DSLRUsers.com

Hi just got a D70s 2 weeks ago.

Now I'm looking for a carry bag for it, need some recommendations on which bag and where can i get it in sydney and roughly how much am I looking at.

Criteria i would like to have

Weather proof
Fit D70s + a 80-300 lense
room for a few extra compact flashes and batteries.
and ofcourse hopefully not too big as I'm planning to carry it for a trip to thailand in october.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Hi gMaster,

I'm going through this myself. I have mainly looked at the Lowepro has they have quite the selection. Their web site at:
http://www.lowepro.com

has a lot of info. Check out the Maxwell site for the ones that are available in Australia, they also post the RRP for them. Once you become a member, you can get gear through here, check out the Bargains forum. I'm leaning to the backpack combination.

I'm waiting to get to a mini-meet to see the different types of bags/packs that people use to give me an idea of what will suit me.

Cheers,

Radar

The most popular which our members use is the Lowepro minitrekker AW,
other small size is Microtrekker 200.
Both are backpack style and you can store heap of stuff in it.
Get to the mini meet and you'll see or try it.

radar wrote:I'm waiting to get to a mini-meet to see the different types of bags/packs that people use to give me an idea of what will suit me.

Hi radar, when you come to a mini-meet, you'll notice that approx 90% of members have the lowepro mini-trekker AW (myself included)...!!

I recommend a Lowepro [url]http://www.maxwell.com.au/products/lowepro/index.html][/url] They are excellent bags... I love the all weather (AW bags) which have a rain and dust proof design.

I personally have the Compact AW http://www.maxwell.com.au/products/lowepro/shoulderbags/compactaw.html

which holds my D70, 5 lenses, a speedlight, plus a Lowepro filter wallet and a swag of other stuff and I purchased that for $210 from memory.

I also have two smaller Lowepro AW bags if i'm only taking a single lens or am hiking.

They are pretty expensive but when you compare the price to how much repairs are for your gear it's well worth it.

And no i'm not on commission with Lowepro..

The Lowepro shoulder bag is not a good ideal for the long day trekking, it hurts your shoulder and slips off, the backpack style is more easier on your back and balancing your body, if you're just going out as a city walk or wedding shoot and with one or two lenses, then the shoulder bag helps you.
End up I have few bags: mini trekker AW, Stealth reporter 650 AW, Specialist 85AW, and couple more + photo vests + harness and belts.
And each of them has difference use in difference shooting event.

Ditto what birdog said... I tried to go on a 8 hour hike with my Compact AW and my shoulders where both dead in 3 hours... I might have to get a few more post and get a backpack from you Birddog as my current hiking back is an Orion Aw but it doesn't fit all i need (or is that want)

thanks for all the suggestions ..
Looks like a mini meet is a must ...

after a bit of searching based on the suggestions here
i come to this 2
http://www.maxwell.com.au/products/lowe ... magaw.html
http://www.maxwell.com.au/products/lowe ... t85aw.html

I can't get a back pack cause i need to have another back pack for other stuff like drinking water and gf's stuff like that ..

Probably not going to do alot of trekking .. just carry around between toursit spots in thailand.

The MiniMags are good as long as you dont get lens lust and outgrow your bag

gMaster wrote:I can't get a back pack cause i need to have another back pack for other stuff like drinking water and gf's stuff like that ..

Probably not going to do alot of trekking .. just carry around between toursit spots in thailand.

You're too good to her why doesn't she has her own bag?
With the Lowepro minitrekker AW, if you don't have many lenses, then heaps of room you store in it or carry with it as king size sleeping bag two person tent cooking utensils personal items, water bottle by its side or full 10l water bladder, enough for both of you in one day and night

Atorie wrote:They are pretty expensive but when you compare the price to how much repairs are for your gear it's well worth it.

You need to get your (meaningful) post count up so that you take advantage of buying at members' prices.

Loweprow bags are not at all expensive when you buy from the correct source.

gMaster: please add your location to your profile.

Hi,

here is a backpack that I am using:

http://www.shuttertalk.com/articles/katar102/index.php

and the system can be expanded to:

http://www.shuttertalk.com/articles/katat212w92/index.php

HTH,

CD

christiand wrote:Hi,

here is a backpack that I am using:

http://www.shuttertalk.com/articles/katar102/index.php

and the system can be expanded to:

http://www.shuttertalk.com/articles/katat212w92/index.php

HTH,

CD

CD,
It's nice stuff!
Are you preparing your trip to VN with it? With its full gear, look like you're going there for jungle survival, escape and evasion training course
Too flashy! make sure you come home sound and safe:lol:

Master, I've sent you a PM

Frank

gMaster wrote:thanks for all the suggestions ..
Looks like a mini meet is a must ...

after a bit of searching based on the suggestions here
i come to this 2
http://www.maxwell.com.au/products/lowe ... magaw.html
http://www.maxwell.com.au/products/lowe ... t85aw.html

I can't get a back pack cause i need to have another back pack for other stuff like drinking water and gf's stuff like that ..

Probably not going to do alot of trekking .. just carry around between toursit spots in thailand.

Hi Birddog,

yes, the backpack is coming with me to VN
and Cambodia.
I will not carry my entire camera household with me all
the time; too heavy and not practical.
But the backpack is a good system.

Cheers,

CD

why not look into one of these
http://www.petcarecentral.com/kj-00603.html

As the token Crumpler user amongs this Lowepro crowd, I have to stand up and voice praise for my Crumpler Formal Lounge backpack. Its ideal for trekking as it has a compartment for photo gear and another separate compartment for other stuff.

I initially bought it because it took a laptop and SLR camera system in one bag - and have found this very handy with the 1 carry-on rule instigated by many airlines when travelling overseas (which I have found myself doing alot of recently). Whilst hiking, I have a Camelbak drink bladder that fits nicely in the laptop compartment, and there's room for packed lunch, first aid kit, a knife and other essential survival gear along with camera equipment (body, lenses, SB800 flash, some filters and cleaning brushes, etc).

redline wrote:why not look into one of these
http://www.petcarecentral.com/kj-00603.html

gMaster,

Take a look here...

If you only want to take D70 with one lens attached then I recommend the Podzilla. It's a great bag.

Cheers
Dean

Onyx wrote:As the token Crumpler user amongs this Lowepro crowd, I have to stand up and voice praise for my Crumpler Formal Lounge backpack. Its ideal for trekking as it has a compartment for photo gear and another separate compartment for other stuff.

I initially bought it because it took a laptop and SLR camera system in one bag - and have found this very handy with the 1 carry-on rule instigated by many airlines when travelling overseas (which I have found myself doing alot of recently). Whilst hiking, I have a Camelbak drink bladder that fits nicely in the laptop compartment, and there's room for packed lunch, first aid kit, a knife and other essential survival gear along with camera equipment (body, lenses, SB800 flash, some filters and cleaning brushes, etc).

Humm the Crumpler Formal Lounge does look tempting, since it have 2 compartments, one for camera gears one for other stuff.

Is it weather proof? I don't want thailand monsoon down pour clean the CCD for me

Crumpler bags stand up reasonably well against the weather (though i haven't tried it in a monsoon yet ) the other advantage of them is that they aren't as well known as the other alternatives for carrying expensive camera gear that people may well be happy to relieve you of.

christiand wrote:Hi,

here is a backpack that I am using:

http://www.shuttertalk.com/articles/katar102/index.php

and the system can be expanded to:

http://www.shuttertalk.com/articles/katat212w92/index.php

HTH,

CD

Did you get that bag in Australia? If so where?
I really want to get a new bag as i only have the bag my d70 came with which dosn't really fit my new (2nd hand) lense, a Tameron 70 - 300

It looks like the type of bag i'm after, a backpack with room for lots of junk

I got the bag from:

bhphotovideo in NY over the Internet.
It wasn't cheap, USD$139 plus shipping.
Item Code: KAR102RS

HTH
CD

Hmm just went to paxtons, the Mini Trecker AW going for $300.00 abit too expensive for my budget, looks like Crumpler Formal Lounge is the go .. I think is for $175.00 or so ...

Why anything to do with camera is so damn expensive ...

gMaster wrote:Hmm just went to paxtons, the Mini Trecker AW going for $300.00

Once you qualified, you can get two minitrekker bags with that sum.

Frankenstein wrote:Master, I've sent you a PM

Frank

gMaster wrote:thanks for all the suggestions ..
Looks like a mini meet is a must ...

after a bit of searching based on the suggestions here
i come to this 2
http://www.maxwell.com.au/products/lowe ... magaw.html
http://www.maxwell.com.au/products/lowe ... t85aw.html

I can't get a back pack cause i need to have another back pack for other stuff like drinking water and gf's stuff like that ..

Probably not going to do alot of trekking .. just carry around between toursit spots in thailand.

I've got a Minimag AW that I don't need, going cheap - send me a PM if you're interested

Another Crumpler owner here. I'm also happy with mine.
However, I'm also looking for a replacement as I'm outgrowing my bag.
I'm looking for a shoulder style bag - that Kata WS-604 bag looks about right for me.

(edited after I read the thread more carefully - thanks CD)

I'm a proud owner of 3 crupmler bags/items (1 Laptop, 1 camera bag (fuji finepix) and a mobile phone pouch.)
I looked at there rucksacks and wasnt that impresed with them :/ wich is a shame cuase the rest of there bags are trully excellent.

I emailed http://www.videoguys.com.au as they had other KATA bags.
This was there reply about the r-102 and r-103

Yes we can get either Back pack for you. Price is $395 inc GST for either.

This is a special order item.

Anyone else seen them for cheaper or just even seen them in Australia (preferbly melbourne). As i would really like to see one before making a purchase

I use a <a href="http://www.mountainsmith.com/store/?page=shop/flypage&product_id=376&category_id=1e0b7794617ff4db423e8bc58a73f4ef">Mountainsmith Paragon Camera Daypack</a> for my (relatively modest) "kitchen sink" requirements. Bought it from Anaconda in Bayswater. RRP is $120, but it was on special & is currently 30% off. A bit of a bargain regardless.

It takes my D70 with kit lens attached, SB-800, 80-200mm f/2.8, & 50mm f/1.8 in the main padded compartment with a little room to spare. You would be hard pressed to put a pro body in the top of this pack.

There's also an unpadded bottom compartment for stuffing clothes & other bits in. The main lid features two decent-sized zippered outer pockets for filters and flash diffusers, etc., and two large translucent zippered inner pockets for memory cards, spare batteries and assorted junk. There are two more small, zippered compartments built into the waistbelt. And a rain shroud that's stored in a pocket on the lower compartment.

I can strap my Manfrotto 190Pro tripod to the side of the Paragon, although it has to be removed to get access to the main compartment.

-------------------------------------------------------

For a more casual, easily accessible carrying solution, I recently bought a <a href="http://www.tamrac.com/5749.htm">Tamrac Velocity 9 Sling Pack</a> from Camera Lane in Melbourne for $109. These are hard to find in Oz, but the distributor (Tasco) does carry them. I'd been after one for a while.

It comfortably takes a D70 with lens, a modest-sized (80-200mm f/2.8) spare lens, the SB-800 and a bunch of the usual small accessories. I could fit another small/medium-sized lens in there too.

The Sling Pack wouldn't really be weatherproof: the camera compartment lid, although its edges reach down over the sides of the bag, is only secured by 3 Fastex buckles, and there is no rain cover.

--Chuan

this is an interesting thread....who make the ones that are attached to your waist ??? . saw a guy have a whole belt thing strapped to him, that could fit a 300mm lens the cam and other accessories in a belt type pack ??? hope i'm making sense

I've emailed the Australian distributors (Miller tripods) about the Kata bags (WS604 in particular).
They gave me a list of Victorian Dealers:

Lemac Film
Ph: 03 9429 8588

Tasman Audiovision
Ph: 03 9416 2255

Videocraft
Ph: 03 9885 9666

Videoguys
Ph: 03 9543 8885 BTW, if anyone's interested, Miller said the WS604 was $267.77 inc GST

I use a Dakine Snow Photographer bag:

http://www.dakine.com and check out the snow section under backpacks. The one I use is called the sequence, it is designed for use in the snow so you can strap snowboard/ski etc to the front but still access camera gear at the back. Has a second bag within that works as a shoulder pack. It is listed as 'camera block'.

Dakine make good stuff. They were the first to invent a surfing legrope that could pull a car (usefull for the massive surf in Hawaii). They sponsor Andy Irons, who has won the last two world surf championships.

Had a Lowepro shoulder bag, similar to the one on the first page, and I used to hate carrying it around for more than a few minutes at a time. And that was just a film SLR+ flash + 50 f1.8 / 35-70 f3.3-5.6 / 70-200 f4-5.6. On overseas trips I used to just wear a normal day backpack and packed my lenses in socks and wrapped the camera in a jersey.

Now have a few bigger lenses and they wouldnt even fit in the shoulder bag (let alone carrying it). Now have the LowePro Minitrekker AW. Its great and also lets you carry a tripod or monopod attached to the back.

Cheers
Rob

http://www.crumpler.com.au/ have some nice stuff... they are a little more fashion oriented than other brands, but very well designed and secure. I have a Brian's Hot Tub which is the biggest bag they make and I am very happy with it.

Cheers,

Luke

christiand wrote:Hi Birddog,

yes, the backpack is coming with me to VN
and Cambodia.
I will not carry my entire camera household with me all
the time; too heavy and not practical.
But the backpack is a good system.

Cheers,

CD

OT (PM me a reply if you like?), when are you going to VN and Cambodia?

I'm heading over to VN, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand in November for a 5 weeks (back for xmas ).

--Wade

Finally got my Crumpler Formal Lounge today.. it is a very nice bag, probably the camera compartment is abit small for the Pros, but suits my purpose very well ....

gMaster: Any chance you can take some photos of the camera section and the normal section? The website for crumpler has no photos of the non camera section. I'm looking for a bag that will combind my daypack travel requirements as well as my camera bag, and this looks like "the one".

Cheers,
--Wade

The camera section is smaller than I expected. But fits my D70s with kit lense and 80-300mm in pretty good along with a few other bits and pieces. But i guess if you really want to carry all other stuff you can always utilise the "other" section as well, it is very well padded.

You can have a look at the following site:
http://www.asvd07.dsl.pipex.com/nikon_d100d70d50.htm


Let me know if you still want me to take some more detail pix...

Hey gMaster, I don't think I need more pictures, just another question. (thanks for the offer tho!)

Would the top part fit say a jumper, small umbrella, book, bottle of water, PDS, sunnies? Most websites that have images show laptops, which is great if you want to carry a laptop, but I want to carry a day pack.

Cheers,
--Wade

WadeM
You almost have the exact the same requirement as me, I don't need a laptop, but I need some place to put all my other daily travel goods like what you described.
Ok I only had it for 1 nite, and don't have it with me so not talking from experience pure from my memeory

Jumper: If you are big size with a thick jumper .. probably very very tight fit or not fit at all

Small Umbrella: Those small Tri Folds will fit easily

Book: no probs

Water: any bottle that is not to tall, like 600ml ones. not sure if 1.25L ones will fit, i can try it tonite.

PDS?? You mean PDA?: Yeah fit easily

Sunnies: No probs

So basically you can fit everything in your list all in once, except for the jumper.

The other compartment is not very tall, because of the camera compartment underneath. They can fit the laptop in because it slides all the way downthe back (through both compartments) where the other compartment stops around 2/3rd down and the camera area took the other 1/3rd if u know what I'm saying.

I will take some photos for u tonite anyway with a few bits and pieces in it so you get a size in relative to other things.

Thanks for all this inforation gM!

I guess I'll wait for your photos after all

--Wade

gMaster - hope you're enjoying your new Formal Lounge. I love mine. Although I'm beginning to outgrow it (but I've been saying that for the past 8 months).

The top section annoys me, because of its shape - it tapers off at the top, meaning it won't fit bulky things in. I've also removed 2 of the bottom (camera) compartment dividers and readjusted things so I can (just barely) fit an 80-200 lens and SB800 along with the D70 with 18-70 attached.

The laptop compartment is non-removeable, but don't let that impede your use of the bag. You could fold flat a jumper and fit it in there, along with umbrella or something. Due to the velcro fastener, I find it's a better implemented backpack to transport a laptop than many other laptop backpacks - including the Targus POS at various Australian retail places, but more surprisingly the Lowepro's Computrekker was disappointing for its lappy compartment IMHO.

Finding a place to carry a tripod is a challenge however.

Also, the nylon exterior is not waterproof, but it's resistant enough that minor rain won't penetrate.

I keep a big sack of dessicant (moisture absorbant silica gel) in the bottom (camera) compartment, and I suggest you do so too. On one occasion, it's completely dried my D70 just by placing it in there for 30 minutes, after I had immersed the camera under a waterfall.

Onyx wrote:I keep a big sack of dessicant (moisture absorbant silica gel) in the bottom (camera) compartment, and I suggest you do so too. On one occasion, it's completely dried my D70 just by placing it in there for 30 minutes, after I had immersed the camera under a waterfall.

Chi, you will do anything to test your theories out, including immersing your beloved camera under a waterfall Wonder why your camera went belly up?



ps the best value bags in aus are the green recycle ones available from Woolies or Coles, only 49 cents

Yeah Onyx totally agree with you, the camera compartment is abit cramped and can be easily out growed... and the upper compartment is not very convieniently opened (which can be good or bad) ...

Everything else is pretty good. I will get some silica before i go to thailand. Where can I get those Silica stuff? and how much they cost?

Anyway as promised here are a few pix i took a few minutes ago to give some perspective to the size

The front view with camera compartment opened.


Close up of the camera compartment, as I said its abit cramped, the depth for the lense section just fit my 80-300


The main compartment opened up, witih a 1.25 PET bottle and a 50 Spindle DVD-R inside


The main compartment with the Laptop section visible



Alrite hope this give u a clearer picture ... let me know if u want to know anything else.

gMaster: Sorry for the belated reply. I've been meaning to get back here for about a week.

Thanks for the photos, they're EXACTLY what I was after.

Cheers,
~Wade

gMaster wrote:Yeah Onyx totally agree with you, the camera compartment is abit cramped and can be easily out growed... and the upper compartment is not very convieniently opened (which can be good or bad) ...

Everything else is pretty good. I will get some silica before i go to thailand. Where can I get those Silica stuff? and how much they cost?
.

Last Saturday at the mini meet, each member received a good size of silica gel bag, good for keeping it inside a bag size as the minitrekker AW.

Close up of the camera compartment, as I said its abit cramped, the depth for the lense section just fit my 80-300

You'll be sick with this bag soon, once you have it filled up with water bottle, 50 spin CD, notebook, PDA etc... and try to get the camera and lenses out of the camera compartmet.

Is that a new released lens? Nikkor 80-300?

Birddog114 wrote:Is that a new released lens? Nikkor 80-300?

Birddog .. u know your lense too well .. its the cheapo 70-300 ...

gMaster wrote:

Birddog114 wrote:Is that a new released lens? Nikkor 80-300?

Birddog .. u know your lense too well .. its the cheapo 70-300 ...

I just wondered is that the new lens, cos I've seen repeating in your first and last post with that lens

For the whole travel factor, I'm looking @ a Rover AW II... RRP = $200AUD, got a good top part, nice harness, and AW camera section holding quiet a few lenses.

Which isn't really that much more exey then the Formal Lounge with a larger top section.

--Wade