golf007sd said:
The other bag that I maybe getting is the Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW.

Cheers...

I have Pro Trekker 600 AW. Very comfortable, holds everything, including your sandwiches

golf007sd said:

The other bag that I maybe getting is the Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW.

I have that, it is 'ok' but not a total solution in any way.

proudgeek said:
+1 on the sling. Holds tons of stuff and provides easy access to your camera. If you plan ahead in the way you arrange your interior dividers, it can also provide easy access to lenses.
I own a Kata. I've carried a body, four lenses and a laptop, as well as filters and other personal gear when traveling. It also comes with an optional attachment for a tripod.
Obviously when you're just cruising around town with a lens or two it's overkill, so I'm sort of quasi-looking for a smaller backpack (one that can accommodate a body with a 70-200).

Have a look at the Case Logic SLRC-206. It has room for my 70-200mm (usually attached to my D7000) 24-70, 35mm, 50mm, 10.5 fish eye, 1.7x telec, SB-800 (if not I take along my 105mm macro). It has two velcro stap's on one side that allow me to attache my tripod or monopod. This setup and my Black Rapid RS-7 and I'm good to go.

The other bag that I maybe getting is the Lowepro Pro Trekker 400 AW.

Cheers...

Slings - after hiking for 4 hours and about 7 miles I walked at an angle for a week and was sore for two. Now I'll use it for short walks or a destination bag, not much else though.

+1 on the sling. Holds tons of stuff and provides easy access to your camera. If you plan ahead in the way you arrange your interior dividers, it can also provide easy access to lenses.
I own a Kata. I've carried a body, four lenses and a laptop, as well as filters and other personal gear when traveling. It also comes with an optional attachment for a tripod.
Obviously when you're just cruising around town with a lens or two it's overkill, so I'm sort of quasi-looking for a smaller backpack (one that can accommodate a body with a 70-200).

Two thinks I always fight with are weight and quick access.

In my mind it comes down to how much weight are you going to have to carry continuously.

If you are moving for 3+ hours, you need something that distributes the weight like a good belt-pack or backpack.

For anything less, it's how often you need to get into the bag. If you need to switch lenses often, I found a shoulder bag works better.

So far no one mentioned lowepro Fastpack? I don't find it being recommended often in bag discussion, however, i found it as a good compromise between a shoulder bag and a backpack. Not so much for a fast lens change, but I found the side opening handy for a quick access. I wanted a back that comfortable for a long day use and provide me an easy access to grab my camera. The bag is divided into 2 compartments, the buttom part can fit a pro body+70-200 attached, few lenses and flash(es). I usually put other stuff on the upper compartment i.e filters, little accesories, jumper and whatnot. it also has a space designed to place a laptop.

Not sure if it was me or the bag, but I have not fancy other bag to date (other than looking for a better bag in the same design).

lowepro sling

sevencrossing said:
I think you need both

Proper Backpack for long hikes

Shoulder bag if you want to change lenses quickly

the slingshot is a poor compromise, uncomfortable on long hikes, not that quick for changing lanes

Hmmm, makes sense - now you've got me thinking again. Just when I thought I had it settled....

TaoTeJared said:
I have 8 bags, 3 backpacks, 1 sling, and a slew of belt attachments. And I'm still looking for the bag I want.

This conundrum never ends.

I have three shoulder bags and a flight case (case lives in the trunk of my car when I am on an assignment). The case came with a huge Nikon "steal me" sticker on it (why it stays in the trunk of the car)...

There is also a backpack that I have just never got to like...

I have 8 bags, 3 backpacks, 1 sling, and a slew of belt attachments. And I'm still looking for the bag I want.

This conundrum never ends.

Ok so maybe I do need both!

I think you need both

Proper Backpack for long hikes

Shoulder bag if you want to change lenses quickly

the slingshot is a poor compromise, uncomfortable on long hikes, not that quick for changing lanes

A lot of time I dont use a bag, preferring The Think Tank lens chargers and a belt and harness

I have a giant backpack bag that I use to get everything in as a studio bag, but I hate it. When I and walking around or shooting an event I like to have a shoulder bag. Even when I carry around two bodies three lenses and two flashes I like the shoulder bag better when I walk around.

Anaxagoras said:
Me too. I like shoulder bags but I've had my sling-bag quite a while now and it's proved a really good compromise. I'm very pleased with it and will likely swap it for the later model (now with tripod holder!) soon.

Perhaps it's old-age, but I never carry much equipment with me these days. I work out what I think I might need and take only the very minimum. I might put a few extra items into the car 'just-in-case'.

Yes, there are risks; yes, I do get it wrong occasionally, although surprisingly not very often. Yes, it does make me think/plan ahead, what I want to shoot, how, and why. And only once has it caused me real tears - lack of fill-flash one very sunny day (the built-in flash wasn't up to the job).

I do much the same. I have a much smaller bag that I often carry around and I hope I have what I need with me. Sometimes, it's nice to go out less burdened.....

If I'm hiking, I prefer to use a proper non-photo backpack, with selected photo gear in various individual packs inside it. My camera is carried in a Lowpro Toploader Zoom, with a cheap caribiner-type clip that attaches it to a shoulder strap of the backpack for quick access.

I have never liked bespoke photo backpacks as I've never seen one with enough space for the non-photo stuff I need to carry, like waterproofs, food, and water.

rbrylawski said:
Have you considered a slingback? I recently purchased a Lowepro Slingback. It offers many of the advantages of a backpack and shoulder bag, but is (at least to me) more flexible as it permits moving the bag around front very quickly to retrieve my camera.

Me too. I like shoulder bags but I've had my sling-bag quite a while now and it's proved a really good compromise. I'm very pleased with it and will likely swap it for the later model (now with tripod holder!) soon.

Perhaps it's old-age, but I never carry much equipment with me these days. I work out what I think I might need and take only the very minimum. I might put a few extra items into the car 'just-in-case'.

Yes, there are risks; yes, I do get it wrong occasionally, although surprisingly not very often. Yes, it does make me think/plan ahead, what I want to shoot, how, and why. And only once has it caused me real tears - lack of fill-flash one very sunny day (the built-in flash wasn't up to the job).

All depends upon the equipment you need (or want) to carry, the conditions of that carry (backpack keeps the weight close to your body and under control for climbing, etc), the length of that carry (going to carry into the gym or some other site and then set down? shoulder pack works best since you can easily fip the top flap back to swap bodies or lenses), etc.

Don't forget the fanny pack. It works well when you are carrying a minimum outfit.

I have even used just an elastic chord tied around my chest to hold the camera on my chest for very quick access when hiking and when taking only one camera with zoom lens attached. Just tie a large loop in one end of an elastic strap, put the loop over the camera lens, put the elastic chord around your back and tie it to the other side of the loop under some pressure. This keeps your camera from banging around and all you do is lift the loop over the lens to free the camera for shooting. Simple and lowest possible weight.

I'd say it depends on how much you are going to stick in it and how long you are going to be walking for. I think the biggest issues is that it will carry everything you need, and that it is comfortable, with price being a less dominant issue For me, I use a shoulder bag for most stuff, but if I'm going to be walking all day, I'll have to carry a backpack. It might be different for you.

http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=89&page=3

7 pages worth

Me: Small set up (1 body 2-3 primes)- shoulder bag, back pack for everything else.

For long hikes / general carrying I use a Lowepro AW300 or whatever their giant hiking sort of pack is... keeps a ton of camera gear and I could even see using it as an overnight camping pack with some stuff lashed to the outside. Until I got my Black Rapid strap the shoulder bag I had left me sore, having most of the weight to one side. Now that I have a Black Rapid and have the camera on my right side and shoulder bag on my left side, using a shoulder bag even all day on my feet (unless I need to carry more than it can hold) is much more comfortable.

I prefer rollers and shoulders. Think Tank makes a great bag. I'd recommend the Retrospective 30. An absolute beauty.

I have a medium size backpack and would not get another. I will get a slingback next time for the reasons stated above.

My wife got me the Lowpro flipside 300. I thought it would be a little weird at first, but after using it I love it. Fits 4-5 lenses and a body plus other stuff. It zips on the side that faces your back. It is nice so that when you pick your bag up you don't accidentally dump your stuff if you forgot to zip it up. Also it keeps anyone from being able to open the bag from the back while you are walking around.

Have you considered a slingback? I recently purchased a Lowepro Slingback. It offers many of the advantages of a backpack and shoulder bag, but is (at least to me) more flexible as it permits moving the bag around front very quickly to retrieve my camera.