Camera Bag for traveling

[hioctane]

Hi Guys
I will be traveling around Europe for a month. I am having to take unpaid leave which sucks badly but on the bright side, away from work and taking photos. I have a backpack, a Lowepro minitrekker aw which I am very happy with. I am concerned about security though. I originally had a slingshot 100 aw but had to move on when my gear grew. The slingshot had a few really great things namely the swing about, pull the camera out and shoot was really cool. The other bag I have seen is the flipside from Lowepro this seems really secure as entry to your gear is through the back of the bag. I tried going to my local camera shop to see if I could touch and feel it but to no avail. So the question is the Slingshot 350aw or the flipside or is there another bag that I have not considered remembering im on a budget. Please can I have some comments from guys that have maybe traveled and or used these bags
Thanks Guys

[dFe]

Not sure which size you are referring to, but I know Incredible Connection stocks the sling bag that you are referring to.

[dakota]

Outdoorphotoshop stocks the entire range of LowePro products, and numerous other brands take a look.

[kay]

I've had a SlingShot 100AW for a couple of years now, and I used it extensively while travelling around Europe. It works but it's not the best travel bag for the simple reason that you can't store anything other than camera equipment and maybe a MP3 player in it. I would have preferred a messenger-style bag or a backpack that can take a light jacket, some maps, and a few other small odds and ends. The SlingShot is also not the best bag for changing lenses on the move.

[john deakin]

Dirk, it seems you are intent on advertising other retailers here on ODP without respect for the owner, Hedrus. Not sure why when it has been mentioned that it is not really the right thing to do many times elsewhere on the forum. The question was not where to buy from but advice on what bag to buy for the OPs' specific needs.

Hioctane, take a few minutes to call Hedrus at the ODP shop and you will get great advice and a large range to choose from at very competitive prices. You will also be supporting this great site we all enjoy by doing so.

[hioctane]

Thanks John probably will give him a call but Im in Durban and ODP is oh so far away, and I like to touch and feel before I buy. Anyway I have bought stuff from ODP before and very happy I did. Hey they even sent me a good 2nd hand lens and did not ask for a cent for it before I was happy with it. ODP rock.
Kay I had a slingshot 100 aw and when I was starting it was perfect and im with you on the lens changes and lack of space. The thing im thinking is its a 350 and not a 100. You are also saying a backpack may be the right thing?

[swicks]

I agree with John ....

[dakota]

Hioctane: Goto Incredible corruption and feel the bags and then order from ODP

As for what bag is the best, I can't really say. I suppose it depends on where in Europe you are planning on going. Between the Slingshot and the Flipside you've got to decide what is more important: accessibility, or security.

[dFe]

Dirk, it seems you are intent on advertising other retailers here on ODP without respect for the owner, Hedrus.

Absolutely not, and I fully support Hedrus, and I think if you speak to him he will confirm. This was not done intentionally, but the poster did mention touch and feel, which I doubt can be done in the online shop, or am I wrong? I mentioned where he can do just that, as I had one in my hands this morning.

I tried going to my local camera shop to see if I could touch and feel it but to no avail

[SimonDP]

No real harm done, all posters know that ODP is the place to support. For some though ita an on-line shop and to experience the item in real life before ordering (from ODP) they have to go someplace else. Anyway, glad to see you are helping each other out here.

[john deakin]

Thanks for your PM Dirk, responded.

Simon has summed it up well so thanks to you also Simon. None of us can always buy what we need from ODP but to 'advertise' other outlets on a site provided to us at great cost to Hedrus is a tad unfair in my opinion. We all have the internet, yellow pages and other resources to search for information on outlets in our own geographical area if we need to. In the past I have dealt with other retailers, none of which have given me the standard of service and advice I have experienced from Hedrus and his ODP shop staff.

John

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

Back to mr Octane's Question ;-)

When we travel to shoot, everything goes into two Lowepro CompuTrekker Plus AW bags (chosen because it takes a 17" notebook, and all the kit we might need + extra hard drives... not want to leave anything I might require) These stay in the hotelroom as far as possible (or trainstation/airport locker) but if it stays in a hotel I would suggest looking at something like the PacSafe (http://www.pac-safe.com/www/index.ph...n=detail&id=48) That is also great for keeping your bags safe while traveling by train or something more public like that... Do beware though - If you are on a shortstop train... undo the bag BEFORE the stop... any snags and you will continue on to the next town (which might lead to some unexpected pictures... definitely unplanned pictures)

From the big bags, we carry two smaller Ben's Pizza Bags from crumpler... non-descript sling-type bags that only carry the bodies and lenses we thing we might need for the day (depending on where we will be going that day) No matter how you slice it, too much weight on your shoulder muscles WILL make it cramp after day three, and 5kg is TOO MUCH allready.

If you don't want the Crumpler, then have a look at the Think Tank Urban Disguise. The 30 is a good one (http://www.outdoorphotoshop.co.za/pP...sguise-30.aspx), but it depends on what camera you have. I doubt whether my 5D with battery grip will fit, but without the grip it will be fine with, I'd say, up to about a 200mm lens on the front. The Crumpler is not waterproof as it only has a flap that covers the top, the thinktank has a built in raincover.

On the flipside, the Crumpler has much better shoulder padding and a way thicker strap (not going to cut through it in one go) where the ThinkTank has a fairly thin webbing strap.

I would suggest you replace either with a security mesh webbing strap (basically two ply standard webbing, but steel cabling mesh sandwiched inbetween) so no way a "grabber" is going to cut through that with a blade.

[dFe]

If you have a battery grip on make sure to take your camera with, most of the small bags like the lowepro sling cannot take a 400d with battery grip!

[Jaco de Klerk]

Tough one Hi-O,

I use a Slingshot 200 AW when travelling. It takes a body with grip, and 4 lenses (no white stuff). It carries conveniently (better than a shoulder bag, worse than a backpack) but is not perfect, as already mentioned.

Consider an old style square bag like the LowePro Nova 4 - this type work best for changing lenses, as it will stand anywhere or you can work in it on your hip - lid is automatically at the top and there's no harnass getting in the way or messed up when put down. Tougher on the shoulders.

The Flipside seems good, but access to backpacks are too slow when you're on the move.

[vlooi]

Just to add on this topic. I have a AW350 Lowepro slingshot. My biggest problem is, that it weighs appx 7-8kg. And that is for handluggage. Luckily it has a built in raincover for rainy London and it is easily accessible on the move. You just shift it from back to front. Securitywise, it has lockable zips, only if you use small locks.

[terberg]

I have a Crumpler, "The Formal Lounge". And I love it. It is waterproof, not too heavy, spacious and it fits perfectly in the overhead compartment of an airplane.



In mine, I fit: two camera bodies, a 50mm lens, a 28-135 zoom, 100-400mm lens, spare batteries, chargers, 2x polarizer filters, 10x memory card packs and a laptop computer. It is amazing what fits in this bag and the best of it is that when it got wet (read- ground flooded), the contents remained dry. Gotta love this bag.

The only disadvantage is that your gear is not easily accessible (which could also be an advantage) so it really is a bag to transport your equipment in and take it out before you intend to use it.

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

I love the crumplers, we have two Ben's Pizza Bags for out and about shooting. We actually bought the "formal Lounge" bags and had to return them, because the MBP 17" didn't fit and the thicker LG 17" absolutely didn't fit (even though they are supposed to take a 17" notebook)