which slingshot bag?

Jeff,

I totally agree the advantages of a slingbag vis-a-vis backpack you pointed out.

Thanks,
Anuraag

Canon EOS 7D
EF-S 10-22 USM,
EF-24-105 L f/4 IS USM,
EF-70-200 L f/4 IS USM and
EF 50 f/1.8 II,
Speedlite 580 EXII,
Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 legs
Gitzo Ball head

Jeff,

I believe you are suggesting for my set-up considering 70-200 f4 IS + 1.4x? Will the Velocity 8x take this combo + all other of my stuff?

As I am considering purchasing 100-400 within 2010 sometimes, will 8x be still fine for the 100-400 + all my other stuff (considering I will not be talking along the 70-200 + 1.4x combo if I am using 100-400).

Kindly advise?

I checked the price for 8x in India today, it is US$ 80 equivalent our currency!

Thanks,
Anuraag

Canon EOS 7D
EF-S 10-22 USM,
EF-24-105 L f/4 IS USM,
EF-70-200 L f/4 IS USM and
EF 50 f/1.8 II,
Speedlite 580 EXII,
Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 legs
Gitzo Ball head

I think that the 8x may be too small. I know that the 9x is a little tight with the 70-200 f2.8L IS, but it works well for me (with a little rearrangement of the dividers). You might be able to get by with the 8x and the 70-200 f4, but I think you'd want the 9x for the 100-400.
--

Formerly known as Jeff Peterman, with 4847 posts under that name. Now apparently with two log-ins!
http://www.pbase.com/jeffp25

I just got the Think Tank Speed Racer, which handily carries the following:

• 7D with battery pack
• 17-55/2.8 IS
• 70-200/4 IS
• 100/2.8 macro
• Sigma 30/1.4
• Tokina 11-16/2.8
• Speedlite 580EX II

It can be set to a belt bag, or you can tuck in the belt and use it as a shoulder bag. When you do the belt bag, you can have the shoulder strap in swing mode, so you have the typical sling bag with more support.

I also have the LowePro 200AW. It can hold almost as much, plus it has room for the lens hoods in the extra section on top. However, I always felt the need to set the LowePro down when changing lenses. as it felt that it would tip over. Not so with the Speed Racer.

The Speed Racer belt will accommodate other Think Tank cases. I am thinking of getting their Chimp Case and keeping the 7D separate in that, to make things even easier...

-ddog

designdog said:

When you do the belt bag, you can have the shoulder strap in swing mode, so you have the typical sling bag with more support.

Click to expand...

The same is true with the Velocity series. There is a waist strap which you can tuck away (which I do for normal use) or wear with the shoulder strap (which I do when wearing it as a back pack, or when I need more support/stability in sling mode: if I'll be running while shooting, I'll have the bag "slug" under my left arm and the waist belt in place.)
--
Jeff Peterman

Any insults, implied anger, bad grammar and bad spelling, are entirely unintentionalal. Sorry.
http://www.pbase.com/jeffp25
http://www.jeffp25.smugmug.com

I have the Velocity 9 and 100-400 but I believe that the Velocity 8 will also take the 100-400.

Be aware that, unlike just about all other camera bags, the Velocity series loads from the top only. There are 3 vertical dividers (at least there are 3 on the Velocity 9) into which you can load gear, but access is only from the top, so to get to the bottom items you need to take everything above in the section out first. You also have to take out and put back the velcro dividers.

You can fit a body with lens attached as normal above the centre section and this is easy to access.

I really do not like this arrangement when I need to load more than 3 items - camera+lens in centre section and 2 more lenses/flash in the two side sections. I have stopped using the bag and will probably give it away.

For me there is a major issue with the Velocity series and the 100-400. The reversed lens hood catches on the lining which pulls the lens into the fully zoomed position as you pull it out which I am sure will eventually damage the zoom lock. It is possible to overcome this by tightening up the zoom lock as hard as you can, but I am told that this increases wear on the zoom lock. The only alternatives that don't damage the lens are therefore to leave the lens hood off or leave the zoom lock untightened and fight to pull the extended lens out of the bag.

If anybody has a solution to this problem, I would like to hear it.
--
Chris R

I rarely place more than one item in each of the three "slots" in the main compartment; on the rare occasions that I do, it is to place something that I doubt I'll use. You can make up for this buy using teh front pocket (which will take a flash) or buying two optional side pouches (I'll often carry two out of the following in side pouches: a water bottle, a lens, a 580EX flash).

The Velocity 9 was my main bag for about five years, and now the Velocity 9x has taken its place.
--
Jeff Peterman

Any insults, implied anger, bad grammar and bad spelling, are entirely unintentionalal. Sorry.
http://www.pbase.com/jeffp25
http://www.jeffp25.smugmug.com

my problems solved!!
just had delivered lowepro's new sling shot 202aw and it is fantastic.
canon 7d
17-85mm lens
70-300mm lens

with plenty of room for sandwiches and rain coat etc...
£64.99 from morris photography.

will be available at amazon from 31st march.
--
mike

I just received the Kata Dt-213 bag for my 7D.

Inside is similar to the Velocity 8/9, in that it is divided in 3 compartments. In my view, the main difference from the Velocity bag is the construction. The Kata bag is a lot firmer and will likely be able to take more punishment. However, the flip side is that the Velocity bag is more comfortable on the back.

BTW, the 7D is awesome!

The problem with LowePros Slingshot line is that if you want it to hold the body with 70-200 f2.8 or 100-400 lens attached, you have to get th 300 or larger, which are very bulky.
--

Formerly known as Jeff Peterman, with 4847 posts under that name. Now apparently with two log-ins!
http://www.pbase.com/jeffp25

The Kata looks a lot smaller than the 9x, and doesn't look big enough to take the 70-200 or 100-400 in either side pouch. Plus, it doesn't look like it has the extra storage pockets.

It still looks like a good bag, but the Kata couldn't replace my 9x. (It might replace the 7x or 8x)
--

Formerly known as Jeff Peterman, with 4847 posts under that name. Now apparently with two log-ins!
http://www.pbase.com/jeffp25

Thanks for your valuable inputs, Unfortunately we do not get Think Tank products in India & so unfortunately I cannot implement any of your suggestions.

Thanks,
Anuraag

Canon EOS 7D
EF-S 10-22 USM,
EF-24-105 L f/4 IS USM,
EF-70-200 L f/4 IS USM and
EF 50 f/1.8 II,
Speedlite 580 EXII,
Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 legs
Gitzo Ball head

Numerous people in this thread have said the 200AW won't hold a camera with the 100-400, but I do exactly that. Not by much, but it works.

I used to pack it to carry my camera with a short lens and the flash attached, plus two spare lenses. I'd say it would hold what the OP wants.

Recently I've acquired, well, too much stuff and have reconfigured the bag to hold two bodies. For shooting sports outdoors I have removed most of the dividers and fit a 5D2+85/1.2 (with hood attached) and a 7D+100-400 (with hood flipped around). The flash and other lenses go in a second bag since I generally don't need them. It is not as convenient a configuration as with one body, but it works for me.

Overall I've been very happy with the Slingshot 200. I can carry it easily, spin the bag part from my back to my waist to access the contents and change lenses without putting things on the ground. For longer walks, the waist strap helps a lot (though I wish it were more substantial).

Thanks Jeff for your valuable inputs, I think I am going for Velocity 8. I guess it has enough padding to save my toys for minor accidental touches hera & there.
--
Thanks,
Anuraag

Canon EOS 7D
EF-S 10-22 USM,
EF-24-105 L f/4 IS USM,
EF-70-200 L f/4 IS USM and
EF 50 f/1.8 II,
Speedlite 580 EXII,
Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 legs
Gitzo Ball head

Thanks Chris R for sharing your experiences & your valuable inputs,

I think I will use my Kata R-104 for 100-400 so that it gets good padding support as well & use the Velocity 8 for my 70-200 f4 IS which is jmuch smaller than the f2.8 IS one.

Thanks,
Anuraag

Canon EOS 7D
EF-S 10-22 USM,
EF-24-105 L f/4 IS USM,
EF-70-200 L f/4 IS USM and
EF 50 f/1.8 II,
Speedlite 580 EXII,
Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 legs
Gitzo Ball head

Thanks mike for the photo's looks great.

Unfortunately this model is not avaialble in India with it's sole dealer, so I will have to stick to Tamrac or Kata models only. But no doubt this Lowepro looks very impressive.
--
Thanks,
Anuraag

Canon EOS 7D
EF-S 10-22 USM,
EF-24-105 L f/4 IS USM,
EF-70-200 L f/4 IS USM and
EF 50 f/1.8 II,
Speedlite 580 EXII,
Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 legs
Gitzo Ball head

Today, I took part in the DC Race for the Cure - walking, not running. It was a 3 mile walk with temperatures in the mid 80s and humid. My Velocity 9x was loaded up with a 7D, 70-200 f2.8 IS, 17-55 f2.8 IS, and a 10-22, plus, a water bottle (in side pouch) spare battery, plastic poncho, two spare T-shirts (from after we switched to the event shirts - one in a medium lens side pouch and one in the front pocket). Overall, it probably weighed over 20 lbs. With the neck strap diagonally across my chest and the waist strap kept tight, the bag was totally secure - even for the times when I ran ahead of my group to take shots of them approaching. I switched back and forth between the 17-55 and 70-200 lenses frequently, able to do that while wearing the bag and walking along.

I continue to be impressed with this bag as a working bag for events.
--
Jeff Peterman

Any insults, implied anger, bad grammar and bad spelling, are entirely unintentionalal. Sorry.
http://www.pbase.com/jeffp25
http://www.jeffp25.smugmug.com

Greetings to all - hopefully you're still following this thread. I just found it.

I want a sling that will hold my 100-400 UNATTACHED. I have the velocity 7 (pre-100-400) and it's been perfect on long treks as I can wear a traditional day pack with the tamrac slung to the front, thus giving me a nice holster and easy access. My question is - will the 9x or 10x work? Anyone have experience with them who can give me definitive advice whether I can store my 100-400 in a side pocket when not attached while still holding my body plus 24-105?

Thanks!