[Ali]

I’m looking for another camera bag and am after some suggestions please!

Quite often I just want to take the camera (20d) out while walking the dogs or wherever so don’t really want to take the main bag (Slingshot 200) and all the bits and bobs it contains. At the moment I am using a Lowepro TLZ Mini as an ‘everyday’ bag – it holds the 20d with 28-105 Canon lens attached. I carry it with the strap cross-ways over the chest (from shoulder to opposite hip).

I’m looking for another everyday bag that will hold the 20d with the 70-300 Canon lens attached. . Something that is not too bulky or cumbersome with the same sort of shoulder carrying strap. I can’t be coping with bags that go round the waist (mainly due to my lack of having a waist!).

In a Blue Peter type moment - I had thought of getting another TLZ Mini, cutting a hole in the bottom and making a sort of collapsible/protective cover so that I could use it for either lens – but it’s probably easier to buy something else!

Thanks

Hoping I have put this is the right section!

[nichpr]

Have you thought about using a vest. Most have pockets large enough to carry an extra lens and enough pockets to carry anything else you can imagine. Most importantly to me is the fact that wearing a vest is so much easier - I never feel the straps cutting into my shoulders - the weight seems to be so much better distributed.

My bag, if it leaves the house at all, never goes into the field with me anymore since I started using the vest.

[silkstone]

How about the TLZ2? That should hold the 20D + 70-300 no problem, without cutting a hole.

Lowepro Topload Zoom Series (Topload Zoom Mini, Topload Zoom 1, Topload Zoom 2, Topload Zoom AW, Toploader 75 AW, Toploader 65 AW, Toploader 70 AW) - warehouseexpress.com

[P-E]

Yes I would have a look at a Toploader.......I use one when I don't fancy carrying to much.

[Summerleft]

All i could think of reading the title was ...


'Come and get ya black bin bags..... their on offer til December'

[Tigress]

I have, and use occasionally when I don't want to lug everything around, a Tamrac Velocity bag - same sort of set-up as the slingshot, in that it goes across the body. Is nice and easy to get into - really a larger version of the Toploader - and carries my camera with a 70-300 lens in the central pocket (but no bigger as it's a snug fit with that lens on & similar size camera). Has a little more room on either side for two more lenses, but due to the design (curved bottom ), it's a squeeze to fit a macro and wide angle in! Room in the front for cards, batteries, etc and also a little zipper compartment inside the top. Has the added point of being able to attach their accessory system, but then it starts getting bulky and, to me, gets lost in its function of being a compact bag. Have a look anyway, mine is the Velocity 7, but there is a bigger one, the 9 I think. One other pointer - they say it can be worn on the back, which it can, but I find it more than comfortable on my hip too.

[JMitchell]

I have the same dilemma, except it's not any more I have the Slingshot 200, and didn't want to take everything, so I just got my shoulder bag (on of those canvas thingys that everyone has now), put tshirts and towels to line the sides, and bottom, and stuck me camera in there...magic. Worked fine, even space for the flash or another lens if I wanted....

[Ali]

Thank you for the suggestions. I've been looking at the toploaders - the larger versions of the one I have - which are strong contenders.

While looking around the crumpler bags caught my eye too.

Off to look at the Velocity bags now!

[silkstone]

It is a universal truism that a bag that is big enough is too heavy, and one that is light enough is too small.

I am the custodian of the National Camera Bag Collection (10, so far ) and none of them is perfect all the time, although the Billingham ones do smell very nice.

[P-E]

Originally Posted by silkstone

although the Billingham ones do smell very nice.

LOL I must go smell a few this weekend

[silkstone]

Leather! Mmmmm....!

[Charlotte]

My Samsonite Trekking Premium DV80 is just what you're after, I think Ali. It's a shoulder bag which has two parts to it, which you can use together or separately :

The main bag is just big enough to comfortably hold a DSLR with a lens mounted. You just take that part of the bag with you if you won't need to change lenses. This part also has a front zipped pocket (under the front flap) with handy pouches to store sd cards, spare battery, filters, light meter, or other small paraphernalia. The front flap secures via velcro, so it easily opens but doesn't flap about. This part of the bag is a top loader via zip. It has a flat pocket on the rear for slimline paraphernalia, such as notebook, cleaning cloth, expodisk, or other flat accessories. It has belt loops on the rear. The shoulder strap is detachable + it has a short carry handle on the top, so you can carry it by hand.

The 2nd part is detachable + will comfortably hold 3 lenses, or whatever else you choose to carry; it has detachable/movable internal partitions to protect lenses from knocking into each other or falling about. It joins onto the underside of the main bag via velcro + straps/clips. It's a side-loader via zip, so is easily accessible when attached to the main bag.

The shoulder strap is detachable, adjustable + mega-comfortable, well padded on the shoulder.

Measurements :
Top bag HWD = 15 x 25 x 15 cm
Lower bag HWD = 10 x 25 x 15 cm

The bag is versatile, feature-rich, compact, extremely lightweight + is well padded to protect your gear. It doesn't cost a bomb, I think I paid around £25 on Ebay.

I thoroughly recommend this bag

[JMitchell]

Amazon.co.uk: Samsonite Trekking Premium DV80 Duo Video Camera bag: Electronics & Photo

[Charlotte]

Cheers Jack