My girlfriend and I are going to Japan in November this year with some mates, so we decided to get a nice camera before we go. We ended up grabbing a Canon 500D Twin Lens Kit, and we're pretty happy with it so far.

What I'm wondering is if anyone here knows where we could get a good camera bag. Because we're going on holidays, we don't really want to advertise that we're carrying an expensive camera, so we're after something that just looks like a generic bag. I found this which is pretty much what we're after, but $88 seems like a lot for a bag.

Any of you photography folk have any suggestions? Or should I just stop being a tight-arse and get the one I linked?

www.crumpler.com.au

I can not stress enough how awesome these bags are. I have two of them now and my gf has one as well. 2 laptop bags and a bag for my 450D and lenses (3 of them)

Myer City sells them, as does the Crumpler store in adelaide st

didnt see your link.

I paid $200 for my bag and that was a good price. You get what you pay for, they also have a lifetime warrenty

I have about $3700 worth of kit in my bag, the $180 price tag didnt bother me to protect my gear.

I have a crumpler that I bought before my first overseas trip. $88 is a lot less than what I paid, but mine's a big laptop/camera backpack (The Formal Lounge, which I don't think they sell any more)

I definitely rate the crumplers: 4 years on and mine's still going strong. They might be a tad expensive, but they are very well made so you'll get many years of use out of it.

The other usual brand of choice amongst photographers is Lowepro. They look more like the camera bag than the crumplers tho, so they're not so great for blending in when travelling. Plus they don't have the crazy names crumpler does, like the Budgie Smuggler and Brian's Hot Tub :P

the $180 price tag didnt bother me to protect my gear.

My bag (with camera, mobile phones, etc in it) went with me on the log ride at Dreamworld. I was rather nervous about putting their water proof claims to the test but it was that or leave the bag unattended. Despite the bag getting a rather big splash of water on it, everything inside was still perfectly dry. :D

Well then, I guess I'll just check out the Crumpler store. I can't see any trading hours listed on the website. You guys wouldn't happen to know if they're open on Sundays, would you?

I can't help you with whether they're open but you should get this one - https://www.crumpler.com.au/flash/flash.aspx#/english/product-details/brazilliondollar-home-bz01a.html

Also, if you're a Co-Op Bookshop member, you should buy the bag from one of Griffith's bookshops because you get member's discount.

I think that bag is a bit overkill for my needs. Plus, the other one looks a little less like a camera bag, which is why I liked it.

I guess I'll give them a call tomorrow and see if they're open. Thanks for the help, fellas, much appreciated.

I got the 7 million dollar home for mine, carrys a 450D with battery Grip, nifty fifty, 17-85mm lens, 55-250mm lens, 420EX II Speedlite and some batterys and crap and it still has more room. They look small in the shop, but when you get it home you realise how much s*** you can carry in one.

the 6 million dollar home would be better for travelling. I carted my 7 million through NZ, while it wasnt TOO bad, it could have been smaller.

I am also pretty sure crumpler is open on sunday, they are next too teds on adelaide st. Failing that, go up to myer brisbane city and they have a crumpler section right next too their apple section.

but $88 seems like a lot for a bag.

You ain't seen the price of lowepro bags then.

I bought some generic camera bag from harvey norman I think, or might have been photo continental but either way I look at it like this: I just spent $1500 on a camera, $200 for a well padded bag is worth it if it protects my s*** if I trip & fall over like the clumsy f*** I am.

I bought the smallest bag I could for my DSLR for this trip I'm on atm. I think its a lowepro, but its basically just enough to fit the camera + the lens (attached) - I only have one lens atm and no other peripherals so I didnt need any more space. It worked out really well; it's been not too much of a hassle when traveling, plus it easily fits in my carry-on luggage (with my laptop) so I feel confident carryingn it around.

I would guess that you would never put your camera gear in checked luggage when flying (my uncle is a professional videographer and says that doing it with his video gear would basically be insanity).

Some of those other bags look really good though, props for the links - will check them out when I start buying some new lenses!

Oh also to the OP, someone once suggested to remove that big advert of a neck strap canon gives you with big bold EOS DIGITAL written all over it and just put on a no name brand neck strap. To be honest though if I saw someone walking around with an SLR no matter what the neck strap said I'd think tourist or media.

I have one of these: http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/default.asp?newsID=3397

Can't recommend them enough, though since they are a backpack they do restrict you wearing another backpack for other stuff like the shoulder camera bags do.

last edited by Ospi at 23:33:21 26/Sep/09

Yeah, when the camera is out of the bag, I think the camera itself is going to be more of a give-away than the neck strap. =P

Sounds like a plan, I'll head on in there tomorrow, and go to Myer if they're closed. They seem like a pretty popular brand, but I'd never heard of them before. I guess I'm not often trying to buy camera cases.

I think its a lowepro, but its basically just enough to fit the camera + the lens (attached)

Yep same. Bought the tightest Lowepro I could fit my 450D with Twin Lens in. Think it was $70. Very good build.

Just reading online reviews isn't enough imho. Take the camera into a camera shop and trying packing your gear into each bag until you're happy with one.

Oh yeah, for sure. I wouldn't want to bring a bag home only to find that my gear doesn't fit. Just like with women, amirite?

Yeah I've got a bag that fits just the camera and lens. Have a couple lenses now, so I'm after a backpack that fits more. a bonus being it is alternatively good for carrying my 17" mbp (current bags getting a bit worn). will read thread, thanks guys.

nikon d90
sigma 30mm f1.4
sigma 10-20mm f4.5-5.6

(next will be something telephoto - maybe an 85mm f1.8, or 75-300, or 18-105...hmm.)

I almost bought a crumpler. Until I found a store with a Kata 3n1.


Comes in 3 sizes 10, 20 and 30 That's the 20.
There is also a tripod thing that fits on the outside.
In the 30 I managed to fit a d60 and d200 (with battery grip), 4 lens (1 on a body) a "600" size flash and still had heaps of room


last edited by Obes at 07:21:12 27/Sep/09

I have a Lowepro Nova 2 for sale, $35. They retail for around $70 (Nova 160 - is the current model, I think). It's in basically new condition.

I only replaced it as I got a bigger version of the same bag to fit in the video camera and other bits and pieces.

It will fit a DSLR and extra lens.


http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/4522/dsc0260oe.jpg
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/451/dsc0259bg.jpg




last edited by mission at 09:57:29 27/Sep/09

In regards to changing your neck strap, I did the same thing and it was awesome. Not because I didnt have the giant CANON EOS stamped too me, but after market straps are so much more comfortable and take the weight so much better. Again, I ended up getting a crumpler strap but only because it was next to me at the check out.

I have the same bag as mission. holds camera, plus a few lenses and a few other odds and ends without being super bulky

i have a lowepro. hes good. you can get one that carrys a laptop too, very handy.

You ain't seen the price of lowepro bags then

indeed, i think mine was about £100

last edited by mooby at 08:51:09 27/Sep/09

I have a Lowepro 3AW (slightly larger than mission's). It's good for when I'm going out as a photographer, but not when I'm going as a tourist.

It's easy to get stuff in and out of, can carry the body with a couple of lenses and flash, and has lots of pockets for bits and pieces (I seriously lost my quick-release tripod mounting bracket once and after a month or more finally found it deep in one of the pockets). But it's just not comfy to carry. It's got a big, wide, padded, shoulder strap, but it's just too square, and kinda flops around your body when you walk. Great for when I go somewhere and can leave it under a table or something, but a backpack is much better for when doing a lot of walking.

Well, just got back from visiting Crumpler in the city, and ended up grabbing the 6 Million Dollar Home. The one I linked in the OP was a bit smaller than I realised, but the 6 Million was awesome. It cost a bit more ($155), but they're much cooler than I originally realised. I wasn't aware the separators inside were actually adjustable and all that jazz. It's got a bit more room than we need at the moment, but the missus informs me that she's planning on buying more lenses in the near future. Seems pretty sturdy, and the lifetime warranty is nice too. Thanks for the advice everyone, I'll definitely be checking them first when I next need to get a carry-bag for my gadgets.

Their website is unnecessarily gay :/

Looks good Midda.

For Japan I bought a Crumpler Keystone, and took a D90/35mm Prime/55-200mm/charger. Room for all the rest of my gear I left at home for storage but not too big for carry-on or for using as a daypack.

I could think of nothing worse than lugging around a whole heap of Camera gear whilst getting on/off trains, walking through towns etc and just used a P&S for night adventures. I saw some people carrying a ridiculous amount of gear though.

I took this to Japan:
http://randomhostedau.net/misc/japan_luggage.jpg
Dragged it on I think 12 shinkansen trips, several local trains, a few buses, and even a couple of trams. Got pretty good at it by the end. That was during golden week too.

I missed my crumpler tho - I had my lenses in pouches, but other than that the camera gear was just loose in that smaller backpack :( Didn't take the crumpler cos I wanted a set that could be attached like in that photo for easier getting around.