Looking for the ideal camera/notebook bag

Avotius

Avotius

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I am looking for a camera bag, a shoulder bag, that has a carry handle and has a dedicated protected notebook spot.

I need it to be able to carry a Canon 5D mk 2 and a couple L lenses, my 11 inch laptop, and all those little things one takes with them.

At the moment I am eying the Kata CS15 bag but it seems that it is new enough that there are no reviews online yet. I like the price and the upper quick zipper access. However the bag looks like hell.

So with that in mind, does anyone have any good recommendations for a good shoulder bag?

ps. no backpacks
 
I have used both Think Tank's Urban Disguise and Retrospective bags. The Urban Disguise wasn't comfortable to carry for me, looks more like a suitcase. I currently use Retrospective 10 and 30. Both are great bags, high quality and can fit a lot of gear yet don't look so big. Very comfortable to carry too.

Some think the Retrospective bags are a bit soft and I would agree, it's one of the reasons they feel so nice to carry because they adjust to your body. Retrospective 30 would carry a laptop, two DSLRs and lenses. I use it for my DSLR and think it's perfect for my needs.
 
Double Negative said:
Check out Think Tank Photo stuff, especially along the lines of the Retrospective and Urban Disguise bags (e.g. UD 35). Absolutely top-notch materials and construction. The Retrospective bags are the messenger-style equivalents of the Urban Disguise line, and are offered in a "Pinestone" fabric that's quite nice.



That does look like a nice bag!
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I ditto this, I use Think Tank for my big stuff.
 
That Incase bag looks pretty sweet! Id would seriously consider springing for that if you definitely need to carry a laptop.

OTOH I recently got a Black Label Bag Image Smith Mark II and so far I like enough where my eye isn't wandering (as so often happens with bags). The build quality is second to none and the zipper is water proof, which I find really cool. It might be tight if your laptop is large but it would fit all your other requirements well if your willing to compromise on that point. I bought it because it could easily double as a day pack or to use traveling. My travel kit is 2 M bodies, 3 M lenses, a Rolleiflex 3.5E, a bunch of filter cases, hoods, and a lot of film. It fits it all quite well. Also, its not apparent in the photo but there is a strap that goes across the top if you want to carry it briefcase style. That strap is removable as well.

I used to think the Black Label/Artisan and Artist bags were overpriced but Im sold. If the Image Smith Mk II is too small they may well have a bigger bag that would suit.

Here's a link:

http://www.photovillage.com/product.php?productid=2889&cat=2773&bestseller
 
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TT Retrospective is what I use. Until now it is the best bag I ever had.
As said, it can hold a lot and still looks small. It's flexible and adapts to your body, but not too much, just right. You might hate the velcro closures, but it has a silent mode!
Otoh any big enough messenger bag with some Domke inserts will work very well too. I use that a lot too.
 
I like the Think Tank backpacks and gear in general but their Urban Disguise series did not agree with me because they tend to assume you're going to dismount your lenses or otherwise you waste a lot of space. Just throwing a 5d with a zoom into it will take up half the bag and the two front "body-size" pockets are sort of useless.... They are probably better for gear transport than to actually shoot out of.

I'm inclined to like the Black Label ImageSmith based on what I've seen online but the only photos are of the top view and a detail. It isn't enough information for me to judge the bag from, and it is purely dumb, lame marketing, especially for a photo concern, not to have proper product photos for something they are trying to sell to photographers, for goodness sakes!
 
Today I went to the center of town to look for camera bags. Saw a Kata cs15 and really liked it except it seemed a little bigger than I would prefer, if they made a 13 it would be perfect, but what you gonna do....the big problem is they wanted 1350 yuan for it or 208 dollars, obviously that is not going to sell when they are going online here for half that. The inside design really appealed to me but the outside design was a bit blah. Lack of area for water bottle except inside the bag is also a downer, you just know one of these days that bottle will leak...and where will it leak.....

Also looked at a Tenba messenger bag, but it was for 17 in laptops so really huge. Also the price tag of 1900 yuan or 293 dollars was outrageous. I did like the platinum color though.

Did not see any think tank stuff, and online here the selection is not great, with lots of comments about bags perhaps not being real.
 
camera bag

camera bag

I like a camera bag that doesn't look like a camera bag. Old GI canvas comes in lots of sizes and shapes. Always see them at flea markets. Who would think a padded plastic diaper bag had $10,000 worth of gear in it?
 
I don't know if you can find one of these where you are, but it works for me. It cost less than $100 in the USA. They also make a small. It's a couple inches smaller all around. It might work for your smaller computer.

venchka said:
A friend has one and he raved about it. He brought it to a monthly burgers & beer & photo gab fest. It looked good. I bought a different Tenba bag from Robert here at RFF recently. I was impressed by the construction. I made my biannual trip to the local camera store last Saturday. While foraging for chemicals, I spied a pile of these Tenba Messenger bags. They had one in Not black. I am really tired of black bags. Tenba calls it Platinum. I would call it silver/grey. The online prices were in the $115-$125 range. Houston Camera Co-op's price was $99.95. In my hand. No waiting for the mail. Done deal!

I haven't had a chance to use it on a shoot yet. However, I did verify that it will hold enough stuff to keep me busy for a day. It holds my DSLR stuff OR my medium format stuff OR 4x5 film holders & 3 lenses. Plus all the usual odds & ends & bits & pieces. Meters, filters, film, level, stuff, etc. The rangefinder gear fits but is kinda lost. Nice out and about shooting bag for large gear. The camera insert is nice and available seperately. I think I'll buy one for a brifcase I have. Oh, and the padded computer sleeve is very secure and extremely well padded all around. I might be able to stash the RF gear in the computer sleeve. The shoulder strap is first class and comfortable. The zipper in the top flap lets you get at things without opening the flap and making Velcro sounds. Nice. The bag-Wayne interface (back of the bag) is very comfortable as well.

http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/08/11/bag-week-reviews-tenba-messenger-photolaptop-bag/

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http://www.tenba.com/products/Messenger-Large-Photo-Laptop-Bag.aspx#overview

The bag doesn't scream "Camera bag". However, it may scream "Computer inside. Take me." Be careful.
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I've tried quite a few bags. I've come back to the bag I have had for years: a leather plumber's bag, now with a padded camera insert. This is the bag: the laptop compartment isn't padded on the sides, or anything, but it is snug and holds the laptop suspended above the bottom of the bag. Dropping the bag to the ground would not cause the laptop to hit hard. A Camaroo insert holds my M9 and a couple of lenses, and there's room for a little bit of other stuff outside that.
 
Avotius said:
...
Also looked at a Tenba messenger bag, but it was for 17 in laptops so really huge. Also the price tag of 1900 yuan or 293 dollars was outrageous. I did like the platinum color though.
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That is outrageous. For less than half that price you could get the Mini or Small Tenba Messenger airlifted to you.
 
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I've had an old Timbuk2 messenger bag for some years (classic medium, I think) and recently added a Tenba photo insert (recommended by members here and elsewhere) for $22 and voila, it's a great camera bag. Fits perfectly, good padding, plenty of room. I can just lift the whole thing out with the equipment if I need to use the bag for something else. Recommended.
 
rlouzan said:
I'd rather have the real thing ... their prices are ridiculous😱. "My two cents" (2¢)
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I totally understand. However, prices are exactly the same and when I compared the two bags side by side the Black Label Bag was built better and had a nifty waterproof zipper. The A&A bag had better padding. I chose Black Label as I felt it was the better choice for me 🙂
 
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