What type of bag do you use?

Just wondering what type of bags people prefer for their gear on the move?

I have 4 bags, all Lowepro. I have two shoulder bag style, a small one, just about takes my D300 and 18-70 (looks brand new and never used apart from once or twice), a Stealth Reporter 200 AW, then rucksacks, Mini Trekker AW, and a larger Rover AW. None are perfect!

My favourite is probably the Stealth Reporter. It's the one I tend to use on the street because I can access it a little on the move and it is on my side or even front for security in town. It's a nice bag but slips from the shoulder too often and a bit tight with my 10-20, 17-35 and 24-70 together if I want them ready with hoods. My street photography tends to mean I want access pretty quickly to lenses and even this bag means often having to put it down to get easy access inside.

The Mini Trekker is a favourite when I go walking. It's a backpack and rarely do I need a camera in a split second when across the fields. I can still get a drink, sarnies and gps in the pack but with my increasing equipment it is too small. I don't take it all with me, only a few bits, but the lenses are bigger and heavier than when I started and so this bag is a little small.

The Rover has room for wet weather coat etc. but access to the camera gear is a little slow. Ideal for landscapers who may have a camera and a couple of favourite lenses, but for general purpose jack of all trades master of none people like me it's a little small.

So, with faster access in mind and needing a fair amount of room it may be time to try a Lowepro Slingshot 300 or similar. With these to a certain extent you should be able to change lenses on the fly, without putting the bag down which is what I find I need.

What do you use?

Just wondering what you guys and gals used and why?

If I'm away doing landscapes or at least working within a short distance from the car I use my rucksack bag. It's big enough for a camera plus 3 or 4 lenses and a few sections for bits and bobs plus if I'm up a hill I have my hands free for scrambling. It's resonably water proof and is rigid enough for plonking down on the ground and lets my back 'breathe'.







If I'm just out for a stroll with a camera and a single lens I just use my holster bag.

I use a heavily padded laptop bag that looks like a normal rucksack!

I wanted something inconspicuous as to not alert the thieves what I have

That's a neat bag Phil!

Looks very much like my Lowepro Mini Trekker inside. I'm sure many bags are made in the same factories. Those by Gem look almost the same as Lowepro with considerable saving.

In the meantime I have just found a Slingshot 300 to buy and try and see how I get on with that!

Still looking for a suitable one - will update when I eventually get one!

xx

I have one very similar to phils when out and about.

Also have one about twice the size which everything can go into when it is stored at home.

Also have a ruck sack type one which i use when doing weddings.

My good friend works in a on line shop which sometimes buys things like this in bulk and the one that is like Phils i paid £4.00 for which is at cost. Just shows how much the mark up is.......

I use the classic Billingham 555 canvas bag 95% of the time. It will hold far more than I would choose to carry, I have had in it Canons 5D MkII, 5D & 40D bodies along with 70-200 f2.8L (in the pic you can see it just peeking out the top), 24-105mm f4L, 17-40mm f4 and 100 Macro f2.8 plus flash, filters etc.

It fitted in with room to spare but I had a job to lift it all off the floor



The other bag I use occasionally is the Lowepro Photo Trekker Classic. Very god bag but I'm not the greatest fan of rucksack type bags.





Steve

Lowepro compurover AW
Tamrac Pro 12
Tenba Messenger Pro-Digital 2.0
Domke Anaconda 10

I've got a Lowepro Minitrekker as well....and also find it a tad small, especially when I've got the Bigma with me. It does the job though I've also got a Crumpler Muffin Top for when I'm not using a big telephoto.

WhatI don't like about a lot of those bags is the camera has to be kept seperate from the lens to enable more to go in. This to my mine can allow dust into the camera when fitting the lens. I prefer the Tamrac system 6 or my National geographic bag which disguises what is in it to a degree. Both will take camera+lens together with room for 2/3 other lenses as well.Generally referred as = over the shoulder boulder holders

Bazza