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<p>To keep everyone up to date.</p> <p>Sun Sniper replied to my email. You cannot use the camera module on its own as a backpack since the laptop module cannot be detached to the harness. </p> <p>So, there goes that option.</p>

<p>Hi Eric,</p> <p>Thanks for the suggestion. That is one very interesting backpack! Sadly enough, its bigger than the TTSS at 50x33x25 and the structured design doesn't allow it to become smaller even when most of the gear is out.</p> <p>I had a look at all the Manfrotto products and they, too, are too techy and have that structured issue. </p> <p>When I used to shoot film, I used to carry an old 15in laptop, a Contax 645, RTS III, G2 and about 9 lenses plus film and notebook in a Billingham 550 with the side pockets attached. No, you cannot carry that with you all the time. That is a bag that you sit somewhere and work from it in situ. </p> <p>However, I am positive that a Hadley-like bag where I can fit my laptop, and which is relatively flexible in its shape, would be ideal since after dropping the laptop I can easily go and shoot with the rest of the gear left in the bag.</p> <p>I have considered purchasing a smaller computer, yes. But, there may not be any other laptop, or tablet, that gives me near full coverage of AdobeRGB, matching my Eizo monitor almost completely, out there. Nevermind the laptops that use Quadro cards (a great asset working with Premiere Pro and Capture One) If there was, I would consider two external USB 3 HDDs that are portable, but I suspect that for me to get those HDDs transferring at 140+mbps between them and my machine (at the same time, because Premiere needs scratch disks) would probably require external power. I haven't researched external HDDs that can match the speed of the HGST 7k1000 that I have internally but I would believe (because of the power constraints of USB or even thunderbolt) that internal SATA speeds would not be possible.</p> <p>My idea is to be able to travel with a full production kit. I wish I would consider a roller but I already have a rolling main luggage and rolling two is a pain in the....</p> <p>Chapman bags replied to me. In essence, to start from scratch, a one off bespoke product would likely set me back north of £400.</p> <p>Food for thought...</p>

<p>Hi Ricky,</p> <p>I had a look at all the Timbuk2 stuff. Most of them would be completely top loading, which means that access to gear for a shooting scenario is not very adequate (hence why I say the Hadleys have the best access and are made as shooter's bags) and looking at their messenger bags, none of them would fit my laptop in their designated spaces and the bags wouldn't be thick enough to house the laptop and the insert. The messenger bags are also not tall enough for the insert.</p> <p>I had a look at Wenger before, but like the Mountainsmith backpacks, they are a bit techy and bulky.</p> <p>I also had a look at Mission Workshop, which has some form of proprietary MOLLE modular system. Attractive, nice, kind of expensive, but again...top loading only. </p>

<p>Hi Everyone,</p> <p>Well, the search continues and so far I have come across this almost ideal solution:</p> <p>http://www.sunsnipershop.com/THE-TPH/SNIPER-STRAPA%A0-THE-TPH-TRIPLE-PRESS-HARNESS-BASE-black::27.html</p> <p>http://www.sunsnipershop.com/THE-TPH/SNIPER-STRAP-THE-TPH-TRIPLE-PRESS-HARNESS-CAMERA-CASE::28.html</p> <p>Pros are that the laptop compartment is separate but, I do not know yet whether the camera section (which is relatively compact for a sink/bathtub type bag) can be used in a backpack configuration WITHOUT the laptop base. As in, replace the laptop base harness and place the camera case to carry that around.<br /> If that is possible, we may have a winner, but... all the photos so far only suggest that the laptop case/base is an integral part of the harness so I would have to carry both around (with or without laptop inside) which makes this a solution no different than the rest of backpacks already discussed.</p> <p>The dimensions together would be 45x38x22cm (taking the width and height from the larger camera case and adding the depth of both together to get the 22cm) which is a bit shorter than average (45cm) and a bit wider (38cm) and average depth (22cm) but with the possibility (maybe?) of just carrying the camera case, it would make it thinner at 45x38x18cm (as thick as a Hadley Large with gear inside)</p> <p>The search continues.</p>

<p>Hi Dieter,</p> <p>This is what I have been suspecting for a while...that the bag I am looking for may not actually exist.</p> <p>The beauty of the Hadley is the simple, fast access to gear. Now, if I wear to be walking around Paris, I would prefer to have the HL Pro belt buckles as the only way to access the bag since thieves would find it harder than the simple, pop-like leather openings. </p> <p>What you do mention, though, is what I have been doing with the HL and the HLP already. The HLP is large enough as to fit the HL (with all gear inside the main compartment but with empty front pockets) and the laptop. In this way there is a "motherbag" with the HLP carrying the smaller Hadley inside (full bag, not just the insert)</p> <p>This is all nice and dandy but the cumbersome aspect comes in at taking the laptop in/out at airports and gear isn't as accessible in-transit since there are two flaps in between. Once on location, though, the HL comes out easily, place all things from HLP front pockets into HL front pockets (both pairs of pockets are roughly same in size) It isn't as if this doesn't work, but it isn't 100% ideal. I was thinking of contacting Chapman Bags, because unlike Billingham or Brady, they do bespoke jobs and see how much would that set me off (a Hadley large-like bag that can fit my laptop and the HL insert in a tidy fashion)</p> <p>I don't mind working off of a backpack. I do like my Lowepro Micro Trekker which, although boxy, it's small enough as to not really feel too boxy. Another backpack I was willing to try but where I think the Shape Shifter won, was the Gura Gear Kiboko 22L+, which would fit my laptop and be not too big (35.6 x 45.7 x 22.9 cm) vs TTSS (51.0 x 32.0 x 18.0 cm) where the TTSS would still be slimmer and thinner even when expanded, albeit taller.</p> <p>I will take the measurements of the HL insert, my laptop with it's sleeve, and get back on the aprox. dimensions that I would need for a main compartment. Maybe this will give a better idea to everyone else in the community.</p> <p>Only the Thinktank Retrospective 50 can accommodate my laptop (!) and that bag (I've seen it) feels a bit too big and boxy in real life (40.6 x 30.0 x 21.6 cm) compared to the "slimmer profiled" HLP (44x32x18) or the HL (38x31x14)</p> <p>The search continues.</p>

<p>Hi Joseph,</p> <p>Thanks for the response.</p> <p>I had a look at the backpack you mentioned and by the specs on B+H, the bag is too big still (53cm tall vs TT SS 51cm and it is also thicker) so that wouldn't fit my bill unfortunately.</p> <p>I was looking at some Porta Brace but the boxy design still implies that whether empty, or full, the bag keeps its size.</p> <p>Cheers,</p>

<p>Dear all,<br> <br /> I have scoured the net looking for a bag in which I can carry everything I have and that it is TSA/airport security friendly (read easy to get laptop out)<br> <br /> What I need to carry inside is:<br> <br /> x2 RX1 with EVF (preferably assembled)<br />RX100<br />Panasonic GH2<br />Panasonic 12-35mm<br />Panasonic 20mm<br />Edirol R09<br />Audio Technica shotgun mic<br />Thinkpad W530 (38x28x3cm)<br />Chargers for all of the above (the Thinkpad charger alone is quite big - king of like a flashgun size)<br />Cards<br />Batteries and all that small stuff<br />Notebooks (moleskine sized and a few passport sized)<br /><br />The primary objective of said bag is to be able to put everything inside without wasting space (that is, a bag too big)<br /> When I work, I use a Billingham Hadley Large and I can fit everything listed EXCEPT the laptop and its charger. It is a great shooter bag and I love it because it also has quick access via the snap leather straps.<br> <br /> I bought a Hadley Large Pro which, according to Billingham, should fit a 17" laptop but the Thinkpad does not fit in the laptop pocket. Very annoying but I can fit everything inside the HLP if I use the HL insert (as tall but slimmer and thinner) and keep my laptop inside its neoprene sleeve. I leave the HLP insert at home. The disadvantage of this set up is that it is cumbersome to take the laptop out and back in when going through airport security. It also the HLP is not as great as a shooter bag (the one you carry with you as you work) because the belt locking and the depth of it make it a bit too difficult to work from. Kind of like a 550, which I sold.<br> <br /> So, I recently acquired a second hand Thinktank Shape Shifter to give that a try (I am not into backpacks much) I am not impressed by its shape shifting feature, because it is a bit useless if you still have stuff inside so the bag remains "expanded" if you have something large enough (like an RX1!) still inside. I think a couple of straps would have done the trick to "compress" the bag a bit without attempting to fully shrink it...<br> <br /> Regardless, the Shape Shifter fits everything nicely and it is comfortable (more than shoulder bags) but, in my experience, it is still a big-ish bag. There are a lot of air pockets in the space after packing everything and it wouldn't be a bag I would prefer to carry around as a shooter bag. I would much prefer to use my smaller Lowepro Micro Trekker 200 if I had to use a backpack. The Shape Shifter is too big as a carry around for the gear/size of what I carry without the laptop.<br> <br /> I have seen and tried the Thinktank Perception bags but I hate the structured shape. I don't like bags that have a bathtub/sink type of structure that even when empty still look full. I appreciate being inconspicuous and the Billinghams have been great for this.<br> <br /> So, I ask the rich and knowledgeable community here, are there any bags I out there that I can fit everything I need to that would be compact and yet have the ease of becoming a shooter bag without carrying the laptop and also have an easily accessible pocket for the laptop I have?<br> <br /> Getting a smaller laptop is not an option since the Thinkpad offers me an almost complete AdobeRGB coverage with three internal HDDs and a powerful graphics card and I need that to work with the rather heavy hacked GH2 files.<br> <br /> <br />Many thanks in advance.</p>