Tamrac Velocity 9x or 10x

[texfoto]

I have a D300, 70-200 2.8, 17-55 2.8, TC 1.7, 50 1.8, and SB-800.

I have looked at the Tamrac site and searched the web but not many folks have commented or reviewed on the 10x. There is one good review on Amazon with my equipment.

Anyone have experience with either of these two bags? Which one would you suggest? I'm just trying to see if the 9X will do it for me. Precision camera in Austin has the 10x but doesn't have the 9x. Just trying to save some bulk.

[SevenAndMe]

I have the 7x. It's not large enough for what you are doing but that type of bag allows extra pouches to be hung on the sides. I forget what they call them but they can be handy.
I have a large pouch that fits my 580EXII and a smaller one that holds extra batteries, etc.

So- mabye the 9x and then add a pouch or two if needed.

EDIT- The pouch that attaches for the flash unit is called 'Tamrac MX5385 M.A.S. Flash Accessory Pocket - Large (Black)'. There are similar ones to fit other items. I got mine from bhphotovideo.


Good luck.

[pcoursey]

Mike
I have the 9x and the 7x. I like the design of the bags. The 9x holds my D200 w/70-300 Tamron with ease. It will hold the rest of your list with room to spare.
I'm almost 70 and the 9x will carry more weight than I wish to carry, so I use the 7x most of the time.
I've been into photography a long time and I've never found the perfect bag...although I keep looking and buying.
Pat

[groovyone]

I have the 8....and wouldn't recommed it for that much gear. Not just the size, but I don't really like the single strap. Maybe the x series improved it, but with even an medium load on my 7 it gets old fast. Check out the Kata 3N1. You can convert it from a single strap to dual. However, once I tried the KATA 3N1 30 I opted for the LowePro Flipside 300 and a FastPack 350 for travelling with a laptop.

Long story short, make sure you'll be comfortable carrying that much gear on a single strap.

[Lupe Talamantez]

I have the 7 also. What is odd about this design is that it is not squared on the bottom. Therefore it is a little trouble getting everything in my gear list below into it.

I looked at the 9X and found that it is much larger and I imagine that the 10X is even larger. The strap design does not appear to be thick enough to minimize muscle strain.

I went with the LowePro 200 Sling though I was considering the 300 Sling. The strap is wider and thicker on both. A TPF'er told me that he thinks he will go to a double strap design as his 300 puts a lot of pressure on his shoulder. My 200 does also after carrying for longer than 2 hours. I did think about the 3n1 but for some purchases I gotta try them on before hitting the Buy button.

[texfoto]

Thanks for the replies. They are helpful.

I have the Lowepro AW200 now (selling it) but it just doesn't have the room. I also can't mount the 70-200 lens on the body and make it fit. Only wider angle lenses can be attached to the body and stored in the bag. The 70-200 doesn't fit in there well by itself anyway. It's difficult to get all my gear into as well. I need something a little bigger and a different shape.

The reason I was looking at the Velocity line was because it allows you to somewhat holster the cameras with lenses attached. Can't do that with most bags. In fact, if I could do this with the 70-200 with the hood attached that would be even better but it's not a deal breaker.

Sometimes I just like walking around and pull the camera out with lenses attached and take the shots I want and then put it away and walk some more. I'm not going on treks here. In fact, holding all of my gear in a bag like this while I cover a football game would be great. I just want something to throw over the shoulder to haul the gear around. If I was doing long treks I would get a backpack but they are too bulky and are on my back and not very accessible. Can't really get to what I want quickly enough.

Pat's right, perfect bag isn't out there but if these Velocity bags can carry all my stuff, allow me to pull it out from the top holster style, then I'm in good shape. The strap probably won't bother me. I always carry backpacks with one strap anyway when I'm going short to medium distances. I may need to go down and shove all my gear in and see what it feels like.

Oh, and thanks for the suggestion on the MARS system. That helps. In fact, my SB-800 has a pouch already. I'll see if that attaches to the outside. That may put me to the 9x instead.

Thanks for the replies.

[texfoto]

Ok, I've settled on the 9x. The 10x is pretty large and that strap isn't big enough in my opinion.

I'll let everyone know how it works out.

[texfoto]

Ok, I have the 9x now and put all my gear in it last night. If you recall, my list of equipment is as follows:
D300
70-200 2.8
17-55 2.8
TC 1.7
50 1.8
SB-800

It does not have any room to spare and is a bit on the cramped side. The difficulty is that the bottom is not squared like someone else mentioned here. The 10x is too bag and like some of you pointed out to me the strap isn't the greatest. My Lowepro AW200 had a better system for carrying the equipment, just not enough room and no way to attach the 70-200 on it.

So, I did go to the local camera shop and try out the 10x but they didn't have the 9x. I looked on their site and it looked like it would work but I now know that the 9x is too tight on space for my equipment.

I really wanted a bag that I could just pull out my camera with 70-200 attached like a holster and carry my other equipment. The suggestions for the Kata 3N1, Flipside 300 and FastPack 350 are what I'm going to research now. At first I didn't like them but I can see the reason why someone would go to this now.

Back to the drawing board.

[toverman]

I'm like you in that I'd like to "holster" my camera with my 70-200 attached. You might check out the Lowepro Classified line. It at least aims to provide good access to your gear (and I think it's the 160 model that says it fits a "pro SLR" with 70-200 lens attached) while you comfortably carry the rest of it. I like that and want to carry just one more lens and a flash.

I've got the Lowepro Stealth Reporter 550 for taking two bodies (with lenses on both), extra lenses and two flash units (and my small laptop). It's a real beast when it's loaded down.

My list for the smaller bag is similar to yours:
Canon 5D with grip and 70-200 attached
17-40 (and/or my 100 macro or 85 f/1.8)
580 EX flash

[texfoto]

Originally Posted by toverman

I'm like you in that I'd like to "holster" my camera with my 70-200 attached. You might check out the Lowepro Classified line. It at least aims to provide good access to your gear (and I think it's the 160 model that says it fits a "pro SLR" with 70-200 lens attached) while you comfortably carry the rest of it. I like that and want to carry just one more lens and a flash.

I've got the Lowepro Stealth Reporter 550 for taking two bodies (with lenses on both), extra lenses and two flash units (and my small laptop). It's a real beast when it's loaded down.

My list for the smaller bag is similar to yours:
Canon 5D with grip and 70-200 attached
17-40 (and/or my 100 macro or 85 f/1.8)
580 EX flash

Thanks for this post.

Are you happy with toting around that weight on the classified series? I picture myself taking photos and having the ability to swap between my two nice lenses and have a TC or flash at the ready in the bag. I'd like my 70-200 or the 17-55 to be on or off the camera and have the camera still be able to be stored no matter which lens I have on it.

These messenger style bags look like the ticket. I'm researching them now.

[SevenAndMe]

You may be getting into ThinkTank territory with the need for quick switch of cameras and lenses.

http://www.thinktankphoto.com/

[texfoto]

Originally Posted by SevenAndMe

You may be getting into ThinkTank territory with the need for quick switch of cameras and lenses.

http://www.thinktankphoto.com/

Any particular bag you suggest?

I have a Thinktank Holster 20 which works great with either lens I have, just not both. It is a bag I will be keeping for my walk around days.

[toverman]

I don't have a Lowepro Classified yet (and I appreciate your original question, because it closely fits what I'm looking for). For me, I need something that when I have to I can carry at a wedding and not look like I'm about to go hiking (like a backpack). But stowing a big camera with a 70-200 (Canon or Nikon) is a heavy rig for sure.

Think Tank makes awesome, versatile bags. I'm looking for a less costly option for now.

[texfoto]

Yes, I like thinkTank and their quality is great. The streetwalker comes to mind but you can't get the camera out without going through the act of unpacking.

Fastpack line is good but they border on backpackish.

If Tamrac would only make their Velocity series bags squared at the bottom and with a more padded strap.

[texfoto]

Ok, I settled on a bag. I totally ignored it in the beginning because it looked like a huge version of my old Lowepro AW200.

I bought the AW300 and it is a perfect fit. I can fit all my list of gear in it. It has a great strap, a nicer pair of waist straps, more space and I can swap between my 70-200 and 17-55 without a problem.

In looking at the size of the bags it is no bigger than the 10x or any of the other Lowepro classified series. You can either treat it like a holster from the side entry or completely open it up like a backpack. This is where it beats out the top loaders.

My 70-200 with D300 fits attached in the center with the hood inverted over the lens. Can't fit it in with the lens attached outwards but that is something I can live with. I haven't tried it with the TC attached but I suspect it would be very tight with the D300 attached. I can live with this as well.

With the 17-55 attached to the D300 I can leave the hood on. At this point the 70-200 sits at the top of the bag space but the velcro padding can barely attach. This isn't a problem as the lens just needs a place to sit and I'm not willing to put it at the bottom of the bag for fear of the bag dropping to the ground.

On the bottom I have my SB-800, TC1.7, and 50 1.8. Works out great.