Sling Camera Bags - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

09/03/2005 09:12:05 AM · #1

For the last 4 months or so I have been using a sling bag from Samsonite I found at Target for only $20. It turns out to be really practical--much better than the Off Trail sidepack I was using (a bag that can hold an SLR and a 200mm lens attached plus two more lenses is a bit large to be on your hip).

Anyway, I really am sold on the sling bag concept. Great way to carry a lot of stuff, and yet have access to it without putting the bag down on the ground, or even take it off, as you do with most backpacks.

While the samsonite was great, it unfortunately, was not made to last very long. The strap is starting to come off at the top--and if I use it much longer, it might just break with my equipment inside. Perhaps that's why you can't find it listed on any Samsonite site, or for sale anywhere. I seem to have the only one ever made. ;)

So I've been looking for a new sling. The Tamrac slings look good, but have received mixed reviews on the web.

After a lot of searching, I also found a somewhat obscure LowePro sling

LowePro LX-220 Sling Camera bag

//www.me-now.com/lowlx220slin.html

Has anyone seen or tried this? What do you think?

Does anyone here use either of the Tamrac velocity models? //www.tamrac.com/5749.htm

Comments and suggestions are welcome.

marmalade1121

Canon EOS-1D X

09/03/2005 09:16:37 AM · #2

WHERE were you prior to my buying a Lowepro Microtrekker on eBay, hmmmMMM?

I love carrying stuff in my sling bag. So much more comfortable and easier to manage than a backpack, I guess I never realized they came in a camera bag version. Sweet!

hyperfocal

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 105mm f/2.5 AIS

09/03/2005 09:54:46 AM · #3

Check out adorama's Slinger bags.. They are really a great buy for the money. When I'm traveling light I use it. It can hold a camera w/ a nice sized lens pointed down ready to get to quickly, and two more slots for another lens & and flash. There is another pocket on the outside for flash etc. Very well constructed and available in some very interesting patterns & colors. There is also a left hand version that I actually perfer although I'm right-handed.

Edit to fix link.

Message edited by author 2005-09-03 09:56:52.

Bud

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM

09/03/2005 10:45:14 AM · #4

I don't know if it would fit a 70-200 zoom, but I use a Tamrac 5684 which is really nice for my Canon XT Rebel with a Sigma 18-200 zoom attached. I can carry an extra battery, filters, & memory cards. In a pinch, I can squeeze in my 50mm f1.8.

Tamrac Bag

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

09/03/2005 12:18:17 PM · #5

Originally posted by hyperfocal:

Thanks--that gives me yet another choice. It looks like a good one. Too bad they don't show you the insides in any pics.

I will have to look at all the dimensions. My sling isn't used for just one lens.

Smaller might be nice, as long as I can carry the three lenses (70-300mm IS DO, EFS 10-22, Sigma 18-125, the camera and accessories. Which basically means I need three to four dividers in the main compartment, camera with lens, two extra lenses, and the cokin box (and extender box if there's room). When I carry my 50, I stack it under one of the other lenses.

Still, looks interesting. If you can post a shot of your bag holding your equipment, that might help!

Also, how do you find the shoulder strap as a sling? They don't even show what kind of strap it is. Is it a regular backpack style strap or a detachable strap (they would not be as comfortable as a backpack style strap)?

Thanks for the information! Regards--Neil

samchad

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

10/02/2005 02:09:50 PM · #6

I've been looking at these also. The only negative thought that came into my head was that you might get some twist where the lens joins the body if the cushioning is holding the two up by the lens.

Does anyone find this?

Lowepro have 2 on the market for digitals:
//www.lowepro.com/Products/Sling_Bags/Designed_for_Digital/
both available from Adorama.

Sam

Message edited by author 2005-10-02 14:10:19.

colyla

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM II

10/02/2005 02:18:24 PM · #7

I've got the tamrac 7 bag and I carry:
digital rebel with 18-55 kit lens attached
28-300 tamron lens
500 DG Sigma Flash

I have a round cylinder lens holder attached to it that I carry my dazzle CF reader along with the battery charger. In the front zippered part I carry the manual, CF cards (3), little laminated cheat sheet cards, bug spray.

I'm one of those people that likes to carry everything they own :) I wouldn't mind trying out that Lowepro LX Sling packs...it looks like it might be pretty roomy...I like the fact of keeping it on no matter what....that's why I didn't get the backpack kind....if I did more hiking maybe....but it's too damn hot for me to get out for long periods of time here in FL :/

jenesis

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

10/02/2005 02:30:49 PM · #8

Originally posted by samchad:

Lowepro have 2 on the market for digitals:
//www.lowepro.com/Products/Sling_Bags/Designed_for_Digital/
both available from Adorama.

Sam

I wish I would've seen these before I bought the Tamrac Velocity 7 bag. I like how you are able to access all the accesories without having to unload other stuff. In my bag, lenses are stacked on top of lenses and I find myself having to juggle stuff just to get to the one I need sometimes. Kind of a pain.... but I still like the sling part of the bag, beats the shoulder pain of regular bags and the inconvenience of pulling off a backpack everytime you want to get into it. And I'm not one to wear a backpack on my front as some folks do. :-)

Message edited by author 2005-10-02 14:31:22.

PhilipDyer

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

10/02/2005 02:46:41 PM · #9

I have one of those Tamrac bags and like it, but with a couple of complaints. First, it's actually a bit cumbersome to get into while wearing it for some reason. I found my last shoulder bag easier to open and rummage around through. I also wish I could wear it on my right shoulder sometimes, since keeping it on one shoulder all the time can literally be a pain in the neck. It's a really nice general purpose bag that holds my huge Canon 100-400mm lens, but I'll probably supplement it soon with another shoulder bag.

donniev

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

10/02/2005 03:42:58 PM · #10

Originally posted by hyperfocal:

The pro version is a bit more but looks like it is better suited for those with battery grips. 6 1/2 in wide instead of 4.

//www.adorama.com/GBSLPBK.html

Zap228

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

10/02/2005 05:27:55 PM · #11

Kata makes some sling bags, and they also make a system that has a basic sling with a pocket and you can buy bags that attatch to it, so as your camera upgrades, so can the bag.

Message edited by author 2005-10-02 17:29:54.

kadac00

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

10/02/2005 05:48:11 PM · #12

I found the Naneu Pro Bravo an excellent walking around bag for my trip to Washington D.C. for doing the museums. Also you should be able to find it online for considerably cheaper than the $59 list price.

Message edited by author 2005-10-02 17:48:29.

jbsmithana

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

10/02/2005 07:21:49 PM · #13

I use the Tamrac velocity 7 and love it but it is not for carrying all your gear. I have gone out loaded up however using carabineers to hook my tripod and my 70-200 lens case to it. Works well enough for short hikes but I would say they are limited if you want to travel with them. The 7 will not hold the Nikon 70-200 VR 2.8. The 9 just seems too big for that type of bag for me anyway.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

10/02/2005 07:57:50 PM · #14

I use a Lowe Stealth Reporter 200 combined with the Deluxe Waistbelt.

With the bag over my shoulder and the belt secured, the weight is carried mostly on my hips where it really doesn't encumber moving around. When I want to access it, I just unfasten the belt and use it like a regular shoulder bag. I find it easier to access and easier to carry than a sling bag.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

10/14/2005 03:23:15 PM · #15

Has anyone looked at or considered using this one?

Oakley

I'd appreciate any opinions. So far, it looks like the most promising bag I've seen. I don't like the way the new LowePro sling opens. Looks like it would be easy to spill the contents.

The older LowePro Sling Lynx 220 would have been perfect for me but you can't find it anywhere now, at least in the US. Several online stores have told me it's discontinued, even though it's still on the LowePro site.

Lynx LX-220

EddyG

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

10/14/2005 03:32:50 PM · #16

Make sure you check out the offerings from Crumpler...

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

10/14/2005 04:14:06 PM · #17

Originally posted by kadac00:

Hmmm--how did I miss before that they also have a sling! The Echo is a sling bag that looks very good and is inexpensive.

Echo

But the K2, which is a backpack, is also very well designed in my opinion! Except for taking it off for access, I think it has a lot of promise beyond the lay-it-on-the ground style backpack!

Still the Oakley looks like it might hold more accessories, at least in an organized fashion. (And it can also hold a laptop).

But now at least I seem to have more options!

BTW - Thanks Eddy, I've heard Crumpler's were great bags, but they don't look like they have a sling.

EddyG

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

10/14/2005 06:16:55 PM · #18

Originally posted by nshapiro:

I've heard Crumpler's were great bags, but they don't look like they have a sling.

Hrm, I guess I don't know what makes a sling bag a sling bag then! I just thought it was a bag with only a single strap (instead of two, like a backpack bag). I still like my Tenba bag. I regularly wear it on one shoulder, and the side-access compartments make it easy to grab lenses without having to lay it on the ground to open it like a regular backpack (which you can still do for mass loading/unloading).