5D bag advice please

I am loooking for a quality bag to take at least the 5D, plus a spare body, 70-200mm, 24-70mm, an 85mm, a flash plus room for batteries, filters etc. I seem to always end up with a bag which is too small for my needs! Lets have those recommendations.

For room, I chose the LowePro Omni Pro:

http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Hard_and_Soft_Shell/classic/Omni_Pro_and_Pro_Extreme.aspx

The hard case is optional. It's roughly the size of a large briefcase. I don't use it a lot because it actually has more room for stuff than I have stuff I'd like to take with me!

Lowepro Pro Mag AW packs exceptionally well and will take that and more, all in a trim size and shape.

I have two bags. One is Lowepro Mini Trekker which is a great little back pack/bag which will easily fit everything you have (and more) and the other is a Billingham 445 which I bought on eBay. The Billingham is great as a day bag as it has a nice wide shoulder strap, making the camera accessible without having to put the bag down. The Mini Trekker is beautifully finished with padded dividers which can be customised. The Billingham is more of a hold all. One big advantage of the Billingham is that it doesn't look anything like a camera bag. It is pretty nondescript waterproof canvas with leather trim. Very well made, but inocuous to look at. However, the Billingham holds plenty. Both bags take my 12" Powerbook as well as all leads, plugs, cards, chargers and travel documents etc. I guess the choice is whether I am going to be hiking or just walking. Mini Trekker for longer hikes and Billingham if I am out on a walk.
Hope this helps.
Will B

Thank You some good tips there. Both look ideal.

tamrac is verry good
http://tamrac.com/welcome.htm

Do a search on these forums for "Geekstar".

The Geekstar is a large bag made by Crumpler. Crumpler says the Geekstar will carry, "2 SLR bodies plus 6 lenses & accessories". A big bonus is that is doesn't look like a camera bag. The Geekstar comes in basic black plus a handful of assorted horrid colors.

The Geekstar is not available in the USA, but they do pop-up on a certain large auction site occasionally.

Keith

http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Backpacks/notebook_camera/CompuTrekker_Plus_AW.aspx

I have four bags now; everything from small shouldbag (LowePro top load ) to medium shoulderbag, (bigger LowePro top load), waistbag/shouldberbag (Canon) and a backpack CompuTrekker Plus AW.

I think the backpack is great for carrying more gear. Couple of lenses, flashes and a body or two. If youre moving around a lot while carrying heavy gear, I think backpack is the way to go.

When I know what I need, I bring a smaller bag such as a topload zoom type.

Take a look at the crumpler puppet. It would fit everything you list and is a really, really well made and designed bag.

keith_b said:

The Geekstar is not available in the USA, but they do pop-up on a
certain large auction site occasionally.

Click to expand...

Why do you think it's not offered in the US? I looked at their web site and they have nothing even close to a bag this size.

Strange huh?

The Nature Trekker from lowerpro is the smallest backpack from the AW collection and you equipment can enter in it .
http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Backpacks/allWeather/Nature_Trekker_AW_II.aspx
For my self I have the Photo Trekker AW II
http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Backpacks/allWeather/Photo_Trekker_AW_II.aspx
And I put in it :

5D, plus a spare body, 100-400mm, 24-105mm, 50mm, rusisan 8 and 16mm, 580ex, mt24-ex, plus batteries, charger, filters etc.
--
If you find my english wrong... you are right !
But my photos are right, see them, critique them !
http://www.photo.net/photos/denisbergeron

Paul Dold said:

I am loooking for a quality bag to take at least the 5D, plus a
spare body, 70-200mm, 24-70mm, an 85mm, a flash plus room for
batteries, filters etc. I seem to always end up with a bag which is
too small for my needs! Lets have those recommendations.

Click to expand...

A suggestion I was given years ago by a working press pro. It takes a cooperative camera store and a little time but you'll walk out satisfied.

Find a shop that will let you walk in with your gear and stuff it into a couple bags until you find one that fits you and your equipment.

This will obviously rule our online or mail order puchasing, and will most likely be easier to accomplish at one of the more traditional camera stores than someplace like Helix or B&H, but it is possible.

Beats buying and returning several bags, or ending up with a collection of them in the closet that never get used.

Jim F. said:

Why do you think it's not offered in the US? I looked at their web
site and they have nothing even close to a bag this size.

Strange huh?

Click to expand...

Jim,

I agree! The whole Crumpler organization and marketing schtick is strange to me.

Apparently the Geekstar is only distributed by CrumplerEurope. So, recently I called the CrumplerUSA main office to see if they had the same model under a different name. The "gnarley dude" Gen-X customer service person I was spoke with was clueless. He had never heard of the Geekstar. It was like CrumplerEurope was a completely different company.

I ended up buying one off of e*ay and it should be here next week (from the UK).

Keith

Thanks Keith. The Geekstar is something I'd like to see. As for the rest, I can't say that I really like what they offer in the US.

It's sad.

regards, Jim

--- --