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DSLR backpack!
What backpack are you lovely people sporting these days? Anyone with a small kit that travels, I'd love to know your opinion. Right now I am looking at the ThinkTank Streetwalker. Sep 11 14 10:11 am Link As soon as you begin to choose a bag to fit your need, you soon realize that you will need more than one type of bag. I have 7 different type of camera bags for different situations, needs, and assignments. Sep 11 14 11:12 am Link i prefer the lowerpro swing packs, makes it easy to access for lens switches. Sep 11 14 11:17 am Link I settled on the Lowepro Outback 300 AW. It's one of those side-sling deals but sits on the middle of your back and has a good waist strap. I love it. Carries what I need for 95% of what I do and I love being able to just whip it around in front of me to change lenses or whatever. It's true there is no such thing as "the one perfect bag" but this one comes very close for what I do. Sep 11 14 11:21 am Link Yep!! Love my Lopro, it could be bigger, there's always something else you want to bring along. Sep 11 14 11:25 am Link Awesome responses. I know my kit for a long time will be Sony A7 55 1.8 Canon 100mm Macro + Metabones Accessories Flash After some research I came across the Retrospective 10 from ThinkTank and a Domke F-2 bag. Style of bag is very important to me , and I love the look of those two. I have actually had a Fastpack 250 from Lowepro that I absolutely hated. I just remembered about that one Sep 11 14 11:27 am Link When my Tamrac Velocity was stolen I replaced it with a Tamrac Velocity. First time I've ever bought two of the same bags. I love the way it slings easily and its roundness and outer zipper pouch makes stuffing easier. Not a backpack, but you said small kit. I'd never carry a small kit in a backpack because I want small kits to be fast. Sep 11 14 11:28 am Link I've used the Tamrac Adventure 7 for years and really like it. My only real complaint is that carrying a tripod strapped to the bottom isn't terribly stable. Some time in the future, I'm thinking of trading up to the Adventure 9. Sep 11 14 01:48 pm Link I have a Lowepro Flipside 400. I'm not sold on it. There are some nice things about it, but I really would like a backpack that I can flip open and have it STAY open. The way this is designed, you have to hold it open and it's annoying to me. and...now...when I get my Tamron 150-600...that lens isn't going to fit. It's already maxed out with a... Nikon 16-35 f/4 Nikon 20-70 f/2.8 Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 Nikon 105mm f/2.8 Macro Nikon 2x teleconverter Nikon SB-800 speedlight Nikon D700 w/grip Sep 11 14 02:59 pm Link I'm using Kiboko backpack from Gura Gear. Love the design & the backpack is light but still give your gears a good amount of protection. I don't carry much lenses (usually only carry two) with me when I do model shoot. But I do carry a back-up body from time to time, I also pack my Einstein strobe with cable & a bunch of PW's and also a VAGABOND mini Bat. Pack with a 2nd battery. I also carry my jacket in case it's cold outside & a bunch of wardrobes for models (mostly sarongs & fabrics) ... and all of those are fit the bag ...  Sep 11 14 03:10 pm Link Sep 12 14 08:10 am Link Jason Bassett wrote: First, I second the response that says a serious shooter needs multiple carrying devices. I've got a backpack, a holster, a fannypack that will hold a 200mm zoom and body, a tactical vest, a day pack that I've put a timbuktu insert in to, and a messenger bag that with camera setup and room for a MacAir. I use them all (but obviously not at one time). Which one I use depends upon the situation and setting. Sep 12 14 09:00 am Link / This. Sep 12 14 09:10 am Link I use a Lowepro SlingShot 202 AW as a main carrying bag. It works well enough for me, but Chris dislikes it. And, there are times I would prefer a more standard backpack, because it can sometimes be a pain. What works well for one person may be a terrible fit for another, not just in terms of how you wear it, but how you like to access your gear. You may also find that you prefer different bags for different situations and/or gear. I agree with Ed's post above that said to check out several different bags in person before buying. IMO, it's important to see what you think would work best for you, your gear and how you like to access it. What works for someone else likely won't prove very useful. Sep 12 14 11:06 am Link I'm a big fan of Think Tank. I tend to use their pouches for holding things that go together - flash and it's accessories, lenses - and then put the pouches into a regular shoulder back or backpack and select the size based on the number of pouches. The only thing I've worn with two shoulder straps like a backpack has been a Domke bag with their accessory strap that allows you to wear it like a backpack. I keep a 5D, 24-70, 35 2.4, 320ex, bracket, angle finder, batteries, cards and cable release/timer in it and in most cases, that's all I need. Now that the A7s has pretty much replaced my 5D, I'm searching again, since that set up isn't quite right. Plus, I've been bringing too many lenses because I'm trying to decide what I want to use with it. But the Domke bag with shoulder straps has been the setup I've been happiest with. Sep 12 14 01:05 pm Link This is my backpack system. Tamrac 5256 Black CyberPack 6 Photo/Laptop Backpack (Black) - $199.95 I mainly use it for trips and long hauls. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00091 … UTF8&psc=1   Bag by FullMetalPhotographer, on Flickr This what I carry with it. (2) Nikon D3 cameras AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Zoom-NIKKOR 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED Kenko 1.4X Teleplus - 4 Element DGX Auto Focus for Nikon AF Digital SLRs (2) SB-800 Flashes 15 inch Macbook Pro Sep 12 14 02:31 pm Link Very happy with me Vangaurd Uprise. A lot of photographer friendly details. Sep 12 14 06:23 pm Link ended up with an ONA bag for my mirrorless setup. And getting a thinktank for a larger setup! (maybe tenba) Sep 12 14 07:44 pm Link I use a LowePro sport 200 AW, which is the one the looks like a little hiking pack. I tried a 30L sport because I liked the frame and trampoline suspension, but I'm too large for it - the frame digs into my lower back. But keep in mind I'm a pack mule. My girlfriend is tiny, and when we go hiking I carry both our water, and most of the first aid and survival stuff. If I were just carrying for me, I'd have a smaller bag. Sep 12 14 08:20 pm Link Sep 13 14 12:41 am Link For hiking or extensive walking around I use the lowepro. Fastpack 350.The bag has room fpry 2 pro body's a few lenses, filters, rain clothes,... When I know that there Will be hard surfaces,airports,... My preference goes to the think tank airport take-off. It is a roller bag with some decent shoulder straps not as good as a real backpack. My longest walk was 8miles for about 6 hour. I stopped on a trip for one waterfall, I ended iup hhjiking the whole trail IP and down. Fully loaded with gear. I was on my way to a sport event and had all the heavy glass and 2 bodies, tripod,.... Sep 13 14 02:17 am Link Like many have said, lots of different bags/packs for different needs, but my primary backpack is the Think Tank Airport accelerator. My full review is on my blog here: http://happydragonphotography.blogspot. … rport.html It's since been on several trips with me and used on some short hikes and in some crappy environments and it's come through beautifully. Sep 14 14 10:58 pm Link Theft is always an issue when urban hiking and shooting, so I go for something smaller and non-descript downtown. I also have a basic Lowepro - one of the models that unzips sort of in the middle - for landscape and fashion shooting in rural locations. Another larger bag with side compartment for air travel. The list keeps getting longer. Sep 15 14 02:36 am Link Big bags mean big weight. I try to travel light. I can get my D800+24-70 into a medium thinktank retrospect shoulder bag. If I need to hike in with gear I use a Kata backpack. Sep 15 14 06:30 am Link My smaller back is a Lowepro Pro Runner, and when I wanna bring 3 lenses a pro-body cam & 2 speedlights I use my Faskpack: http://www.techradar.com/news/photograp … -1074762/5 Both are AW (All Weather) versions, which means they have a water-resistant covering stashed in them you can pull out of their hidden pocket to cover your bag & protect your gear. It's stiched into the bag, so it won't fall-off or anything to that effect. Lowepro, lifetime warranty. I also have a Pro Roller, for studio-sessions and indoor location-shoots where I have a controlled environment: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/6 … oCv8jw_wcB Sep 16 14 07:52 am Link I use a lowepro slingshot if I just use the camera with one lens for some all-round pictures, and a lowepro flipside for full productions. Sep 16 14 08:04 am Link Depends on what you need to carry and how much weight you can carry. I have the Street walker pro and love it but find it too small at times and use the TT Airport Commuter. The Airport Security roller is great but too heavy for me to use as backpack. Over the years you collect a lot of cases. Sep 16 14 09:07 pm Link I have 2 LowePro bags. One is small for short trips or specific assignmests where I just need 1-2 lenses and not much else. The other is larger and can hold a few more lenses, speedlights, batteries etc. I don't currently have a bag big enough to hold everything. I don't really see a need ever carry everything with me at once anyway. Sep 16 14 09:17 pm Link I use a tamrac Jazz 81 http://www.tamrac.com/products/jazz81/ Sep 18 14 07:53 am Link I like to operate on the KISS principle. "Big Name", high end labels mean nothing to me. The purpose of the backpack is to carry your gear. Period. After looking around what's available in backpack style bags, I decided on a Vivitar bag that I got from BH for about $69. It can function as either a backpack or a sling bag. It has a compartment for my laptop and that also holds a goretex lightwt jacket that can protect me or the bag and it's contents. The cam loads horizontally when in the back pack mode. I can load the cam with a 70-200 f2.8 Nikkor attached to my D800. There is room for several other lenses, and a top compartment that holds the 70-200 if a different lens is mounted on the cam. There are numerous other side pouches and compartments inside the bag for mem cards, lens cleaning cloths, etc. It's a really good value and gets my gear where I go, which is all I need. Sep 18 14 09:22 am Link I carry a Domke F2 and a Peli 1510. The 1510 is base camp and the F2 is always on my hip. Sep 20 14 01:19 pm Link Jason Bassett wrote: I highly recommend the Lowepro Mini Trekker AW. Sep 20 14 05:12 pm Link Michael Alestra wrote: Those are nice due to their main function, as well as secondary since it's modular. You can strap lens bags or other Lowepro bags to the swing pack and have a variety of customizations. Sep 20 14 10:50 pm Link I love everything about this bag. except the price. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/control … &A=details rapid delivery to Alaska saved my ass on a recent trip there. Sep 21 14 07:49 am Link In 2010 I spent 2 weeks in Alaska both on land and a ship. I bought this backpack to go everywhere. It held my laptop and camera equipment. For the land trip I put my laptop in an overnight bag which I took to each of the hotel rooms. When I was aboard the ship I left my laptop in the state room. It was and still is easy to unzip the cover and grab the body with a lens attached without worrying about dropping the rest of my lenses. I have enjoyed the performance. With several trip to Wyoming, Utah and Colorado since I bought the backpack in 2010, I have never had any problems. But for your needs you will have to see all the products available to you and your needs, the amount of equipment you will carry. Taylor http://store.lowepro.com/backpacks/fastpack-350 Sep 21 14 09:05 am Link I agree with those who have said that one camera bag will not meet all needs. That said my main bag is an F-stop Loka: https://shop.fstopgear.com/us/products/ … CTdu_1K5BU Sep 25 14 08:33 pm Link ThinkTank Sep 25 14 08:42 pm Link I'm loving the Manfrotto Advanced Travel Backpack Sep 26 14 12:54 am Link I have Lowepro, Tamrac, Canon, and some cheap knockoff bags that I found in San Francisco. My main one is the Tamrac Adventure 9. I carry the tripod on the side and it works out well. The only problem is it will hold enough stuff that if I don't watch it closely I end up weighing myself down. Someone earlier said you need several bags and I think that is true if you do different activities with a camera in tow. If you are just looking for transportation and quick access I think the Adventure 9 is about as good as I have found. Sep 26 14 08:42 am Link From unfortunate experience: If you have your backpack bag on the ground and it's unzipped (but the flap is folded over covering your equipment), and you pick it up, a lot of stuff falls out. It's the nature of the design. I lost an EF 50mm f1.4 lens (they are notoriously damage prone) that way. Bag on the ground, flap over, I needed something and my assistant picked up the bag. Not good, a lot of stuff fell out, fortunately only one lens was damaged. But that was the last backpack I have owned. They are easier to carry, and seem to make sense, but for me shoulder bags are safer. Just say'un. John -- John Fisher 700 Euclid Avenue, Suite 110 Miami Beach, Florida 33139 305 534-9322 http://www.johnfisher.com Sep 26 14 11:55 am Link |
