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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Shooting/Working Bag Recommendation?
Greg Kendall-Ball, Photographer, Assistant
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Abilene | TX | USA | Posted: 10:32 PM on 11.01.10 |
->> Hi folks- I've looked through the message board archives and followed countless links to countless products. I'm writing tonight because my latest attempt at finding the perfect bag for me, a sisyphean task to be sure, failed.
Some context
I am a multimedia journalist for a mid-sized daily in West Texas. I'm looking for a bag I can use every day to carry my cameras, flash, notebooks and pens back and forth from my car to the newsroom to assignments, etc. I have a ThinkTank Streetwalker HD and a Pelican case for when I need to transport my gear.
Basically, every morning, I park in the employee lot about 2 blocks away from the newsroom. Sometimes, it rains. I'd love to have one bag to grab out of my hatchback to take with me. I then get to my desk, get my assignments for the day, and again, I'd like to have just one bag to grab to take back to my car. Once at the location, I'd like one bag to grab out of my car, preferably a shoulder bag, that has my cameras with lenses attached.
I thought the TTP Retrospective 30 was the one for me, but turned out to be too short to fit a 70-200 2.8 attached to a D300. I returned it and got the (taller) Retro 20, only to find out it's too narrow to fit both of my cameras w/lenses attached.
Is it too much to ask for one bag to carry a D700 with a 24-70 attached, a D300 with 70-200 2.8 attached, with a little room leftover for my SB-900, a few notebooks and some pens? I just want one bag to carry back and forth, and that I can work from, easily pulling out and putting away the cameras as needed.
I'm not locked in to any one brand, so I'd love to hear any ideas about any bag from any manufacturer that would get close to what I'm looking for...
Thanks for the help,
GKB |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 11:58 PM on 11.01.10 |
| ->> shapeshifter. why do your lenses need to be attached? if you're carrying them into the office that seems silly. the shapeshifter bag is without a doubt the best designed bag I have ever seen. of course, you can't have your lenses attached, but that's where you lost me... |
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Greg Kendall-Ball, Photographer, Assistant
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Abilene | TX | USA | Posted: 12:21 AM on 11.02.10 |
->> Chuck-
I like to keep the lenses attached so I can just pull them out and shoot. Because I also have to write the story, I like being able to just open a flap and stow the camera, and then grab my notebook and start interviewing or taking notes.
It may be that I just need to change my methods. The other staff photographers just carry their cameras on their shoulders, with a belt pack or waist pack to carry extra lenses and accessories. I would do that, too, if I was using newspaper-owned equipment, but as it is, I'm using stuff I had to pay for, and I'm not quite as cavalier with how I handle it.
I may just need to adopt that method, and find a small pack to carry an extra lens or two, my notebooks, my flash (for the rare occasions I use it), and extra CF cards & batteries.
I may just be too anal about keeping my gear protected from unnecessary wear and tear, rain and dust, and theft. I carry my stuff back and forth because I'm not comfortable leaving it in the car when I'm in the office....
I'll look into the shapeshifter...thanks for taking the time to reply. |
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Chris Large, Photographer
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Okotoks | AB | Canada | Posted: 12:45 AM on 11.02.10 |
->> Look at ThinkTank Urban Disguise 70 V 2 Pro series.
I've been using TT stuff for years - incredible quality and even better support. If a snap or wheel or zipper breaks - they fix or replace it no questions asked.
Very few products that I totally recommend but TT is number one on my list. I've had one of their roller bags go all around the world several times over with zero problems.
Chris |
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Nic Coury, Photographer
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Monterey | CA | | Posted: 2:18 AM on 11.02.10 |
->> I'd go with Domke's for shoulder bags.
I don't fully understand the whole "lens-on-body" in the bag thought, but whatever works for you.
No cameras are in my bag, just lenses. My camera is on a shoulder or around my neck, so then I can just shoot.
The Domke F-3X is my favorite, but the F-4AF is nice too.
~ nic |
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Joseph D. Sullivan, Photographer
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Long Island | NY | USA | Posted: 3:29 AM on 11.02.10 |
| ->> I have a tendency to carry too much anyway. I've used Domkes and recently had a Think Tank urban disguise. It was so loaded down on one side it hurt my back. I switched to the Think Tank shape shifter and have been happy with it. I often carry two bodies with lenses and a rigged 5d Mark II set up as a video camera when doing court assignments. The shapeshifter allows me to alter what I have outside the bag and the weight such as it is, is now on my back, which is more comfortable. I sometimes throw a computer in the back as well. This is my first backpack setup and it works very well for me. |
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Brad Tollefson, Student/Intern
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Aledo | TX | USA | Posted: 4:53 AM on 11.02.10 |
->> One of the guys I work with uses a Crumpler Million Dollar Home that I believe can do pretty much everything that you are asking for. Having tried it out a few times it seems to fit pretty well and can hold a pretty good amount of gear for its size.
Brad |
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Max Gersh, Photographer, Photo Editor
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New Castle | IN | USA | Posted: 9:27 AM on 11.02.10 |
->> I use either the Crumpler 7 Million Dollar Home or the Think Tank Urban Disguise 50. They are both great bags but neither will meet all of your requirements.
With the crumpler, I fit my lenses with the 24-70 (hood attached) ready to pull and shoot. It might be possible to fit two attached cameras but it'd be very tight. It is a very comfortable bag as far as shoulder bags go.
As for the Think Tank, I don't think there is a chance of stuffing the attached bodies in the main compartment. There are special compartments for the bodies away from the lenses. It can hold a ton of gear including a laptop. However, when this bag is full, it is far too heavy for a daily shooters shoulder bag. |
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George Bridges, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | USA | Posted: 9:49 AM on 11.02.10 |
->> Though I love Think Tank bags you really can't beat the old Domke F2 (or the slightly larger version for longer lenses of today) for a throw over the shoulder and shove a bunch of stuff in bag.
The very minimal padding, shifts its shape to bulge here and there when needed to get gear in, had the great back pocket for notebooks, pen holders, end pockets for flash and extra stuff. Very durable. |
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Dominick Reuter, Photographer
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Shane Psaltis, Photographer
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Aquebogue | NY | USA | Posted: 7:44 PM on 11.02.10 |
->> Greg,
You already have the bag you need, the streetwalker is an amazing bag and will definitely hold everything you want, granted it is not a shoulder bag but you will see over time with a shoulder bag it is going to hurt your shoulder and they all ride up towards your neck. I would strongly recommend keeping the bag you have and invest in two r-straps.
just my 2 cents.
Shane |
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Chuck Steenburgh, Photographer
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Lexington | VA | USA | Posted: 8:29 PM on 11.02.10 |
->> This is why there are 10,000 bag companies making 10,000,000 types of bags. Bags are an extremely personal and subjective choice.
I can understand exactly the kind of bag you want - although I personally don't "shoot that way" I am somewhat similar (I shoot and interview). My solution: combine TWO bags. Yes, two bags into one. :-)
I use a Crumpler Horseman for the car-to-the-office bit. I only use one body for these type assignments, but carry an extra lens and a flash. Inside the Crumpler, I put a ThinkTank digital holster that has a lens pouch attached to one side and a flash pouch attached to the other. (Since the Horseman is not a "photo bag" per se, this combo fills the role of a photo insert.)
When I'm on site, I just pull the Digital Holster and attached pouches out and voila! I have a shoulder bag I can pull and shoot from.
Call me crazy, but I love it. Think outside the bag, er box. :-) |
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