I picked up a new camera case backpack on the weekend. I'd been using a small LowePro Rezo TLZ 10, which was handy for carrying the XT with the kit lens, and a spare battery. But that was it. And Janice kept calling it my "purse". It felt like a purse, too. I wound up using it most of the time without the strap, just to protect my camera when stuffing it inside my backpack. I bought the Canon Gadget Bag with the camera, which is a nice storage and transport case, but not really something you want to lug around for long.
I'd been looking for something that would be better for every day use, and for travelling. At first, I was looking at camera + laptop backpacks, which would be good, but if I'm not needing the laptop, I still need to lug around the extra case for it. So I settled on the LowePro SlingShot 200 AW. It's a mid-size backpack case with room for a DSLR (with 300mm lens attached) and up to 4 other lenses (up to 300mm) plus extra room for other gear. I was interested in the 200 AW for a few reasons: the size, the easy side access, and the all weather cover (which folds neatly into a storage flap in the bottom). The case is amazingly well designed. LowePro put a lot of thought into how the thing would actually be used. There's a scratch prevention cloth attached to the inside, where the LCD goes, to protect it. There are zipper stops to prevent the whole thing from opening up when grabbing the camera quickly. There's the media/battery storage pouch in the easy-access side flap, and more in the back. The stabilizing cross strap unsnaps and tucks out of the way when not needed, as does the all weather cover. Of course, the internal compartment is configurable through the use of velcro panels (want room for 2 DSLRs? Sure. A DSLR and a video camera? OK. DSLR and GPS and some lenses? Why not?)
)
The side access door is really handy. I just have to slide the bag a bit on my shoulder, and I've got quick access to everything without having to stop and take the backpack off. I've been making myself carry this case as well as my laptop backpack all week – it's actually not too bad. The Slingshot also has room for me to slide my notebook in, so I've been taking it to meetings as well (leaving the laptop on my desk). You never know when something interesting will present itself (like the old memory core I was looking at while waiting for a meeting in IT).
On the up side, I've apparently graduated up from carrying a "purse". King referred to the new backpack case as my "Jack Bauer Man Purse" the other day. Hey, Jack Bauer's cool, right? So that's a good thing, right?
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Maybe a bit off topic but ever tried to do something like snowboarding with cheap gear?
I’ve gone skiing with my point-and-shoot in my jacket pocket. Not brave enough to try it with my XT in the sling
I do pack my XT on my bike almost all the time – stuffed in a small LowePro case that holds just the XT and kit or 50mm lens. I put that in one of the paniers, carefully strapped in. So far, everything’s been safe, even through being doored and bouncing off a car.
I have a sister who is a photographer and she using this exact bag and she just loves it. It has enough room to carry everything she needs and has for all of her photo shooting needs. It is so secure too! The straps are well designed along with the whole bag being well designed.
Not to mention there is a bag that she used to have by the name of Tamarac and it was just the worst. Not only did it fall apart the lining came loose! My sis said she will always stick with LowePro from now on. There is just no other way to go with out it.
My sister told me just now how she ran across this blog and since I love blogging I decided to lay my two cents in on it. The LowePro has always met my needs when shooting. I sometimes like to hike and get some good shots but I found that the LowePro bag has a very sturdy strap and actually held on better than I could during rock climbing!
@Stephanie and Leslie – I’m still loving the LowePro AW200. Sometimes I wish I had the 100, because it’s just a little smaller/lighter, but then I wouldn’t have all of my lenses…
The extra side strap on this pack really makes a difference. Most of the time, I’ll just use the shoulder sling, but if I’m climbing or hiking, I’ll dig out the extra strap to fasten it securely. Makes a HUGE difference in stability.
Add in the all-weather cover, and the bag’s really flexible. Best pack I’ve used, anyway
Before I got my first camera bag, I used to carry my digital SLR around in my rucksack!
Sami – thanks. Not sure about calling any of this “excellent” but I’m still having fun with it anyway. I think I’m kinda using my blog, and Flickr moreso, to help pull me out of this nasty winter depression/doldrums. It’s never really affected me much, but this winter has been rough (well, the winter itself has been pretty decent, but the short days are taking their toll).
Raffaella – I find if I adjust the length of the strap and shift the pack higher on my back that the collarbone discomfort goes away. But, yeah – can’t really expect to strap a bunch of gear around my shoulder without any affect…
Well, I do think that you have recovered over the sort of “slump” you had a short while back. ;P
What slump? Just because I switched to posting an endless series of Flickr Faves of tropical beaches, instead of blabbing about Drupal and social software?
Damn D’Arcy you’re on a roll with the excellent content you’ve been posting recently. Keep it up! Drupal 5 must have really gotten your creative juices flowing.
I received this same camera bag for my last birthday to replace my Lowepro TLZ 2. My favourite feature of my former bag was the easy topload access (hence the bag name) and that there was enough room to carry enough varied equipment to suit my needs during various photo excursions. However, as I added to my lens kit I quickly outgrew the TLZ 2.
The Slingshot is very convenient for traveling, as the bag is just the right size to slide under the seat in front of me on the plane (marvelous for easy access to your camera when you want to get an aerial shot of the Canadian landscape). With a little bit of planning I’m able to fit 5 lenses + my camera body, in addition to my charger, speedlite, assorted diffusers, cellphone, wallet, and iPod. I even have a hand free to carry on a book if I want to. I will warn you though, when packed with so much gear the bag can become a major pain. The one downside to the one-shoulder design is that you aren’t able to swap sides when your collar bone starts to ache like mine are apt to do. I wouldn’t recommend using the bag for longer than usual photowalks, unless you aren’t averse to walking with the bag like a glorified fanny-pack (worn round the front as compared to on the fanny).
It’s still a great bag though, giant purse or not.
Hey there! Here I am, a casual browser searching for a laptop+DSLR bag solution, innocently stumbling on your site on this post! And since it’s a Lowepro Slingshot 200, I’d just have to shout out that this bag ROCKS! I’ve gotten one myself and it’s been serving me very very well!
Cheers!
Raff – about the sore collar bone issue – try tightening the shoulder strap. I just wore mine almost non-stop for 11 days, and with the strap nice and tight, most of the weight is actually lifted off of the collar bone (and shoulder, for that matter).