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Help me choose a backpack please!
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Hye Guys,
I’m looking for a nice backback to hold all my camera gear. What I have is a Canon 400D, a Sigma 17-70mm, a Canon 50mm, and Sigma 70-300mm APO.
I want a backpack that will hold all this, and maybe a little more (non camera stuff). Preferably being able to hold the camera with the 70-300mm lens on- without removing.
I’d like a backpack that is easy to get the equipment in and out of easily – so a LowPro Slingshot appeals to me. However, I’ve just bought a morotbike and plan to go on trips on the bike to take photos. Perhaps the single over the shoulder/chest bag would be a bit unstable while riding a motorbike? Not sure. Maybe a standard backpack would suit better?
Any advise apprecaited….
ThanksI use a small climbing rucksack for my camera gear – primarily because I tend to go on longish walks with it and prefer the syupport/padding of a “normal” rucksack. I can also get my waterproof, flask, etc. in it. Having said that, the purpose-built camera bags are great. I think there was one for sale in the “for sale” forum recently.
As concerns the bike – I can speak from experience being a biker. Nearly all bikers come off at some stage. You need to be careful of what is strapped to your back when you do come off – especially if it is at speed. If all of your camera gear is in a “flimsy” rucsack, you can expect it to be toast after the crash. On the other hand, if you have a pack that will proetct your gear, it could damage your back. Personnaly, when I am on the bike, I put my gear into panniers leaving my upper body free to move the bike around – and slide along the ground unencumbered!
BM wrote:
Nearly all bikers come off at some stage. You need to be careful of what is strapped to your back when you do come off – especially if it is at speed. If all of your camera gear is in a “flimsy” rucsack, you can expect it to be toast after the crash. On the other hand, if you have a pack that will proetct your gear, it could damage your back. Personnaly, when I am on the bike, I put my gear into panniers leaving my upper body free to move the bike around – and slide along the ground unencumbered!
Sounds like very sound advice indeed. I’m not a biker, although I have cycled with gear on my back and the raised centre of gravity from the extra weight of the gear can make for an unstable ride. Granted, the amount of weight in a backpack relative to the weight of a motorcycle is significantly less than would be the case with a bicycle, but you’ve still got something pulling on your back when cornering.
I use a Tamrac Expedition 8. Purchased from this store in Germany. Cheapest price I’ve found too.
It’s a beast of a bag, you’ll fit everything in there. Loads of compartments for extras too. Straps to hold a tripd. Some serious shoulder and waist straps too to ensure a comfortable fit.
It’s a big bag… you can also look at the 7,5, 4 series which are smaller versions of the same bag e.g.
I used to ride motorbikes,
and I can confirm previous reports-
at some point you’ll have a really interesting perspective of speeding tarmac
just centimeters from your eye-It would be really sensible not to have lumpy metal objects strapped to your back-
I did a quick google,
and came up with this-http://www.touratech-usa.com/shop/show.lasso?SKU=055-1077
Don’t know anything about it, of course,
and the backpack straps look puny,
but on the bike at least,
it might be preferable-There are others too, if you google tank bag backpack-
j
Cheers Guys. Yes I agree, if you are unlucky enough to fall off a bike at 60mph, the last thing you want is a load of hard plastic and glass to hurt you as well as the road and or wall etc. Might be worth a back protector as well.
I like the slingshot best so far. Watch the video here: http://products.lowepro.com/product/SlingShot-200-AW,2035,4.htm
The first bag I bought was a slingshot (100 AW).. terrible yoke.. very uncomfortable and the idea that you can swing it around to access your camera is better in theory than it is in practice.
Sitting behind the sofa now, empty and gathering dust. lousy was the same.. he dumped his too.
It doesn’t look like it holds very much-
maybe that’d be a good thing considering the asymmetric support-I watched the video-
that guy’s choice of tripod says it all-j
that guy’s choice of tripod says it all
Had to watch it twice before I noticed the tripod… that thing was so small you could tuck down your sock :lol:
I was going to go for the Slingshot 200AW – (not the 100AW) looks a lot better.
However, nfl-fan – would you sell to me for cheap? Might just do the job for the very occaisional trip – or save me spending €80 on a bigger one that is just as useless…
Yeah, no probs… make me an offer I can’t refuse. You want the dust too? Wasn’t till I watched the vid that I realized it came with a rain cover!
I’ll be in the DUB tomorrow and Wednesday (assuming this storm doesn’t go mental), I work on Mespil Road just off Baggot Street Bridge, or I can mail it.
Paypal or Cash…
How about the Lowepro Primus?
http://products.lowepro.com/product/Primus-AW,1995,14.htm
It has some of the advantages of the Slingshot but with 2 straps. And, JB7, it holds a real tripod. :) Or is it available here?
Well the Lowepro 100AW has now found a new home so all the best with her Colly.
Thanks! I’m sure this will do be grand for now – great value anyway!
Cheers
Colly
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