Sling Bag questions, Adorama vs. Tamrac vs. Lowepro

I am looking to get one of the sling bags for my wife for her birthday in a couple of weeks, and was hoping to get some opinions on which one would fit best. We don't have any nearby camera stores to actually handle one, so I have to rely on other user experiences. I bought her the Canon 200EG backpack a few months ago, and she's been using that but mostly for storage. She says the straps are too large and simply don't fit her and the pack becomes too unweildy. She's said she wished she could wear it more like a sling, over one shoulder, so there's my cue.

I was looking at the Adorama Slinger (regular and pro), the Tamrac Velocity's, and the LowePro Sling Shot 100/200AW's. I would like to get the smallest version possible since the backpack size was already a problem for her. Here is the equipment she currently stores, not counting odds and ends like a few battery packs, memory card, etc.

Digital Rebel XT
kit lens
Tamron 70-300
Canon 50mm 1.8
Phoenix 100mm macro any of these lenses could be on the camera
380EX Flash
--
Canon 70-200/4 (sometimes, but this is more often my lens)

I'll inherit the big backpack, so the 70-200 could always be carried in that instead. She also likes to clip her Bogen 679B stick onto the Canon pack, so it would be nice if the sling bag is also able to clip to it.

Any ladies using one of these bags with similar storage needs?

Thanks!
--
Dan Murrell
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danmurrelljr/

Hate to bump, but I have 12 days remaining to have one in hand. Anybody have opinions on which of these bags will work best given her current equipment?

Thanks!
--
Dan Murrell
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danmurrelljr/

Well, I've got a Adorama Slinger and a Tamrac Velocity 9 (both slingbags).

The Slinger is quite small; you might be able to get most of her gear in it, but it would be very tight. The Velocity 9 is probably too big for her needs.

Good thing is that the Slinger is quite inexpensive. You could try it to see if it will suffice.

Regards,

jgb

danmurrelljr said:

Hate to bump, but I have 12 days remaining to have one in hand.
Anybody have opinions on which of these bags will work best given
her current equipment?

Thanks!
--
Dan Murrell
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danmurrelljr/

Click to expand...

--
Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/jon_b

I don't know anything about the Adorama bags, but you can't go wrong with either Tamrac or Lowepro. I have the Velocity 9 and love it. My wife doesn't find it quite as comfortable though so she uses the Slingshot AW 200. I don't think the Slingshot is as easy to use or store as much in, but to each their own. Hopefully you can find a place where you can try them both on.

danmurrelljr said:

Hate to bump, but I have 12 days remaining to have one in hand.
Anybody have opinions on which of these bags will work best given
her current equipment?

Thanks!
--
Dan Murrell
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danmurrelljr/

Click to expand...

tightlight said:

I don't know anything about the Adorama bags, but you can't go
wrong with either Tamrac or Lowepro. I have the Velocity 9 and
love it. My wife doesn't find it quite as comfortable though so
she uses the Slingshot AW 200. I don't think the Slingshot is as
easy to use or store as much in, but to each their own. Hopefully
you can find a place where you can try them both on.

Click to expand...

That's the problem, I don't have any place where I can try them in person to compare. What about one of the smaller Velocity bags, either the 7 or 8. Would they be more appropriate for a girl?

Thanks

--
Dan Murrell
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danmurrelljr/

I have the Adorama and I'm not too crazy about it. The way the strap hangs, you HAVE to wear it slung over the opposite shoulder. With all that pressure on one shoulder, it does start to wear on you. And you can't keep switching shoulders easily because of the design. I usually just use it like a shoulder bag, but it slips off real easy. I guess this is why most photogs have more bags than anything else.

I had the Tamrac Velocity 9 before but sold it.. it just didn't feel right, also when slinging to the front the opening came up at a wrong angle.

Sold it and got a Lowepro Slingshow 200AW: GREAT bag... absolutely mile s better then the Tamrac. Wears nicer, materials feel nicer, slings nicer, seems more durable.

Both bags give space to an 300D/350D/400D with about 3-4 lenses (max. 1 telelens) and some small stuff like a flash.

--
-- the owls are not what they seem

I've just returned Lowepro 200AW. They look nice but like others say it wears out quick on one shoulder and very ackward to sling on opposite shoulder. Amount of gear that you described below is about what I usually carry. Also it is not that easy to change the lenses without take the bag off.

I ended up buying a Crumpler bag (7 million dollar home). It is a shoulder bag. If one shulder gets tired then you can switch to other side with ease.

A nice thing about Crumpler bags is that they do not look like camera bag.

Hope this helps

danmurrelljr said:

I am looking to get one of the sling bags for my wife for her
birthday in a couple of weeks, and was hoping to get some opinions
on which one would fit best. We don't have any nearby camera
stores to actually handle one, so I have to rely on other user
experiences. I bought her the Canon 200EG backpack a few months
ago, and she's been using that but mostly for storage. She says
the straps are too large and simply don't fit her and the pack
becomes too unweildy. She's said she wished she could wear it more
like a sling, over one shoulder, so there's my cue.

I was looking at the Adorama Slinger (regular and pro), the Tamrac
Velocity's, and the LowePro Sling Shot 100/200AW's. I would like
to get the smallest version possible since the backpack size was
already a problem for her. Here is the equipment she currently
stores, not counting odds and ends like a few battery packs, memory
card, etc.

Digital Rebel XT
kit lens
Tamron 70-300
Canon 50mm 1.8
Phoenix 100mm macro any of these lenses could be on the camera
380EX Flash
--
Canon 70-200/4 (sometimes, but this is more often my lens)

I'll inherit the big backpack, so the 70-200 could always be
carried in that instead. She also likes to clip her Bogen 679B
stick onto the Canon pack, so it would be nice if the sling bag is
also able to clip to it.

Any ladies using one of these bags with similar storage needs?

Thanks!
--
Dan Murrell
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danmurrelljr/

Click to expand...

--
http://www.pbase.com/jinwoo

danmurrelljr said:

Digital Rebel XT
kit lens
Tamron 70-300
Canon 50mm 1.8
Phoenix 100mm macro any of these lenses could be on the camera
380EX Flash
--
Canon 70-200/4 (sometimes, but this is more often my lens)

Click to expand...

I owned a Tamrac Velocity 7 for some time and now have an Adorama Slinger (the regular one, as the larger model was not yet available when I made my purchase). I've enjoyed both bags and the sling format in general, especially when traveling. I don't know of another format that allows you to have the weight well supported and everything out of your way, with your arms free to swing unencumbered by waist packs, yet also provides almost immediate access without having to take the bag off and set it down somewhere. The one downside is that the use of a single strap puts somewhat more strain on one shoulder than the other. This is usually fine but, if you're going to be doing some more strenuous walking, you'll probably want to fasten the waist strap that's included with both bags for stability. You'll have to quickly unbuckle it to swing the back around, but it's a 1/2 second affair and the stability of the strap allows you to, for example, hike to a destination without feeling any neck/shoulder soreness at the end.

Comparing these two bags, I felt that the Tamrac was a little less deep, making for more of a streamlined, backpack look. In comparison, the Slinger looks a bit like a box strapped to your back. However, the Slinger's boxy shape is a storage advantage. While both bags are divided into 3 internal compartments, the curved bottom of the Tamrac means that the side pockets have less depth than the middle one. The Slinger's 3 pockets are all equally deep, which means the ability to carry a larger lens or flash unit.

In other regards such a build quality and outboard pouches for filters, batteries and so forth, both are excellent.

Looking at your equipment list, though, I think you may be expecting too much from a sling bag. They are designed for carrying moderate weight, which is why one well-padded and wide strap is sufficient for generally comfortable support. I wouldn't try to stuff your entire collection inside one, however. Indeed, at least with the two bags I've owned, I can imagine room for

• the camera body with moderately telephoto lens occupying the center pouch and overhanging one of the side pouches
• a flash unit, larger lens (200 or 300mm) or two smaller (such as a 35mm or 50mm) lenses in one side pouch, with self-supplied padding between them to avoid scratching
• a slightly smaller lens (85 or 100mm) in the other side pouch, since there's a bit less depth with the camera body overhanging

I pack cautiously, to keep things from scraping against each other. Still, you won't easily fit more than this. If you move up to the slightly larger bags, you might be able to fit a bit more.

I tend to have my 20D/17-85mm in the center, a 50mm f/1.8 in one side pouch, a 580EX in the other and room remaining in the first side pouch for a battery charger or compact P & S. I keep microfiber cloths and the remote trigger of my wireless shutter release in the interior zipper pouch of the cover and some filters, batteries, CF cards, lens caps and the camera end of the wireless shutter release in the exterior pouches.

I can't talk much about the SlingShot, as I've only played with it at B&H. The smallest size looks like it holds less than my Slinger, although the top storage compartment is of a shape that could be more useful for carrying around miscellaneous items such as lunch. The next size up might match the Slinger and also provide for this auxilliary storage. Maybe someone else can speak more about this ... I'd be interested, too.

David

My wife tried on the Velocity 7, 8, and 9, and all three cut across her chest in a way that was uncomfortable. Based on this, I guess I'd recommend you get the Slingshot for your wife.

As I said in my previous post, I don't think the Slingshot is laid out very well, at least for how I use a sling/shoulder bag, which is why I love the Velocity series so much. But if the bag isn't comfortable for a particular person, they're not going to wear it.

Good luck, I hope she likes your gift!

danmurrelljr said:

tightlight said:

I don't know anything about the Adorama bags, but you can't go
wrong with either Tamrac or Lowepro. I have the Velocity 9 and
love it. My wife doesn't find it quite as comfortable though so
she uses the Slingshot AW 200. I don't think the Slingshot is as
easy to use or store as much in, but to each their own. Hopefully
you can find a place where you can try them both on.

Click to expand...

That's the problem, I don't have any place where I can try them in
person to compare. What about one of the smaller Velocity bags,
either the 7 or 8. Would they be more appropriate for a girl?

Thanks

--
Dan Murrell
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danmurrelljr/

Click to expand...

Adorama Slinger, Velocity 9, LowePro MicroTrekker 200. Of the three, the LowePro backpack (a small one) is the most comfortable. The Adorama is quite compact and would be fine if weight is low. I typically carry a 17 - 40 L and a 70-200 L. I can get it all in the Slinger comfortably, but the weight is better distributed in the real backpack, the MicroTrekker. I can mount my 400mm on my camera and carry it in the Velocity 9. But I only do that to stash it in the car for a quick grab. The same weight feels heavier in the sling bags than in the smallish backpack.
Carole
--
Seeking the True, the Beautiful, the Good.

I've got a LowePro Sling Shot 200.

I like it, but it has some limitations.

It feels comfortable when you first put it on, but it really gets heavy on one shoulder. You can jerry rig it to the other shoulder using the waist strap, but it doesn't work that way very well.

The waterproof pull out cover is great. Good for keeping sand and dust out too.

It is easy to get the camera out, but it is very difficult to change lenses with it on. You really have to take it off to change lenses.

I've had it weighed at airport check-in a few times as carry on, so possibly it looks bigger and heavier that it actually is ????

--

Graphic Design + Web Design + Photography

http://www.molecule.com.au

However, I traded from a Lowepro backpack b/c of the size. I still fit all my lenses in there without a problem. I had an xt with grip, 50 1.8, 85 1.8, 70-200 f4, 1.4x telextender and 420ex flash all with room to spare.

The sling bag is not for everyone, but I really like the slingshot and if you're oging ot have the 70-200 in there, I'd go for the 200. It's still got a pretty small form factor.

-Kones
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