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04/30/2005 06:43:19 AM · #26 |
I've got a Nova5 AW..
It holds:
The 20D with grip, 17-40 F/4, 70-200 F/2.8, 50 F/1.8, light meter (sekonic 308II), 580ex flash, hoods for the two L lenses, 100 F/2.8 macro, notebook, pens, spare batteries, spare cards, business cards, flash sync cables, off camera shoe cord II, body cap, spare lens caps, Circ.pol. filters, hotshoe adaptor, blower, microfibre cloth, spec grabber, tripod plates, and the kitchen sink. :-).
It was the largest bag I could find when I went hunting for one.. I was specifically looking for a bag that would hold the 70-200 vertically so I could quick-change lenses. (Leaving the rear end off, just slam dunk and keep on shooting)
I don't like the backpack ones, as you can't swap lenses while jogging along the road beside a parade/angry mob/protest/event/marching band.
edit: Ooo, forgot.. My opinion on the bag..
It's really well made, although the config of the panels inside could be better for a big SLR to go in vertically with a small prime lens.
It's also not got any dedicated battery or card slots like some other bags, have, but the model you're looking at might have.
The tripod 'rings' are a bit tight, and are on the 'inside' of the bag, so you wind up with the tripod banging against your leg as you run down the street. It holds the brolly well though, but not a tripod.
The AW 'raincoat' is pretty good, although if you're doing PJ or event work and want to quick swap a lens it will slow things down somewhat. I used it for the first time in the rain during the ANZAC parades last weekend and I found it a little fiddly to get the raincoat back on in the dark while it's raining and your brolly strap isn't holding propperly...
Overall I'm very happy with the Lowepro bag,
Cheers, Me.
Message edited by author 2005-04-30 06:48:05.
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04/30/2005 08:07:24 AM · #27 |
I trust Lowepro products. I own the Lowepro Naturetrekker II AW. This past winter I backpacked with it for about 12 miles and it was very comfortable to carry. The carrying capacity is huge, and the material is almost waterproof (it snowed/rained on me and my gear stayed dry). I love it for those trailblazing hikes into the wilderness; however, I'm still in the hunt for something that is easier to organize smaller loads of gear when I'm on shorter trips. Any ideas??
NShapiro, I might be interested in your Lowepro Off-trail if it's the one I need.
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04/30/2005 08:13:34 AM · #28 |
I use a LowePro CompuTrekker Plus AW for all my stuff (still have room to spare too) for when I'm going to be walking around for a while and I am not sure exactly what kind of shooting i plan on doing.
The LowePro Toploader 70 is what I use for shorter expeditions and I'm limited to about 3 or 4 lenses with it depending on size. I also added 2 SlipLock pouches to the Toploader. The toploader fits my D30 with a 28-135 , a 50mm f/1.8 Mk II, a Vivitar 285HV in the SlipLock SL-30 and a 75-300 in a Lens Case 3. I have room for media, a charger, a few batteries and a remote release.
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04/30/2005 08:21:04 AM · #29 |
| Me too, like kiwichris, have the Nova 5AW, gret bag with lots of space. Very solid and great quality. |
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04/30/2005 11:36:03 AM · #30 |
I prefer their backpack bags as I have a bad back and they really make it easy to carry heavy equipment without putting out one or other shoulder or pulling back muscles out of alignment.
Of course, it means one has to stop and take the bag off to access contents but on the plus side it means one's hands are free once the item is retrieved and the bag is back on one's back.
We have a Mini Trekker Classic, the one we use most. Also a Micro Trekker 200. Lastly a Dryzone 100 which we got for a trip to the Antarctic but also used in the Galapagos. Harder to get access but such piece of mind when speeding in a zodiac with waves splashing into the boat!
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04/30/2005 12:03:35 PM · #31 |
I have the Nova 4 AW...I like it but I've been tempted to switch to Domke bags, they're more my style and they don't scream "photo equipment inside!"
The only thing is, the Lowepro is nicely padded and I feel that my stuff is nicely protected.
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04/30/2005 01:33:58 PM · #32 |
I started with a LoewePro Nova, when I used Sony Fx cameras. They served the purpose well and were quite durable.
DSLRs, however, are like most people. They gain weight and size over time. When I bought the 10D and considered what lenses and equipment I'd likely acquire, the Stealth Reporter 200 AW looked big.
Soon I found myself attaching lens cases to either side of it, because there was just no room for them inside of the bag. The weight was so great and all of it dangled from my neck. I started doing compensatory exercises when I arrived on location just so I'd be able to move and return home on my own power. My neck was constantly strained. -The bag (plus cases) also did not accomodate the kind of accessories you need when you travel and need to download your shots at the end of day.
After (physically) trying out several backpacks for capacity, comfort and features, I found that many packs made now are actually heavy themselves, the straps and padding are too wide or too thick for anyone but California governors, which makes them awquard (both the packs and the governors, I suppose).
I ended up acquiring the LoewePro Photo Trekker Classic, which houses everything (!) I need for any shoot, including two 10D bodies with their respective lenses mounted (one wide, one long with extender).
I am very happy with this pack, because it is aedequate, very balanced, comfortable and large enough to allow stowing of personal items (raincoat, and sepearate weather cover -the bag is not AW-, hat, gloves, maps and what have you).
It has no tripod pouch though. I have attached straps to side and bottom, so I could tie it to the pack, when and if I needed. There many occasions which do not require a tripod or often, when I do, I prefer to transport it seperately over short distances or, say, from car trunk to here or there.
My neck, however, is in such fine shape these days, I could stick it out. ;-) I can walk for miles, uphill, downhill, against the wind, in a blizzard, in my pyjamas, and have all my equipment with me, ready for anything.
I found I can't get the pictures I want by driving everywhere and then walking short distances. Besides, I never know where the weather takes me. It might be north or west or two weeks from now. For this sort of thing, a backpack is more suitable.
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04/30/2005 03:48:54 PM · #33 |
| I, too, have found that the shoulder bags tend to pull on one shoulder or the other and can be uncomfortable on long hikes. My experience is that a good way to address that is to add a belt. The belt will take a lot of the weight off of your shoulders and place it on your hips, nearer to your center of gravity so it's not as noticable. It's still easy to swing the bag around to access the contents without setting the bag down. |
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04/30/2005 03:51:27 PM · #34 |
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
I, too, have found that the shoulder bags tend to pull on one shoulder or the other and can be uncomfortable on long hikes. My experience is that a good way to address that is to add a belt. The belt will take a lot of the weight off of your shoulders and place it on your hips, nearer to your center of gravity so it's not as noticable. It's still easy to swing the bag around to access the contents without setting the bag down. |
The belt would be a good idea... also, you can hang the bag around the opposite shoulder to help with the weight.
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04/30/2005 04:01:40 PM · #35 |
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
...you can hang the bag around the opposite shoulder to help with the weight. |
...so that the pain will as equally distributed as the weight. ;-D
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04/30/2005 04:05:00 PM · #36 |
Originally posted by zeuszen:
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
...you can hang the bag around the opposite shoulder to help with the weight. |
...so that the pain will as equally distributed as the weight. ;-D |
My bag isn't terribly heavy. Over time, I have learned what I need to take with me and what I need to leave at home. It's not often that I leave the house with more than my camera, two lenses, and a flash. Here's my primary bag and configuration:
//www.pbase.com/jmsetzler/400aw
The shoulder strap on my 400AW is very comfortable.
I purchased this bag (LowePro Stealth Reporter 400 AW) primarily for use on shoots that I'm doing for the newspaper, and I quickly adopted it as my primary bag.
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04/30/2005 04:46:28 PM · #37 |
I have three LowPro bags - a Stealth Reporter AW 200 and 400, and a toploader zoom. The 400 carries all my gear if I need it, and the 200 I use for travelling and everyday use. I like the build better than the 400, as it zips up around the top, where the 400 doesn't. It's also significantly more compact. It has just enough space for my 420EX, 10D, BG-ED and 17-40 attached, 1.4x tc, 70-200/4L, 50/1.4 and 28/2.8 plus filter cases and a few accessories like my external HD, wallet, cell phone etc.
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04/30/2005 05:14:56 PM · #38 |
What are the different philosophies behind the different bags?
As compared to the Nova Series, is the Stealth Reporter series designed to be more compact? More protective?
Message edited by author 2005-04-30 17:15:12.
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04/30/2005 07:16:59 PM · #39 |
On the 'pain in the neck' side of things...
When I first got the Nova 5 AW I had 12kg of gear in it. I basically stuck all sorts of junk in there, stuffed in every little pouch and nook it had. Two flashes, 4 lenses, the 20D, an EOS50 (just in case), lots of cables, manuals, adaptors, chargers. You know the type of junk...
After the first event job I did, I took it all out, and put it on the floor in the lounge. I picked through and took out what I actually didn't need on the road, so to speak. I put all the other stuff in a 'no name' brand bag I've had for years that I take on shoots where I need the extra junk. Portrait jobs, and complex commission work.
It's now 8kg with the camera, four lenses and a bunch of misc stuff. When I've got the camera and one lens out it's down to about 6kg which is quite manageable if you have the strap 'across your chest'. The hidden advantage of that is that you can tuck a brolley handle in the strap, and down your jacket and it will stay there fairly well when shooting in the rain. :-)
My right shoulder is stuffed, due to some damage I did to it in a bike crash a few years back, so I have to be careful what I do, and I find if I go out shooting tired I can't lift my right arm past shoulder height afterwards.. I've started doing some light weights work to try and help that.
One of the realities of this game is that if you want to use fast lenses, they will be heavy, and if you want to be prepared for changing situations on a 'shoot' whether it be PJ, sports, formal event or just walking the street looking for a DPC shot, you'll need to be lugging at least a couple of heavy bits of glass in your bag. If you're serious you'll want to add a decent flash and some spare batteries. If you're doing indoor work a light meter can be damned handy etc. etc. etc.
Pick a bag that suits your style of shooting, and protects your gear well, and go with that. For people who shoot nature or just do casual work the backpack is often the best option, as missing a shot while changing lenses is not a big deal. If you're doing PJ or event work you'll either have to pick one lens and never change it, or get a shoulder bag and start going to the gym!
As always, just my 2c worth.
Cheers, Me.
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04/30/2005 07:31:39 PM · #40 |
I've got the Lowepro EX160, it's small but it works for me, I've had it over a year and it's still in great shape and it holds my Rebel and two extra lenses plus my filters and adapters so it works out well. I think I'd like to get a backpack type though. I don't much like the over the shoulder thing sometimes especially when I'm dragging the kids around. Tends to slip alot.
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04/30/2005 09:26:50 PM · #41 |
Originally posted by zeuszen:
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
...you can hang the bag around the opposite shoulder to help with the weight. |
...so that the pain will as equally distributed as the weight. ;-D |
I usually use the shoulder strap across my body that way when using the belt. It's not any more painful to carry a lot of gear that way than it was when I had my computrekker, just a lot easier to shoot. |
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05/01/2005 12:24:53 AM · #42 |
| mini trekker thingy, big enough for a big white and two bodies plus all the lenses you can think of... and so comfortable you forget you're wearing it. Best lowepro bag there is imo. |
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05/01/2005 08:30:47 PM · #43 |
So after all these opinions, have I made a good choice?
BTW, thank you all guys, it's been a very popular post LoL. Lotsa replies! |
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05/02/2005 12:25:52 AM · #44 |
Wow, I am suprised no one has posted saying they have an Orion AW.
Great bag, even though 99% of the time I use it without the top attached.
Holds 10D, 105 macro, 50, 17-35, 28-75(on camera), 70-200, and various accessories
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05/02/2005 11:20:10 AM · #45 |
IU've just got it. It so small, but seems to fit a lot of stuff!
Lots of places to put stuff in and it seems pretty easy to carry it around!
I liked my choice!
Maybe in the future I'll need a bigger one, but only after getting more gear!
Thank you all
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