Finding the perfect camera bag

[GroundEffect]

I'm looking for my holy grail - I currently have a small Lowepro (no PN on it apart from LP-150 on label) that holds my D3200 with a smaller telephoto like a 18-105 or 55-200 but I want to be able to carry 1x spare lens - specifically my 35mm f/1.8 prime - as well.

This would be for motorsport travel - FoS & Austrian GP so haul-ability is crucial.

Heres a crude layout of what I want:



Top-loading with either an internal compartment or bottom zip separate section for the spare lens. Total depth around 200-220mm.

Lowepro website isn't clear on what internal compartments there are.

[pidsy]

Have a look at peak design - they've got something within their range that will do you - might not be the shape of your picture though.

[GetCarter]

I just bought myself one of these... very expensive but as good quality as you'll find anywhere.

They are rectangular so split into 2 or 3 bits... smaller sections can be split into 2 with Velcro insert provided.

https://hawkesmill.com/

Edited by GetCarter on Sunday 23 April 11:27

[Drogo]

Billingham

https://www.billingham.co.uk/photographic/bags.htm...

Had mine 30+ years
Was used every year on holiday and weekends out.
5 series can be easily over loaded so I'd now go for a smaller one and reduce the stuff I think I'd need if buying again.
Now in use every work day for lunchpack and everyday stuff.

[GetCarter]

Drogo said:

Billingham

https://www.billingham.co.uk/photographic/bags.htm...

Had mine 30+ years
Was used every year on holiday and weekends out.
5 series can be easily over loaded so I'd now go for a smaller one and reduce the stuff I think I'd need if buying again.
Now in use every work day for lunchpack and everyday stuff.

Billingham would have been my next port of call. Great bags. They just look a bit too much like camera bags for me. ThinkTank also move towards 'urban camouflage'... if that's your bag (sorry).

[richelli]

I have a low pro flipside 400. Excellent bag. Front section for batteries and leads and junk. Rear section for camera and lens. You can't open the rear section when you have the bag on to stop people nicking your camera or lenses. It has a waist strap so if you need anything out of the rear section you take your arms out of the bag straps and spin the whole bag round to the front while the waist strap holds it onto you. It does work even full of gear. YouTube a video to see what I mean. I can put a d5500 with a 150-600 lens attached to it as well as a sigma 11-16mm. My 18- 55mm which came with it and a 70-300mm all in the rear section. It has velcro section dividers so you can move it all around to suit your camera and lenses. It also has side pouches which I keep a compass and head torch in. For the money I think it's excellent. Being able to spin it around without taking it off is great if the ground around you isn't suitable as well.

[Lynchie999]

richelli said:

I have a low pro flipside 400. Excellent bag.

Another plus for the flipside.... i have the flipside trek 450 version ... you might only need the smaller version, has loads of room for other bits too!

the "door" on the back is sort of what you need, it has a hinge halfway along so you don't need to open it fully if you don't need to...

http://www.wexphotographic.com/lowepro-flipside-tr...

its not top loading, but i think the backpack style and all its pockets etc.. is better for a day at the track...

Edited by Lynchie999 on Monday 24th April 10:50

[GroundEffect]

Thanks Chaps. The two very nice bags listed above are indeed lovely, but above what I want to spend. I am looking more for function than form.

I understand the point about backpacks being good for long days, but they are not good for quickly getting at the camera for those impromptu shots.

https://www.cameraworld.co.uk/bags-tripods-straps/...

I quite like the above but would want a vertical divider.

[Resolutionary]

Might not be helpful and I might get flamed for suggesting it, but I recently got myself a Beaspire large capacity backpack off Amazon. It was cheap and cheerful, and more than ample for my needs.

Currently I have in mine:

2 Canon bodies (450D + 70D)
1 270 Speedlite
2 spare batteries
70-200mm F4
18-55mm
10-18mm
100mm macro
24mm
50mm

Plus a variety of hoods, filters and miscellaneous items. A lot of the bags listed thus far appear, to an amateur like me, extraordinarily expensive for what is effectively a nicely finished padded satchel - and I'm sure you could do better for a fraction of the price. Mine cost me £35 and for that I have a bag which does everything I need, including holding a tripod and monopod. I tend to keep my lenses in the bubblewrap they came with for a bit extra peace of mind.

Yes it's bulky but let's face it, the sort of gear we're talking about isn't exactly light! As for being able to grab things as and when, I often wear my backpack on my front which means can get at gear quickly, and have a nice resting spot for the camera itself

[hornetrider]

GroundEffect said:

I'm looking for my holy grail - I currently have a small Lowepro (no PN on it apart from LP-150 on label) that holds my D3200 with a smaller telephoto like a 18-105 or 55-200 but I want to be able to carry 1x spare lens - specifically my 35mm f/1.8 prime - as well.

This would be for motorsport travel - FoS & Austrian GP so haul-ability is crucial.

I'm relatively new to DSLR ownership but also wanted a small compact bag that would carry one spare lens. I did muchos googling and eventually bought a ThinkTank Mirrorless Mover 20. It's a great bit of kit and has a handle, shoulder strap and belt clip so you have three methods of carrying. I'll add a few pics, does the job really well and is well built.

Excuse woeful camera phone pics.

Edited by hornetrider on Monday 24th April 16:47

[frg530]

GroundEffect said:

I understand the point about backpacks being good for long days, but they are not good for quickly getting at the camera for those impromptu shots.

I have a Lowepro Slingshot 100, it's perfect for quickly getting at the camera and will store what you are wanting it to.

[GroundEffect]

frg530 said:

GroundEffect said:

I understand the point about backpacks being good for long days, but they are not good for quickly getting at the camera for those impromptu shots.

I have a Lowepro Slingshot 100, it's perfect for quickly getting at the camera and will store what you are wanting it to.

That looks ideal! Thanks - you might have just solved my issue.

[Whoozit]

I have two smaller bags depending on the amount of kit I want to take.

For SLR with 24-70, or mirrorless plus a couple of lenses, a Crumpler Ben's Pizza medium. Closest equivalent today is a Toploader http://www.crumpler.eu/all-bags/sling-bags/quick-e...

For a mirrorless travel kit (body, 3 lenses, batteries, cleaning kit, ipad mini, micro tripod) a Thule sling bag which has the advantage of looking pretty small, nothing like a camera bag, but has amazing expandability. And it also fits in the bottom of a medium sized Dakine ski backpack for travelling.

[opieoilman]

I got a new DSLR at Christmas and have been looking for the right bag for a while. I had a Crumpler backpack that was annoying as the fabric was so stiff that it was a pain to open it up and it didn't hold that much kit anyway. Then I got a Caden K1, which was really good, just not what I needed.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/P534-Caden-K1-Waterproof...

I managed to fit a 750D, 75-300mm, 18-55mm and 50mm in there, but it had to be packed right, with the 75-300 attached to the camera, when I use the smaller lenses most of the time. For a body and a couple of lenses, it would be ideal though. I gave it to my brother in law and he likes it.

I've gone back to having a couple of bags, these ones.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Crumpler-Light-Delight-F... (not in orange though, more tasteful blue)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Crumpler-Jimmy-Bo-200-SL...

The backpack is ideal for holding the whole kit and the other one will hold the camera and lens, or camera and 2 smallish lenses. I had a Crumpler Jimmy Bo a few years ago and it was brilliant, tried replacing it with other things (my brother's dog ate it) and none have worked anything like as well. Having the strap as a waistband (and a thinner one to go around your leg as well) means that you don't need to have it over your shoulder and can wear it as a weird posing pouch, if you want.

Edited by opieoilman on Wednesday 26th April 12:44