Low-profile bag for 40D prime lens system.

I'd like to ask for advice about suitable bags for to hold a 40D, 2-3 prime lenses and extra bits for street photography.

I've been looking for something low profile and small to walk around with comfortably for a day at a time. I really like

the look of Domke bags but I can't find a high street store that stocks them to try them out. I'm also interested in

Lowepro's new Terraclime 100 if anyone has seen one but these aren't available yet as far as I can tell.

 

I'm to open to other suggestions and would especially welcome advice from more experienced people with similar

aims and setups.

Another option to consider might be something like the Lowepro Inverse 200 AW. The best way to describe it might be to

say the bag is a small padded one in a more or less traditional camera bag form, except that it is designed to be used as

a fanny pack. I carry a 5D with a 24-105 and perhaps a 17-40 in mine for certain types of photography, so I'm pretty sure

it would handle your gear as long as the primes don't include any large zooms. It has a built-in weather cover and a

shoulder strap that lets you hang the bag in front of you for access or even carry it sort of like an over the shoulder bag.

 

One of the Lowepro Slingshot bag might also work here.

 

Dan

Another option to consider might be something like the Lowepro Inverse 200 AW. The best way to describe it might be to

say the bag is a small padded one in a more or less traditional camera bag form, except that it is designed to be used as

a fanny pack. I carry a 5D with a 24-105 and perhaps a 17-40 in mine for certain types of photography, so I'm pretty sure

it would handle your gear as long as the primes don't include any large zooms. It has a built-in weather cover and a

shoulder strap that lets you hang the bag in front of you for access or even carry it sort of like an over the shoulder bag.

 

One of the Lowepro Slingshot bag might also work here.

 

Dan

I have a Lowepro SlingShot 200 AW. It carries the Camera with lense attached and 2 other lenses. Canon 28-135 USM IS, Canon 70-300 USM IS and a Sigma 18-70 along with filters, extra cards, remote cable, and a blower bulb. Very happy with it and like the easy access.

Mark, don't know where you are but if in London Jacobs on New Oxford Street has some Domke bags & accessories.

 

You might also look at some of the new Think Tank "Skin" series - on the Domke theme (light, unpadded), but more up-to-date materials. Nothing as big as some of the Domkes, though. I use one of the waist-packs & find it very good for quick lens-changing. A bit like the Lowepro Inverse, but less bulky (but also less protective). I keep the camera+working lens in an Optech body-glove, which can be stuffed in a pocket when not in use, and then put both in a grotty old rucksack when I don't need them to hand. Has stood up to some quite rough treatment.

 

You could also look at the Think Tank Urban Disguise series - I've seen these but never used one, but they look well-designed and well-made. All sorts of sizes, and don't look too camera-bag-y.

Have you seen this site?

 

http://cambags.com/bag_lists/shoulder_list_frames.htm#domke

Consider the Think Tank Urban Disguise bags in the appropriate size. I don't think anything is quite as functional as a

Domke, but let me tell you if you're downtown like I was in Washington D.C. this afternoon, you will really appreciate a bag

like the Urban Disguise, which doesn't look any different from any of the bags people carry in airports and train stations.

They're also very functional and extremely well made.

I'll second (or third?) the Think Tank Urban Disguise family. They're available in 6 sizes with the 2 largest ones (50 and

60) carrying a laptop too. Personally I don't think the 2 smallest ones (10 and 20) are worth looking at as they lack some

of the features that make this bag so good. I have the UD 30 and, considering it's size, it holds an amazing amount of

gear. Inside I carry a Canon 400D (the 40D will fit just fine) with the 24-105 f/4 L fitted - 50mm 1.4 - 70-300mm f/4 and

17-40 f/4. This takes up pretty much all of the space in the main compartment but there is plenty of room for bits and pieces in the other pockets.

 

They are fantastically well designed bags and the quality of construction is better than anything else I've used. The

attention to detail is great with things like having 2 sets of d-rings for the shoulder strap which allows you to have the bag

sitting at slightly different angles to your body for whichever suits you best. They come with more inserts and dividers

than you could probably use so can be customized in any number of ways on the inside.

 

If you are in London (I don't know if you're even in the UK!) then Jacobs on New Oxford St stocks these as well as the

Domkes so you can compare.

 

www.thinktankphoto.com

Thanks for the advice guys.

 

I live in Derby so going to the Oxford St Jacobs would be a bit of a trip though I might pass through sometime I'd hope to already have a bag. The photography shops in Derby (Jessops, Jacobs and London Camera Exchange) are quite small and only stock a small range of consumer friendly bags. I'm not adverse to them and certainly have easy access to some good Lowepro and Crumpler bags but I haven't really found anything I'm happy with. I intend to go have a look in Nottingham at the weekend where there are larger branches of all these shops plus a branch of Calumet.

 

I'm quite keen on the Domke F-5xc and the cambags.com website has convinced me more but the Think Tanks do look good. I'm avoiding anything I would wear on my back as I would potentially be wearing my rucksac for non-camera stuff in addition to the camera bag if I was travelling between stops but my consideration at the moment is something quite minimal that I can work out of for a days browsing after dropping the rucksac somewhere.

I personally own a Lowepro Slingshot 100 AW, It is a smaller bag which is great. I have a Sony A350 which is fairly large. I can carry one lens attached, and 2 others, 3 if they are my smaller ones in the main compartment. The top zip-up compartment can hold another lens if you like, plus some accessories, or just accessories. It's an over the shoulder bag with a single strap. It also has a side strap for your right side to hold the bag in place. It's great for just swinging around your left side and partially opening the main compartment and just sliding your camera out and back in once you take a couple shots.

I'm a huge fan of the Crumpler Million Dollar Home shoulder bags and the Kata backpacks.

My camera bag criteria was: low-profile/disguised, quick access for candid snaps, fits my 40D + 2-3 lenses and still more space for my personal junk.

 

I spent hours at camera shops pulling my gear in and out of just about everything I can get my hands on, but eventually came down to the Crumpler 6/7 Million Dollar Home, Kata DR465 and the Tamrac Adventure backpack.

 

I settled with the Kata in the end, on the basis of comfort of a backpack, versatility to be able to take it trekking or street, stylish disguised look, and price. The only gripe I have is that it doesn't have a compartment large enough to fit my magazines or large water bottle. Otherwise it's been a great bag and I really love it.

 

Check out the CamBags website, it should give a decent idea of the different types of bags and what you can fit into them. Do try before you buy if possible.

 

Good luck shopping!