Is this backpack good?

[Sheldon]

Ross, if you are still unsure, Ive seen this backpack at Houston Camera Exchange. You might swing by a take a look before you order it.

[PhotoSpidy]

i have a backpack almost identical, got it at Humble Camera for $40. i have a 20D with battery grip, i keep a lens on the camera, and have 2-3 others at any given time in there, (including a 70-300mm is), a 580EX speedlite, two filter sets, two battery chargers and a ton of cords and other junk that just seems to find its way in there lol backpacks are great if you are not in and out of them, or have a place to set it down, out of harms way, to have easy access to gear

[Jim Victory]

I'm sure this is a good backpack for the price. Just be careful using it because with Canon on the outside it pretty much tells a thief whats inside.

I wouldn't buy it just for that reason alone.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Sheldon

Ross, if you are still unsure, Ive seen this backpack at Houston Camera Exchange. You might swing by a take a look before you order it.

Hey Sheldon, I'm finally back home. Well, yeah I am definitly going to go by there or Co-Op before buying the 100-250 dollar versions of these things, but I already ordered this last week. Amazon.com is just a bit slow with the free shipping :)

Thanks though -- i'll check there before buying my shoulder bag.

-Ross

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Jim Victory

I'm sure this is a good backpack for the price. Just be careful using it because with Canon on the outside it pretty much tells a thief whats inside.

I wouldn't buy it just for that reason alone.

Jim,

Yeah, I was thinking about blacking it out or putting electrical tape over it.. something like that --- Or just stick a USA flag or something like that over the Canon name. I agree -- it screams STEAL ME !

[LoungeLizard]

Originally Posted by Ross

Yeah, I was thinking about blacking it out or putting electrical tape over it.. something like that --- Or just stick a USA flag or something like that over the Canon name. I agree -- it screams STEAL ME !

Just remember, if you travel, in some places that says shoot me and then steal my bag!

[Ross]

Originally Posted by LoungeLizard

Just remember, if you travel, in some places that says shoot me and then steal my bag!

Hi Jesus, sadly you're right :( Perhaps just black over it will work out better. Although I don't think i'll travel to such exotic "leslie-like" locations :shock: not too many rebels in Madrid :)

Thanks for saying it though -- i'll steer clear of the flag.

-Ross

[ndsimm]

I need to go to Amazon and see if I can find something similar for my Nikon, nice bag, let us know how you like it

[LoungeLizard]

Originally Posted by ndsimm

I need to go to Amazon and see if I can find something similar for my Nikon, nice bag, let us know how you like it

You can always get the Canon bag and just confuse everyone! I just got a Nikon hotshoe to pc synch adapter for my Canon!

[Ross]

Ok -- I just got the bag in the mail. I have not tested it yet, but I will tonight and write up a bit of a review. At First glance, it looks great, good quality, perhaps the shoulder straps are a bit "flimsy", but I am not sure how much of a problem that will be.

The interior looks a lot bigger than I expected for the size of bag and the padding seems very sufficient at first feel. There is not real way to firmly secure the 20D in place, but there is a strap to secure the lens that is attached to the camera, so I think that will serve to keep everything in place + when it is zippered I don't think there is anywhere it can go...

More in depth later tonight.

-Ross

[imjamie]

Ross - got mine yesterday and have no complaints about it, other than my EOS1 VHs has some trouble fitting in there with the power booster attached, but other than that, it holds the stuff I have with some room to spare and for the $38, if I outgrow it, I haven't lost very much money on it. I have a 20D with grip on the way, so I'll have to see how it fits, which is why I bought it, just have the EOS1 in there to "test it out", since I do still love film.. :D Just my two cents worth and I look forward to your review of it as well. Oh, and yes, the straps are a bit flimsy for me as well, but like I stated on my earlier post about it, with my gut being what it is, I just wanted something to hold the gear that I could grab and go with, not really wear like a backpack and it looks like it should fit the bill.

[Ross]

Here's my Review of the Canon Deluxe Backpack 200 EG:

First off, I was impressed by the build quality of this backpack. For 38 dollars from amazon.com I was totally surprised that there was even any structure to the backpack. The exterior build quality is great with ripstop nylon exterior that is water-repellant (it really does work - i tested it).

The dark olive green and black are good colors and would not stand out. However, as discussed above, the Canon logo does stand out like a sore thumb. See the pictures for everywhere this backpack says "canon" on it. It is imprinted on most the inside surfaces, outside tag, and the huge Canon logo on the top.

The main compartment of the backpack has 5 movable velcroed dividers and two long black divders that block off the camera body with lens attached in the middle of the backpack. These are adjustable, which was a must to fit my 20D comfortably in the backpack. After adjusting the dividers my 20D (no batt grip) fit extremely well into the soft dividers. The only quam I had was that there is no padding on the BACK of the camera. Observe in the pictures that there is no padding around the sides of the backpack, just foam padding with the dividers. I'm not sure this will be a problem, but I would have liked to see some more padding around the back of the camera (which is at the top of the backpack). There is also a stretchy velcroed strap that can be used to secure the lens/body combo into place. There is enough room for my 75-300mm attached to the 20D + probably 3 more lenses and a flash in the main compartment. I did not have enough lenses to fully test this, but it is larger than I expected.

Also, in the main compartment there are two mesh holders presumably for filters and CF cards and the like. The zippers are of high quality plastic and slide easily. This top flap also contain a little bit of foam padding.

The next compartment is another full compartment which can hold more photo accessories. A flash would fit in this compartment, however I cannot see much of a use for it except for lens cleaners and the flatter accessories. There are two pockets with expandable sections at the top to keep things in. These two inner pockets as seen in "top flap" and "top flap 2" below are not the best quality and feel rather plastic-y, but they would be just fine for accessories like CF cards or cloths, etc. This compartment, I feel could also hold a mini-tripod or other type accessories.

Next, the very outside has a corded holder part which can carry extra clothing on hiking trips or perhaps a camel pack for water. There is also a small 3rd zippered compartment which is flat and small and is only good for filters and CF cards, probably.

On the bottom of the backpack are a set of tripod holders. The tripod hangs down, being fed through the rings and tightened into place. Even though the attachemnts are only single-row sown on and are plastic/rubber the feel really solid and will easily hold heavier tripods with no problems of breaking. There are similar attachments on both sides of the backpack perhaps for monopods?

The shoulder straps are low-quality. They began to hurt a bit after 10 minutes of wear with a light pack. I think actually it would be better over time, when they were not so stiff, however there is barely any padding in the shoulder straps. This is a pretty major flaw, however I do think it is enough padding for now, but I cannot see this thinness of strap holding up over the long-run. Attached to the straps is a chest clasp, which works well, fitting high across the chest (adjustable position by sliding them up and down the shoulder straps). There is also a waist clasp which would be great for hiking and feels secure and is adjustable in the normal way. Lastly, there are two side pockets that velcro closed to hold water bottles or other miscellaneous stuff.

All in all, this is an absolute steal for 38 dollars. Spacious and well designed and made. I would like to see more padding around the interior compartment, however the back padding and internal pads are good. Also the shoulder strap issue might be a hassle for heavier packs. All around, this backpack is great and I think will securly hold my 20D and lenses and accessories.

I hope you all enjoyed this short review! Ask me questions if you want to know anything :)

~Ross

PS -- some of the pics look a bit purple, but that is just flash + black nylon wierdness .. it looks black, deep black.

[bburton]

Originally Posted by Ross

The only quam I had was that there is no padding on the BACK of the camera. Observe in the pictures that there is no padding around the sides of the backpack, just foam padding with the dividers. I'm not sure this will be a problem, but I would have liked to see some more padding around the back of the camera (which is at the top of the backpack).

Ross,

Thanks so much for the thorough review. While we were waiting for what you had to say, I checked out the same model pretty thoroughly at Arlington Camera.

My deepest reservation was the same as your's above -- maybe only more so: right at the point where the camera body is closest to the exterior (at the top of the pack) there is the least amount of padding and protection. :(

Of course, I did note that the Lowepro Mini Trekker AW HAS adequate padding all around - top and bottom - but at 2-3 times the cost. Then again, if you don't want the Lowepro label, it seems there are other less popular brands of backpacks with very good padding available for $60 - $80.

To me, however, it just seems inherently unstable to carry the heaviest object (camera with long lens) at the top of the backpack when the weightier, more precious cargo should be stowed lower. I guess one could rearrange the interior compartment dividers of this Canon backpack so that the camera body with long lens attached is at the bottom of the case and thus more protected....however,

The bottom line for me is that a backpack type of bag is probably not the way to go; I'm now looking into so-called shoulder "gadjet" bags. Canon (1EG) and Lowepro as well as Tamrac and a few others have some good-sized models available in the $60-$80 range. In any event, it looks like for me to get what I'm content with, the minimum bill will be about twice what you've paid.

Thanks again, Ross, for your invaluable help in thinking through these issues. :D