Tamrac Explorer 1 vs Lowepro Stealth Reporter D100 AW

[Tom_D]

I have been thinking of Able and a discussion we had some time ago about not being able to have enough camera bags.

I have been a Lowepro fan since early on and have been carrying the Stealth Reporter 200 AW as my "day bag".

We recently went to Hawaii and I rushed to find a lighter bag to take along. I used the Lowepro Rolling Computrekker Plus AW as my carry on and packed my new Tamrac Explorer 1 in my luggage. The Tamrac holds the 40D with EFS 17-55 along with the EFS 10-22 and a few odds and ends. I got a lot of use out of the Tamrac in Hawaii as well as at work taking construction photos and found a couple of deal breakers with this bag.

First of all the handle (not the carrying strap) is attached to the top/cover of the bag. If you lift the bag by the handle and the buckle is not fastened or zipper zipped you tilt the bag open with a good chance of spilling the contents.

Second, the buckle is something that Tamrac brags about but is unworkable. I have not been able to close it with one hand and it has jammed several times to the point of having trouble getting it open.

So...I received my D100 today while I have not had a lot of time with it I think it is going to work out. The handle attachés to the sides of the bag so you can lift it with the top open and not tip the contents out and the buckle is easy to attach with one hand and the release. It is a bit larger that the Tamrac but not large enough for all the junk I fit into the 200 so I think I'll be able to keep it lighter.

So I have 3 of my 5 camera bags (including the Tamrac) on floor in front of me having a good time see what will fit where and how to make the best use of everything. Other than being out taking photos it does not get much better. :)

[Killjoy]

Thanks for the report Tom.
It's interesting to see what other people think of bags.
I too have been a Lowepro fan for a long time.
In fact, that's the bag that I was lugging around at the SF shoot.