Broken lens due to another bad camera bag

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

05/26/2011 09:33:53 AM · #26

Originally posted by DCNUTTER:

Originally posted by silverworks:
I had a nightmare experience with a lowepro AW trekker backpack. upon my return home from a days shooting I picked up my Lowepro trekker backpack and the main zipper separated sending my Nikon D700, my Nikon 24-70 2.8 zoom, my Nikon 105 2.8 macro and other lenses crashing to the pavement. My 1700.00 24-70 lens broke on the rear part of the lens, the D700 camera has a bent lens mount and possible internal damage and my 105 macro has smashes on the rear cover of the lens. In all I have 1000.00 worth of damage. The backpack is about 1.5 years old and the camera equipment is about 2 years old. I have been in touch with Lowepro about this situation and they are very evasive about what action they will take. They were nice enough (bullshit) to send me a replacement backpack, new model of the backpack I was using, and they claim it has a more robust zipper then the one I was using. I asked them if the bag was stronger and they said that more robust does not mean stronger. The new backpack is the pro runner 450 AW that replaces the AW trekker that I had. I had nothing whatsoever with the failure of the zipper on the trekker backpack, it was equipment failure plain and simple. The zipper was not strong enough to do the job. The Lowepro motto is the trusted original, a load if I have ever heard one. I think that lowepro should stand behind there product and admit to the failure and reimburse me for all damage that was caused by there equipment failure. I think that this will be fair and equitable. I had nothing to do with this experience other then using and trusting Lowepro products. I am angry and very disappointed because the people at lowepro keep telling me that they will assist me but they will not say what assist means. They also want me to pay for the repairs up front, about 1000.00 and they will not say what they will do for me. I dont have 1000.00 dollars sitting around to take care of a problem like this that is not my fault. I will sell the backpack that Lowepro sent me. I dont trust Lowepro or the people that work there. This situation stinks and I would never recommend buying any Lowepro product.

Well, since you just registered today, and this is your first post I have to say that it comes across a little bit as someone who works for a competing company of Lowepro's and gets paid to search the internet for the term Lowepro and comment like this. LOL. Not saying it's true mind you, but that's how it comes across to me. I mean...you don't even have a camera listed in your profile. :)

Hey, welcome to DPC...get a camera, get a new bag and start entering all these challenges, and don't mind the man behind the curtain. :)

Dave

He doesn't plug another brand. My bet is he found this thread by searching on +Lowepro +bad +broken +shitty +zipper +camera +bag +fucktards.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

05/26/2011 09:40:13 AM · #27

As soon as a company makes their product "idiot-proof", someone goes out and makes a better idiot.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

05/26/2011 10:09:09 AM · #28

Originally posted by Spork99:

As soon as a company makes their product "idiot-proof", someone goes out and makes a better idiot.

A cheap zipper is a cheap zipper. Not much to be done about that. :-/

Spork99

OM System OM-1

05/26/2011 10:38:45 AM · #29

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Originally posted by Spork99:
As soon as a company makes their product "idiot-proof", someone goes out and makes a better idiot.

A cheap zipper is a cheap zipper. Not much to be done about that. :-/

WRT the zippers on backapck bags coming open, the Lowe bags have the main opening zipper in the shape of an upside down U and most people close the bag by placing the two pulls at the top center, where the weight of the gear and the motion of walking/running/handling is going cause any zipper to want to open. If the zipper pulls are instead moved to the lowest point on either side, this goes tendency goes away. The bag manufacturers have tried to control this with straps, buckles, instructions etc. but short of eliminating one of the pulls, there's no way to insure that the customer doesn't leave their zipper in a position that's vulnerable to allowing the zipper to open on its own.

I'm sure that there might be other zippers that lock or are more resistant to opening, but they're going to cost more and be more difficult to operate, which will piss off every customer. The bag designers have to balance the customers' conflicting wants between a closure that's secure but a PITA to open, and one that's not secure and easy to open.

Me, I just make sure I close my backpack with the zipper pulls all the way to one side.

In the case of the QR buckles inline with a load bearing strap, I suspect the lawyers might be at play and the QR is there to allow escape (and reduce liability) in case of entanglement. I like blaming lawyers anyway.

Message edited by author 2011-05-26 10:58:13.

ralph

Nikon Z9

05/26/2011 12:54:49 PM · #30

i had the same bag 300aw / two zippers failed over 2 months ... no broken lenses but came close
& i retired it .. finally got around to hassling lowepro &
it was replaced in less than 10 days for the cost of shipping it back to them ..

i bought a crumpler
& the lowepro is sitting in the corner as a backup ..

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

05/26/2011 01:29:35 PM · #31

Zippers on jeans have metal teeth. I'd like to see plastic zippers outlawed.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

05/26/2011 02:39:25 PM · #32

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Zippers on jeans have metal teeth. I'd like to see plastic zippers outlawed.

I don't think the reason for plastic zippers is cost, it's functionality. Ever get the metal teeth on your jeans or a jacket off track? they are difficult to get back on again. Plastic zippers can be designed as self healing zippers. If the zipper pull get off track from the zipper, you just pull it around and it gets back on track on its own. Usually.

DCNUTTER

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

05/26/2011 02:58:31 PM · #33

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

Originally posted by Strikeslip:
Zippers on jeans have metal teeth. I'd like to see plastic zippers outlawed.

I don't think the reason for plastic zippers is cost, it's functionality. Ever get the metal teeth on your jeans or a jacket off track? they are difficult to get back on again. Plastic zippers can be designed as self healing zippers. If the zipper pull get off track from the zipper, you just pull it around and it gets back on track on its own. Usually.

Yes, those where my thoughts as well. I kept seeing a metal zipper in my head that was stuck and thought the bag would be done after that...or at least another zipper would have to be sewn in.

That's a thought...I wonder if anyone as ever tried to take an off the shelf bag to someone to get custom zippers to their liken sewn in as a replacement. That's probably an option for those who want to try something different.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

05/26/2011 03:32:19 PM · #34

Metal zippers would scratch camera gear...then we'd have a thread demanding plastic zippers.

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

05/26/2011 03:38:14 PM · #35

Someone needs to invent a replacement for the zipper!

DCNUTTER

Canon EOS-7D

05/26/2011 03:38:46 PM · #36

Originally posted by Spork99:

Metal zippers would scratch camera gear...then we'd have a thread demanding plastic zippers.

LOL...true enough.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

05/26/2011 04:08:29 PM · #37

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Someone needs to invent a replacement for the zipper!

You want buttons or velcro?

Or, how about some of those QR buckles? Um, oh right. That was what started this thread.

Message edited by author 2011-05-26 16:09:56.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

05/26/2011 07:28:12 PM · #38

Originally posted by DCNUTTER:

That's a thought...I wonder if anyone as ever tried to take an off the shelf bag to someone to get custom zippers to their liken sewn in as a replacement. That's probably an option for those who want to try something different.

Any sailmaker or marine canvas shop can do this. The marine trade uses extremely robust zippers. I've gone this route several times, though never with a camera bag.

R.

WriteHeart

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

05/26/2011 08:01:59 PM · #39

I love my Mountainsmith Lumbar bag. Mountain smith lumbar camera bag and I know other photographers who have had theirs a long time without any issues.

ETA I don't work for the company or get any money for suggesting them...and I have a camera and have entered challenges ;-)

Message edited by author 2011-05-26 20:17:42.

DCNUTTER

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

05/26/2011 08:52:22 PM · #40

Originally posted by WriteHeart:

LOL...Yeah, I was trying to be more funny then the post came across when I read it again this morning. :)

You post made me laugh. :)

Dave