The Search for the Holy Grail.... AKA: Perfect Camera Bag

[Cajungaltx]

Hey guys - last minute Christmas gift... for myself... from my DH. I currently have the digital Tamrac Holster 5627... it'll hold my body with up to a 5" Lens attached..., with assorted individual Lens cases (2 of the MX5375, and one M5378). I don't 'mind' it... but I am at the point that I want 'one' bag... to simplify things, and to hold it all so that it's all in one place...

I do sessions with NILMDTS - and when I get those calls - I just want to pick up that bag, and my NILMDTS bag and walk out the door. No thinking about what I have in there, what I don't, etc - just go.

I currently have the following:
D80
SB-600
Sigma 105/2.8
Sigma 30/1.4
Nikon 50/1.8
Nikon 28-80/3.3-5.6 G (THIS ONE IS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK)
Tamron 55-200 4-5.6
Sigma 28-70/2.8-4

The future purchases, probably early next year will be:

MB-D80 Battery Pack.
D300
Nikon 80-200/2.8
Nikon 17-55/2.8
SB-800

For most of my sessions, I tend to use the primes that I have... I like the low DOF... and they give me wonderful results for my still learning self... my 50 is a bit long for my indoor shots... only cause I'm in a small house... so the 30 tends to stay on my camera alot.

I am not a fan of backpacks.... I feel like a high school kid with them... so I'd probably prefer a shoulder pack...

Any suggestions? I'd like to be nice to him, and keep it UNDER $200 if possible. If not, he won't really care.... but 'I' have to balance the checkbook... *grin*... so I'm being nice to me too!

If anyone has one that they are considering getting rid of, and wants to do a trade for my setup plus some cash either way depending on retail costs, I'd be happy to consider that too.

I appreciate your input! ;-)
Thanks!

[CaptainTom]

Donna
My advice regarding camera bags is to ALWAYS get a bigger bag than you think you need. You'll need it eventually.

Have you considered a rolling bag? I am tired of the shoulder bags, even though I still have one that attaches to my rolling bag.

http://www.tamrac.com/g_rollingbags.htm

I bought one at B&H and then found the same bag on Ebay for half the cost...

[Cajungaltx]

Tom -
Thanks for the input. I agree with you on the get a larger bag part... otherwise I'd be upgrading in the summer/fall of next year...

I hadn't thought of a rolling bag... mainly cause I tend to do some 'tromping' out into the dirt/woods/grass a bit with some of my sessions.

Although... if I could jack it up a bit... and swap out the wheels for some big 4 wheeling tires... *grin*... I could make it work... *grin*

Thanks,
Donna

[crazeazn]

go visit camera co op and houston camera exchang with all your gear. thats ur best bet!

[Daniel W.]

I would think one big roller and one or two small shoulder bags.

The big roller for the "gotta have it all" trips, one larger shoulder bag for the sessions where you need some of it but can't roll, and a small shoulder bag for the NILMDTS calls, (for me it'd be the body, batteries, and the fast primes. Maybe a small incandescent lamp for additional lighting).

It's going to come down to that you need multiple bags, each for a different job. Initiall, I bought a a huge shoulder bag to hold my entire kit, but that got too heavy for small assignments. Then I got a small bag, but I needed it to hold a laptop. And then I needed a waist belt setup to get in and out of stadiums quickly... well you see where I'm going.

[kdloftis]

Lowepro Stealth Reporter 550 or 650

I carry the 550 with a full frame body, 3-4 lenses, 1 flash and all accessories. It's big, but it holds everything I need for a session on the go. The 650 was just taller...I think so you can stack lenses. I can stack some smaller lenses if needed (10-22mm & 50mm) in my 550.

[bgpro611]

I have a Stealth Reporter I'm trying to part with. Daniel has it right, try to get a couple of bags to meet different requirements. Of course you could end up like me- 12 in the closet after selling two so be careful. It is nice to have different set-ups ready to go.

[LoungeLizard]

I'm a BIG fan of ThinkTank bags. They have some smaller roller bags that would meet your needs and their Urban Disguise line (the 50 or 60) likely would. I have the 50 and used it for a destination wedding and I packed the following in it:

• Two Canon 5D bodies (minus grip - those stayed home)
• Two 580ex flashes
• Two CP-E3 power packs
• Canon 70-200 f/2.8 L IS
• Canon 24-70 f/2.8 L
• Canon 16-35 f/2.8 L
• Canon 15mm f/2.8
• iPod Touch
• cell phone
• Hyperdrive
• two CF card wallets
• spare batteries
• laptop

[90 5.0]

I agree with crazeazn got to houston camera exchange and look at their bags they have a large selection.

That being said I really like my lowepro aw200 slingbag, I know you said yuo didn't like back packs but I think it works well for the hicking tromping around stuff you were talking about, you can wear it as a back pack on one sholder or as the sling bag were you can sling the bag ouround in front of you to acess camera lenses etc, I didn't think i would like it at first but I really do now. They have different sizes but I have jammed in my 200 right now

D80 w mb-d80 grip
N75
70-300 af-d
55-200vr
18-135
28 2.8
28-80 macro

Sb-600
filters stpping rings, remote , flashlight etc, etc,

I also have an old shaving kit I have a few things throw in that I throw in my truck,

I was going to get a bigger bag but then I would just stuff more things in it:)

[MyKey]

Think Tank bags all the way!

Made by photographers for photographers, they truly have a bag for every situation.

So I would look into their product, honestly I truly feel they are the best out there.

[toverman]

+1 on the Stealth Reporter 550. It is an awesome bag. But when mine's loaded it's heavy (two camera bodies, one with 70-200 attached and other with 17-40, two flashes, two other lenses, memory card wallet, room for my laptop and assorted accessories, extra batteries, small stray puppies and snacks). I wish I had a rolling bag sometimes.

+1 for having more than one, like keeping your smaller one when the job doesn't need you to lug every stinking thing you own.

[Daniel Bates]

Originally Posted by MyKey

Think Tank bags all the way!

Made by photographers for photographers, they truly have a bag for every situation.

So I would look into their product, honestly I truly feel they are the best out there.

What Mike said. I'm actually in the process of trying to convert Think Tank Modulus gear to interface with MOLLE equipment via PALS webbing and MALICE clips.

Yaaay acronyms!

[The Loft Studios]

You won't regret a Pelican Case.....

[tc95]

For a shoulder Sling...Tamrac Velocity 9 or 5749...would be able to hold all that....I picked it up off Ebay for about 45.00 shipped and PP'd

I have in mine:

D300 with Grip
200mm F2 Vr
14-24mm
18-200mm VR
50mm F1.8
SB-600
4 extra batteries
4 extra memory cards
Lens cleaning supplies
rocket blower
and quick-guide for D300

For a little larger case....I have a Pelican 1564 with Pads that I picked up off Ebay for about 198.00 shipped & PP'd

Those are the bags I use the most....

[wondershots]

Another vote for the Think Tank Urban Disguise. Like Jesus, I have the 50 and it carries a ton of stuff. Got mine at Houston Camera Exchange, so they might have some for you to look at.