Recommend me a bag?

benners

benners

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Ben
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hey everyone, long time no post!

I'm after a bag and wondered if anyone kindly had any recommendations?

I currently have:
- Lowepro Vertex 200 AW (for home storage and big shoots)
- Lowepro fastpack 200

the Vertex is too big to take to quick jobs, but the Fastpack is too small / not configured correctly. So I'm after something somewhere in between.

the kit I'd be looking to pack is:
2x d700
1x 70-200 f2.8
1x 24-70 f2.8
+ small accessories (batteries, cards, ear plugs, black rapid strap, etc.)

ideally the lenses would be stored attached to the bodies for quick access, but would sacrifice packing them separately for the right bag :)
 
A Billingham Hadley Pro Large would take the d700's side by side with the lenses attached. Mine fits a gripped 5d2/70-200VC and 7d/24-70 2.8. The front pockets are then available for misc. items and there's the full length zip pocket on the back as well.
It's still a big bag but it's a reasonably effective use of the space and does allow faster access than a backpack.

The pic shows a 5d2/70-200VC and a 7d/100l macro to give an idea of capacity.
HPL%2B5d2%2B7dbc-M.jpg


Bag closed over
HPL%2B5d2%2B7df-M.jpg
 
I use a lowe pro reporter for carrying small amounts of stuff and a think tank streetwalker hard drive (which also has laptops storage, the standard streetwalker doesn't but is a great size too) for the majority of bigger shoots, the think tank looks a small back but you can fit loads in it. I love the think tank range, I've about 5 of the larger ones now I think, mainly tailored to fit which long glass I'm taking on trips.
 
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Thanks guys, keep 'em coming! That Billingham does look a beaut, maybe a bit out of my price range, but something to aspire to :)
 
Whats your price range?

Look into the F/stop Guru with medium pro ICU

Mine held a gripped 5D3, 70-200 IS USM II on camera
135L, 100L, and 24-70L and the top of the bag held all the lens hoods inside each other, room for plenty spares too.

Hard to get Medium ICU's at the moment but the bags are available around £90 and ICU on ebay for £60

Absolute quality bags. My best bag by far, the compartment to get to your camera is at your back so nobody cab touch it without pulling it off your back. I don't like ones where someone could unzip it and remove anything.
 
LBJNBA said:
Whats your price range?

Look into the F/stop Guru with medium pro ICU

Mine held a gripped 5D3, 70-200 IS USM II on camera
135L, 100L, and 24-70L and the top of the bag held all the lens hoods inside each other, room for plenty spares too.

Hard to get Medium ICU's at the moment but the bags are available around £90 and ICU on ebay for £60

Absolute quality bags. My best bag by far, the compartment to get to your camera is at your back so nobody cab touch it without pulling it off your back. I don't like ones where someone could unzip it and remove anything.
Click to expand...

sub-£100 really, don't mind second hand.
perfect setup would be to drop 2x bodies with 24-70 + 70-200 attached, as it means I don't have to put them together on site (at concerts, that's usually in the dark and probably quite dusty!)
 
I can’t wear a backpack at the moment and have a Speed Freak and a Speed Racer which are waist bags that convert to shoulder - made by ThinkTAnk - love their bags. Snapperstuff distribute and no, I don’t work for them! Worth a look.
 
UaeExile said:
You've just set me off wanting a black Hadley Pro Small again :banghead:
Click to expand...

Black Hadley Small user here! I love it, I can't stress enough how well the bag is made and how much it fits for something so small (Mu43 user here)
 
doodalon said:
Black Hadley Small user here! I love it, I can't stress enough how well the bag is made and how much it fits for something so small (Mu43 user here)
Click to expand...

I got the ONA Brixton, which I love, but I've always wanted a Hadley. Might have to scratch the itch soon :D
 
It took me over 2-3 years until I took the plunge and ordered the Billingham Hadley Pro and then Small. Through those 2-3 years, I went through a few bags, around 4-5, which I never completely fell in love with. The closest bag to loving was a cheap ACME Union Photo messenger bag. It was really compact and light and fit everything I needed it to... but it wasn't a Billingham...

I think all the other bags cost me a similar total to that of the Billingham, so really I kinda wasted my money on them.
 
I find bags to be the most personal thing of all. No one bag suits everything, hence I have quite a selection. It's always difficult to imagine your gear in a bag so best advice would be to go somewhere to try them out. Problem is that these days there's not so many specialists on everyone's doorstep.

I have a billingham 203 which I love for one body and two lenses but sometimes wish I had a bigger version.
 
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I found it pretty hard to find Billingham stuff, even in central London. I ended up just buying a Hadley Pro and a Small, then testing them, and then returning the one I didn't want for a refund, this being the Pro one.
 
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