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Which Crumpler?

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I've been looking on and off for a small Crumpler as well (most of them look compact on the screen, and then end up being gigantic when I look in a store) so definitely post a review of the Budgie Smuggler as soon as you get it!

My biggest complaint with my current Tamrac bag is getting the D70+kit+hood in it is a bit of a squeeze, and not the drop-and-go process I wish it could be.
 
Hi Dave,

The crumpler internet store has 2 weeks return and exchange policy. So I will reconsider the Weenie if the Budgie Smuggler turns out to be too small. I do have a question for you. How does the bunion change the shape of the bag. I only have the bag now. I tried to stuff some cloth in it to help imagine the shape. It seems very bulky. If I am going out with just one lens attched to the camera and may be the sb800, will I feel silly to carry such a big bag?

Thanks,

Jane
 
I know how you feel. That is exactly how I feel with the Crumpler Stamp Claimer. Once I get the camera in, it fits nice. But it is a big effort getting it in. I will post a review for the Budgie Smuggler. Have you ever seen a Blunderbus? That is the smallest bag with Bunion insert. It is also being distinued and on sale.

Jane
 
I don't see the Blunderbus anywhere on the crumpler site. Is it being sold directly on-line?
 
Last year, I went with the Weenie with bunion so I could use it as a combo bag, holds my d70 w/50mm & kit lens, ipod, flash and still room for cables & small items. Most people never think there's a camera inside (which is why I went with it), I get quite a few compliments on the bag itself. I would say its a little big, but not that bad. I got comfortable carrying it with me everywhere for the last 6 months (its a nikon service for a second time, my bag feels so empty). It is a tough decision with crumpler, great bags regardless. But I do recommend getting a shoulder/strap pad. And it fills out the bag quite a bit actually, it a very snug fit. I to have wondered the same thing about looking silly, but then I figure I'm out with a camera I probably look more suspicious then silly.
Jane Jiang said:
Hi Dave,

The crumpler internet store has 2 weeks return and exchange policy.
So I will reconsider the Weenie if the Budgie Smuggler turns out to
be too small. I do have a question for you. How does the bunion
change the shape of the bag. I only have the bag now. I tried to
stuff some cloth in it to help imagine the shape. It seems very
bulky. If I am going out with just one lens attched to the camera
and may be the sb800, will I feel silly to carry such a big bag?

Thanks,

Jane
Click to expand...
 
I have the New Venue which has been replaced by the 6 Million and have used it to haul my D70 with the SB800, kit lens and 28-200 plus misc. batteries, chargers etc all over Europe and it was fine. You will never wear it out.
 
I have the 7 million dollar home that I typically carry a D70 w/18-70 lens attached, 50mm and 70-300 lenses in addition to either a 35mm body and lens or a Yashica Mat medium format camera.

There is plenty of room in the front and lid compartments for film, cable releases, remotes, a few filters (actually I keep these in the main compartment adjacent to the D70) a notebook, lens cleaner, flash light…

The thing I wish the 7m did better was handle small item storage. The pockets are big and finding memory cards can be a task. I’ll probably get a small backpacking organizer to keep all the small things together in the future.
 
The Blunderbus is a regular bag just a the Weenie. You have to get a Bunion insert for it. Click on the bag icon for the bag and the t-shirt for the Bunion insert.
 
Well, the bunion squeezes in tightly - this is a good thing, though, because it makes the padding stiffer and less likely to damage the camera int he event of a fall. I often drop my bag on the floor without thinking about it, actually. This is the beauty of the Wonder Weenie - I can treat it like a backpack even with my camera inside because the padding is insane :)

But the shape is like this: two elongated D's stacked on top of one another. there's a few inches of space above the bunion when inside if you want to throw a book or two on top, or perhaps a telephoto (but rather insecurely). I do this when I shoot for the college paper.

I would have to say another extremely good thing about Crumpler bags is the shoulder strap padding - the LowePro strap cuts into my shoulder badly with less equipment in it while the Crumpler just feels heavy.
Food for thought...

Dave

--
http://www.davemosher.com
Fig.1. Animated illustration of 'Forumus trollis' species
 
I got the Budgie Smuggler today. It is the perfect size for me. I can fit it the d70 with kit lens attached and the sb800 flash or another lens. The 50mm can go in too if I really try. The should pad very comfortable.

The new bag feels pretty stiff. I hope it will wear down a little after some use. The shoulder belt seems to be very long and the only way I can shorten it is let it form a loop at one end. It looks a bit silly.

All in all, it is probably the best crumpler for what I need. The price of $49 shipped is pretty good too.

Thanks a lot for all the suggestions. Please let me know if I can answer any questions for any one.

Jane
 
After your positive review, I went and ordered a Budgie Smuggler as well. It does seem to be just about the right size, although I have to take the hood off the kit lens if I want to squeeze it in with lenses on each side.

My only other complaint is that when I put the camera in with a telephoto lens, it fits in the bag but the flap doesn't close all the way. It would be fine since the strap is adjustable, but the velcro pad is so gigantic that it sticks out from underneath. Call me vain, but it just looks funny.

As for the long-strap issue, I avoided the loop problem by re-threading the buckle in the other direction, and tucking the extra strap into the loop on the side of the bag. The way it comes threaded really looks odd, and I almost wonder if they just do it like that to pack it neatly and expect the consumer to change it around when they get it.
 
Why are you all battling with the strap? Just cut the excess part of it and be done with. It's clearly superior to any strap Tamrac/Lowepro can offer.
 
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