Backpack

Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 36 Location: Texas

Does anyone have the Tamrac Expedition 4 model?? Do you like it?

Looking to purchase a backpack to carry Rebel XT & a couple lenses with extra filters & tripod. Is this a good model to buy?

Thanks!

Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 12:19 pm

I love the Tamrac packs. Particularly the newer ones. They new ones allow access to the front pockets without haveing to remove the tripod.

The Expedition 4 was my bag for a couple of years until I went to a f/2.8 80-200mm lens. This put me over the top and I went to the 5. I carry 3 heavy lenses and the D2X. It is a great deal of weight and the bag has been stellar. The optional expansion packs are also great. I have a couple to carry filters, batteries and the portable hard disk drive.

Can't go wrong there.........

Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 36 Location: Texas

From what I have seen the Tamrac backpacks are the way to go. Thanks for the input.

Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 3

Have a look at this website - http://www.cambags.com

it has lots of bags (including the one your looking at) with various canon or nikon cameras inside.

J

Joined: 09 Jul 2005 Posts: 1

I really like the Canon 300EG and it is priced right as well. It is a very well made pack and holds a bunch.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00009R6TA/qid=1127955321/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-5654746-3600809?v=glance&s=electronics&n=507846

Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 12:08 pm

I recently bought a rather big tripod. I like the thing, but now I'm worried that I won't be able to secure it to a camera bag. Any suggestions for a backpack that can fit 2 bodies, a 70-200 f/4, 4 short lenses, and carry a 5-6 lb manfrotto 055 with head? Room for clothing and snacks would be nice, too.

I'm thinking about the lowepro nature trekker, though it doesn't have extra compartments for clothing etc. It looks like I could use the dividers to make space though.

Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 2:44 pm

walter23 wrote:

I recently bought a rather big tripod. I like the thing, but now I'm worried that I won't be able to secure it to a camera bag. Any suggestions for a backpack that can fit 2 bodies, a 70-200 f/4, 4 short lenses, and carry a 5-6 lb manfrotto 055 with head? Room for clothing and snacks would be nice, too.

I'm thinking about the lowepro nature trekker, though it doesn't have extra compartments for clothing etc. It looks like I could use the dividers to make space though.

Hi walter, if you want to carry all that, I guess you have to go for the real thing... I just bough a Norwegian Norröna backpack with 120 liters volume, which accomodates easily the Lowe Nature Trekker + tripod and leaves enough space for clothing...

No, seriously, the Lowe Nature Trekker or Classic Trekker should be fine, just the clothing is a problem. Perhaps you can attach a nylon stuff bag to the outside of the backpack? The Manfrotto is no problem with these Lowe packs (I have that combination myself). And the quality of the Lowes, including the belts/strap system, is quite good.

The real problem is, as I found out now, to find a backpack, that accomodates a small selection of equipment (2 bodies, 2.8/28-70, 2.8/70-200, 3.5/15-30, 50 mm) and my Mac Powerbook AND is still carry-on luggage compatible... I bought a Tamrac Cyberpack 9 for that occassion. It is smaller in size, than the Lowe, but quite deep. I just hope the airline will accept that...

regards, René

Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 3:19 pm

René wrote:

walter23 wrote:

I recently bought a rather big tripod. I like the thing, but now I'm worried that I won't be able to secure it to a camera bag. Any suggestions for a backpack that can fit 2 bodies, a 70-200 f/4, 4 short lenses, and carry a 5-6 lb manfrotto 055 with head? Room for clothing and snacks would be nice, too.

I'm thinking about the lowepro nature trekker, though it doesn't have extra compartments for clothing etc. It looks like I could use the dividers to make space though.

No, seriously, the Lowe Nature Trekker or Classic Trekker should be fine, just the clothing is a problem. Perhaps you can attach a nylon stuff bag to the outside of the backpack? The Manfrotto is no problem with these Lowe packs (I have that combination myself). And the quality of the Lowes, including the belts/strap system, is quite good.

I picked up a Lowepro Nature Trekker II today. Its a good backpack with plenty of space. I also have a 055 with large ball head, which fits on the side nicely.

And, you get a day pack with it. This can be used as a day pack or clipped onto the front of the backpack for extra storage.

Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 4:14 pm

Wish I'd read these before making my purchase. I ended up getting the photo trekker AW II, which is almost the same as the nature trekker but slightly larger (taller) in size. My rationale was that the tripod would be more stable on the longer backpack.

It's really funny looking at my tiny 350D, paltry assortment of lenses, and (compared to the backpack) slim and tiny 70-200 f/4L. Lots of compartment space for snacks and clothes I guess. I should have stuck with my mandate to keep it light and small and gone with the 190 manfrotto legs and the nature trekker. Oh well. More exercise for me.

One question for those of you with these kinds of backpacks: Do you wrap your lenses individually to protect them from fibres and dust? I'm a little bit worried that the soft velcro fibres will contaminate the interior of my lenses and camera gear. Am I excessively paranoid?

Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 4:59 pm

walter23 wrote:

One question for those of you with these kinds of backpacks: Do you wrap your lenses individually to protect them from fibres and dust? I'm a little bit worried that the soft velcro fibres will contaminate the interior of my lenses and camera gear. Am I excessively paranoid?

Good question. I guess, as I never had to worry about excessive dust inside my lenses, it is probably not a problem at all. But at most times I use conventional photo bags and the backpacks are only for those few occassions when I have to haule a large collection of gadgets around. I find backpacks not very convenient while actually doing a shoot. But the velcro used by quality manufacturers is really quite robust and I haven't even seen fibers on the loose in the backpack itself. As you can guess: I don't wrap the lenses or use anything but the padding provided.

regards, René