Backpack Owners - DPChallenge Forums

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

02/25/2006 07:28:59 PM · #1

Just an FYI...

It's probably best when zipping up your backpack to keep both zippers to one side rather than closing them at the top. Or, put a clasp through them so they don't open. It's happened before and it happened again today. I was walking along when my backpack opened like a banana peel leaving my lenses exposed and causing one to fall out. My 28-90mm instantly broke in two. Thanks God it wasn't my precious little 12-24mm!! I can fit the pieces together again but when I try to use the zoom the front element keeps popping back out. It looks like I will need to get another lens. Any suggestions? Of course it's my most used lens...

Azrifel

Fujifilm X100VI

02/25/2006 07:35:49 PM · #2

Eastpack backpacks have the same problem. I've been sidezipping them for years and do so with any other make as well.
My younger brother lost a lot of stuff that way while riding a motorcycle. The dam bag opened itself and he lost clothing and papers. He was the last in our group so nobody noticed. And when you are doing 100 miles an hour the things get scattered over a long area. :(

Prof_Fate

02/25/2006 07:43:50 PM · #3

Hmm, I always top sip, i guess you;d call it. no problems (so far) but now you've made me paranoid!

And it's not a sad mishap, it's an unexpected opportunity to upgrade your equipment :D

Get a tamron SP 24-135 3.5-5.6. Fantastic lens. I shots wedding with it today (with flash mostly) and it is great, the range, the sharpness, and it focuses better in low light than my 2.8 lenses.

faidoi

Pentax K10D

02/25/2006 07:49:14 PM · #4

The Tamrac Adventure 75 bag has a clip and lock sewn in that extends across the front of the bag to hold the front flap from opening. Of course you have to remember to clip it :)

Message edited by author 2006-02-25 19:49:50.

Nald

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

02/25/2006 07:55:44 PM · #5

I just got this pack last week. Clicky

Really good for the money IMHO, the camera / lens compartment has dual zippers and a snap clasp to keep it all together in case the zippers come undone.

Message edited by author 2006-02-25 19:58:20.

PhantomEWO

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

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

02/25/2006 08:24:36 PM · #6

I have a Lowepro Mini trekker AW and with the zip under a flap and then very tight I don't think it could open that way. What brand backpack is giving you problems with it coming open and dropping lenses?

jtf6agent

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

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

02/25/2006 08:46:00 PM · #7

I always use those velcro compartment dividers and put one over the top of the lens to secure them in case mine pops open. You might want to try it. It's a pain when your in a hurry and need to switch lenses but the flip side is...

Panasonic DMW-LTZ10 1.5x Teleconverter

02/25/2006 10:32:27 PM · #8

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

Get a tamron SP 24-135 3.5-5.6. Fantastic lens. I shots wedding with it today (with flash mostly) and it is great, the range, the sharpness, and it focuses better in low light than my 2.8 lenses.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm first going to see what the camera shop can do but it was just the cheap kit lens so I don't want to spend much on it.

Originally posted by PhantomEWO:

It's the $35 Canon backpack that several of us got from Amazon. It really is a great bag...I just need to remember to secure the zippers. :-( Luckily the last time it happened nothing fell out because I caught it in time.

Originally posted by jtf6agent:

Thanks for this idea!

kari1

Panasonic DMC-FZ20

02/25/2006 11:21:42 PM · #9

We have two bags ... Brett has a lowepro .. which is fantastic with the camera and gear in the bottom ... with seperators etc ... and a zip and a clip ... and a anything gear part on top ... and the cords to put the tripod through ... I have a connon bag ... but always zip to one side because of the zip issue :) I also am like jtf6agent in using velcro and the elastic to hold things in place.

Kari

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

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

02/26/2006 12:09:22 AM · #10

The Kata bags have little nylon straps with velcro on the ends,that attach to the body of the bag, so you strap your stuff in place before you zip up the compartment. They allow you to open your bag, or have it open on its own accord, and insure that nothing gets out that you don't pull out.
I like these little straps enough that I made a few for my Lowpro bag. Cheap insurance is worth a few bucks and a little time.

TechnoShroom

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

02/26/2006 12:58:52 AM · #11

I have the Lowepro Photo Trekker AW II. I would trust the zippers in any position but it also has two quick release straps on each side that protect it from opening even if the zipper fails.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/26/2006 03:29:32 PM · #12

Does anyone else have any suggestions for lenses?

I was looking at the Canon 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM but am wondering if it's worth it's $500+ price tag. I already have a 12-24mm so the 17mm isn't that needed. f/4 isn't a whole lot faster than mine was at f/4.5. I am most interested in the IS.

Prof_Fate suggested the Tamron. I don't know anything about the brand. How are they?

Any thoughts?

jemison

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

02/26/2006 03:39:20 PM · #13

I've heard really good things about the Canon 24-105 f/4 IS

NstiG8tr

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

02/26/2006 04:13:51 PM · #14

Originally posted by jemison:

I've heard really good things about the Canon 24-105 f/4 IS

If ya wanna spend $1200.

Edit: Also the Canon bag is good for that. I zip mine to one side or the other. I discovered the problem luckily one day when I was just picking it up off the floor. I grabbed it by the flap and unzipped it came.
Also this lens come highly recommended by about 175 owners of it on this site. Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon-------- $379
Tamron 28-75 page

Message edited by author 2006-02-26 16:25:33.

Nokia N900

Tamron AF 18-270mm F/3,5-6,3 Di II VC LD Aspherical [IF] macro for Canon

02/26/2006 05:42:02 PM · #15

Originally posted by ButterflySis:

I got the kit with the 17-85mm lens since I had heard good things about it, was starting from scratch, and it looked like it would do a good job covering the normal range and a little on either side (I also picked up a 28mm prime for a normal lens, but the this still serves as both m y widest and longest lens).

It's neither as sharp as my 28mm/f1.8 nor as sharp as my 60mm/f2.8 macro which is to be expected. It seems to be a little off on the markings, it's noticeably wider than the 60mm lens when it thinks its at 61mm when images are compared side-by-side.

In hindsight, I somewhat regret the 17-85, not because it's a bad lens, but because of the $500 price tag. That's half the price of the 70-200mm/f2.8 I'm looking at. I took the 17-85 shooting at a hockey game, basically just to see how it would hold up in the low lighting, and it was better than I expected although there is definitely noticeable noise and it couldn't reach the far end of the rink to get close-ups. It is also a unfortunately too big for my Tamron sling pack. If I had the choice to make again, I'd probably have not gotten the lense and just spent the extra on the 70-200 instead (although I'd be without a wide lens, you already have one).

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM for Canon

02/26/2006 06:34:32 PM · #16

Originally posted by jemison:

I've heard really good things about the Canon 24-105 f/4 IS

Looks wonderful....but I should have said I'd like to stay under $500 or $600, because I really should. :-)

Originally posted by dsmeth:

Originally posted by jemison:
I've heard really good things about the Canon 24-105 f/4 IS

If ya wanna spend $1200.

Edit: Also the Canon bag is good for that. I zip mine to one side or the other. I discovered the problem luckily one day when I was just picking it up off the floor. I grabbed it by the flap and unzipped it came.
Also this lens come highly recommended by about 175 owners of it on this site. Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon-------- $379
Tamron 28-75 page

Thank you very much. That is in my price range! I will go check it out on B&H.

Originally posted by m:

Originally posted by ButterflySis:
Does anyone else have any suggestions for lenses?

I was looking at the Canon 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM but am wondering if it's worth it's $500+ price tag. I already have a 12-24mm so the 17mm isn't that needed. f/4 isn't a whole lot faster than mine was at f/4.5. I am most interested in the IS.

I got the kit with the 17-85mm lens since I had heard good things about it, was starting from scratch, and it looked like it would do a good job covering the normal range and a little on either side (I also picked up a 28mm prime for a normal lens, but the this still serves as both m y widest and longest lens).

It's neither as sharp as my 28mm/f1.8 nor as sharp as my 60mm/f2.8 macro which is to be expected. It seems to be a little off on the markings, it's noticeably wider than the 60mm lens when it thinks its at 61mm when images are compared side-by-side.

In hindsight, I somewhat regret the 17-85, not because it's a bad lens, but because of the $500 price tag. That's half the price of the 70-200mm/f2.8 I'm looking at. I took the 17-85 shooting at a hockey game, basically just to see how it would hold up in the low lighting, and it was better than I expected although there is definitely noticeable noise and it couldn't reach the far end of the rink to get close-ups. It is also a unfortunately too big for my Tamron sling pack. If I had the choice to make again, I'd probably have not gotten the lense and just spent the extra on the 70-200 instead (although I'd be without a wide lens, you already have one).

Thank you so much for telling me this! I will definitely move this lower on my list. I'd love the 70-200 but as I just said above, I really need to limite myself.

Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions!

wimbello

Canon EOS-10D

02/26/2006 06:57:07 PM · #17

I don't think it really matters what bag you have or how much you pay for it.
If you have both zips at the top, then they are sitting at the end of a curve, and prone to come apart.

A REALLY BAD ANALOGY:
If you had 2 wheels sitting at the top of a perfect bell-curve-of-a-hill, they will naturally roll away from each other down each side of the hill.

This happened alot with zips on my hiking pack when i started hiking alot. It was eventually pointed out to me that if you leave the zips at a corner or curve, they will naturally wiggle apart. I spent AU$500 (US$370) on my hiking pack and it still happens....

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

02/26/2006 07:26:14 PM · #18

That makes complete sense. Wish I had thought of it earlier. :-/

abroken1

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

02/26/2006 07:26:44 PM · #19

While it doesn't cover the entire range of your old lens, the Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 Di LD lens has been my favorite. I don't think I'd ever have a reason to give it up, and they frequently go for around $300 or less on ebay, and are around $350-375 brand new. I also have a 12-24mm lens now and find that 28-75mm plugs the hole between that and my 70-200mm lens quite nicely.

If you watch ebay auctions, sometimes you'll find the older Canon 28-70mm f/2.8 L-series lens go for around $550-600.

There is always the old stand-by Canon 28-135mm IS lens. I haven't used one personally, but that would be a nice range to work with and I've read good things and seen great pictures from that lens.

Also, Canon just announced an EF-s 17-55mm f/2.8 lens with image stabilization, but it will be close to $1000 too.

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

02/26/2006 07:56:35 PM · #20

Thanks, Alan. I was reading about the Tamron 28-75mm and it says it's very soft in the corners. Do you find that to be true?

Message edited by author 2006-02-26 19:58:24.

abroken1

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

02/27/2006 02:00:06 AM · #21

I have seen that in a few reviews too, especially mentioning it when the aperture is at f/2.8, but I honestly haven't noticed it. I haven't done any formal tests, but I have shot several indoor weddings this past year and didn't notice it being a problem in any of those pictures with the aperture wide open. I suppose there may be something to the argument that some lenses are put together a little better than others. I can vouch for my copy being very sharp, definitely competeing with my Sigma 105mm macro and my Canon 70-200 f/2.8 IS.

Just as a side note, I did have a chance test a Tokina 28-70mm f/2.8 lens head-to-head for a couple of weeks, and there was a significant difference, much lower sharpness in all the shots I tried with the Tokina. My 12-24mm is a Tokina and I think it's awesome, so it's nothing against Tokina.