New Bag...

[bigredshark]

The answer to discrete is not buying a camera bag, any decent messenger bag and, if you feel you need it, a photo insert is going to be fine. Personally I've had my camera with me virtually every day for months without the insert and it's done it no harm at all...

To me, the crumplers et al look very much like camera bags, I mean what else would you carry in a bag like that except something expensive? Nobody's idea of a fashionable/practical bag to carry round town is multicoloured nylon otherwise is it?

I also think some people likely overestimating the intelligence of potential thieves, if they've got the wits to work out which bags are likely to contain expensive stuff I'd assume they'd have the wits to move beyond snatching bags on the street as a career fairly quickly...

I don't have a lowepro/crumpler bag, not because I'm worried it's too visible or obvious but because they look horrible in my opinion...I do have a billingham hadley bag but I don't use it that much, normal messenger seems easier...

 

[-Ad-]

Would the kit fit in a Crumpler Muffin Top 5500?

A certain Purple Shirt Outlet store on ebay are selling them for £30!

 

[ElDude]

I've just got the Thinktank Retrospective 10 in pinestone and it's superb. The 20 is much deeper and would be a bit too bulky for me.

Excellent review here: http://www.techislands.com/Reviews/photography/think-tank-photo-retrospective-10.html

If you want any more info or pics of it, let me know.

Slightly off topic, but I like the little tweets tab on that page

I'm after a bag. I used to have one that would fit just the camera with a lens fitted, like a 50mm1.4 or 24-70 kind of size, with the compartment next to it that would fit a 70-200 size lens, with a few pockets for addition items. I gave my old 300D & battery grip to my sister, with that bag and I can't for the life of me remember who made it!

I should actually say I'm after two bags. I've got a medium sized bag that I can fit my 30D with a lens attached. It's got those removable compartments that are held in by velcro, so it's pretty versatile. I also have in it a 12-24, 70-200, 105, battery charger, cards, lens pens etc.

While the above is perfect for that, I'm planning on randomly picking a train to go somewhere next week while I'm off work to take photos. This is where I need something that fits all this, but has storage for things like a magazine or two, and maybe some nosh and pop. You've got to have nosh and pop on your travels I already have a lowpro bag that fits a couple of lenses and has a small compartment for a few items but it's too small. I never seem to be able to find anything that ticks all the boxes. Those think tank ones are smart but there doesn't seem to be much protection in the base, or support for the camera if a lens is fitted. What's to stop the lens mount being damaged (or lens for that matter) if you accidentally put the bag down too hard?

With the bags I have, the camera sits at the top, with a velcro held panel supporting it, so even if I did drop the bag, all the impact is absorbed by the soft bottom of the bag with items that can't get damaged sitting at the bottom too, to further prevent damage.

There just seems to be something wrong with every bag I've looked at, until you start spending £200-£300 on them, which is just silly for a hobbyist like myself.

 

[greedy123]

My thinktank bag just arrived! Looks and feels very nice. A bit bigger than I was expecting but not an issue, always hard to gauge from a photo. Not put anything in it yet but will do tonight. My sketchbook just fits in the front pocket so happy about that! The side pockets seem really tight so apart from pens (which I have loads of) don't know what else I'd use them for. Also there is a strap on one side which I assume is for attaching a tripod to, which reminds me I really need a quality compact tripod.

My manfrotto carbon fibre (Manfrotto 190Cx3) one is great but not compact enough I find (55cm w/o head) for carrying around day to day. Its a bit too bulky especially once the head is on. Any recommendations on that front? I had a look at the Gitzo traveler ones which look small enough, anyone have any experience with them?