manager at the Henry's camera show to find out that they didn't distribute it yet. Again, this was a year ago.

But yeah, the Tamrac is a great bag - however I would have picked up the lowepro fastpack 250 / 350 if they had it back then. I prefer my travel bags to be able to carry a laptop also. If you don't need a laptop compartments, take a look at the Lowepro Flipside.

I have the Tamrac Adventure 9 backback and love it. Been on many a trip, some hardcore hiking in the Ozark mountains and the standard tourist city stuff to.

Very very comfortable!

Carried on the plane no problem, never been asked to check it.



http://www.tamrac.com/5549.htm

Nice bag, but where do the hoods go?

I usually just leave them mounted on the lens reversed. There's more room in the bag then the pics makes it seem.

In mine right now
5D
Canon 24-105mm f4 L + hood
Sigma 20mm f1.8 + hood
Canon 50mm
Canon 420ex speedlite
SUNPAK RD2000 flash
Canon charger
Crumpler industry disgrace neck strap
assortment of misc stuff, like cables, blowers, brushes, cloths, ect

I have the Tamrac Adventure 9, but after using it on a few trips I found a few things problematic with it.

It is quite bulky if you have a laptop in it and I found that I could not wedge it under the airline seat, it had to go in the overhead locker.

The upper 'non camera' part is not separated very well from camera part and small things fall through into the camera compartment. This is a pain when at airport security you dump all your loose change into the compartment, pick the bag up and hear it all tinkling into the camera gear.

To access the camera gear you have to take the pack off and sit it on something to get access which is a pain. The camera opening also has a tendency to flap down spilling stuff in the flap pockets onto the floor when you are trying to get at stuff

The top compartment is very small in comparison to the main compartment which is pretty roomy, I get three zooms, two primes a 5D and few other odds and ends in there. For travelling I want to less camera gear but to have more storage, generally I want a backpack with a camera compartment, not a camera bag with a spare compartment.

However I must say it stores a lot of gear pretty securely, it is much deeper than it looks in the pictures, I get my 70-200 IS in horizontally (so you can just see the end cap). I will keep it for the times when I need to bring everything I have.

I am going on an overseas trip in a month and am looking for a bag that fits my needs, no laptop required, room for FF dSLR and 3-4 small lenses, decent sized other compartment and camera accessible without taking the pack off. Have been looking at the LowePro Fastpack, which is similar to the Tamrac Adventure series but seemed to have corrected a number of the flaws. Most likely will personally go for the 200 as I don't need a laptop compartment and there does not seem to be much extra room in the other compartments in the bigger sizes.

I came close to the Tamrac but ended up buying the LowePro FastPack 350 because it was so much easier to grab the camera when it was away. Fits what you need and fits under the seat of many planes.



http://products.lowepro.com/product/Fas ... 087,14.htm

Does this come with a tripod holder?

Thanks for all of the great suggestions.

What do you all think about the Kata 3N1-30?

I got an old Lowepro Mini Trekker that has been to all my trips. Might be time to update it to an AW version because the last time I had it I was on the Big Island doing a tour and got rained on all day. Half my stuff got soaked.

I'm selling one right now. It's very similar to the Fastpack 350 but offers configurable straps (sling on either side, traditional backpack, or criss-cross). The downside is that it doesn't have a laptop compartment. Search it on Youtube and you'll find a few videos showing it in detail.

It has an optional tripod holder (purchased separately)

I'm only selling it becuase I need space for more gear (namely a second body).

lowe Pro computrekker AW. I've used it on vacation to the caribbean twice, gone hiking with it etc. Space for a laptop and a tripod

+1 I own this bag and it is great.

The FastPack 350 does not have a tripod holder or strap holders to attach one easily. There is a video on YouTube that shows how to attach a tripod using a tripod strap.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJbcyM9stSI

I bought this bag for combination business/personal travel where I need a laptop, camera gear and misc stuff like blackberry, reading material, snacks, etc. It works well for that but when loaded up it is heavy. It has a good waist belt and height adjustable sternum strap so it is fairly comfortable. It's also good for a day pack when you want camera gear plus room to stash a windbreaker, lunch etc.

For me the FastPack 350 is too big and obtrusive for your stated need (Casinos/Hotels/Conventions/Shopping/Restaurants). I would not enjoy wandering around a casino or going into a restaurant carrying it. I took it as my carry-on for getting all my gear to my hotel, but stashed a medium Fidelity bag (5MDH clone) in my main suitcase for cruising around when I got to my location.

Other bags I considered were the Kata DR-465 (but it seemed a little small, especially the top compartment), and the Tenba Gen 3. LowePro bags are so readily available in Canada and have such good warranty support they are an easy buy.

What about Lowepro Flipside 300. I had the 200 version and just travel to Europe, hold my 50d and 430 well. It has a small compartment for personal accessories too and also a tripod holder as well.

http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/defa ... ewsID=3356

I like the Tenba small messenger bag:

http://www.tenba.com/Collections/Messenger.aspx

Sabesh.