Crumpler 7 million vs 6 million

arjunrc

Hi folks,
I am seriously considering a crumpler bag - I don't want backpacks - sling models work better for me and I've heard good things about the crumpler.

Does anyone here own the 7 mill or 6 mill crumpler ? Is it possible to post a picture relative to how big either of these bags look on your body ? ( I am very bad with numbers - need to see visuals, and my local Penn camera does not carry them).

The equipment I would like to carry:
20D + 70-2004L, 17-40L, 50mm, flash, filter pouch

I also own a Feisol 3402n tripod + Bogen 676b monopod + feisol CB-50H head - does the crumpler have a place to attach the tripod/monopod ?

thx
arjun

DoctorIt

I checked crumplereurope.com for you, they don't have that model. Too bad, since they have photos of each bag on a person.

I'm headed to my local shop today, they may have one of these in stock.

Art Scott

Crumpler At Bag You
hERE IS A LINK HOPE THIS HELPS

http://www.bagyou.com/product_info.php?products_id=247

arjunrc

Thanks, Erik and Art.

To Erik: Good to see the EU sites have that 'on body' picture too - I wish the US version had it as well. (On another note, the extra-cutesy-funky crumpler website very easily gets on my nerve)

If you do happen to see the 6 & 7 mill bags in your local store, would be great if you could pass on any information possible. Otherwise, I need to wait till I drive down to NYC in summer to try them out at B&H (its a 4 hr drive from where I stay)

regds
arjun

DoctorIt

arjunrc wrote:

To Erik: Good to see the EU sites have that 'on body' picture too - I wish the US version had it as well. (On another note, the extra-cutesy-funky crumpler website very easily gets on my nerve)

Tell me about it.

It really speaks to how well-designed, durable, and good looking the bags are, because man oh man the websites are ridiculous (at least if you're shopping for a bag, if you're high on something and looking for entertainmnet, they're perfect)!!! That is my one grumble about Crumpler as well.

Oakley

DoctorIt wrote:

I checked crumplereurope.com for you, they don't have that model. Too bad, since they have photos of each bag on a person.

I'm headed to my local shop today, they may have one of these in stock.

OMG...worst website EVER!!! :hung

boycott all crumpler prducts for that crap... :flush

DoctorIt

Oakley wrote:

boycott all crumpler prducts for that crap... :flush

You haven't seen their products in the flesh. I say boycott their web designers. The gear is top notch, and in Europe they have entire stores full of every piece of Crumpler gear, honestly, thats the best way to check it out anyway.

gus

Bags are cool & the site is cool.

Get the biggest one you can afford & carry...you never have too much room in a bag. Best 'anything bag' i have ever owned.

arjunrc

Camera bags reviewed
A great site:

http://www.cambags.com/

Here is the 7mill bag review
http://www.cambags.com/canon/300d_10_20d/shoulder/crumpler_7_million_dollar_home_frames.htm

DoctorIt

Good find, Arjun. I went to the shop this morning and they just had the very smallest of the million dollar homes anyway.

You ordering one?

arjunrc

Thanks for the effort, Erik - much appreciated.
The 6 or 7 million model is in my "radar" - though I want to get rid of old items first (Lowepro minitrekker and others).

regds
arjun

DoctorIt wrote:

Good find, Arjun. I went to the shop this morning and they just had the very smallest of the million dollar homes anyway.

You ordering one?

BrianLowther

Arjun

I have the 7 million model. I love it.
I have been busy the last couple of days so I have not had time to snap a couple of pictures for you. I will try in the next few days.
I can carry.

20D
70-200F4L
50 1.8
Sigma 30 1.4
580EX flash
18-55 kit lens.
plus odds - sun hat, sunglasses, spare shirt, etc.

I also have a backpack. This just became awkward for me.
With my 17 month year old daughter I don't get out nearly as much as I used to.

What I really like about the 7 million.
1. It is easy to carry.
2. It is easy to put down. I don't get stuck half way into taxis like I used to with a backpack.
3. It is easy to access the camera.
4. If I am in a hurry I can fit my 20D with the 70-200F4 on.
5. The bag can extend a little for when needed.
6. I can hang it on the back of my daugters pram.

As for the tripod there is no real place to stick it.
I have a small one and on occasion have placed it along the top pf the bag.

Cheers,
Brian

arjunrc

Hello Brian - thanks a lot for the description and the offer for taking some snaps.
regds
arjun

BrianLowther wrote:

Arjun

I have the 7 million model. I love it.
I have been busy the last couple of days so I have not had time to snap a couple of pictures for you. I will try in the next few days.
I can carry.


Cheers,
Brian

BrianLowther

Here is a link to my review
Arjun,

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?p=229123#post229123
I hope this helps.

Brian

DoctorIt

Very nice Brian.

Stan

I read this thread and Drit's review if the shrinkle here with interest, cos I need more space. And I came across the December quarter in the UK. It is not the same as the 7 million but I cannot find the 7 mil listed here. Something else to think about? But it is huge

Cheers
Stan

DoctorIt

Stan wrote:

I read this thread and Drit's review if the shrinkle here with interest, cos I need more space. And I came across the December quarter in the UK. It is not the same as the 7 million but I cannot find the 7 mil listed here. Something else to think about? But it is huge

Cheers
Stan

I happen to have a December Quarter, and you're right, its NA in the US, but I picked it up this past November while in Prague. Its the end all to all shoulder bags. I also love this bag, just haven't gotten to a review yet. Now I have motivation I guess.

ranchonodinero

Thinking about crumpler 6 million

DoctorIt wrote:

I happen to have a December Quarter, and you're right, its NA in the US, but I picked it up this past November while in Prague. Its the end all to all shoulder bags. I also love this bag, just haven't gotten to a review yet. Now I have motivation I guess.

I am considering a Crumpler 6 million dollar home. I need a bag that doesn't look like a Camera bag. So far I have the lowepro 75AW (really looks like a camera bag), the Canon backpack (too big to pick up and go) and a Pelican 1520 case. I store the camera in the pelican and then use the 75AW. I want a smaller bag that I could carry the 20D in and maybe another lens or a flash that doesn't scream camera bag.

galla47

I just actually got the 6 Million Dollar Home...

It's great...

There are 3 sections of the main compartment... I have:

Center section Nikon D50 with 18-200VR attached, hood stored upside down
The 2 side sections have a little flap that separates the top from the bottom.. . In one side on the bottom I have a 50 1.8 and an 18-55. That compartment is not filled up by any means. The other side has all of the garbage that goes with the camera... battery charger, power cable, USB cable, etc.. again, not filled up. On the top of one section I store my SB600 flash. I also have a Manfrotto table tripod that I store in the outer pocket in the front.

This comes nowhere near filling up the bag. There is more room for stuff I might need on a day trip.

I really like that it doesn't look like a camera bag... that was important to me.

One thing though, the main cover to the bag attaches by velcro. There is no way getting around this. If you can't make noise when opening it (think at a wedding), you're stuck with what you have out. The adjustable strap is backup to the velcro...

-KG

javanutsy

About the velcro noise, I read somewhere else where one guy had used some extra piece of velcro he had lying around to 'block' the velcro on the bag in those instances when he wanted to get in and out of the bag more discreetly...

I'm looking into the 7 million dollar bag. I wonder how this bag compares with the Domke J-803?

DifferentSeed

I have the 6 million dollar home as well and I love it. I can get the camera body (Sony A100) with my everyday lens (24-135) attached (hood inverted) and 4 other lenses (100mm f/2; 100-300; 18-70; and 70-210 f/4) without a problem. And a flash! And my wallet! And keys! And other essential junk! I also go the cellphone thingy for the shoulder strap that I use for both my cellphone and ipod nano. (they both fit in the medium sized cell thingy. I was going to go with the 5mil, but any money I might have saved I would spent again on the padded shoulder strap and been missing some room . Thankfully the 6 and 7 mils come with the padded strap!

As for construction, it's built so well. And the possible arrangements and moveable inserts are ridiculous. I'm not using them all! But I love that I can have a couple of larger lenses on one side and stack a couple more on the other side and still hvae room for flash, wallet, etc. Memory cards, cleaners, filters, etc all fit well in the front pocket or interior mesh pocket.

This image on flickr is a great comparison for an "average" person.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/verybigjen/106499702/

Seymore

Crumpler Six Million Dollar Home...
Looks like Thom Hogan has couple to unload... (could just be one, listed twice)
http://www.bythom.com/fallclean.htm

kdog

A bit of counterpoint to all the rave reviews...
I have the Crumpler 7 Million Dollar Home, and I'd say it's OK, not great. The only real advantage to it is that it doesn't look that much like a camera bag to non-photographers. Of course when other photographers see it, they come running over to see what's up. :giggle

Maybe the smaller Crumplers don't have this problem, but I feel the design of the 7 Million Dollar bag is lacking in several key areas. This is a large bag and clearly intended to hold a lot of stuff. However, it's really not robust enough for its size.

The top is held shut by both a velcro closure and one Fastex buckle. The problem is that they're both located directly in the center. See what happens when you lift the bag by the grab handle?



The top bunches up and exposes the bag's contents.

This bag is what I consider to be only moderately loaded. It contains a 20D body, a 100-400 lens, and three other small lenses. The bag is still half-empty, so clearly it's intended to hold a lot more stuff than that. It should be, it's pretty huge.

This defect could be corrected with an internal zipper which you could leave open if you were wearing the shoulder strap and wanted quick access. Because of the lack of internal zipper, carrying this bag in dusty conditions will almost certainly invite dust getting into the bag. It looks like a good beach bag, but definitely is not. Minimally, the cover should at least have two velcro/Fastex buckles on either end of the cover for better support. They really cheaped-out with the single closure on such a big bag.

I would also like to see some length-wise rigid support in the cover to spread out the weight.

The design of the shoulder strap is also marginal. There are no quick-release buckles, so the strap for all intents and purposes is permanently mounted. That's a pain. The padded sleeve does not anchor in any way to the strap, so is free to slide around. Within minutes of donning the bag, you'll find the padded sleeve has magically slid somewhere else, and only the webbing will be in contact with your shoulder.

I also have a Lowepro Stealth Reporter 200. This bag holds all the aforementioned gear, with none of the shortcomings of the Crumpler. There is an internal zipper so it seals up securely, plus dual-fastex buckles. The shoulder strap pops on and off with metal safety buckles, and there's even a rain fly which pops out of a discreet zipper area. Oh, and there's also a little zipper in the top of the cover so that you can (stealthly) pull your camera out even with the top secured. It's a very well-designed and functional bag, which does of course look like a camera bag.

So if you value form over function, choose the crumpler. If you prefer function over form, choose a better made bag like the Lowepro. Or, if money isn't tight, there is value in owning both.

Regards,
-joel