Which bag for air travel?
dancorder
Registered Users Posts: 197 Major grins
I'm looking for a bag to take with me as hand luggage on international flights that will also take a small laptop and ideally other small items (passport, ipod etc). If it can double up as a long distance walking bag too then that's great but not essential.
I don't plan to shoot out of this bag, just use it to make sure all my gear gets to my destination with me.
To pack I have:
D300
Nikon 80-200mm f2.8
Nikon 35-70mm f2.8
Nikon 18-200mm f3.5-5.6
Nikon 50mm f1.8
Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6
2x SB600 - Probably don't absolutely have to go in a padded section
Apple 12" G4 laptop
Charger, cable, filters, batteries etc.
So far I'm considering the Burton Zoom 28L - doesn't look like a camera bag, has extra pockets, can carry a tripod, access to camera only possible by taking it off (a plus for my use), but main camera area may be a bit small.
LowePro Computtrekker AW - Main camera area looks slightly bigger, can carry a tripod, but I can't see much in the way of extra pockets
The LowPro Vertex series seem too deep for air travel unfortunately and Computrekker Plus gets very close to the size limit but doesn't look much larger in the photos. The ThinkTank bags look very nice, but they're rather out of my price range
.
Does anyone have experience with these or any other bags that would be suitable? At the moment I'm leaning towards the Burton if only I can convince myself it will carry enough stuff
I don't plan to shoot out of this bag, just use it to make sure all my gear gets to my destination with me.
To pack I have:
D300
Nikon 80-200mm f2.8
Nikon 35-70mm f2.8
Nikon 18-200mm f3.5-5.6
Nikon 50mm f1.8
Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6
2x SB600 - Probably don't absolutely have to go in a padded section
Apple 12" G4 laptop
Charger, cable, filters, batteries etc.
So far I'm considering the Burton Zoom 28L - doesn't look like a camera bag, has extra pockets, can carry a tripod, access to camera only possible by taking it off (a plus for my use), but main camera area may be a bit small.
LowePro Computtrekker AW - Main camera area looks slightly bigger, can carry a tripod, but I can't see much in the way of extra pockets
The LowPro Vertex series seem too deep for air travel unfortunately and Computrekker Plus gets very close to the size limit but doesn't look much larger in the photos. The ThinkTank bags look very nice, but they're rather out of my price range
.Does anyone have experience with these or any other bags that would be suitable? At the moment I'm leaning towards the Burton if only I can convince myself it will carry enough stuff
0
Comments
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=116741
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
Have you thought of a Crumpler Karchi Outpost is a backpack and it hold more than enough.. I can fit all 7 lens my body fashes , filters and a laptop and it has a waste belt and it very very comfy..no mind you I'm 5'6" and the bag is massive on me.. I flew from New York City to Minneapolis Mn and made it just fine with carry on and xray..Cause if they need to look at what in side you unzip it and its all contained.. No didggin to get to anything... I wish I could post a review on the this bag... BUT I LOVE IT.. does not scream hey look I have thousands of dollars in this bag. If you want pics I will be able to show you when i get home.. Off to work
www.snaploonphotography.com
about the Think Tank International roller on his blog yesterday. It may be more than you need though.
http://www.planetneil.com/tangents/2009/04/30/destination-wedding-photography/
Dwayne
Thanks for the Crumpler idea, the Karachi Outpost is a bit big for international flights but I did have a good look around their site and they do have some that are the right sort of size. I'm still thinking the Burton just edges it though as it's squarer and so should hold slightly more and is a bit cheaper too.
Any other ideas?
I'll let you know what I end up getting and if it's any good
I've got two airline trips coming up this year and will limit myself to just the backpack - a Tamrac 3380 backpack with laptop storage.
Only thing I don't like about it is that of course someone could walk up behind you and attempt to unzip and grab stuff while distracting you, etc.
But it works GREAT for keeping just as much stuff as you generally need close at hand. In your case it looks like it might fit everything but just barely. One more thing - fully loaded with laptop and gear this thing is HEAVY.
Another 'plus' for you, I think it was only ~$89-$100 bucks or so; I've had mine since June 2008 - it was a Father's Day gift to me.
Nikon | Private Photojournalist
Ok so I went for the Burton. First point there is that they seem to make a limited number for the skiing season, as such I couldn't find anywhere with a black one so I had to go for a camouflage/orange combo which although uglier looks less like a camera bag. Also as these bags are seasonal I get the impression that they make small changes each year.
The bag seems reasonably well made, not bomb proof, but easily up to getting my stuff to and from an airport which is what I want it for.
My main worry, that the camera section would be too small, proved unfounded, however I did have to get creative with the dividers to make things fit.
To give an idea of the size: going clockwise there are: 2 SB600s, an 18-200, an 80-200, a 10-20 and a 50mm f1.8. The camera shaped hole takes a D300 with 35-70 f2.8 attached and the hole in the middle will be filled with small stuff. The picture above is of the camera section of the bag which actually lifts out of the main bag and comes with its own shoulder strap (which I removed and put away as I'll never use it). This year the camera section also has a zipped slit in the top (when carried with the strap) presumably to pull the camera out of without opening the main zip.
Camera section closed with strap attached, it also has a handle on the top:
I used the large flat area behind the camera section to store some home made flash modifiers:
The flap on the main bag that covers the camera section has two zipped pockets useful for more flat things:
With the camera section in place:
Laptop pocket
The camera section and the laptop pocket together make up the bottom of the bag. Above them taking the remaining area is a fairly large zipped section capable of taking cables, chargers, lunch etc. It also has a flat pocket on the front for an mp3 player with a headphone hole.
The pouch in the pocket is secured with velcro and can be removed.
Each side of the bag has two pockets, one running about 2/3 of the height of the bag and one about 1/3 of the height. On one side the small pocket is mesh and on the other it's a zipped pocket. The larger pockets are open the sky but have velcro patches to keep them fairly closed. Oh yes, and the waist strap has a small zipped pocket on each side too.
Finally, the front of the bag is supposed to be able to carry a snow board vertically. You could use the same pocket and straps to carry a tripod, but I tried briefly and couldn't get the straps to stay tight enough to stop the tripod moving around. (There is another strap at the top of the bag that is tucked away in the photo below)
Overall I'm pleased with this bag. It does what I wanted it to which is to carry all my stuff in an aeroplane carry on friendly size and does so fairly inconspicuously. It also has room for a few more lenses if I move the flashes into the top pocket so I'll be able to keep using it for a while.
http://products.lowepro.com/Catalog/ProductSearch.aspx?filter=1&search=&Name=AIRLN
As to which is best for you,.....you need to decide how much you really want to carry with you.
From all the bags I have actually gotten my hands on....Lowe Pro has had the best amount of padding.....so that is why I have used them over 20+years
Wes
clix-photo.com
www.clix-photo.com
Please let us know.
I have the ThinkTank Airporter back pack. It takes my Canon 40D, 580EXII flash, 70-200mmf/2,8IS, 50mm f/1,8, 2x extender, misc. bits and pieces, pockets for flash cards, flash drives, etc., room for the power cord for my computer, a 15" laptop and is set up so you COULD attach a tripod or monopod - but that I put in my checked luggage. It's rated for even small commuter planes - which is good. I've traveled several times with it so far and never had a problem. It's also an innocuous black back pack. My ONLY complaint (and it wouldn't matter which back pack I had) is that it's bloody heavy. That said, when it's on your back the airlines rarely question if it's acceptable.
I had problems with my rolling bag - it was technically 'legal' - but one airline really hassled me about it. I almost ended up missing a flight as a result. I'd LOVE to get a smaller roller that I could be sure would go on a plane so any suggestions in that respect would be appreciated.
i wold NEVER check my camera / computer gear. you just know, since airlines regularly lose your ordinary luggage, that your god stuff would just plain vanish, right?
http://www.imagesbyceci.com
http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
Picadilly, NB, Canada
It's BIG. The good thing is that it holds everything I needed. I traveled with two bodies (20D and 50D w/grip), five lenses (including a 70-200 2.8 and a 17-55 2.8 IS), small video camera, Vivitar 580V, cybersync triggers, and all the assorted cords, chargers, cards and still had room for the laptop I did not take.
It's so big that it would not fit in the overhead bin on our first flight. The attendant had no problem stowing it in a closet at the front of the cabin after I told her what was in it.
On our second flight (on a larger plane) it fit perfectly in the overhead bin. I did have to remove the tripod (which attaches to the outside) for it to fit.
It is big and heavy but all-in-all a small sacrifice to have everything I might need with me at all times.
I was very pleased with my purchase and enjoyed my first experince with the bag. Hope this helps.
Wes
Clix Photography
http://www.clix-photo.com/
www.clix-photo.com
http://products.lowepro.com/product/Fastpack-350,2087,14.htm
You can find it cheaper then lowepro's site if you search the net.
Holds my 5DM2, 17-40/4, 24-70/2.8, 24-105/4, 70-200/2.8, 2x ex, 580ex,
17" MacbookPro, 3 portable HDs, an Airport Express, and a ton of cables.
Quick access to the camera area and the ability to hold my 17" MPB were big selling points for me.
Avoid entanglement of dog with wheel spokes. - Old Honda Manual
--
If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies,
jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears. -- Glenn Clark
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