Bag recommendations/comments?

I use a Lowe Alpine Primus AW. It has two sections - the bottom one has enough space for SLR plus a couple of lenses, and is padded (and the padding can be reconfigured a bit), the top section can be used for anything - so can fill it up with extra lenses ( ) or stuff it full of clothes/sandwiches/ipod/whatever... It has a rain cover although it's fairly showerproof in any case, and has a fixing to stash a tripod on as well (although with tripod attached the raincover becomes frustrated). Holds a lot of gear and is very comfy to wear. It's even made of recycled material! and it has a side access to get the camera out as the zips which allow access to the main sections of the bag are all faced into your back. I rather like it although I mainly use it if I'm out in the wilds somewhere. In town, where I might just be carrying the SLR with one lens on it, I just put it in a padded pouch in my regular backpack...

Mat

Those look nice - expensive, but if they're as useful as they look possibly worth it (and probably not that much more expensive than my Timbukhack once the cost of inserts is taken into account). I've a couple of questions about the Billinghams though:

*Are they actually waterproof (through a treatment of the material or somesuch), or do they just protect gear from most rain by the canvas simply absorbing water for longer than most people will be out in rain?

*Do they come with camera/lens-holding dividers or is it basically a single 'cavern' for which dividers must be purchased separately?

They come with a very effective set of inserts that progressively absorb shock.

The canvas may well be treated as in the most severe downpours the interior does not get wet. Edges are generously overlapped so that rain does not get past the openings. Leather trims and fasteners will ansorb water to some degree, but they dry out fine.

Extra interior dividing sections can be purchased and we always add a double one to the centre section so the camera can be held lens down in one and an additional lens put in the other. In this way I can actually carry the camera with lens attached and at least three more lenses, plus all the lens hoods and other items such as cards, batteries, torch, odds and ends, travel documents, etc.

The new f/Stop 1.4 looks pretty, slightly bigger than the pro I think.
http://www.billingham.co.uk/acatalog/f_Stop_Range_NEW.html

Over the past 2 years I have had 3 Lowe bags: Nova 4, Nova 5AW and Magnum AW.
I have never used a rain coat (cover) on any of them - just too much trouble. Last summer I shot an outdoor concert and we had torrential rains. The Magnum's strap became sodden and the outside of the bag was soaked, but inside everything was bone dry. As I remember Lowe products are a bit pricey but they've treated me well. My Magnum is loaded with: K200D gripped with lens (usually DA18-55), K20D gripped with lens (usually DA50-200), Sigma DC10-20, spare DA18-15, AF-540 flash, flashlight (torch), lens pen, pad and pencils, spare batteries for everything, extra memory cards (usually 3-4), various filters, remote trigger, Sekonic flash meter, cigarette lighter, pass credentials, 2 quick release plates for tri/mono pods, highly reflective vest (for visible protection when on location shoots), measuring tape and markers. The bag is a might heavy, but you get used to it. Believe it or not I can still cram some more things in! I seldom attach either a tripod or monopod, it just becomes too clumsy. Everything is fitted comfortably and easy to reach and though the bag has had much use it still functions and looks fairly new. I would say it is worth whatever I paid for it. The Nova 5AW is an excellent bag also and will carry 2 cameras and lens, but becomes a little cramped when I try to carry much more. The Nova 4 I gave away as a gift. It is a wonderful bag also, but really best suited to 1 camera and some extra gear. Hope this is helpful and good luck on your choice.

Cheers,

Stephen

I agree, The Billingham bags are superb. My first 550 was purchased in 1983 for £65 and was only replaced last year by another 550 when Warehouse Express had a £65 off sale so i really got 2 bags for the price of one. Prior to the Billingham i had tried 5 other types of bags and cases. There are a number of accessories available too. For instance an upgraded shoulder pad and a harness which turns the bag into a backpack. I think there is a tripod strap available too.
Definitely worth looking at, Worth every penny!

Regards - Pete

Just to throw another option into the mix i use the Lowe Pro Classified 200AW. Holds 2 bodies with grips attached, will easily hold a body with 70-200mm 2.8.

Has a zip top opening for rapid body removal, the inside is coated like a luxury bag, also has a big flappy lid.

Best of all it doesn't scream camera bag/
link

With the Billingham, The Canvas is simply the outer layer, It is sandwhiched with a neoprene layer while a third different material is used as an internal layer. I have never had any problem in any kind of weather. The real beauty is that when you know the layout well enough you can just reach into the bag and pick out your gear whilst on the move yet still leave the top flap protecting against rain.
There are a useful number of dividers included but others can be added if required.

Regards - Pete

Ah - that might well seal it for Billingham: my much-used Timbuk2 messenger is along the same lines (the only difference being ballistic nylon instead of canvas). Their customer service people have very kindly offered to suggest a size if I can give them the measurements of my gear, so as soon as I can do that (no rush since it's the weekend and they'll be closed) I should be sorted.

I've got an ex-WD olive green canvas respirator bag. I wanted something which would take an SLR plus a couple of my little lenses and, most important: NOT LOOK LIKE A CAMERA BAG.

I thought it would attrract less attention when taking candids and less attention from potential thieves.

May not work, though!

Regards,

Andrew

Like Andrew, I have an ordinary rucksack into which I put a lowepro omni sport = DSLR with lens + 2 lenses. It has a top zip flap and you reach into your rucksack and pull out the DSLR. The onmi sport is no longer made but handily it also fits in a Peli style waterproof case so when I'm brave enough to take it out in a kayak!!!!

Thinking about it I carried it in a bag for life the last time I went to London. I guessed the robbers could see the seaweed in my hair and straw in my ears.

Doug

Oh and if anybody hasn't found it yet .....

http://www.taschenfreak.de/indexlisteart.htm

Bag porn.

Doug

Interesting site Doug! Though I have never managed to get that much in my Pretty Bella 7500

I have a Tamrac Expedition 5 (5575) which is my bag of choice for travelling. It is just carry-on legal, though it is heavy. Luckily it's never been weighed yet.
I also have an old model Lowepro Nova, which though smaller holds more than the pretty Bella. But I like my (oatmeal) Pretty Bella for trips when I don't want to scream camera bag, or am feeling very girly. And it is incredibly comfortable for a shoulder bag.

Both the Tamrac and the Lowepro have been in downpours and everything stayed dry inside, no need for an extra rain cover.

I'm now wavering on Billingham - their bags are of astonishing quality, but I'm not convinced that the Hadleys are big enough to carry all the stuff I need them to and the larger ones are beyond what I would be willing to pay for a camera bag. I'll take a look at those two you mentioned, since waterproofness is my primary requirement (aside from carrying ability of course!)

If you want to carry all you've in your sig and use a shoulder bag wouldn't that be too heavy for longer hikes/walks?

My shoulder bag with the things from my sig is already heavy and weight down after an hour or so...
I'm using the older model off this one and still have room to spare, if i really want to I might fit 2 more lens/flashes in it link Will probably be around the £120.
You've a Crumpler so you know how they are.