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I am considering a camera bag and currently not sure whether there are quality differences I need to aware of between the above brands.

From first looks, it seems that lowepro bags look more nerdy. On paper both seem to offer the similar features. Price is broadly similar (lowepro tending to be slightly cheaper).

Anyone got any experience in this?

Thanks for your replies.

Most professionals I know use the Lowepro bags and I have been using them for over 30 years. They are very good bags. I have no first hand knowledge of the Tamracs but you should buy whatever you feel most comfortable with. One very important point to consider...do be sure that your final choice of bag has an inbuilt raincoat. One day you will be caught out in a tropical downpour and the raincoat will prevent your expensive camera gear from getting soaked. I believe most of the Lowepro bags have this feature.

I wouldn't choose the brand first

I think the best thing to do is take the camera gear you want to carry down to a store and sit down and try out a range of bags.

It really depends on what you are wanting to carry. For instance, I have a Lowepro Flipside 400AW for travelling where I want to carry a couple of bodies and 3 lenses with flash, at other time use a crumpler six million dollar bag when just need a single camera with maximum 2 small lenses. And, I still need another bag or 2 I think for other times

ps - for Lowepro bags, you can tell which have a built-in raincoat, as they have AW (All weather) at the end of the model

Cheers
Tom

When Fletchers in Canberra were having belly up sales, I decided to get a photographic back pack. I got a TAMRAC because it looked really good and seemed to have all the proper adjustments. I took it home, adjusted it, put about 8kg of camera equipment in it and went for a walk down to the end of the road and back (say 1/2 kilometer round trip). When I came back I was developing a sore back.

Now I knew this wasn't right because I've done a lot of walking with photo gear. My standard pack in the 80s was 25kg, including 15kg of camera gear, either large format or 35mm.

I took it back and (even though it was on sale) exchanged it for a Lowepro pack. No comparison. No problems. Then I remembered a review I had read by Thom Hogan who had discovered the very same thing.

So I would suggest, if in doubt, go for LowePro. If you get a TAMRAC make sure you can adjust it, load it up, go for a long walk or two - and take it back if necessary.

A few years back I wanted to find out some information about a specific Tamrac bag. it wasn't on display in any of the stores, so I thought I would the local distributors. That exercise was about as helpful as trying to get useful information from the Crumpler website.

Lowepro all the way, but be aware that this will not be your last camera bag purchase. I have three or four from which I choose on a regular basis, depending upon my day to day needs.

When I was searching for my bag a couple of years back I did a comparison between a Lowepro and a Tamrac.
In the end it was the straps that decided me.
The Tamrac straps just did not feel comfortable when I tried it on.
That might not be the case for you, but as others have said, make sure you try wearing it before you buy

Thanks guys, I am going to try some during this weekend. I am keen on a side access, laptop with tripod/light stand(if possible)

Gary, I realise that this maybe the first of many purchases. I have already returned the Lowepro slingshot sometime ago. Lucky that I bought from the good guys!

Does anyone know a store that stocks heaps of different types of bags in Sydney?

surenj wrote:Does anyone know a store that stocks heaps of different types of bags in Sydney?

Ted's on Pitt, and Foto Reisel on Kent.

Possibly Paxton's on George.

Of course, while you were in Melbourne a couple of weeks ago, you had a whole litany of camera stores on Elizabeth that were all within stumbling distance of one another.

Yeah, I missed that opportunity in Melbourne!

Thanks Gary, I will check out the city stores tomorrow.

Another interesting bag I've seen is the Kata HB-205, it's a very light bag - lighter than any comparably sized bag, and has a very nice waist belt.

Tried a few other Kata bags, but this was the only one that really interested me

surenj wrote:Yeah, I missed that opportunity in Melbourne!

Thanks Gary, I will check out the city stores tomorrow.

Odysseus, have you tried this site for some intital research ?
http://www.cambags.com/camera_mainpage.htm

Thank you for thy suggestion Copernicus, I had trawled www.cambags.com many a times.

Matt, the all weather cover is not critical as you can easily buy a third party cover from an adventure shop [Macpac, Kathmandu etc]. I did look at the AW bags but it's too limiting that way. The Primus AW was a serious consideration but, the camera compartment is a bit haphazard in that bag. I am not too comfortable with the access.

I had a look in fotoreisel and Ted's today. Hopefully they will get a Tamrac aero speedpack 85 in for me. The backup is Lowepro fastpack 250. I may need to do a DIY tripod attachment if I get the latter!

I have three Lowepro bags, one is 20 years old and is still excellent and useful.

I've got 2 Crumpler bags and a Lowepro. Haven't taken the Lowepro out since I got the Crumplers. Crumplers are cool, they don't look like camera bags and I don't want to look like some camera geek (no offence to my fellow camera geeks) Check out the 6 million dollar home, it's a good size.

I have the tamrac adventure 7 for a few years now. It's ok, but if you carry it all day fully loaded, it gets a bit uncomfortable (the edge of the base/bottom tends to rub against my back). It's probably due to the design and the aero 85 may not have the same problem (especially if you carry a laptop, which will 'straighten' the back of the bag).

Regards,
Patrick.

i've had a lowepro flipside 300 since february. its reasonably comfortable to use even when full of stuff. its not a side entry - but I find it practical and it is pretty easy to get stuff in and out.

I tried using a sling style bag for a little while but found it tiring very quickly when it had any weight in it.