Photo Bag needed

[neuroanatomist]

I will just say that I have been very happy with my LowePro Flipside 300, but due in part to my fondness for my current bag and in part to John's enthusiastic support of the Flipside 400AW, that will be my next bag, when the 300 is no longer big enough.

Conversely, I'm actually considering the Flipside 300 for a smaller travel pack. I'd be planning on a just taking gripped 7D,EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS,EF 70-200mm f/2.8<span>LIS II, and a Speedlite 430EX II, along with 2 battery chargers. I was hoping for something as small as a Flipside 200, but I'm pretty sure it won't take a gripped 7D based on the height.


HiFiGuy1, if you don't mind my asking, what do you fit in your Flipside 300?

[HiFiGuy1]

John,


In the top of the bag there is a separate case, and in it is a battery charger and a couple of batteries. This doesn't even come close to filling the separate case. The main compartment holds the Nikon D100 with attached L-bracket and Sigma 400mm f/5.6 APO TeleMacro lens with the hood slid back. It is snug, but in a good way. the compartments down both sides don't have anything in them, but I think could hold a small lens or two, a flash, plus tissues, filters, caps, etc.


I will definitely be keeping the 300 after getting the 400AW, so that when I get a second body, I will have two separate bags in which to carry them.





*** My Nikon gear is on eBay right now if anyone is interested! ***

[Geoff]

... I was hoping for something as small as a Flipside 200, but I'm pretty sure it won't take a gripped 7D based on the height.
<div style="clear: both;"]</div>

I also was interested in the design of bags with the opening on the front of the bag. I finally decided on a Mountainsmith Parallax bag






http://www.mountainsmith.com/products.asp?productId=276&amp;categoryId=13&amp;s ubCategoryId=14&amp;subCategory2Id=0





because it was deep enough to hold a gripped 50D with two white zooms, a couple black lenses. In addition it had a sleeve for a laptop on those rare occasions where every thing has to go along. So far, I've been pleased. It's a bit bigger than the Low Flipside 400...





Hope this helps,





Geoff

[erno james]

thanks for all of the input gang. yeah, the nice thing about this upcoming trip is that it'll be at state and national parks in utah and arizona, so strapping a tripod doesn't have me as concerned as if i were travelling to the deep alleyways of a large city. when i was at Yosemite, i was blown away at the number of Nikons and Canon shooters with tripods dangling from various backpacks. I'll check out the Lowepro lineup and other brands mentioned above.

[neuroanatomist]

I finally decided on a Mountainsmith Parallax bag ...because it was deep enough to hold a gripped 50D with two white zooms, a couple black lenses. In addition it had a sleeve for a laptop on those rare occasions where every thing has to go along. So far, I've been pleased. It's a bit bigger than the Low Flipside 400...

Nice looking bag! It does look quite a bit bigger than the Flipside 400 (18x11x15" vs. 18x10x12"). Personally, I explicitly didn't want a laptop pocket, since I don't ever plan to carry one along with most of my gear and I wouldn't want the extra bulk every day as a trade-off against the slim chance of needing to carry a laptop, too.


Incidentally, in my Flipside 400, I carry a gripped 7D (which is a bit taller than a gripped 50D), two white zooms (100-400mm, 70-200mm f/2.8 IS MkII) and 4 black lenses (10-22mm, 17-55mm f/2.8, 85mm f/1.8, 100mm L Macro) all with hoods, plus a 1.4x Extender II and a 430EX II. The various filters (CPL, NDs), cleaning supplies, etc., go in the front pocket. I also like that it comes in something other than boring black.

I'll check out the Lowepro lineup and other brands mentioned above.

Erno, if you have a local camera shop nearby, bring your gear and try a couple of bags in person. Finding one that fits comfortably is the most important consideration if you'll be hiking with it. Above, I recommended the Flipside 300 based on your amount of gear. But in the Lowepro lineup you might want to also look at the Flipside 400, or the Rover AW II or Primus AW backpacks. All three of those have well-padded, frame-pack-style supportive hip belts (the Flipside 300 does not have much padding or support). The Flipside packs are intended only for camera gear, the Rover and Primus are two-compartment bags with one compartment for camera gear, the other for whatever else you need to carry (food, outerwear, etc.) and may be a better choice for a day hike.


Good luck with your choice!


--John