Camera bag for larger lenses

[dr_gn]

All, I’ve got a Fuji X-T5, 100-400mm, 18-55mm, and will soon have a 12mm, and might end up with a 50-200 (or similar).

What’s a decent bag that will hold all these, and allow access to the contents for swapping lenses, without putting the bag down.

Thanks.

[toohuge]

Are you looking for a backpack or shoulder bag?

A number of the newer Lowepro bags are designed for side access.

The Fastpack BP 250 AW II or something similar would probably be ok for your needs. The Protactic BP300 will probably be ok too - I don't think you'll need to go larger than that.

I don't think any of the lowepro shoulder bags would be larger enough for your needs.

Have a look at used ones too - Bilingham are popular, if you like the style etc.

You shouldn't have too much issue fitting your gear into a bag as the Fujifilm system is relatively compact in comparison with the larger (older) ff gear

[dr_gn]

toohuge said:

Are you looking for a backpack or shoulder bag?

A number of the newer Lowepro bags are designed for side access.

The Fastpack BP 250 AW II or something similar would probably be ok for your needs. The Protactic BP300 will probably be ok too - I don't think you'll need to go larger than that.

I don't think any of the lowepro shoulder bags would be larger enough for your needs.

Have a look at used ones too - Bilingham are popular, if you like the style etc.

You shouldn't have too much issue fitting your gear into a bag as the Fujifilm system is relatively compact in comparison with the larger (older) ff gear

Thanks. Not sure about the bag type - not too bothered so long I can access it for lens swapping without taking it off. Presumably a backpack wouldn’t allow this?

[Tony1963]

dr_gn said:

Thanks. Not sure about the bag type - not too bothered so long I can access it for lens swapping without taking it off. Presumably a backpack wouldn’t allow this?

My backpack camera bag allows it. It’s a Lowepro AW of some sort.

As well the the shoulder straps, you have a waist strap. If you need access to the bag’s contents, you slip the shoulder straps off, leave the waist strap connected, then spin the bag around your waist so it’s in front of you.
Access to the bag’s contents is via a zipped flap that in normal use is against your back, so is now uppermost, and horizontal, in front of you. It’s quite handy and works well.
Added bonus: thieves can’t access your expensive lenses when you wear the back pack.

I’ll look for a video.

[Tony1963]

Here you go:

https://youtu.be/7KgNPLA5GgU

[toohuge]

The flipside 400 is a great bag - enormous if you need the space etc. However, watch the size for low cost airlines as most of the larger lowepro are over the max size for Ryanair.

You may be better off with a sling type bag (i.e. single strap) but may not find it that comfortable.


If you have a Wex near you, they usually have a load in stock that you can try out to see what works for you.

As mentioned, most of the new Lowepro bags are designed to be accessed without taking the bag off.

[Simpo Two]

My answer is to keep all the kit in a cupboard, and only load the bag with what I need. It also keeps the size and weight manageable. I got my bag from eBay in about 2005 for £20.

[dr_gn]

Tony1963 said:

dr_gn said:

Thanks. Not sure about the bag type - not too bothered so long I can access it for lens swapping without taking it off. Presumably a backpack wouldn’t allow this?

My backpack camera bag allows it. It’s a Lowepro AW of some sort.

As well the the shoulder straps, you have a waist strap. If you need access to the bag’s contents, you slip the shoulder straps off, leave the waist strap connected, then spin the bag around your waist so it’s in front of you.
Access to the bag’s contents is via a zipped flap that in normal use is against your back, so is now uppermost, and horizontal, in front of you. It’s quite handy and works well.
Added bonus: thieves can’t access your expensive lenses when you wear the back pack.

I’ll look for a video.

That looks worth trying if I can find a stockist. I had a Lowepro camera/lens only bag, which was great for my old bridge camera. When I swapped to body/lenses I got another Lowepro bag, which turned out to be pretty hopeless; it had a flap secured by two clips, which locgcally should have revealed the inside of the bag, but in fact was just a cover for a zip. I have no idea what the point of the flap was.

[dr_gn]

Simpo Two said:

My answer is to keep all the kit in a cupboard, and only load the bag with what I need. It also keeps the size and weight manageable. I got my bag from eBay in about 2005 for £20.

I've had a Jessops Rockall bag since about 1987, which has been perfect up to now. Whenever I leave a lens at home, I end up wishing I'd taken it. For sea birds on cliffs/flying, and airshows when switching between flying and on the ground, I really need room for my 100-400 and 18-50. I think if I had a bag that could accomadate those, it would take the other lens(es) anyway.

In the past I've rented large lenses, and carried them separately for the day - usually in my rucksack, but now I've taken the plunge and bought one.

[Sporky]

Not sure about the sizes, but the Tenba DNA messengers have a top-access zip. And lots of other virtues.

https://uk.tenba.com/shop-collections-dna/

[toohuge]

dr_gn said:

That looks worth trying if I can find a stockist. I had a Lowepro camera/lens only bag, which was great for my old bridge camera. When I swapped to body/lenses I got another Lowepro bag, which turned out to be pretty hopeless; it had a flap secured by two clips, which locgcally should have revealed the inside of the bag, but in fact was just a cover for a zip. I have no idea what the point of the flap was.

Off topic, but the flap was likely to prevent moisture ingress through the zipper

[JagYouAre]

I've been through many, many camera bags over the years but have finally settled on a Peak Design Everyday Backback (see link):

Peak Design Everyday Backpack

Both sides zip open from top or bottom for easy access when you're wearing it, and there's moveable dividers inside that let you store about three levels of lens/camera stuff. Pretty comfortable to wear all day and plenty of pockets for keeping other bits and pieces in.

It's not cheap but when I think of the amount I've wasted on other bags that haven't fulfilled my needs it's probably decent value.

[Simpo Two]

dr_gn said:

I really need room for my 100-400 and 18-50. I think if I had a bag that could accomadate those, it would take the other lens(es) anyway.

Two lenses sounds fair to me. I usually travel with two (17-55 on the camera) and a 70-300 vertically in a compartment. Add a flashgun and I'm tooled up for most things.

[Tony1963]

Simpo Two said:

My answer is to keep all the kit in a cupboard, and only load the bag with what I need. It also keeps the size and weight manageable. I got my bag from eBay in about 2005 for £20.

In what way does that answer the OP’s question?

[Simpo Two]

Tony1963 said:

Simpo Two said:

My answer is to keep all the kit in a cupboard, and only load the bag with what I need. It also keeps the size and weight manageable. I got my bag from eBay in about 2005 for £20.

In what way does that answer the OP’s question?

It's getting him to think that maybe he doesn't need to take EVERY lens EVERYWHERE. A camera bag doesn't need to be a storage facility for your entire arsenal of photographic clobber, merely a mobile selection.

[dr_gn]

Simpo Two said:

Tony1963 said:

Simpo Two said:

My answer is to keep all the kit in a cupboard, and only load the bag with what I need. It also keeps the size and weight manageable. I got my bag from eBay in about 2005 for £20.

In what way does that answer the OP’s question?

It's getting him to think that maybe he doesn't need to take EVERY lens EVERYWHERE. A camera bag doesn't need to be a storage facility for your entire arsenal of photographic clobber, merely a mobile selection.

It’s a fair point, but for the stuff I’m interested in, the only lens I’d not want with me all the time is the 12mm (I only use that for night sky stuff). When I’m not using the camera - which is the vast majority of the time - I’d want to keep everything together in one bag anyway.

A rucksack type would I guess be ok if I could fit other stuff in it suck as a coat, food drinks etc., but the priority is to have the lenses quickly accessible.

[toohuge]

You're last requirement is going to make finding a bag a little more difficult. In my experice, most bags accommodate just camera and lenses - not sure why.

My brother has a Shimoda bag that's huge, but has extra space for more than just a camera.

This one may be worth a look:

https://www.absolute-snow.co.uk/shimoda-explore-30...

(It's on sale too)

[JonnyWhitters]

Sounds like you need Batman’s utility belt…

I use a PGYTech Onemo as it can carry all the stuff I need, a laptop, some clothes if required and has a separate bag that houses my drone and its kit. The drone bag can live inside the rucksack, but my 150-600 also fits neatly in there.

Has side access where I can grab camera and lens without dropping to the ground, but there’s rarely an occasion that I need to do that.

It’s heavy when fully loaded, but that’s usually only from the car to the point of a shoot. If I’m walking around then I’ll take the smaller bag with the body and two lenses.

Quick couple of pics with gear for a small shoot this evening.

[toohuge]

^^ Looks like a good bag

[dr_gn]

JonnyWhitters said:

Sounds like you need Batman’s utility belt…

I use a PGYTech Onemo as it can carry all the stuff I need, a laptop, some clothes if required and has a separate bag that houses my drone and its kit. The drone bag can live inside the rucksack, but my 150-600 also fits neatly in there.

Has side access where I can grab camera and lens without dropping to the ground, but there’s rarely an occasion that I need to do that.

It’s heavy when fully loaded, but that’s usually only from the car to the point of a shoot. If I’m walking around then I’ll take the smaller bag with the body and two lenses.

Quick couple of pics with gear for a small shoot this evening.

Thanks, that would fit everything in (and more), but not sure how easy it would be to use for swapping lenses while wearing it?