Camera bag?

[new2BC4bass]

Upgraded my camera gear.  Small camera bag I have will no longer work.  I'm giving it and the gear that I had to my daughter for Christmas since she will never be able to afford one.

 

I need a bag to carry these components.  Olympus E-5 with battery grip.  Lenses (all Olympus) are 50mm f2 Macro, 12-60mm f2.8-4 SWD, 50-200mm f2.8-3.5 SWD, and 70-300mm f4-5.6.  Only the Macro is a small lens.  Flash like the Metz 48 or similar size.  AFAIK all bags have pockets for spare batteries, cords, memory cards, etc.

 

If  I add anything to this kit, it would be the Olympus 25mm f1.8.  I know from experience the 28mm would fit in the same compartment as the 50mm lens.  I'd like a bag just large enough to hold what I have.  Don't want one that will have room for another 3 lenses. 

 

I have considered getting in touch with Adorama or B&H Photo for their recommendations.  Figure plenty of guys on here have similar equipment so they can give me real life experience options.  Thanks.

[new2BC4bass]

The 50-200mm lens has its own padded carrying case with a strap.  I am going to use that case rather than buying a camera bag big enough to fit it in.  That will allow me to buy a smaller camera bag.  Needs to hold a DSLR with battery grip.  The small bag I have doesn't quite have a big enough partition for the 12-60mm lens although I could force it in enough to close the lid.  So now I need a bag to hold 3 relatively normal size lenses plus the camera and flash.

 

 

[casts_by_fly]

Carrying on trips or as a ready to shoot daily wear?  I’ve used lowepro for the past 14 years. I have a smaller one which I can’t remember the name off hand and then a big flip side. The smaller will do what you want and has a general use compartment on top. I can’t find it on the website right now. The flip side has gone all over the world with me, dive camera and same camera but dry land. A small flip side will hold all you want plus space for accessories and a change of T-shirt. 

 

 

[new2BC4bass]

I looked at Lowepro's website.  It looks like the Adventura BP 300 III is what I am looking for....except I hadn't considered a backpack.  Was looking for a bag to carry over a shoulder.  Not sure how hot my back would get here in Florida with a backpack.  $130 backpack.

 

Looked at a few other backpacks.

$60 CADeN for DSLR/SLR.  Waterproof.  Lens on camera plus room for 4 more.

$54 Mosiso backpack.  Waterproof. Almost same size as the CADeN.

$60 Tarion Little larger. Lens on camera plus room for 5 more.  Comes with rain cover.

 

It's looking like a backpack is the better way to go.  I don't think I would like a sling bag (one strap).  Two straps to distribute the weight.  Most shoulder bags are either too small or too expensive when large enough.

 

The Mosiso was rated number one at another website.  Guess I'll give that one a try.  It's 20% off and comes in many colors, but only that much discount in black.  I thought hot pink or purple might be nicer, but only 10% off.  Haha

 

[casts_by_fly]

9 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

I looked at Lowepro's website.  It looks like the Adventura BP 300 III is what I am looking for....except I hadn't considered a backpack.  Was looking for a bag to carry over a shoulder.  Not sure how hot my back would get here in Florida with a backpack.  $130 backpack.

 

Looked at a few other backpacks.

$60 CADeN for DSLR/SLR.  Waterproof.  Lens on camera plus room for 4 more.

$54 Mosiso backpack.  Waterproof. Almost same size as the CADeN.

$60 Tarion Little larger. Lens on camera plus room for 5 more.  Comes with rain cover.

 

It's looking like a backpack is the better way to go.  I don't think I would like a sling bag (one strap).  Two straps to distribute the weight.  Most shoulder bags are either too small or too expensive when large enough.

 

The Mosiso was rated number one at another website.  Guess I'll give that one a try.  It's 20% off and comes in many colors, but only that much discount in black.  I thought hot pink or purple might be nicer, but only 10% off.  Haha

 

a sling is fine for a body with lens and a spare lens.  But an e5 isn’t a small body. And the lenses you’re talking aren’t small.
 

my big one is a flip side 500. Probably more than you need but not much more. That’s an underwater housing for an em5 so the housing is a bit bigger than your body.  I’ve also got some strobes and other bits in there. If you’re looking for a walk around carry bag then it’s probably too much for you but as a travel bag it’s great as I can throw a T-shirt, chargers, snacks, and other incidentals in it. 
 

Then again, if you’re thinking about it as a walk around bag, I’d ask if you really need to carry all of those lenses to walk around. I find it better to pick a general range (wide, standard, long, macro) that you want to shoot and roll with it. Maybe throw a spare lens in for something else. If you’re walking in the woods, throw the  300 on and put the macro in your pocket. If you’re walking around town throw on the 12-60 and put the 25 in a pocket (or just put it on and leave it). 
 

 

[TnRiver46]

I’ll take a pic of my wife’s when I get home. She has two, one looks about like what @casts_by_fly posted 

[new2BC4bass]

Camera backpack arrived today.  Will have room for the 25mm f1.8 should I ever decide to get one.  Obviously it's too small for the 50-200mm lens.  Will close with the battery grip on the camera, but it's close.  I don't see a way of fitting the battery grip in the bag if I take it off the camera.  Removed two dividers.  Not too heavy at all.  Will have to see if I still think that after carrying it for a while.  Basically I figure on carrying it from the car to a spot where I will be using it.  Such as at a rodeo.  No long hikes at my age and current physical strength.

 

For general walking around, the 12-60mm will be on the camera, and no backpack taken.  May even take the battery grip off.

 

casts_by_fly how thick is that bag?  How come the camera appears to be sitting level?  Mine tips forward even with two dividers under the lens.  Obviously the battery grip doesn't help the situation.  I can't make out much of what is in your bag, but I can see you are way more into photography than I am! 

 

Also do you have any advice for a flash?  Have a Metz 48 on the E-510.  Considering a Godox TT685O or Flashpoint Zoom II AA TTL.  Not familiar with either, but they seem powerful and at the limit of my budget.  Can't see spending more for what I'll be using it for.  Thanks.

 

 

 

[casts_by_fly]

51 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

Camera backpack arrived today.  Will have room for the 25mm f1.8 should I ever decide to get one.  Obviously it's too small for the 50-200mm lens.  Will close with the battery grip on the camera, but it's close.  I don't see a way of fitting the battery grip in the bag if I take it off the camera.  Removed two dividers.  Not too heavy at all.  Will have to see if I still think that after carrying it for a while.  Basically I figure on carrying it from the car to a spot where I will be using it.  Such as at a rodeo.  No long hikes at my age and current physical strength.

 

For general walking around, the 12-60mm will be on the camera, and no backpack taken.  May even take the battery grip off.

 

casts_by_fly how thick is that bag?  How come the camera appears to be sitting level?  Mine tips forward even with two dividers under the lens.  Obviously the battery grip doesn't help the situation.  I can't make out much of what is in your bag, but I can see you are way more into photography than I am! 

 

Also do you have any advice for a flash?  Have a Metz 48 on the E-510.  Considering a Godox TT685O or Flashpoint Zoom II AA TTL.  Not familiar with either, but they seem powerful and at the limit of my budget.  Can't see spending more for what I'll be using it for.  Thanks.

 

 

This backpack is sitting on its face.  The part that touches your back is what opens and the hinge is the bit that would touch your belt if you were wearing it on your back.

 

the bag is about 14" wide, 20" tall (if you were wearing it), and about 10-12" deep from your back outward.  it's a big bag for sure. I've had it loaded up to 35lb or so with full lenses, housings, trays, arms, etc. I primarily only use it for diving vacations, but I took it to africa this year since I was carrying a big lens plus a couple spares.  I filled the extra space with a change of clothes, valuables, and other useful travel things.

 

In that bag you can see an underwater housing on the right (top of bag if you were wearing it).  The camera and my biggest underwater lens is inside the housing.  There is a small lens next to the housing (probably the 8mm fisheye).  Left of the housing are 2 strobes, each about the size of a 16 oz soup can.The little black balls on the top and bottom are usually all together in one slot.  They are 4-7" aluminum arms for the strobes with ball mounts on the ends.  I will normally have 2 more lenses in side pockets there.  What you can't see and are burried are chargers, 5-6 spare batteries, a video light, a tether, and other stuff.  Then on top of that I load the tray (16" of 2" wide aluminum) and two handles (think bicycle grips) which don't disassemble.  I pack it all in pretty good and use every piece of it for a dive trip.  

 

For a flash I can't help much.  Underwater strobes are a different ballgame and when I carried a dslr it was nikon so I used a nikon flash.  I'd find one that has full control through the camera and gives ttl metering.  I know olympus had a flash that did that because they transformed it into the precuror to the strobes I have.

[new2BC4bass]

Whew!  I'd have to hire a porter! 

 

Been Checking on the flashes.  Seems the Flashpoint is a rebadged Godox.  I also compared the Godox TT685II to the Godox V860II.  Basically the same except the 685 uses 4 AA batteries versus the 860 lithium ION battery.  Initial price difference is the 860 costs $50 more.  Was thinking about going with the 860 considering the cost of batteries.

 

However, I just remembered they make rechargeable AA batteries  Looked them up.  Charger plus 8- batteries is $29 so still cheaper than the V860.  Don't believe I need to be concerned about the slightly faster recycle time of the V860.

[casts_by_fly]

2 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

Whew!  I'd have to hire a porter! 

 

Been Checking on the flashes.  Seems the Flashpoint is a rebadged Godox.  I also compared the Godox TT685II to the Godox V860II.  Basically the same except the 685 uses 4 AA batteries versus the 860 lithium ION battery.  Initial price difference is the 860 costs $50 more.  Was thinking about going with the 860 considering the cost of batteries.

 

However, I just remembered they make rechargeable AA batteries  Looked them up.  Charger plus 8- batteries is $29 so still cheaper than the V860.  Don't believe I need to be concerned about the slightly faster recycle time of the V860.

don’t forget the cost of a charger if you don’t have one.

 

I also went aa across the board, my camera strobes and dive lights included. Otherwise I’d have needed to pack two extra chargers on trips. This way I carry two compact 4aa chargers that use usb connections. I need 8 batteries for one full set so I carry 20 total. Running out of battery on a dive is awful because the camera turns into a water resisting paperweight you have to lug around until the dive is done. 
 

FWIW, I use Amazon basics batteries. They have 2400 mah high capacity ones.  For diving I replace them annually and down cycle them to remotes, electric candles, and anywhere else not critical. But they last years.

[new2BC4bass]

Charger and 8 batteries included.  Charging tray holds all eight 2800mAh batteries.  Gives me an extra set of batteries should the ones in the flash die.  Kit sold on Amazon.  Kit scheduled to arrive tomorrow, flash the 21st.

 

Love fishing, but never learned too swim.  I couldn't do what you do.  I may not swim like a rock now since I carry my own floatation device around my stomach these days.  🤣  I might make use of the heated swimming pool if I was at least 50 pounds lighter. 

 

I see you're from New Jersey.  I worked in Warren, NJ for almost 38 years as a CNC lathe programmer.  Of course, I did set-ups and in the early days was running lathes a lot.  I programmed and set-up any new lathes as soon as they were hooked up.  Still set-up and ran off small jobs until I retired.  Retired but still do all the lathe programming remotely so I guess not really retired.