what are you using to carry your camera?

[sdjl]

I use a Mini Trekker AW.
For me it typically holds:

Canon 5D with battery grip and attached 70-200mm lense with hood.
1 x 5D battery magazine
17-40mm lense
28-135mm lense
2x extender
Charger bits
1 x flash with stofen
External flash cord
Lense pen
Remote shutter release
1 x polariser
Gorilla pod
Rocket blower
1 x pack of business cards
Ear plugs (for loud music venues)
AA batteries
Spare memory cards

As you can probably tell, it's well used!
The straps aren't too bad. It also has a waist strap for longer distance walking, which does help a great deal. You can also mount a tripod on the outside, although my Manfrotto is a little heavy for that.
There's also the inbuilt weather proof cover in case you get rain, but note you can't mount the tripod with that on.

I like the bag, but sometimes wish I had something smaller just to take the very basics.

David

[xysmas]

This might be slightly off-topic, but still hopefully useful for some.

I find that most camera-specific bags are far to heavy and unwieldy for me. I do a considerable amount of climbing, hiking, backpacking, etc. and cannot take a 2nd pack that weighs as much as most camera bags do. I have been using a small summit pack similar to this or this.
I can fit water, food, camera body, 2nd (or more when i get them) lens, accessories, tripod, etc. all in the pack easily, with each camera piece wrapped in fleece or my shell jacket for the day for protection. I also carry a dry bag (small roll top) to stuff the camera in if it starts pouring in the field.

I don't know if this system will work well with the OP's large amount of equipment - but for smaller loads or extended trips, this works great.

[Jargon]

This is a nice topic! I happen to be looking for a camera bag.

Right now, I'm trying to decide whether to buy a big bag that can safely carry both my SLR camera equipment and my notebook PC, or to buy a smaller SLR camera bag that I can just put inside a bigger bag. Any suggestions?

[photofixation]

Originally Posted by Jargon

This is a nice topic! I happen to be looking for a camera bag.

Right now, I'm trying to decide whether to buy a big bag that can safely carry both my SLR camera equipment and my notebook PC, or to buy a smaller SLR camera bag that I can just put inside a bigger bag. Any suggestions?

I am also in a same tricky situation

[Saralonde]

I suppose it depends if you want to carry everything with you all the time. I mentioned earlier I had a large Canon packpack, but in reality it just holds all my equipment in my house. If I go out shooting, I use a small improvised pack that holds less. I would think a small bag that fits inside a large one would be a good idea. Seems more versatile.

[mdwsta4]

totally agree. i don't like having equipment lying around my house, but it's not always necessary to carry it all. that's why it's nice to have two bags.

Originally Posted by Saralonde

I suppose it depends if you want to carry everything with you all the time. I mentioned earlier I had a large Canon packpack, but in reality it just holds all my equipment in my house. If I go out shooting, I use a small improvised pack that holds less. I would think a small bag that fits inside a large one would be a good idea. Seems more versatile.

[rikkersc]

I, too, am looking for a new camera bag. I have already upgraded (size-wise) twice so I will have smaller bags if I should need to carry just specific pieces. But, now I am looking for something that will hold all my stuff.
This is what I have and I am looking for any suggestions on a good backpack-style bag for this. (Preferably not too expensive )

Canon 300d body with attached 18-55mm kit lens and attached battery grip
wide-angle "fisheye" lens
70-300mm lens
2 batteries (I plan to leave the other 2 in the grip)
2 battery chargers (plug-in)
1 battery charger (car charger)
hot-shoe mount bubble level
2 lens covers
lens hood
several filters
corded remote
wireless remote
camera manual (travel size)
memory card case
extra memory card
speedlite
Kodak Easyshare Z612 point & shoot camera
18" laptop computer

~I would also like it to hold a second DSLR camera body, which I plan to purchase in the future.And probably another lens or two (or three)
~ A tripod or monopod strap attachment would be nice, but is not necessary. I plan to have a second "pod-specific" bag for those.

Please let me know what backpack-style bag you think would be the best for this.

I have looked at a few websites, but it is pretty hard to tell the actual size of the bags and what they really hold.

[dudley doright]

I owned so many bags and cases but the daypack that I just picked up hold the laptop, my D100 and 4 lenses. These are the gears that I plan to carry when I travel for work or do weddings. It will be perfect if I could put my tripod. Oh well, otherwise it is a great bag overall.

[inkista]

Originally Posted by Jargon

... Right now, I'm trying to decide whether to buy a big bag that can safely carry both my SLR camera equipment and my notebook PC, or to buy a smaller SLR camera bag that I can just put inside a bigger bag. Any suggestions?

Well, a lot of folks (Crumpler included) make a bunch of foam inserts that you can stick into any bag you want to carry your photo gear. B&H has a whole category. That might be worth looking into, especially if you're on a tight budget or need to be stealthy about what you're carrying.

And a whole new crop of dSLR+notebook backpacks seem to be popping up. Lowepro started it. I've been looking at the reviews at cambags.com, and two backpacks in particular are standing out for me for travelling (relatively lightly) with all the techgear: the Kata Sensitivity V (which seems to be sold out everywhere) and the Naneu Pro U120.

Still, I can't help supposing that finding the perfect camera bag is like finding the perfect lens. It just ain't gonna happen.

[Carolyn P]

Originally Posted by inkista

Still, I can't help supposing that finding the perfect camera bag is like finding the perfect lens. It just ain't gonna happen.

So true. And yet, I have to ask...

I'm buying a Canon 70-300mm IS lens next week that won't fit in my current bag, a Crumpler Four Million Dollar Home. I'd like to upgrade to a backpack of some variety since I'm going on a trip to Norway and Iceland in June and don't want to put a permanent kink in my spine by taking a big shoulder bag. The only equipment I have is my Canon Digital Rebel XT with the kit lens, the soon-to-be-purchased 70-300mm zoom, and my Manfrotto tripod, so I don't need anything big designed to hold two cameras and a billion lenses or whatever. My problem is that most of the slimmer bags, like the Lowepro Slingshot 100, don't look like they'll hold a long telephoto zoom. Any suggestions for a bag that can accommodate the 70-300 or similar but that isn't going to be overkill for my starter equipment? I don't care if the tripod fits in or not, but that would definitely be a bonus.