I'm not a photographer, I'm a musician. However, I LOVE this channel! I'm learning so much, but what I enjoy most is the chemistry between Chris and Jordan, these bros are hilarious! I appreciate that his is not a channel of clinical and stuffy reviews. You fellas are great!
Chris with a machete and his kids sketcher. lol One of the things that bothers me about shoulder bags that you didn't test is their tendency to tip over when you set them down. My current one will dump the contents and get dirty. They should outlaw velcro. If you ever do an event work and need to silently get gear out of the bag...
The bags I tested other than the Lowepro did have a case of the tipsies. The Peak is especially prone to this. Now the latch is solid so I wasn't worried.
Think Tank has come up with the best velcro flap solution imo. I don’t use my Ret 5 much anymore, but man, the flap system worked so well. I left a little velcro exposed allowing the flap to stay closed, and then just the slightest rip sound when opening.
@@SL-jo4om as an owner of a Tenba messenger with the silent velcro feature, I’d have to say the Think Tank is still much better due to the level of control the user has on the amount of velcro being used. My Tenba makes loads of noise unless I engage the silent feature perfectly, which does not happen when I’m on the move.
@@buddyWalrus I have a Think Tank Retrospective, which I no longer use. Reducing the amount of velcro noise is nice but cumbersome and also results in a slightly less secure bag. I prefer having the velcro always secure AND always acceptably silent. I might use the Think Tank if absolute silence was required.
Chris, you’re right: most of us began with a LowePro. And some of us stick with it still! After twenty some years I’ve yet to wear one out, so now I own six LowePros. My only complaint against the brand is that they discontinue so many excellent bags, and often with no obvious replacement. P.S. a camera bag shouldn’t be sexy - it should be so unsexy that nobody would steal it.
I have the Peak Design and a Vanguard (not the one tested). I want to like the Peak for its style, but I usually take the Vanguard. It just works better for me. The Peak seems pinched where I want space, hard to access when I want easy access. I have a small Wotancraft for use with small kit. Great bags. Good review, enjoy your show.
Another great real world review with added entertainment, a wonderful combination. Other bag reviewers should take note, it's important to see what fits and how well rather than a time wasting tour of an empty bag!
During the last twenty I made several attempts to replace my old Domke F2 with something better. But incidentally I still grab the Domke for anything which will fit inside. I waxed, washed and rewaxed it several times, took it to the beach without the inserts but filled with towels, water, food and books just this very day and it does much more. It looks like crap but still fits like a glove, gets bigger or smaller as needed as there are no hard inserts dictating how it fits to your body. The hooks are not as easy to work with as anyone would love but 20 years of trouble-free usage is an asset not many types of locks will give you. Old but hardly surpassed!
Kind of surprised that Jordan isn't including a dedicated audio recorder in his kit. Looking at that Vanguard bag, or the slightly smaller model, the 36.
I have both a Tenba DNA 13 and a DNA 15, after trying out virtually every shoulder bag in the stores. I started with the 13 but when I had to start taking a larger laptop, I switched to the 15. Now I carry the 13 when I don't carry my laptop for the lightest load. Either works well as an under-the-seat carry-on as well. Perfect bags for me! I love that I can slip an l-bracket between the outside of the back and the cushioned cube interior and keep everything safe and convenient.
I love the Wotancraft brand. I got their Trooper just before the Pilot series was released. It’s a bit heavier due to use of leather, but it is very functional and has a nicely balanced, understated luxurious aesthetic. Looks and works great both in the city and on the trail. The Pilot bag has a far superior bottle carry option though, almost tempted to get it just for that.
I would argue there is no reason for regret. The Trooper series is just awesome. I don't think there is a better, more beautiful shoulder bag out there. I just moved from Fuji back to Canon and my biggest regret is that the Trooper S is no longer a particularly useful size. The M still works great though.
I used to love this kind of bags, but every time after buying realized that it just kills my shoulder fully packed. So, I switched to a backpack. Even 6L Peak Design Everyday Sling - not the biggest one - packed with heavy gear after a full day becomes a burden. Can't imagine wearing a 10L Sling fully packed the whole day. And definitely, 13L Peak Design Everyday Messenger bag when packed with gear is just too heavy for one shoulder. 6L Sling is the best option for a light day carry. I used to think that buying a bigger bag doesn't mean I would pack it in full and the size would just give me additional freedom-in vain. Every single time a bigger bag was fully packed or even overpacked and was killing my shoulder. So, now I limit the weight with a bag size. Now I mostly use Peak Design 6L Sling for a light day carry or 30L Backpack for more demanding tasks. Anything in between is an awkward size: shoulder bags are too big, 20L backpack is too small.
These are good points , I have a couple of older Thinktank retrospectives , they have huge shoulder pads.. The later ones look a little more versatile but I’ve used the 30 for events and never had any trouble getting gear in and out but they are hard on the shoulders if you have too much gear over a few hours. On the other hand for street when I get by with just one lens and camera they are great for their very “not a camera bag” look. I went back to a small backpack for anything in the real outdoors (a Lowepro Flipside 400AWii) although honestly I don’t use the Flipside feature unless its wet underfoot. It has a slot for a tablet or thin laptop but I never take these in the field anyway. Certainly a lot better balanced on the shoulders and being retired lacking the strength I had in my younger days. Less is definite more, for me now !! I do have a sling bag as well but being a dyslexic I have trouble getting it on because I could never remember which way around to put it over my head and feel a dick in public wrestling a tiny bag :)
Same for MFT camera and two lenses (Tenba 7), but to be honest it's quite expensive for very basic minimalistic bag. It does not have rain coat, mesh pocket under the lid is completely useless cause everything falls out of it, shoulder strap has no padding. But it looks quite good and it works. My old LowePro is quite heavy itself and some rubber parts are falling apart after 8 or 10 years of use.
I went thru the slingbag options 6 months ago. And considered many of the bags shown. But one of my criteria was fitting a D500 with 70-200 f2.8 & zoom like my Tamron 100-400 G2 with lens hoods attached laid horizontally no fuss ready to grab and shoot. As can grab complete setup ready to grab and go in 2 seconds. Many of these newer bags failed for that need. Ended up with a Think Tank Sling-O-Matic 20L that was $140 and discontinued. But found slightly used for $70. Can change sling configuration quickly to left or right shoulder. Sliding off shoulder to waist open compartment nice steady platform for changing lens. Or pulling out the D500 beast with f2.8 zoom lens ready to shoot. Which fits nicely horizontally. The problem for me with backpacks is the delay from getting to gear and lengthy process of swapping out lens,etc... Messenger bags was what I used for years but found their limitations also annoying. Found most sling bags to small for my needs. But the Sling-O-matic perfect blend of size and function for fiddle free fast shooting when needed.
Agree with Jordan that the Urban Disguise is the best shoulder bag. My first Thinktank was a UD70, that made me switch from Lowepro and later add an Airport Takeoff, Navigator, Logistics Manager 30, Shapeshifter 17 and Turnstyle 20.
They also have the Capture Clip with perfect spots to place it so that your camera is easily accessible outside the bag and frees up more space inside.
@@niccollsvideo if you can drill a hole for a threaded 1/4-20 hole into the handle or the guard, then yeah....a capture clip would work perfectly. Plus there's literally a travel tripod holder built into the underside of the top fold that would fit most camping/ travel size machetes with ease.
The biggest thing I look for in a camera bag is something that doesn't look like a camera bag. The second thing I look for is a bag with an 18% grey inner liner.
The 18% gray liner is an interesting thing to look for. Do you actually find yourself using it in the field when you shoot? If so, do you still shoot film? I used to look for lens cloths in 18% gray.
This made me chuckle a bit as I had just purchased the 10L Wotancraft bag today after walking around Manhattan with my PD 6L sling and realizing it just did not have enough space. Well done video
I have 3 Lowepro, 2 ThinkTank, 3 Vanguard. Bought Vanguard recently, instantly like them and will add some more in my collection. Well priced, smart design, decent protection, surprisingly durable for a guy like me who always overloads my bag. Vanguards wins.
#suggestion Bellingham S3. It’s a very iconic over the shoulder bag I use with my film cameras (Contax iiia, Rollieflex T, and Pentax Spotmatic). Love the look, comfortable and carries quite well all I need for a day out shooting). PS: I KNOW this is DP Review (as in digital), but sometimes you need to give out a little analog love!). Good review today!
I have the Vanguard bag and love it. I keep my camera gear in the top compartment and drone in the bottom. Great for event coverage and run-n-gun shooting. It’s my favorite field bag.
The Vanguard comes with a matching fanny pack, dad jeans, and a pair of white New Balance shoes. It may be a great bag, but it looks like it was designed by the people that designed Dodge/Chrysler minivans from the 1990s. 😂😂
In the UK Vanguard are a seller of cheap/modestly priced hand luggage. I didn't know that they had branched out into "bags" but then I haven't looked at them lately. To me $100 is still a high price.
I use the Think Tank Retrospective 30 because I like to carry a lot of gear, and I love that I can fit my R5, 14-24, 24-105, 70-200, and two other lenses such as a 35/1.4 and 85/2 macro, plus tons of room in the front pouches for adapters, filters, extension tubes, cards, etc. I also like that I can fit all that gear and have any of the lenses mounted to the camera and it all still fits. Plus it's comfortable and durable.
I have a discontinued LowePro Pro Messenger 180 AW which has a fatal flaw: when wearing it, the straps pull the top edges of the bag inward, causing the entry to the main pouch to sort of collapse in on itself, so I always have to use two hands to remove and insert lenses. Does the Retrospective 30 hold its shape well so that you can simply put a lens inside without having to spread it open with the other hand?
Thanks for the thorough review! I'm curious about the computers though. Chris, what do you use the tablet for in the field? Jordan, same question about the laptop? Also, for anyone having trouble with the strap slipping, rub some silicone sealant onto the area it usually falls on your shoulder. Let it cure of course and it will be nice and grippy.
I never expected a bag review to contain the phrase "like an old burlap sack in the Great War", but when you think about it, that's what the Think Tank Retrospective looks like. In fairness, though, the Retrospective is a nice bag, though a little heavy (at least the Version 1 model that I have). I like Think Tank products, but it's nice to have a real world and real look view of these bags. Thanks Chris and Jordan! You are entertaining and informative. Great work as always.
Most camera bag reviews no longer have the power to part me from my money. I have used the Domke F4 AF Pro bag for YEARS. I love the form factor, the huge pockets (I'm a girl) the slip pocket on the back for my phone and papers, and the front pocket for everything else. Canvas that hugs my side and isn't too huge. TONS of padding and my favorite places in this bag are the slots between the padded compartments to keep my Swiss Army Knife, batteries ND filter for reflections, and mirror compact. This bag holds an incredible amount of gear and personal items with no bulging.
I get how not having a dedicated pocket for a machete can be a deal breaker on the Peak Design bag but why not just strap it down with the tripod straps? Of course, now you'll just have to carry that damn tripod but, then again, isn't that Jordan's thing?
I don't get camera bags. The first thing I did with my camera bag was to take scissors to the top flap and cut it off. Now I can pull my camera out without having to open the stupid flap. My next problem is my new camera: a 1981 Hasselblad 500CM with a 50/4.0 Distagon CF. So far, the only thing I've found to do with it is my gym bag. It rests on my sweats. It's the only bag I have that has a wide enough shoulder strap that I can stand the weight of the camera. You'd think an FF mirrorless with 3 primes would feel just as heavy, but the 'blad is a real clunker... Translation: Hey! Thanks for the reviews!!!
Bet you didn’t know that under the front slide through on the Wotancraft, there is a hidden zipper mesh pocket for valuables, passport etc I got this bag and it’s the best bag I’ve ever used……
Security might have been covered a little. LowePro's brand is very well known as specifically camera-geared (see what I did there) and the bag screams "steal me" unfortunately. Sneaky hands is usually more a backpack issue than shoulder bag but the loud velcro on my Retrospective 30 is a feature in that respect, and it's great that it then can be silenced for shooting at a wedding or other quiet situation. All that aside, filling any of these bags fully and carrying the weight all day on one shoulder can be a serious pain short term and cause an injury long term so people should keep that in mind, especially with larger bags. My Retrospective is mostly a "car bag" for the cameras. The camera then stays on the shoulder, with the additional gear and options I need in a backpack for a shootday.
That last bit is important. I had a messenger bag and whilst it wasn’t so bad when it was loaded with smaller gear, when it is loaded with a larger, “pro”-oriented kit and a laptop, it gets very heavy, and putting that on one shoulder, even on a sling, gets very painful after a while. I like the smaller ones because they work great for smaller, simpler kits that usually incorporate a body with an attached lens and a second lens, but the bigger ones are what I haven’t been big on due to that reason I mentioned on that first bit.
Three thoughts: 1. Think Tank's Urban Disguise series was great. I also hate that they discontinued it. 2. Think Tank's Retrospective series seems to have replaced it. Most people seem to love the Retrospective bags. I think they're hideous. 3. Wotancraft's shoulder bags are just awesome. I own two different sizes in the Trooper series. I've never owned a bag I've liked better.
Yeah, I would have liked to see a Billingham bag. I used to lust after one in their Sage canvas with Chocolate trim. At the time I was looking, they were chronically out of stock. Then I discovered the Wotancraft Trooper and I've never looked longingly at another shoulder bag since. I am, however, always looking at new backpacks.
I would still prefer the older generation Temba DNA Messenger bags. Also has a top opening system and they have magnetic buckles that work great. I've had this bag for many years and use it daily. Still going strong!
I was never blown away by my Wotancraft. It just felt like a brand making a solid bag that wanted you to feel like it was some Gucci quality good. Well made, but just miserable to work out of. I’ve yet to find a bag that is better for active work than my Domke, it just does the job and never feels too heavy, even with a full set of medium format gear. I love my Peak Design when I’m mostly traveling and need more protection than convenience, but most days it’s a Domke for me. Sold my Wotan, Billingham, Ona, etc.
Interesting. I love my Wotancraft bags (a Trooper M and a Trooper S). Best shoulder bags I've ever owned, functionally and aesthetically. Which Wotancraft bag did you own?
@@timothylinn it was a trooper M. The opening action was stiff even after being broken in, the features people liked (like the gusseted cover) were something I didn’t particularly find useful, and the bag was so stiff that it didn’t conform to the body well. The craftsmanship was also far lower than I’d find acceptable for the price, lots of untrimmed threads, the leather quality was mediocre, and similar issues. It was a pretty bag, but it wasn’t a bag I’d want to work out of, and the hubris of the brand just made it all the easier to pass on it.
I’ve the peakdesign, amazing in terms of weather resistant, space for storage (30L) but the part that connects the shoulder strap to bag does wears out and will break, same for the zipper. Bag body itself has no issue whatsoever.
@@SaniyaKhan-ru5dr i have owned a few. And currently my lighter camera loadout goes in the Hadley Pro. And my bigger loadout in the Wandrd Prvk 31. Both are lasting me years now without any complaints.
I am on the fence also for a new shoulder bag and really cannot make up my mind rn. For bigger jobs I love (LOVE) my old-but-still-in-excellent-condition Tamrac Pro12. The lovely thing is: it fits everything bar the kitchen sink. The downside is: it fits everything bar the kitchen sink, which may or may not have resulted in me WAY overpacking for what I was doing. So something a little smaller is called for. This video gave me a few more ideas, so thanks a bunch! :-)
Excellent, excellent, one of the few reviews that consider the need for a security measure against "urban heavy foliage" that might want to creep on yer gear; Great Chris Although that machete is rather small and curved downwards, seems more like an asian Gurkha Knife made to cut through pesky foliage from underhand positions
I've tested the LowePro MG160, and for the life of it I couldn't fit my equipment in it, and the dividers were really hard to remove. After an hour, I decided to return it and went for the Tenba Messenger
Love my Peak Design, and that I grabbed the sale price of $180 Typically load it out with my Z6 + Tamron 35mm 1.4 and an 85mm 1.8, either my Rolleicord TLR or Voightlander Bessa II, some extra film and batteries as well miscellaneous things like lens wipes and hand sanitizer. Thanks to the Peak Design Capture Clip, if I REALLY want to weigh myself down, I sometimes toss my F100 in the bag and my Z6 with a lens on the clip. Alternatively I even take my 4x5 large format setup out with it. 4-5 loaded film holders, light meter, mini notebook, 210mm tele lens or 90mm, dark cloth, hand sanitizer and more miscellaneous. My camera goes on the tripod with the 150mm lens and I half extend the tripod for easy carrying on my shoulder/ fast setup for my shot.
Think Tank Retrospective 10 is about as large as I would want to go... DJI Air2s, controller, two spare batteries, three Go Pro's with two car mounts, and a mini tripod. Room to spare for accessory bag, small tablet, and a small vlog camera. Camera only... replace drone/go pro with D610 with 24-70 with room for a 70-200 in the guts of bag would fit easily but limit useable storage for anything else.
Great review. However, I am a fan of the "old school" camera bags - the Crumpler brand of canvas bags. I generally buy them used online for less than $40 and I now have several of various sizes (6 Million dollar bag, 7 Million Dollar Bag, etc.). Yep, I go cheap on used quality bags - so I can use the $$ that I saved for buying camera and lenses.
Jordan I just bought a manfrotto messenger bag and am carrying almost every item you are. My only saving grace is my kit is Mini. The mini 3 drone a G95 a 12.4 tablet the headphones have to get a long lens though and a mic
Such a shame Think Tank discontinued the Urban Disguise collection. The top flap opening away from the user is so critical for quick access to the gear. The Retrospective looks a handful with the top flap needing some chin action.
Than for an excellent review. I own Sling10L and Backpack30L of Peak design for Nikon systems, and well manageable. Only my struggle occasionally is Sling10L, which doesn't fit for all my gears, I.e. need to choose wide oriented, or tele photo.
You could have used the external carry straps on the peak design bag to strap your machete on, hey?! Thanks for the great video, informative and entertaining as always!
I've completely abandoned using shoulder bags. It doesn't matter how well designed they are they always have all that metal and glass weight on one shoulder and it just wrecks my back day after day after day.
Loved this review. I'm a backpack guy and it works best for 99.9% of the type of Photography I like to do. That being said, I have been looking for a shoulder bag for those rare occasions that it makes more sense for a shoulder bag. I'm even more surprised that I 100% agreed with your picks (among the 6 six bags that is, excluding the discontinued one 🤣🤷♂️). I also get why he happily accepted that bag, you like what like and it's depressing and soul crushing that you can no longer replace it after you wear it out. It has happened to me many times over the years, always wished I was able to buy a stock pile of it so I and my great-great-grandkids would be able to have a supply of it😁🤘🤷♂️😉! Another great review guys!👏👏👏
My friend vouched for his original Think Tank Retrospective which made me get a Think Tank Retrospective 7 V2, but after 2 years of daily driving my bag I wore through the outer canvas layer entirely on the spots where it rubbed against my hip and butt, there is still a nylon layer beneath that I don't think will be damaged by friction so techniquely it still functions fine but that's quite disappointing given the price tag imho. Also too bad you guys couldn't get Billingham and Domke into this video, they make great classic bags that definitely age much better than my recent Think Tank.
Great video! I have a Think Tank 20 bag, and its very hard/impossible to get something in or out of this fabric, squishy, cool looking, side camera bags. In reality, you have to stop what you're doing, get it off your shoulder, and extract the, say, lens you need, etc etc.
What responsible adult let you 2 fools play with a machete? As a big fan of timbuk2 bags, you guys should look at generic padded inserts to fit non-camera specific bags. Because sometimes great bags don't look like camera bags and sometimes the think tank Urban Disguise is just the right look. And why is Chris wearing gloves in the summer?
After loading up the bags all of the following tests should have been carried out with the bags loaded. It's the only way to test access and handling when on the move. Most people will take items of kit out with the bag on the floor or some sort of support be it table or bench. At the cost of some ultimate protection a floppy bag like the Wotan will always be more comfortable and travel better than the rigid boxy ones. That one has "outdoors" as a leading feature. Best one for the woods where DPR often test.
Great video. I had more bags than I could fit in my closet! Always looking for the perfect one! I had to donate some to a HS camera club. I finally settled with a Think Tank Retro bag--for now!😀
I actually love my Peak Design 10L sling (V1). pretty comfortably fits my Tamron 28-75, 70-180, Sigma Art 50 1.4, a9, and my tablet. Outer pocket can hold batteries/filters as well without intruding on the interior space. I've fit a xt2s transmitter in there as well when I was fitting a speedlight into the main compartment. Just a surprising amount of space in such a small bag.
I must admit I'm pretty old school with bags... I've been using a Billingham Hadley Pro for the last 6 months or so.. I did use a Wotancraft Trooper for a year or so before that...but I've just ordered a Domke 803 messenger style bag.. as I like the way the canvas patinas.. All these bags are great for a couple of Fuji camera and my daily junk..
The front pockets feels like if I run or move quickly will spill the contents out? Like if smaller items such as battery etc were inside. Does it? Btw is there any way to carry this bag with a tripod along? I’ve been quite interested with their looks but always hesitated with the design usefulness.
@@HwL01 Hi there, I take it you mean the Billingham?? No nothing falls out of the pockets as long as you keep them snapped shut. It is a nice bag, small and perfect for a Fuji or Leica set up.. Quality is lovely and they look cool..but they are pretty pricey. Not really a bag I would choose if I needed a tripod.. here I'd go for a back pack.. The last well, my first Billingham is over 30 years old.. I like to swap around my bags from time to time.. hence the reason I just ordered the Domke...
Where is the bigger shoulder bags? I dont see it... For example Cullmann Amsterdam Maxima 520 ... which can store lot of things... 2 big DSLR's with Grip and lot of glasses...
Cheers gread video. I actually found my best camera carrying setup after yerars. I am using an insert for my hiking bakcpack from Deuter. Very simple, by far the lightes option to go and fits everything nicely. I tested the Tenba (which I ended up using), one from the compay URTH that aquired or changed the name from GOBE and the PEAK Design insert. Anyway good video. liked all of your comparision vidoes so far. In my opinion the best way to caryy a camera with a few lenses the insert is the best way. As camera gear backpacks are way to heavy with all the features they come with. It took years to figure out that I do not need them. Good hiking backpack + insert + small tech pouch is all that I need to carry camera + lenses + batteries + filters etc.
What I really don't like about most of the bags on the market (which also isn't addressed in the video, actually quite the opposite) is the assumption that most people carry one camera with two or three zoom lenses. Pretty much any bag can handle that. Form owning and using a few bags with different styles, here are a few combinations they often can't handle: 1) One small camera with 4-5 small prime lenses and maybe one zoom (Often not enough compartments and the compartments are just too large and the lenses will dance around inside them) 2) Two cameras with 4-5 small primes, both cameras with one lens mounted (think one film camera and one digital, same issue as above. Some people need more compartments that are smaller) 3) Two rather long telephotos (Most bags will handle one telephoto, whether it's mounted on the camera or not. Not all of them can handle two long lenses when one is mounted on the camera. There are probably many other scenarios that I can't think of right now. None of these are due to the bags lacking enough space, it's an issue of design and space management.
Love the bags in this video but I wish there were more varieties for women who want a cute looking camera backpack or shoulder bags that don't scream "I got a camera with me"
Love the wotancraft bag - very modifiable with the additional pouches and full of suprising storage areas! I love using the additional pouches as stand alone lens bags or a small shoulder bag for phone, etc. So that the whole heavy bag can be left in the car when necessary.
I recently switched to a Saddleback leather big mouth duffle bag and cover my camera gear using padded lens wraps. I really like the lens wraps as they allow me to use pretty much any bag I want.
Which backpacks and/or shoulder bags are best for carrying a 24-30 inch tripod, not a compact travel tripod? I usually wind up carrying one separately. I prefer shoulder bags, and typically carry a 1Dx with the holy trinity.
I use bags for storing gear. I start shooting I'm wearing a lowepro gear vest and lowepro cases and cotton carrier chest and belt holsters. I want my gear close at hand. No digging through a bag.
I like the look of that Wotancraft (Is that the 7l or 10 as you said it's the smallest and 10l?) a lot, as shoulder bags, for me, are just for small urban kit, they need to be able to hold a small water bottle and occasionally a jacket outside. It helps that it looks good and not too camera bag. My current choice is the Compagnon Element 11 and there are a lot of similarities. The roll top on that is versatile.
Billingham Bags. You have gotta get a Billingham aka Billi Bag. The Hadley, Hadley Pro and Hadley One are the BEST bags PERIOD!!!! Quality materials Waterproof Timeless looks Bulletproof design Removable padded camera dividers
For me it's not so much as which bags you reviewed but the comments and what you look for in the bags. Some of the things I've never though of to check you mentioned. I'm happy to know that I'm the only one that carries a machete on photo shoots.
I'm not a photographer, I'm a musician. However, I LOVE this channel! I'm learning so much, but what I enjoy most is the chemistry between Chris and Jordan, these bros are hilarious! I appreciate that his is not a channel of clinical and stuffy reviews. You fellas are great!
big fan of chris and jordan as well. muso as well. j.
@@djrbfmbfm-woa thats wassup! Stay creative :D
I am much more interested in the entertainment aspect of DPReview videos than the actual information.. Chris and Jordan have the best chemistry!
Chris with a machete and his kids sketcher. lol
One of the things that bothers me about shoulder bags that you didn't test is their tendency to tip over when you set them down. My current one will dump the contents and get dirty. They should outlaw velcro. If you ever do an event work and need to silently get gear out of the bag...
The bags I tested other than the Lowepro did have a case of the tipsies. The Peak is especially prone to this. Now the latch is solid so I wasn't worried.
Think Tank has come up with the best velcro flap solution imo. I don’t use my Ret 5 much anymore, but man, the flap system worked so well. I left a little velcro exposed allowing the flap to stay closed, and then just the slightest rip sound when opening.
@@buddyWalrus Best velcro solution is Tenba's "silent" version.
@@SL-jo4om as an owner of a Tenba messenger with the silent velcro feature, I’d have to say the Think Tank is still much better due to the level of control the user has on the amount of velcro being used. My Tenba makes loads of noise unless I engage the silent feature perfectly, which does not happen when I’m on the move.
@@buddyWalrus I have a Think Tank Retrospective, which I no longer use. Reducing the amount of velcro noise is nice but cumbersome and also results in a slightly less secure bag. I prefer having the velcro always secure AND always acceptably silent. I might use the Think Tank if absolute silence was required.
Chris, you’re right: most of us began with a LowePro. And some of us stick with it still! After twenty some years I’ve yet to wear one out, so now I own six LowePros.
My only complaint against the brand is that they discontinue so many excellent bags, and often with no obvious replacement.
P.S. a camera bag shouldn’t be sexy - it should be so unsexy that nobody would steal it.
I have the Peak Design and a Vanguard (not the one tested). I want to like the Peak for its style, but I usually take the Vanguard. It just works better for me. The Peak seems pinched where I want space, hard to access when I want easy access.
I have a small Wotancraft for use with small kit. Great bags.
Good review, enjoy your show.
Another great real world review with added entertainment, a wonderful combination. Other bag reviewers should take note, it's important to see what fits and how well rather than a time wasting tour of an empty bag!
During the last twenty I made several attempts to replace my old Domke F2 with something better. But incidentally I still grab the Domke for anything which will fit inside. I waxed, washed and rewaxed it several times, took it to the beach without the inserts but filled with towels, water, food and books just this very day and it does much more. It looks like crap but still fits like a glove, gets bigger or smaller as needed as there are no hard inserts dictating how it fits to your body. The hooks are not as easy to work with as anyone would love but 20 years of trouble-free usage is an asset not many types of locks will give you. Old but hardly surpassed!
Kind of surprised that Jordan isn't including a dedicated audio recorder in his kit. Looking at that Vanguard bag, or the slightly smaller model, the 36.
I've been loving the Tenba DNA slim. I like that it doesn't scream "camera bag," the velcro is quiet, and has solid hardware. Worth every penny.
I have both a Tenba DNA 13 and a DNA 15, after trying out virtually every shoulder bag in the stores. I started with the 13 but when I had to start taking a larger laptop, I switched to the 15. Now I carry the 13 when I don't carry my laptop for the lightest load. Either works well as an under-the-seat carry-on as well. Perfect bags for me! I love that I can slip an l-bracket between the outside of the back and the cushioned cube interior and keep everything safe and convenient.
I love the Wotancraft brand. I got their Trooper just before the Pilot series was released. It’s a bit heavier due to use of leather, but it is very functional and has a nicely balanced, understated luxurious aesthetic. Looks and works great both in the city and on the trail.
The Pilot bag has a far superior bottle carry option though, almost tempted to get it just for that.
I would argue there is no reason for regret. The Trooper series is just awesome. I don't think there is a better, more beautiful shoulder bag out there. I just moved from Fuji back to Canon and my biggest regret is that the Trooper S is no longer a particularly useful size. The M still works great though.
I used to love this kind of bags, but every time after buying realized that it just kills my shoulder fully packed. So, I switched to a backpack. Even 6L Peak Design Everyday Sling - not the biggest one - packed with heavy gear after a full day becomes a burden. Can't imagine wearing a 10L Sling fully packed the whole day. And definitely, 13L Peak Design Everyday Messenger bag when packed with gear is just too heavy for one shoulder.
6L Sling is the best option for a light day carry. I used to think that buying a bigger bag doesn't mean I would pack it in full and the size would just give me additional freedom-in vain. Every single time a bigger bag was fully packed or even overpacked and was killing my shoulder. So, now I limit the weight with a bag size. Now I mostly use Peak Design 6L Sling for a light day carry or 30L Backpack for more demanding tasks. Anything in between is an awkward size: shoulder bags are too big, 20L backpack is too small.
These are good points , I have a couple of older Thinktank retrospectives , they have huge shoulder pads.. The later ones look a little more versatile but I’ve used the 30 for events and never had any trouble getting gear in and out but they are hard on the shoulders if you have too much gear over a few hours. On the other hand for street when I get by with just one lens and camera they are great for their very “not a camera bag” look. I went back to a small backpack for anything in the real outdoors (a Lowepro Flipside 400AWii) although honestly I don’t use the Flipside feature unless its wet underfoot. It has a slot for a tablet or thin laptop but I never take these in the field anyway. Certainly a lot better balanced on the shoulders and being retired lacking the strength I had in my younger days. Less is definite more, for me now !! I do have a sling bag as well but being a dyslexic I have trouble getting it on because I could never remember which way around to put it over my head and feel a dick in public wrestling a tiny bag :)
Been using the tenba shoulder bag. The mini review is that everything is great but very heavy.
Same for MFT camera and two lenses (Tenba 7), but to be honest it's quite expensive for very basic minimalistic bag. It does not have rain coat, mesh pocket under the lid is completely useless cause everything falls out of it, shoulder strap has no padding. But it looks quite good and it works. My old LowePro is quite heavy itself and some rubber parts are falling apart after 8 or 10 years of use.
I went thru the slingbag options 6 months ago. And considered many of the bags shown. But one of my criteria was fitting a D500 with 70-200 f2.8 & zoom like my Tamron 100-400 G2 with lens hoods attached laid horizontally no fuss ready to grab and shoot. As can grab complete setup ready to grab and go in 2 seconds. Many of these newer bags failed for that need.
Ended up with a Think Tank Sling-O-Matic 20L that was $140 and discontinued. But found slightly used for $70. Can change sling configuration quickly to left or right shoulder. Sliding off shoulder to waist open compartment nice steady platform for changing lens. Or pulling out the D500 beast with f2.8 zoom lens ready to shoot. Which fits nicely horizontally. The problem for me with backpacks is the delay from getting to gear and lengthy process of swapping out lens,etc... Messenger bags was what I used for years but found their limitations also annoying. Found most sling bags to small for my needs. But the Sling-O-matic perfect blend of size and function for fiddle free fast shooting when needed.
Vanguard messenger bags and backpacks are epic. Absolute versatility!
The Domke F2 is the most comfortable shoulder bag I've ever used. I've tried others over the years but still have and use my F2.
Yup, for actually working out of a bag, domke is pretty unbeatable.
Agree with Jordan that the Urban Disguise is the best shoulder bag. My first Thinktank was a UD70, that made me switch from Lowepro and later add an Airport Takeoff, Navigator, Logistics Manager 30, Shapeshifter 17 and Turnstyle 20.
Doesn't peak design has those extension strap for tripod/sleeping bag? You can hold your machete or even light saber on that
Yep, and the side pouches stretch way out. I've put much bigger water bottles in mine.
They also have the Capture Clip with perfect spots to place it so that your camera is easily accessible outside the bag and frees up more space inside.
But can you put a machete in the side pouch or on a quick clip?
@@niccollsvideo if you can drill a hole for a threaded 1/4-20 hole into the handle or the guard, then yeah....a capture clip would work perfectly.
Plus there's literally a travel tripod holder built into the underside of the top fold that would fit most camping/ travel size machetes with ease.
I have a Timbuk2 large messenger style camera bag that I got on sale from B&H photo years ago for under $50 and still love it.
Biggest omission from this is the Tenba DNA messenger series. Great bags!
Should’ve added the Tenba DNA messenger! Amazing!!
The biggest thing I look for in a camera bag is something that doesn't look like a camera bag.
The second thing I look for is a bag with an 18% grey inner liner.
The 18% gray liner is an interesting thing to look for. Do you actually find yourself using it in the field when you shoot? If so, do you still shoot film? I used to look for lens cloths in 18% gray.
This made me chuckle a bit as I had just purchased the 10L Wotancraft bag today after walking around Manhattan with my PD 6L sling and realizing it just did not have enough space. Well done video
I have 3 Lowepro, 2 ThinkTank, 3 Vanguard. Bought Vanguard recently, instantly like them and will add some more in my collection. Well priced, smart design, decent protection, surprisingly durable for a guy like me who always overloads my bag. Vanguards wins.
#suggestion Bellingham S3. It’s a very iconic over the shoulder bag I use with my film cameras (Contax iiia, Rollieflex T, and Pentax Spotmatic). Love the look, comfortable and carries quite well all I need for a day out shooting).
PS: I KNOW this is DP Review (as in digital), but sometimes you need to give out a little analog love!). Good review today!
I have the Vanguard bag and love it. I keep my camera gear in the top compartment and drone in the bottom. Great for event coverage and run-n-gun shooting. It’s my favorite field bag.
The Vanguard comes with a matching fanny pack, dad jeans, and a pair of white New Balance shoes. It may be a great bag, but it looks like it was designed by the people that designed Dodge/Chrysler minivans from the 1990s. 😂😂
In the UK Vanguard are a seller of cheap/modestly priced hand luggage. I didn't know that they had branched out into "bags" but then I haven't looked at them lately. To me $100 is still a high price.
I use the Think Tank Retrospective 30 because I like to carry a lot of gear, and I love that I can fit my R5, 14-24, 24-105, 70-200, and two other lenses such as a 35/1.4 and 85/2 macro, plus tons of room in the front pouches for adapters, filters, extension tubes, cards, etc. I also like that I can fit all that gear and have any of the lenses mounted to the camera and it all still fits. Plus it's comfortable and durable.
I have a discontinued LowePro Pro Messenger 180 AW which has a fatal flaw: when wearing it, the straps pull the top edges of the bag inward, causing the entry to the main pouch to sort of collapse in on itself, so I always have to use two hands to remove and insert lenses. Does the Retrospective 30 hold its shape well so that you can simply put a lens inside without having to spread it open with the other hand?
My Peak Design everyday messenger has a bottle pocket on both sides. Maybe it's the previous generation or a bigger size 🤷🏽♂️
Love Chris' Snowtrooper gloves. Ona bags forever for me.
Thanks for the thorough review! I'm curious about the computers though.
Chris, what do you use the tablet for in the field?
Jordan, same question about the laptop?
Also, for anyone having trouble with the strap slipping, rub some silicone sealant onto the area it usually falls on your shoulder. Let it cure of course and it will be nice and grippy.
I normally use a 15 inch laptop. The Gigabyte Aero that you saw Jordan borrowing. Which means when I travel it's backpack time for sure.
I never expected a bag review to contain the phrase "like an old burlap sack in the Great War", but when you think about it, that's what the Think Tank Retrospective looks like. In fairness, though, the Retrospective is a nice bag, though a little heavy (at least the Version 1 model that I have). I like Think Tank products, but it's nice to have a real world and real look view of these bags. Thanks Chris and Jordan! You are entertaining and informative. Great work as always.
Most camera bag reviews no longer have the power to part me from my money. I have used the Domke F4 AF Pro bag for YEARS. I love the form factor, the huge pockets (I'm a girl) the slip pocket on the back for my phone and papers, and the front pocket for everything else. Canvas that hugs my side and isn't too huge. TONS of padding and my favorite places in this bag are the slots between the padded compartments to keep my Swiss Army Knife, batteries ND filter for reflections, and mirror compact. This bag holds an incredible amount of gear and personal items with no bulging.
I get how not having a dedicated pocket for a machete can be a deal breaker on the Peak Design bag but why not just strap it down with the tripod straps? Of course, now you'll just have to carry that damn tripod but, then again, isn't that Jordan's thing?
I don't get camera bags.
The first thing I did with my camera bag was to take scissors to the top flap and cut it off. Now I can pull my camera out without having to open the stupid flap.
My next problem is my new camera: a 1981 Hasselblad 500CM with a 50/4.0 Distagon CF. So far, the only thing I've found to do with it is my gym bag. It rests on my sweats. It's the only bag I have that has a wide enough shoulder strap that I can stand the weight of the camera. You'd think an FF mirrorless with 3 primes would feel just as heavy, but the 'blad is a real clunker...
Translation: Hey! Thanks for the reviews!!!
Bet you didn’t know that under the front slide through on the Wotancraft, there is a hidden zipper mesh pocket for valuables, passport etc
I got this bag and it’s the best bag I’ve ever used……
Don't even need a bag, but when I see new dptvreview video just clicking it
Security might have been covered a little. LowePro's brand is very well known as specifically camera-geared (see what I did there) and the bag screams "steal me" unfortunately. Sneaky hands is usually more a backpack issue than shoulder bag but the loud velcro on my Retrospective 30 is a feature in that respect, and it's great that it then can be silenced for shooting at a wedding or other quiet situation.
All that aside, filling any of these bags fully and carrying the weight all day on one shoulder can be a serious pain short term and cause an injury long term so people should keep that in mind, especially with larger bags. My Retrospective is mostly a "car bag" for the cameras. The camera then stays on the shoulder, with the additional gear and options I need in a backpack for a shootday.
That last bit is important. I had a messenger bag and whilst it wasn’t so bad when it was loaded with smaller gear, when it is loaded with a larger, “pro”-oriented kit and a laptop, it gets very heavy, and putting that on one shoulder, even on a sling, gets very painful after a while.
I like the smaller ones because they work great for smaller, simpler kits that usually incorporate a body with an attached lens and a second lens, but the bigger ones are what I haven’t been big on due to that reason I mentioned on that first bit.
Three thoughts:
1. Think Tank's Urban Disguise series was great. I also hate that they discontinued it.
2. Think Tank's Retrospective series seems to have replaced it. Most people seem to love the Retrospective bags. I think they're hideous.
3. Wotancraft's shoulder bags are just awesome. I own two different sizes in the Trooper series. I've never owned a bag I've liked better.
No Billingham’s?
Must be a video on second best camera bags…
Yeah, I would have liked to see a Billingham bag. I used to lust after one in their Sage canvas with Chocolate trim. At the time I was looking, they were chronically out of stock. Then I discovered the Wotancraft Trooper and I've never looked longingly at another shoulder bag since. I am, however, always looking at new backpacks.
These shootouts are definitely my favourite
I would still prefer the older generation Temba DNA Messenger bags. Also has a top opening system and they have magnetic buckles that work great. I've had this bag for many years and use it daily. Still going strong!
I was never blown away by my Wotancraft. It just felt like a brand making a solid bag that wanted you to feel like it was some Gucci quality good. Well made, but just miserable to work out of. I’ve yet to find a bag that is better for active work than my Domke, it just does the job and never feels too heavy, even with a full set of medium format gear. I love my Peak Design when I’m mostly traveling and need more protection than convenience, but most days it’s a Domke for me. Sold my Wotan, Billingham, Ona, etc.
Interesting. I love my Wotancraft bags (a Trooper M and a Trooper S). Best shoulder bags I've ever owned, functionally and aesthetically. Which Wotancraft bag did you own?
@@timothylinn it was a trooper M. The opening action was stiff even after being broken in, the features people liked (like the gusseted cover) were something I didn’t particularly find useful, and the bag was so stiff that it didn’t conform to the body well. The craftsmanship was also far lower than I’d find acceptable for the price, lots of untrimmed threads, the leather quality was mediocre, and similar issues. It was a pretty bag, but it wasn’t a bag I’d want to work out of, and the hubris of the brand just made it all the easier to pass on it.
Seriously, you guys get better and better with every Episode.
My most prized possession? my 44 year old Domke bag. Bought it new waaaayyy back. The cameras and gear change, but not the bag.
Ive been using my Thinktank Retrospective 7 (og model) just about every day for nearly 10 years. Best bag ever.
I’ve the peakdesign, amazing in terms of weather resistant, space for storage (30L) but the part that connects the shoulder strap to bag does wears out and will break, same for the zipper. Bag body itself has no issue whatsoever.
Lifetime warranty, they'll replace it.
Also why no Billingham?
I second Billingham, they look spectacular, are expensive given they're hand made in Europe, but they're built to last with easy replacement parts.
@@SaniyaKhan-ru5dr i have owned a few. And currently my lighter camera loadout goes in the Hadley Pro. And my bigger loadout in the Wandrd Prvk 31. Both are lasting me years now without any complaints.
I am on the fence also for a new shoulder bag and really cannot make up my mind rn. For bigger jobs I love (LOVE) my old-but-still-in-excellent-condition Tamrac Pro12. The lovely thing is: it fits everything bar the kitchen sink. The downside is: it fits everything bar the kitchen sink, which may or may not have resulted in me WAY overpacking for what I was doing. So something a little smaller is called for. This video gave me a few more ideas, so thanks a bunch! :-)
Good video, but only 1080p? I have to pixel peep the texture on these bags
For me it's the Wotancraft 10L - Simply the best bag
Great video fellas! I doubt that I would have discovered the Wotancraft bag/brand without your coverage. I just ordered the 10L.
Chris had a glimmer in his eye while reviewing that Wotancraft. He was already daydreaming of his first fly fishing trip with it.
Love was in the air.
Excellent, excellent, one of the few reviews that consider the need for a security measure against "urban heavy foliage" that might want to creep on yer gear; Great Chris
Although that machete is rather small and curved downwards, seems more like an asian Gurkha Knife made to cut through pesky foliage from underhand positions
I too think the urban disguise is one of the best shoulder bag. Still loving my original 40 and 60.
My Wotancraft just arrived yesterday!
I've tested the LowePro MG160, and for the life of it I couldn't fit my equipment in it, and the dividers were really hard to remove. After an hour, I decided to return it and went for the Tenba Messenger
I have Vanguard backpack and really like it very much, so I am not surprised why people like the shoulder bag too.
Nice review.
Love my Peak Design, and that I grabbed the sale price of $180
Typically load it out with my Z6 + Tamron 35mm 1.4 and an 85mm 1.8, either my Rolleicord TLR or Voightlander Bessa II, some extra film and batteries as well miscellaneous things like lens wipes and hand sanitizer.
Thanks to the Peak Design Capture Clip, if I REALLY want to weigh myself down, I sometimes toss my F100 in the bag and my Z6 with a lens on the clip.
Alternatively I even take my 4x5 large format setup out with it.
4-5 loaded film holders, light meter, mini notebook, 210mm tele lens or 90mm, dark cloth, hand sanitizer and more miscellaneous. My camera goes on the tripod with the 150mm lens and I half extend the tripod for easy carrying on my shoulder/ fast setup for my shot.
I got the wotancraft 7L just because of this review and.. IT IS FANTASTIC! Thanks 👍🏻😊
Can you guys do a review on the best pants to wear for photography and video?
Tan. That's it.
How about the best socks?
I agree with the other comment, why there is no Billingham?
As to Manfotto, I had similar experience with one of their Bumblebee models: bulky yet not very space-efficient. Good weather-proofing, though.
Chris, you are the best, as always! Without you this channel is dead.
Think Tank Retrospective 10 is about as large as I would want to go... DJI Air2s, controller, two spare batteries, three Go Pro's with two car mounts, and a mini tripod. Room to spare for accessory bag, small tablet, and a small vlog camera. Camera only... replace drone/go pro with D610 with 24-70 with room for a 70-200 in the guts of bag would fit easily but limit useable storage for anything else.
Great review. However, I am a fan of the "old school" camera bags - the Crumpler brand of canvas bags. I generally buy them used online for less than $40 and I now have several of various sizes (6 Million dollar bag, 7 Million Dollar Bag, etc.). Yep, I go cheap on used quality bags - so I can use the $$ that I saved for buying camera and lenses.
I got an urban disguise too, but I love my retrospective 30 much better. Bought both long before these reviews
Jordan I just bought a manfrotto messenger bag and am carrying almost every item you are. My only saving grace is my kit is Mini. The mini 3 drone a G95 a 12.4 tablet the headphones have to get a long lens though and a mic
Such a shame Think Tank discontinued the Urban Disguise collection. The top flap opening away from the user is so critical for quick access to the gear. The Retrospective looks a handful with the top flap needing some chin action.
Than for an excellent review.
I own Sling10L and Backpack30L of Peak design for Nikon systems, and well manageable. Only my struggle occasionally is Sling10L, which doesn't fit for all my gears, I.e. need to choose wide oriented, or tele photo.
You could have used the external carry straps on the peak design bag to strap your machete on, hey?!
Thanks for the great video, informative and entertaining as always!
I've completely abandoned using shoulder bags. It doesn't matter how well designed they are they always have all that metal and glass weight on one shoulder and it just wrecks my back day after day after day.
Loved this review. I'm a backpack guy and it works best for 99.9% of the type of Photography I like to do. That being said, I have been looking for a shoulder bag for those rare occasions that it makes more sense for a shoulder bag. I'm even more surprised that I 100% agreed with your picks (among the 6 six bags that is, excluding the discontinued one 🤣🤷♂️). I also get why he happily accepted that bag, you like what like and it's depressing and soul crushing that you can no longer replace it after you wear it out. It has happened to me many times over the years, always wished I was able to buy a stock pile of it so I and my great-great-grandkids would be able to have a supply of it😁🤘🤷♂️😉! Another great review guys!👏👏👏
0:57 he is standing in the bag-yard
My friend vouched for his original Think Tank Retrospective which made me get a Think Tank Retrospective 7 V2, but after 2 years of daily driving my bag I wore through the outer canvas layer entirely on the spots where it rubbed against my hip and butt, there is still a nylon layer beneath that I don't think will be damaged by friction so techniquely it still functions fine but that's quite disappointing given the price tag imho. Also too bad you guys couldn't get Billingham and Domke into this video, they make great classic bags that definitely age much better than my recent Think Tank.
Thanks for your engaging overview and for (sort of) picking us!
Great video! I have a Think Tank 20 bag, and its very hard/impossible to get something in or out of this fabric, squishy, cool looking, side camera bags. In reality, you have to stop what you're doing, get it off your shoulder, and extract the, say, lens you need, etc etc.
Time to go shopping for that Vanguard. I'm impressed.
What responsible adult let you 2 fools play with a machete?
As a big fan of timbuk2 bags, you guys should look at generic padded inserts to fit non-camera specific bags. Because sometimes great bags don't look like camera bags and sometimes the think tank Urban Disguise is just the right look.
And why is Chris wearing gloves in the summer?
OMG i cackled when you mentioned the Camera Store business cards, I am always in the market for a new bag.
After loading up the bags all of the following tests should have been carried out with the bags loaded. It's the only way to test access and handling when on the move. Most people will take items of kit out with the bag on the floor or some sort of support be it table or bench. At the cost of some ultimate protection a floppy bag like the Wotan will always be more comfortable and travel better than the rigid boxy ones. That one has "outdoors" as a leading feature. Best one for the woods where DPR often test.
Great video. I had more bags than I could fit in my closet! Always looking for the perfect one! I had to donate some to a HS camera club. I finally settled with a Think Tank Retro bag--for now!😀
I actually love my Peak Design 10L sling (V1). pretty comfortably fits my Tamron 28-75, 70-180, Sigma Art 50 1.4, a9, and my tablet. Outer pocket can hold batteries/filters as well without intruding on the interior space. I've fit a xt2s transmitter in there as well when I was fitting a speedlight into the main compartment. Just a surprising amount of space in such a small bag.
My favorite 2 bags I use are peak design 10l v1 and the hex dslr sling
I must admit I'm pretty old school with bags... I've been using a Billingham Hadley Pro for the last 6 months or so.. I did use a Wotancraft Trooper for a year or so before that...but I've just ordered a Domke 803 messenger style bag.. as I like the way the canvas patinas..
All these bags are great for a couple of Fuji camera and my daily junk..
The front pockets feels like if I run or move quickly will spill the contents out? Like if smaller items such as battery etc were inside. Does it?
Btw is there any way to carry this bag with a tripod along? I’ve been quite interested with their looks but always hesitated with the design usefulness.
@@HwL01 Hi there, I take it you mean the Billingham?? No nothing falls out of the pockets as long as you keep them snapped shut. It is a nice bag, small and perfect for a Fuji or Leica set up..
Quality is lovely and they look cool..but they are pretty pricey. Not really a bag I would choose if I needed a tripod.. here I'd go for a back pack..
The last well, my first Billingham is over 30 years old..
I like to swap around my bags from time to time.. hence the reason I just ordered the Domke...
Hadley Pro user too. Agree, nothing falls out if you strap it. Ideal for Fuji.
Where is the bigger shoulder bags? I dont see it...
For example Cullmann Amsterdam Maxima 520 ... which can store lot of things... 2 big DSLR's with Grip and lot of glasses...
Cheers gread video.
I actually found my best camera carrying setup after yerars.
I am using an insert for my hiking bakcpack from Deuter.
Very simple, by far the lightes option to go and fits everything nicely.
I tested the Tenba (which I ended up using), one from the compay URTH that aquired or changed the name from GOBE and the PEAK Design insert.
Anyway good video. liked all of your comparision vidoes so far.
In my opinion the best way to caryy a camera with a few lenses the insert is the best way. As camera gear backpacks are way to heavy with all the features they come with.
It took years to figure out that I do not need them.
Good hiking backpack + insert + small tech pouch is all that I need to carry camera + lenses + batteries + filters etc.
What I really don't like about most of the bags on the market (which also isn't addressed in the video, actually quite the opposite) is the assumption that most people carry one camera with two or three zoom lenses. Pretty much any bag can handle that. Form owning and using a few bags with different styles, here are a few combinations they often can't handle:
1) One small camera with 4-5 small prime lenses and maybe one zoom (Often not enough compartments and the compartments are just too large and the lenses will dance around inside them)
2) Two cameras with 4-5 small primes, both cameras with one lens mounted (think one film camera and one digital, same issue as above. Some people need more compartments that are smaller)
3) Two rather long telephotos (Most bags will handle one telephoto, whether it's mounted on the camera or not. Not all of them can handle two long lenses when one is mounted on the camera.
There are probably many other scenarios that I can't think of right now. None of these are due to the bags lacking enough space, it's an issue of design and space management.
Love the bags in this video but I wish there were more varieties for women who want a cute looking camera backpack or shoulder bags that don't scream "I got a camera with me"
What Manfrotto bag does Chris LOVE (3:17)? The one with the "really gaudy interior" and Timbuk2 exterior?
Love the wotancraft bag - very modifiable with the additional pouches and full of suprising storage areas! I love using the additional pouches as stand alone lens bags or a small shoulder bag for phone, etc. So that the whole heavy bag can be left in the car when necessary.
You guys should look at Billingham bags, a bit expensive, but beautifully made. I think there are a few distributers in Canada.
I recently switched to a Saddleback leather big mouth duffle bag and cover my camera gear using padded lens wraps. I really like the lens wraps as they allow me to use pretty much any bag I want.
Which backpacks and/or shoulder bags are best for carrying a 24-30 inch tripod, not a compact travel tripod?
I usually wind up carrying one separately. I prefer shoulder bags, and typically carry a 1Dx with the holy trinity.
I use bags for storing gear. I start shooting I'm wearing a lowepro gear vest and lowepro cases and cotton carrier chest and belt holsters. I want my gear close at hand. No digging through a bag.
I like the look of that Wotancraft (Is that the 7l or 10 as you said it's the smallest and 10l?) a lot, as shoulder bags, for me, are just for small urban kit, they need to be able to hold a small water bottle and occasionally a jacket outside. It helps that it looks good and not too camera bag. My current choice is the Compagnon Element 11 and there are a lot of similarities. The roll top on that is versatile.
The Wotancraft is so good-looking! However the dilemma is: 7.5L or 10L?
Billingham Bags.
You have gotta get a Billingham aka Billi Bag.
The Hadley, Hadley Pro and Hadley One are the BEST bags PERIOD!!!!
Quality materials
Waterproof
Timeless looks
Bulletproof design
Removable padded camera dividers
Thumbs up for the Wotancraft. Would love to see a couple of custom colors, like a weathered green or weathered light purple.
For me it's not so much as which bags you reviewed but the comments and what you look for in the bags. Some of the things I've never though of to check you mentioned. I'm happy to know that I'm the only one that carries a machete on photo shoots.
Great reviews guys, covered everything I needed to know….now can Costas get an Urban disguise for me please?🤣👍🇦🇺😎