Crimbo is just around the corner so I thought a bag would be a good idea.

Had a bit of a look on the net but its hard to tell how big they are without getting your hands on them.

Im looking for something big enough to take a 350D maybe two lenses, a portable storage device and the odd battery etc.

My budget is £50-60

I quite like the new Lowpro slingshot 100aw which goes over your back then slings round to the front for easy access. At £59 its right at the top of my budget though. Anyone got any experiance of them? or anything else you would recommend?

Ease of carrying and use is more important to me than the ability to carry 30 lenses, sarnies, cuddly toy,

Cheers

Gary

I've got a crumpler bunnyman that would do that. You can have it for 50 quid.
(missing the chest strap but really good nick otherwise, only been out in public twice.)

I use a Lowepro Orion Trekker bag which I got free with a years subscription to Practical Photography magazine. I don't know if this is still being offered, but its a good little bag.

Its a rucksack style bag with the top half being unpadded for snacks, papers and so on, and underneath is the padded section which houses the camera, so its quite versatile.

If you've got lots of kit you'll need a bigger version, my one holds:

Bottom section

Canon 350D with battery grip and 18-55 kit lens
Sigma 70-300 zoom with hood
Canon 50mm 1.8mm lens with extension tubes fitted

In the top half I keep my Sigma flash, spare batteries and some memory cards, plus things like a bottle of water, sarnies etc.,

Lowepro minitrekker if they still do it. Lasts forever so good quality. Still a small rucksack about the same size as the orion but takes loads of gear. I get two bodies, telephoto zoom, a wider zoom, four prime lenses, two flashes, battery pack and that still leaves the big front pocket to cram with stuff. Very good bag.

Thanks for the replies guys. I will have a look at them on-line later on and see which takes my fancy.

Good idea about the Practical photography subscription, they are doing a free tripod now though ...... still not a bad present all the same.

Gary

I use a Lowpro Micro Trekker & manage to squeeze in:
1 x D70
1 x 18-70
1 x 70-300
1 x 70 - 200 F2.8VR (large)
2 x SB800 Flashes

Could do with a slightly larger one but it does the job :)

The Micro Trekker is a quality bag, I've got the Mini Trekker (its bigger brother) and I love it.

Do you prefer shoulder bags or rucksacks?

Darren

You might as well use the free bags given away by Asdas, Tescos, and etc, for all the protection expensive stuff like Lowepro gives you:(

Alcazar

Had a bad experience that you'd like to share?

I have the Mini Trekker too and it's great - just big enough to accommodate as much gear as I can physically manage to carry. It may be overkill for a 350D with a couple of lenses, but it's very well made and hasn't split or torn yet.

I used to use a Tamrac Expedition 4, a smallish backpac, that will hold a body an about 4 lenses inc my sigma 70 - 200. And funnily enough I have it for sale cos I don't use it anymore.

I now use a Crumpler Schrinkle, a most excellent bag and big enough to hold everything I own and more + a laptop, and doesn't look like a camera bag (usefull when I travel through london to gigs). very comfy to wear as a rucksac, even with no waist belt. The down side is its not cheap, but if it lives up to what I put my other 2 crupler bags through I'll be more than happy.

Crimbo is just around the corner so I thought a bag would be a good idea.

Had a bit of a look on the net but its hard to tell how big they are without getting your hands on them.

Im looking for something big enough to take a 350D maybe two lenses, a portable storage device and the odd battery etc.

My budget is £50-60

I quite like the new Lowpro slingshot 100aw which goes over your back then slings round to the front for easy access. At £59 its right at the top of my budget though. Anyone got any experiance of them? or anything else you would recommend?

Ease of carrying and use is more important to me than the ability to carry 30 lenses, sarnies, cuddly toy,

Cheers

Gary

mini trekker classic from lowpro

Tried to get the freebie with subscription of practical photographer but they have run out .........damn

You might as well use the free bags given away by Asdas, Tescos, and etc, for all the protection expensive stuff like Lowepro gives you:(

Alcazar

Deffo disagree Alcazar. My minitrekker is very heavy with all the gear in it although still a small rucksack in appearance . Its had a lot of abuse and carried my gear everywhere for quite some time. I also generally carry it with just one strap over my shoulder so one strap has to take a lot of weight. Big difference in quality to cheaper makes.

I have a Lowepro Mini Trekker AW , think it was £60.00 off eBay :thumb:
Just need more kit to fill it :(

I have a couple of big bags, which I can just about carry from the house to the car :eek:

So I am now aiming to get a smaller bag to use for a walkabout outfit. I also fancy the Lowepro Slingshot 100AW but have not been able to see one in the flesh. Having said that, I am confident enough to ask Mrs Santa to get it mail-order from www.warehouseexpress.com

Richard.

got a micro trekker 200 (bigger than the 100, smaller than the mini trekker.

Takes the following with ease

20D body
Battery Grip (detached) - will also take it with grip attached
70-200 F4L
28-105
efs 60

charger
spare battery
filters
all power and connection leads
battery magazine for grip
tripod collar for 70-200
and rocket blower, etc, etc and all the other crap that goes with it.

Has straps to attach a tripod

Space for say a 17-40 or a 24-105L (as an example) left over if I leave the grip attached.

HTH

So I am now aiming to get a smaller bag to use for a walkabout outfit. I also fancy the Lowepro Slingshot 100AW but have not been able to see one in the flesh. Having said that, I am confident enough to ask Mrs Santa to get it mail-order from www.warehouseexpress.com

Richard.
Looks great. I'm off to India for a couple of weeks over Christmas, so I'm looking at something along those lines. I'm finding it hard to justify spending on a bag I've not seen. The Slingshot 100AW appears to be available on the Jessops website (same price as warehouse express) so I'm planning on seeing if the local store carries it.

A quick steel of the thread if I may :)

Diablo,

Do you use the Tipod collar much on your 70-200

It's the same collar as my 300mm F4 L but I don't know if its worth the £70.

Darren

Well there are plenty of Orions on Ebay for around £ 30.00 They updated it and released a Orion 2 with some improvements but the original still does what it does well.

Jessops near me has a poor selection of decent sized bags, and an abundance of smaller bags, but there is a branch of LCE who have a good selection of Lowepro stuff.

I wont be buying from E-bay its a crimbo pressie and E-bay is off limits for that.

Had a good look through the net last night and made my choice :D

Gary

A quick steel of the thread if I may :)

Diablo,

Do you use the Tipod collar much on your 70-200

It's the same collar as my 300mm F4 L but I don't know if its worth the £70.

Darren
Quick answer

Yes, but mostly with a monopod :)