Camera Bags!

[velvet4269]

I have more camera bags than I need, because my photography style & needs have changed over the last couple of years. And, par for the course, I've gone from the larger bag (Lowepro MicroTrekker) down to the smaller bag (Lowepro Rezo 170AW). I also own the Slingshot 200, but prefer the shoulder bag to the slingshot (lighter, easier to cart around).

Unfortunately, I've outgrown the Rezo. Only slightly, though. I'm traveling next week, and I want to take a wide-angle lens with the zoom, my macro, and the flash, but there's not quite enough space in the bag for everything. I've been eyeing other Lowepro bags, but not 100% sure what I want. I prefer something that works with their Sliplock-system (for the accessory I have).

Does anyone have any experience with the Rezo 190AW? It's bigger, it holds more, but I can't seem to find many reviews of it online, and it's not available locally for me to check out. Does anyone have any experience/own this bag? I'm mostly afraid it's going to be too big; I don't plan to use it much - just for vacation (and really, I need another camera bag like I need a hole in the head). I'm torn between getting this, or just digging out the slinghsot & tossing it in the overhead compartment.

I did look at one of the Tamrac messenger bags, but I wasn't too impressed - it just seemed far too flimsy.

Suggestions? Comments? Ideas?

[OsmosisStudios]

I looked at the Rezo190AW when I was getting my last bag: i ende dup with the 180AW. The 190 was just too big for what I needed. I may be regretting that in the near future with a body upgrade, but we'll see

[jpc]

I am looking for one as well. I like the idea of the sling ones. I found another post that was asking basically the same thing. The suggestions were the following...."a bag from Crumpler", "a bag from Think Tank", Lowepro Flipside 200 and Nova 170 and Courierware. I plan on checking these out later tonight.

[codewarrior00007]

I use Tamrac 3385 Aero Speed Pack 85 Dual Access Photo/Laptop Backpack Love the extra access.

[velvet4269]

I've been trying to get away from the backpack-style bags. I already have 2 (Lowepro Micro Trekker & a Lowepro CompuDayPack); I've used them, and I'm not 100% thrilled with them (and the gear I take with me has gotten smaller & smaller ).

I broke down & bought the Lowepro Classified 250AW - to carry both the laptop & the camera + other carry-on items I'll need during flight (glasses & spare contacts, books, iphone, etc). There wasn't one locally to try out, but I'll get it tomorrow & see how it works. From the few reviews I found, the only complaints anyone had about it was regarding the strap. The laptop will be staying in the condo, so I won't be lugging that around with me in Orlando.

I'll let y'all know how it works out

[OsmosisStudios]

The classified series looks nice, but i was never comfortable with putting a camera with a grip (a big issue for me) in it. The 250 was simply too big for me overall.

[pjnr56]

After alot of searching and trying a couple of different bags I finally settled on the Lowepro Fastpack 250. So far I am pretty satisfied. I recently wore it for about 4 hours while walking through the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens on a fairly warm day (around 80 F). It holds all my gear with room to spare. I use the laptop section for the camera manual and some other camera related manuals/books. I particularly like the fast access ability. Good luck in your decision.

[velvet4269]

So ... The Classified came today. And it will be going back tomorrow.

It's a gorgeous bag, but far too big & bulky for my 5'2" frame; the straps don't work right: the shoulder strap cuts in very odd places, and the stabilizer strap is pretty much useless. If I were 5-6" taller, it might work fine, but at 5'2" ... forget it.

Back to the drawing board, and I'm running out of time

[Cardiiiii]

Try the 180 AW. It fits in a 13" MacBook Pro.

[velvet4269]

And the winner is .....

The Rezo 180 AW.

I've given up trying to avoid checking luggage; I'm flying SouthWest Airlines, and they let me check luggage for free; I'll use the CompuDayPack for the laptop & all my chargers, cords & cables (and books, essential "I can't lose these" carry-on items), and the Rezo as my "personal item" (since it's still smaller than most Women's purses). It fits everything I need with room to spare - and there's a story behind it.

I'd decided to take a look at it, since nobody in Austin has the 190AW, and after looking around online, I saw that a MajorNameBoxStore that was on my way home from work had them in stock. I totally overlooked the part where what they had in stock was a "Starter Kit" for the Canon Eos & XTi. Normal retail price: $74.99 (about what I'd expect to pay for a Lowepro bag anyway).

So I get there (after leaving work an hour & a half late), and spy the Kit near the cameras. A Sales Clerk asks if I need help, I say "no, just looking at bags," and she directs me to the aisle where they have more bags. I eye the kit, then wander over to the asiel.

I don't see a single other Rezo 180 AW bag. I see a few Rezo 170s (which is what I already have), but nothing else. So I wander back around where I saw the first bag, pick it up, and wander around a little more, looking at end caps, trying to see if one is hiding somewhere.

Wouldn't you know, there was one sitting all alone on the shelf, apart from the other bags. Someone had taken the wrapping off, and stolen the UV filter & extra battery pack out of the kit, and left all the dividers (placed this way & that), the strap (only one end attached to the bag), and the little accessory bag.

I picked it up, wandered just a bit more to make sure there wasn't another one hiding elsewhere, and then waited for a sales person to become available. I inquired about purchasing just the bag, since I don't shoot Canon (and already have a UV filter), so their kit wasn't of much use to me. I held up both bags, told her where I'd found the open one, and "can I just buy this one, since that's all I need?"

She checked the computer, but all they sell is the kit; there's no SKU for the individual bag. After discussion with another co-worker, she called over the floor manager to see if it'd be okay.

Indeed it was, and they discounted it for me - considerably. I'd have been happy with anything, since I was going to get the bag anyway. $5? $10?

No ... the floor manager discounted it by $50 (taking a guess on the value of the other items in the kit).

Yeah, I couldn't turn that down. And I was even more thrilled when I got back to my car, put all the dividers in place, and discovered that not only did it comfortably fit everything I had with me, but I had room to spare. And after playing with it more when I got home, I'm able to get the 2 lenses I want to take, in addition to the macro lens attached to my camera, my flash, the accessory bag, a mini-tripod, and my point-and-shoot camera ll in the bag - with even more room to spare. I can slip the bottle bag into the space for it, and the stretchy compartment on the other side is even roomier than the 170 AW.

So, George is now hanging out on his new home (which has already been through a test run through the local Botanical Gardens), and I get to dig out everything else for the trip.