Best Bag for Italy Trip?

I need some advice on the a) the best sort of bag for travelling and b) which one is best out of that kind.

I am off to Italy with the family and was planning on taking the D300, 10-20 Sigma, 18-70 Nikkor and 70-200 Sigma. Plus filters and filter holder, maps etc.

Requirements
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Would like it to be pretty secure if we are in larger town.

Easy access to gear

Compact & Light

Able to carry additional stuff like a drink etc

Considering Lowepro Flipside 300, Lowepro Fastpack 250, Lowepro Slingshot 200.

Not sure if a shoulder bag is a better option or not for this sort of trip?

Any advice gratefully received.

Thanks
Alex
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http://www.alexwinserphotography.co.uk

Hi Alex,

I recently returned from an Italy trip (Florence and Venice) for which I purchased a Flipside 300. I was very happy how that bag worked for the trip. It's pretty easy to access your gear by swinging it around with the belt strap fastened. I would recommend it for you. I travelled with mostly shorter lenses, and my only concern would be the long Sigma, since that will eat up a lot of space. Here is what I fit in mine for the trip:
D200
Sigma 12-24
Sigma 24 f2.8 (redundant, yes, but I love that lens)
Nikkor 35 f1.4
Nikon 28-105
Nikkor 200 f4
Also, hoods for the above.

That amount of gear fit nicely, but all the lenses were standing up, so you'll spend a lot of space for your 70-200. It will probably work, though. If you're not able to see the bag in person, shoot me an email (in profile) and I'll email you a shot with the Nikon 70-200 in the bag. Though the Nikon lens is bigger, it may help your evaluation.

By the way, I found for walking around, a true backpack design (like the Flipside) is much more comfortable than any of the single-shoulder alternatives. If you put a bag on both shoulders, the weight just disappears.
Have a great trip,

Eric
http://www.pbase.com/cerumen
My website: http://www.insectography.com

When I was in Italy, I used the SlingShot 200. I like the AW cover but some say the bag is uncomfortable strapped over one shoulder. Also, no tripod attachment.

Sometimes I used the MiniTrekker AW instead if I was carrying more gear and/or I also carried a tripod. Downside here, you have to take off the bag to change lenses.

Never tried the Flipside but it sounds neat. It's a bit taller than the SS 200, distributes the weight over both shoulders, and has a tripod attachment. Only downside to me, no AW cover.

I like the AW enough that I would select the MiniTrekker if I was carrying a tripod.

I am headed to Italy next Saturday, maybe I will see you there ;-)

I have a smaller set of lenses, I think I am taking the 18-200 and either a 50 or 85mm for some indoor shots in the villa. I have a Crumbler which then I am stuffing into a regular backpack for carrying on. I have a two and a half year old daughter so I have LOTS of other stuff to carry, both on the plan and around town, so I have to limit my camera gear.

I looked at bags that would be both camera and backpack, but didn't find one that worked for me.

We are going to Sorrento in the beginning and then to a villa in Tuscany. I wish I had a Sigma 10-20. I hope the 18-200 does okay on some landscape shots.

--
http://photo.robertokeefe.com

Thanks for that Eric. I think Mark (macro guy) also used a Flipside 300 in Italy so I guess it must be a good bet.

I know the 70-200 is going to be a bit heavy but I don't have anything else in that range and for some of the landscape location I think I might need more reach. Maybe I should be looking at a compact zoom instead like the 18-200 and then sell when I get back.

Decisions decisions

Cheers

Alex

Cerumen said:

Hi Alex,

I recently returned from an Italy trip (Florence and Venice) for
which I purchased a Flipside 300. I was very happy how that bag
worked for the trip. It's pretty easy to access your gear by swinging
it around with the belt strap fastened. I would recommend it for you.
I travelled with mostly shorter lenses, and my only concern would be
the long Sigma, since that will eat up a lot of space. Here is what I
fit in mine for the trip:
D200
Sigma 12-24
Sigma 24 f2.8 (redundant, yes, but I love that lens)
Nikkor 35 f1.4
Nikon 28-105
Nikkor 200 f4
Also, hoods for the above.

That amount of gear fit nicely, but all the lenses were standing up,
so you'll spend a lot of space for your 70-200. It will probably
work, though. If you're not able to see the bag in person, shoot me
an email (in profile) and I'll email you a shot with the Nikon 70-200
in the bag. Though the Nikon lens is bigger, it may help your
evaluation.
By the way, I found for walking around, a true backpack design (like
the Flipside) is much more comfortable than any of the
single-shoulder alternatives. If you put a bag on both shoulders, the
weight just disappears.
Have a great trip,

Eric
http://www.pbase.com/cerumen
My website: http://www.insectography.com

Click to expand...

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http://www.alexwinserphotography.co.uk

Thanks for the info.

I have a MiniTrekker AW already but I am looking for somthing a little more compact for this trip.

Like I replied to Eric above, maybe I should be looking to pick up an 18-200 instead to lower the weight.

Thanks again

Alex

SezWho said:

When I was in Italy, I used the SlingShot 200. I like the AW cover
but some say the bag is uncomfortable strapped over one shoulder.
Also, no tripod attachment.

Sometimes I used the MiniTrekker AW instead if I was carrying more
gear and/or I also carried a tripod. Downside here, you have to take
off the bag to change lenses.

Never tried the Flipside but it sounds neat. It's a bit taller than
the SS 200, distributes the weight over both shoulders, and has a
tripod attachment. Only downside to me, no AW cover.

I like the AW enough that I would select the MiniTrekker if I was
carrying a tripod.

Click to expand...

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http://www.alexwinserphotography.co.uk

I am not going until August but I hope you have a good trip. Sounds like we are going to similar locations, we are staying in a villa in Tuscany too, not far from Siena.

I am considering an 18-200 but the quality concerns me a bit. It's not like I can revisit easily to try again ;0)

Cheers

Alex

GadgetBoy said:

I am headed to Italy next Saturday, maybe I will see you there ;-)

I have a smaller set of lenses, I think I am taking the 18-200 and
either a 50 or 85mm for some indoor shots in the villa. I have a
Crumbler which then I am stuffing into a regular backpack for
carrying on. I have a two and a half year old daughter so I have
LOTS of other stuff to carry, both on the plan and around town, so I
have to limit my camera gear.

I looked at bags that would be both camera and backpack, but didn't
find one that worked for me.

We are going to Sorrento in the beginning and then to a villa in
Tuscany. I wish I had a Sigma 10-20. I hope the 18-200 does okay on
some landscape shots.

--
http://photo.robertokeefe.com

Click to expand...

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http://www.alexwinserphotography.co.uk

if you want security, weather-resistance and protection, get a Crumpler Keystone or Whickey & Cox, which is a bit larger than the former.

The W&C served me well in Rome for over a week, in overly crowded areas and in day-long down-pours.

I like to travel, my kit is

D200 with 24-> 120, 70-> 200 (f2.8) & 12-> 24 I love the Kata T-214, it is a sling type bag, I can go 15 hours on my feet, being well over 50 and well over 300 lbs that saids a lot.

Also I very much like the quality of the Kata, I do have 6 other bags (and back packs) that are all lowepro, they are good, but for me and my travels the kata fits better.

Mike

--
If you have low standards, you can take a look:
http://michaeljberman.zenfolio.com

very nice bag and you don't have to worry anymore for your stuff and can concentrate on the beautifull places.

btw. I thought you had been there already. Haven't seen you around here for weeks.

Have a great trip and bring some beautifull photos back for us.

cheers, Mark
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One with a locker.

Never leave it away from your eyes, never drop it and be careful in the bus or metro, don't leave it on your back. They will open it.

--
Nuni

I just came back from Italy. Initially I got the slingshot 200. But trying it at home, I found it to be boxy, bulky and not very comfortable when loaded. The waist strap should improve comfort but decrease speed of use.

I ended up with the Crumpler 5 million Dollar home. It carried a D50, Sigma 17-70 and a Tokina 11-24 with their reversed hoods and some accessories in a tight fit. You will likely need the 6Mil or 7 mil. I also bought a Kata APSS - DHN shoulder strap to replace the standard strap (the 5 mil has an unpadded strap but larger bags come with padded ones). The Kata strap made carrying the bag all day very easy and was one of the best things I got for the trip.

Since security seems to be a concern for you as it was for me, a good thing about the messenger style Crumpler X Million bags is that , in addition to not looking like camera bags, they have a large main flap which covers the bag opening and attaches to the bag body by a huge Velcro and a latch. The Velcro is so large that it is not possible to open the bag without creating a noticeable noise and it is not easy to open the bag by a smooth thief. I even kept the latch open sometimes as the Velcro seemed very secure. In addition, while you are not shooting you can carry the bag with the main flap towards your body which makes it almost impossible to open the bag except if you are robbed by force. Being a shoulder bag it covers your front pocket protecting your wallet as well.

Having said all that, be alert in Italy till the moment you reach home. I spent close to two weeks there, and on my way to the airport (happy that the trip ended with no thefts) I put my camera bag in my back pack, getting out a a couple of things and placing them on a chair beside me in the shuttle that went to Marcopolo airport in Venice. I then put those things I left on the chair beside me back in the backpack and did not notice that a small bag with my passport, ticket, some money, IDs and some ATM and credit cards was not there. I only noticed at the check-in counter. The bag was never found. I missed my flight and spent two extra nightmarish days till I got a new passport. That was a EUR 12 one way water shuttle which makes a couple of stops and heads to the airport. It is not exactly a place to be on watch for thieves, like you would on a normal bus. Even a normal passenger or the shuttle staff can steal your stuff.

http://www.cambags.com/
http://www.bythom.com/bags.htm

Italy is a great country rich in photo opp's. Enjoy the trip.

Cheers,
JB

Alex, I'm heading off to Italy later this year. I wanted something relatively small, light and inconspicuous.

I purchased a Think Tank Urban Disguise 30. It's a shoulder bag that will carry a 70-200 lens, body and a couple other smaller lenses. It's designed to not look like a camera bag. It has two expandable pockets in which you could hold a drink, etc. It's also designed to slip over the handle of a wheeled suitcase if you don't want to carry it. It comes with a number of interior dividers for flexible storage. Very well made. You can check it out at http://www.thinktankphoto.com/ttp_product_UrbnDsgs.php .

By the way, don't be surprised by the pop up at the Think Tank site. It's a little corny, but gives a good overview of the bag's features. The site also does an excellent job of providing specifications on their various lines of bags.

Alan

Be very careful with your valuables. I was in Rome for 10 days. I met a couple that were pick pocketed by an old woman who got into their closed purse right in front of their eyes.

I foiled another pick pocketer (young woman) at a bus ticket line. She had her hand in the pocket of the guy in front of me. I caught her red handed, and she just stared at me. The security people did nothing. The guy was grateful.

I bought a security neck strap with wire cables in it for the camera. I would've liked a back pack with a wire mesh to keep theives from using a razor blade on the fabric, but I didn't have one. I ended up using a D-Ring put through the eyelets of the zipper pulls ( 6 zippers in all ) to keep theives out. It worked, but if I go to Italy again I'm searching for a wire mesh security bag.

Don't bring a tripod, you won't get much use out of it. I have a Gitzo 1540T.

Lenses: Nikon 35 f/2 (museums), Tokina 12-24 f4 (cathedrals), Nikon 18-200. If I went again, I'd get a D90 or D300.

--
LeftSpin

Cheers Mark.

Not been yet, been busy trying to secure a new job as my current role is being made redundant in September. Now I have something in place I can hopefully get back to shooting more. The Italy trip is in August but I love to plan ahead ;0)

Cheers

Alex

MARK said:

very nice bag and you don't have to worry anymore for your stuff and
can concentrate on the beautifull places.

btw. I thought you had been there already. Haven't seen you around
here for weeks.

Have a great trip and bring some beautifull photos back for us.

cheers, Mark
--



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http://www.alexwinserphotography.co.uk

Italian cities are no better nor worse that any other western European ones - except for the gangs of pick-pocketing children that I encountered in Rome.

These kids, some look as young as 8 years old, work in well organised gangs and their methodolgy is based on distraction. These distraction techniques range from trying to apparently sell you something, begging and even fiegning serious injury or illness - beware, they are very convincing. They are sometimes accompanied by "gangmasters" (normally late teenagers or young adults) who act the part of the concerned citizen as an additional distraction.

I was a target twice in one day but I had my wits about me being forwarned by an Italian friend.

Don't get paranoid about it but just be careful and aware - Italy is a great country with great people.

-JohnK.

JohnK04716323 said:

Italian cities are no better nor worse that any other western
European ones - except for the gangs of pick-pocketing children that
I encountered in Rome.

These kids, some look as young as 8 years old, work in well organised
gangs and their methodolgy is based on distraction. These distraction
techniques range from trying to apparently sell you something,
begging and even fiegning serious injury or illness - beware, they
are very convincing. They are sometimes accompanied by "gangmasters"
(normally late teenagers or young adults) who act the part of the
concerned citizen as an additional distraction.

Click to expand...

And I bet they are not "locals" either.

--'Please don't take it personally; take it seriously.'

winnie said:

I am not going until August but I hope you have a good trip. Sounds
like we are going to similar locations, we are staying in a villa in
Tuscany too, not far from Siena.

I am considering an 18-200 but the quality concerns me a bit. It's
not like I can revisit easily to try again ;0)

Click to expand...

hi

instead of the 18-200 you should take a look at the 70-300 VR as it has better IQ
and is not much bigger than 18-200

Btw, for drinks, I bought a Lowepro bottle pouch (it is a separately sold accessory) which attaches to the outside of the Crumpler bag easily.