Which camera bag?

[Kronos]

Can anyone recommend a shoulder bag for a Canon 1100D with battery grip and room for a couple of lenses and a flash unit? Very difficult to judge what a case will comfortably hold looking on line. Oh and cheap works for me also.

[JR1]

Can anyone recommend a shoulder bag for a Canon 1100D with battery grip and room for a couple of lenses and a flash unit? Very difficult to judge what a case will comfortably hold looking on line. Oh and cheap works for me also.

No

You really need to go to a local LCE or Jessops etc and try them out

[Acorn]

I found that shoulder bags kept slipping of my shoulder and were uncomfortable if the strap was taken over my head to the opposite shoulder. I now use a Lowepro back-pack, finding it exceedingly more comfortable especially if on a longish trek. It accommodates my D7000, three lenses, flash and many other accessories.

I expect there may be responders who have given up a back-pack in preference to a shoulder bag.

[Rob Ekins]

No

You really need to go to a local LCE or Jessops etc and try them out

Or..... you could wait for constructive input from the community and get a sensible response..

I have a Lowpro flipside 200 that I use as my walk around camera bag, I take it every where. I call it the Tardis, It typically holds a body, 70-200, 50mm prime, 17-40, YN flash and spare batteries for the camera and the flash.

Hopefully this helps you visualise what you can fit into a small camera bag

[Mike Buckley]

Check out tamrac.com. It displays the inner compartments of each bag and describes what it is designed to hold.

[Manfred M]

Buying a bag online is a bit like doing so with shoes. They may look great, but the only way you can be sure that it will work for you is to go to your local camera store (preferably with the equipment you plan to use it with) and then try it out.

Buying a bag, sight unseen carry a risk that it won't work for you. I have bags from Kata (now sold under the Manfrotto brand), Lowepro and Domke. Each one has a different capacity and different purpose. My Kata backpack is used about 80%+ of the time. The Domke is what I take on road trips and the Lowepro goes along when I take gear to shoot video as well as stills.

[JR1]

Or..... you could wait for constructive input from the community and get a sensible response..

I have a Lowpro flipside 200 that I use as my walk around camera bag, I take it every where. I call it the Tardis, It typically holds a body, 70-200, 50mm prime, 17-40, YN flash and spare batteries for the camera and the flash.

Hopefully this helps you visualise what you can fit into a small camera bag

OR you could read others comments who say the same thing as me, how can you tell what sort of bag someone else needs, there are too many, a CONSTRUCTIVE comment IS go and look and handle/try them.

They asked about a SHOULDER bag already one reply is about back packs.

At least then they will be getting what they need not what someone thinks they need.

http://digital-photography-school.co...among-readers/

[tclune]

My absolutely favorite bag is one I got a few years ago from Opteka. It was a knock-off of a Domke F-2. They no longer carry it at Opteka, but if I ever needed to replace it I'd get the Domke (for an extra $30-40.) This bag is rugged and will carry everything I can think of bringing with me except for my long tele (which has its own bag anyway.) It is well-padded, has a gazillion inner padded compartments that you can add or remove as necessary, has room for a small laptop in the back, has pockets all over the place for the various small items you always want to carry, and has a well-padded shoulder strap that is actually comfortable to wear with the fully-loaded bag. It is small enough to present no problems as a carry-on bag for air travel. The Domkes come in different sizes, so if the F-2 is too big, you may want to consider a smaller version of it.

[csa mt]

No

You really need to go to a local LCE or Jessops etc and try them out

For a lot of people, this is impossible to go and "try them out".

For the OP; try the B&H site, as they sometimes show bags with camera equipment that they hold.

[Mike Buckley]

For people who don't want to visit a retail store to try out a bag for whatever reason, many reputable online sites have a return policy that allows you to return the product with no questions asked if it doesn't meet your needs. Some will even pay the cost of return shipping.

[csa mt]

Buying a bag online is a bit like doing so with shoes. They may look great, but the only way you can be sure that it will work for you is to go to your local camera store (preferably with the equipment you plan to use it with) and then try it out.

Buying a bag, sight unseen carry a risk that it won't work for you. I have bags from Kata (now sold under the Manfrotto brand), Lowepro and Domke. Each one has a different capacity and different purpose. My Kata backpack is used about 80%+ of the time. The Domke is what I take on road trips and the Lowepro goes along when I take gear to shoot video as well as stills.

Well, again; for many, it's not possible to go & try them out! As far as buying online, "carrying a risk that it won't work for you"; if purchased from a reputable dealer, it can be returned. Yes the purchaser may be out the return shipping, but they do not have to be stuck with a bag they cannot use.

[Mike Buckley]

Carol,

Considering that the OP lives in Edinburgh, the advise for him to visit a retail store seems reasonable.

[Manfred M]

Well, again; for many, it's not possible to go & try them out! As far as buying online, "carrying a risk that it won't work for you"; if purchased from a reputable dealer, it can be returned. Yes the purchaser may be out the return shipping, but they do not have to be stuck with a bag they cannot use.

Carol - I agree with what you are saying, but Glenn lives in Edinburgh, Scotland (the capital city with a population of around 500,000), so visiting a camera store should not be a problem (note - I saw several when I was there a few years ago).

While I agree it may not be possible for everyone to take this advice, especially those living in smaller centres, this is definitely not the case here. The problem with shoes, backpacks, purses (so my wife tells me) and camera bags, everyone is built differently (ergonomics) and has a different way of working, so advice on specifics can be rather useless.

When I was in the market for one of my bags, I asked a friend for a recommendation and tried out his bag. It was a horrible fit for me, so I'm glad I went to a store to try it out and found one that worked for my body and shooting style.

[csa mt]

Thanks Mike & Manfred; I totally overlooked where the OP resided.

[rpcrowe]

One of the problems with shoulder bags is that they tend to slip off one's shoulder, especially when you are climbing steps or hurrying along.

I solve this in several ways.

First is the simplest solution. Domke FA-031 U.S. Post Office Shoulder Pad. Mail carriers carry heavy burdens and this pad is designed to keep the strap of a carry bag from slipping off ones shoulder. It is unique in that the front of the pad is thicker than the rear. This wedge shaped piece of rubber material, not only eases the weight of the bag but the wedge design does a good job keeping the strap from slipping off my shoulder. It is not very expensive and I can recommend it from personal use...
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ulder_Pad.html It will fit on most any camera bag strap...

Second: I often wear a photo vest when shooting and keep a lot of my gear in the vest. I asked my wife to sew an epaulette of 1-inch (24mm) Velcro on the top of my left shoulder. I close this Velcro strip over the strap of my camera bag which totally prevents slippage. Additionally, I use a small lightweight carabiner snap (mountain climbing snap but made from lighter materials and often used to hold keys.) http://www.amazon.com/Patuoxun-Carab...carabiner+clip

I connect one of the "D" rings of my camera bag (All my bags have "D" rings where the straps attack to the bag and my Domke F-2 bag has extra "D" rings at the bottom of the bag.) to the waist adjustment strap of my Domke photo vest. The camera bag is held quite securely.

What kind of bag do I use? I have tried a multitude of different type bags and still revert to three.

Lowepro Mini-Trekker AW Back Pack to carry all my gear when traveling. I don't use it for shooting. The Mini Trekker easily holds two bodies and three lenses, a couple of flash units plus miscellaneous gear. It can be carried on most airlines and the bag itself is fairly light weight. (note: I have a rolling Lowepro case that weighs almost ten pounds - empty!)

I shoot with either a Tamrac holster case or my Domke F-2.http://www.amazon.com/Domke-700-02A-...sin=B001Q2074A I chose the brown waxwear finish because of the weather repellent quality of that material...

I am on my second Domke. I purchased my first Domke (I think for about $25 dollars or so) in the late 1970's. It was still a working bag until my recent trip to Europe when my wife informed me that the bag was just too worn and she didn't want to travel with me carrying such a ratty looking bag. Oh well, over thirty years of hard use isn't bad. I gave the bag to a wildlife photographer friend and expect he will get another ten years or so use out of it.

I shoot with two cameras and usually carry and shoot with 17-55mm and 70-200mm lenses.

As I mentioned I use my Lowepro Mini Trekker AW only for transporting my gear, not for shooting.

On a short shoot when I know that the weather will not be inclement (I live in Southern California - so that is no problem) I carry the 7D body with 17-55mm lens on a strap around my neck and carry the 7D with 70-200mm lens in the holster bag. I have a hand strap on that camera. I can grab it out and shoot with it very quickly.

On a longer trip I will carry the Domke F-2 bag for shooting. That way, I can place both cameras in the bag for protection against the elements. I can also carry a camera with my 300mm or 400mm lens in the Domke.

I purchased a Think Tank holster case to carry my camera with 300mm f/4L IS attached but the ergonomics of that bag doesn't suit me. The flap opens the wrong way and it is difficult to access the camera and lens for my style of shooting...

I like the Domke bag because it is not greatly padded and thus somewhat conforms to the shape of my hip. It rides close to my body and doesn't stick out to hit things like a heavily padded bag will do. The carabiner snap attachment greatly helps this...

[Kronos]

Thanks people, never knew a question camera bags could get a little heated. Better be careful with my questions in future.

I posed the question as I would expect that most of you have bags and/or can visualise what a 1100D with battery pack looks like and be able to suggest something suitable.

Secondly just because I stay in Edinburgh there maybe all sorts of reasons for not being able to visit a camera store personally.

those points aside you have given me some suggestions for which I am grateful and will look in to.

[Donald]

Thanks people, never knew a question camera bags could get a little heated. Better be careful with my questions in future.

Don't let it put you off asking questions, Glenn. Just be prepared for lots of different types of responses that will include, from time-to-time: - absolutely objective opinion; subjective thoughts; total and utter commitment to one product line and guaranteed hellfire and damnation for anyone who would even consider deviating from that line of thinking. People can get very passionate!!

[Kronos]

Don't let it put you off asking questions, Glenn. Just be prepared for lots of different types of responses that will include, from time-to-time: - absolutely objective opinion; subjective thoughts; total and utter commitment to one product line and guaranteed hellfire and damnation for anyone who would even consider deviating from that line of thinking. People can get very passionate!!

My criticism was wholly tongue in cheek mate but thanks.

[loosecanon]

You will soon learn that like tripods, there is no perfect bag.
However for general use, rather than long trecks I like the lowpro slingshots, which have the advantage of being on ones back but across only one shoulder, so you can sling it round to the front and open it up, so you have somewhere to put lenses when changing them and so on.
I use a backpack for longer walks, just more comfortable and space for other gear, the lowpro transit backpacks are not too expensive and versatile in internal layout, can carry tripod etc.
The toploader pro's and a sliplock lens case will give you kit which passes the National Trust house test, ie. you can carry it round the historic house rather than leave it at the entrance.

[JR1]

Thanks Mike & Manfred; I totally overlooked where the OP resided.

That is why I suggested go and look, I lived in Scotland and know the local