Favourite Bags (and why)

[6297J]

I have had a Lowepro and a Crumpler bag before but ..................

For me the only choice is ThinkTank - http://www.thinktankphoto.com/

I use the Airport Antidote as my overseas travel bag as everything I need fits comfortably and safely (most importantly my D300 with 300mm attached) plus it is acceptable as hand luggage so will go in the overhead locker. I have used this for all day treks in Arizona and can wear it all day with no problems.

For my everyday walks around town or out looking for bugs I use a ThinkTank Urban Disguise 40 which is a little bigger than I need but great to use and doesn't look like a camera bag!

I also use their Pixel Pocket Rockets for keeping all my CF cards safe.

Highly recommended.

[Cloud9Gal]

Wooo! Cool website! Thanks for the link. http://freesmileyface.net/smiley/Happy/happy-thumb-up-044.gif (http://freesmileyface.net/Free-Happy-Smileys.html)

I received a "free Nikon bag" with the purchase of my D40. The bag is just your typical, box-looking, bag with a handle on top. It looks more like a lunchbox than a camera bag. LOL! But it was free so...

If I find myself carrying my camera more than I anticipate, I will definitely look into buying a nicer, less conspicuous camera bag.

[6297J]

Wooo! Cool website! Thanks for the link. http://freesmileyface.net/smiley/Happy/happy-thumb-up-044.gif (http://freesmileyface.net/Free-Happy-Smileys.html)

I received a "free Nikon bag" with the purchase of my D40. The bag is just your typical, box-looking, bag with a handle on top. It looks more like a lunchbox than a camera bag. LOL! But it was free so...

If I find myself carrying my camera more than I anticipate, I will definitely look into buying a nicer, less conspicuous camera bag.

They are a very good all-American company and as a result the build quality and customer service is first class. (That's something we Europeans look across the pond with envy about!)

[Cratermaker]

I have a Lowproe sling bag. I wasn't sure I would like it at first, but it turns out to be just what I was looking for. More convenient than a full blow backpack (which I don't go hiking that far), and easier on the shoulder than a shoulder bag when hauling a lot of gear. A bag is not the kind of thing you should buy without a hands on tryout IMO.

[Kiwikat]

I've got this Crumpler 5 million dollar home.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/P/B001TIHVJU.jpg

The main problem is that it won't fit my 100-400 once I get it. I guess I'll be in the market for a new bag.

[jmig]

I use two. The first is a real camera bag that I keep the camera and spare lenses in. The other is a knapsack that I use a lot when traveling. It will carry the camera and personal items.

I would like a smaller day trip bag that will allow me to carry the camera and a few extra items. But not be so big as the pictured backpack.

[kilo delta]

I've the first one in John's post above plus a spare Alienware backpack identical to this..

http://laptopcasesunlimited.com/library/AWRBPBeauty.jpg
...which can comfortably hold all of my camera gear. :)

[Chacha]

I have two, as well...

One is the camera bag, like a lunch bag that goes with the camera when you purchase it (I got mine free, too)....

And a Targus backpack, when we travel, and when I bring all the components... extra batteries and charger and dvds etc...

[JorisVandenBerghe]

William, when you get your 100-400, you might be interested in looking at Lowepro's CompuTrekker AW or CompuTrekker Plus AW.
http://products.lowepro.com/product/CompuTrekker-AW,1924,16.htm

I have a CompuTrekker AW, see pictures below. I love the clever design, the AW feature (all-weather cover) which comes in handy when the weather turns bad and the lifelong warranty. You can configure it according to your own needs, as you see I use it for nearly everything I have. My 18-70 f/3.5-5.6 and 55-200 f/4-5.6 kitlenses are in it, as well as the big one (Sony 70-400G SSM), together with my camera and a spare battery and spare 4 GB Ultra II memory card, some stuff to clean the lens, mini-tripod, and so on. And it's got a laptop compartment as well (I reckon a 15" would fit, my MacBook Pro 13" does easily, so...). I believe there's something to get the tripod on too, and a whole compartment to put food and drinks or whatever you want to put in...it's a great bag, completely padded...

On the inside (clockwise, starting with the camera): Sony A350 DSLR, 18-70, 55-200, extra lens cap, spare battery and memory card, lens hood for the big one, little box with cards, 55-200 lens hood. As you see you can put a lot in the outside compartment, to show it I put a bottle of water in it.
Please ignore the crap quality, captured with my SonyEricsson cameraphone...:kilroy:

[Cazzie]

Cameras in bags don't take enough pictures.

They are really nice camera bags, but like the weirdo I am, I have never used a camera bag. I carried up to three cameras and extra lens in a vest. I still don't carry a camera bag, but I sure could use one of my great-Aunt Ruby's purse bags which could hold a small dept. store. :icon_lol:

Caz

[6297J]

Cameras in bags don't take enough pictures.

They are really nice camera bags, but like the weirdo I am, I have never used a camera bag. I carried up to three cameras and extra lens in a vest. I still don't carry a camera bag, but I sure could use one of my great-Aunt Ruby's purse bags which could hold a small dept. store. :icon_lol:

Caz

I doubt I'd get to the end of this street without being mugged unless I wore a stab-vest over the camera vest :isadizzy:

Camera bags that don't look like camera bags (or laptop bags) are an essential piece of kit in this part of North London!

[luckydog]

I use:

an old Bazooby photog vest,

a large Lowepro bag....
23268

or a water / bomb proof Pelican case (for river trips).
23269

[Cazzie]

I doubt I'd get to the end of this street without being mugged unless I wore a stab-vest over the camera vest :isadizzy:

Camera bags that don't look like camera bags (or laptop bags) are an essential piece of kit in this part of North London!


Out in the boonies where I live, everyone knows you and everyone has at least one good dog and one good gun. We do not suffer criminals well. This is back woods country, we believe in the three "S" s; shoot, shovel, and shut up. Cities are for social insects, I could never survive in one. The nearest city (Danville, VA) is nowhere near the size of London, but I am willing to bet there are more perps per square acre than there is in London. The city is very depressed, has 11% unemployment, and there are places a white man (or woman) dare not venture at night. The same can be said for black people too, there are places they should not be caught at night, there's some mean streets out there on both sides of the coin.

Caz

[6297J]

Out in the boonies where I live, everyone knows you and everyone has at least one good dog and one good gun. We do not suffer criminals well. This is back woods country, we believe in the three "S" s; shoot, shovel, and shut up. Cities are for social insects, I could never survive in one. The nearest city (Danville, VA) is nowhere near the size of London, but I am willing to bet there are more perps per square acre than there is in London. The city is very depressed, has 11% unemployment, and there are places a white man (or woman) dare not venture at night. The same can be said for black people too, there are places they should not be caught at night, there's some mean streets out there on both sides of the coin.

Caz

And I was thinking of coming to Virginia for Christmas!
Around here, nobody knows you and nobody cares. I think you could live in London for 50 years and never get to know anyone. We aren't allowed to carry guns and if I fought back against a mugger and hurt him, I would probably be the one to be prosecuted. London is strange in that there are some very wealthy areas right next to some very poor areas, some gated communities right next to some estates you wouldn't walk through in broad daylight with a police escort. It means that unless you know the area well you never know which streets are safe and which aren't. I have lived in some of the roughest areas and had no trouble at all and I have lived in some of the nicer areas and been mugged. You never can tell!
Given the choice I would be leave London for the country in a heartbeat but this is where the jobs are unfortunately.
This is why I have a discrete camera bag and a plain Optech strap and not the !!!LOOK - A NIKON!!! one :icon_lol:

[JorisVandenBerghe]

The same applies to Brussels (Belgian capital). You just need to know where it's safe, and where it isn't. Most of the time you can go in most areas without any problem, but when it gets dark, it's better to be inside instead of hanging around in the south of the city.

That being said, a couple of years ago a youngster of about my age was stabbed (and killed immediately)with a knife for his MP3-player (not even an expensive one) in Brussels' Central station in broad daylight by a Pole and another Polish guy accompanying him while the stabbed chap was chatting with his friend. Both fled to their family in Poland afterwards where they were caught by the local police and eventually brought to Belgium for prosecution if I recall it correctly.

RIP Joe Van Holsbeeck.

Well, I guess we better go on-topic now...

It is indeed a good choice to get a rather anonymous camera bag, instead of the original ones (with Canikon, Sony, Olympus, Panasonic,...brands on it).

[Panther_99FS]

Ah yes, the 'bag' thread....
From what I can tell from all the forums, there's no 'perfect' one....:jump:

[Naismith]

Best bag

[Cloud9Gal]

Best bag

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-signs011.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)

I will walk in that store one day.....http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-signs007.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)

[Cloud9Gal]

This is why I have a discrete camera bag and a plain Optech strap and not the !!!LOOK - A NIKON!!! one :icon_lol:


http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-signs081.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)

Your comment made me laugh, because that's the EXACT camera bag I received for free when I purchased my Nikon D40! LOL!
It's black with a bright yellow border, screaming NIKON!!!!!

Umm maybe I should add "plain camera bag" to my Christmas list? http://freesmileyface.net/smiley/Happy/happy-055.gif (http://freesmileyface.net)

[lefty]

LowePro FastPak 250, which was 'broken in' on a Middle East holiday and was just exactly what was needed - reasonably priced too. No monopod attachment though.

Always a battle between carrying the entire 'kitchen sink' with you or only the camera gear you are actually going to use......

Incidentally, re monopods - am always nervous about taking one as hand baggage - have any of you had any problems with over-zealous airport security ??

[Snuffy]

I got rid of my bag, 16 years ago ... oh wait! wrong bag ... sorry.

With regard to equipment bags though, I don't have one, unfortunately. But if I did, I suppose something as nondescript as possible would be the way to go ... less likely to draw attention.

[Panther_99FS]

Umm maybe I should add "plain camera bag" to my Christmas list? http://freesmileyface.net/smiley/Happy/happy-055.gif (http://freesmileyface.net)

I recommend a "plain bag" because plain bags don't say "Look - camera gear..STEAL ME!"....:kilroy: