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Hi, I'm having trouble finding a bag suitable to carry around at functions and weddings. I currently have a rucksack style bag but find this doesnt reall help make the kist easily accessible and time is obviously of the essense at weddings, so I thought I probably need a shoulder type bag. However I seem to be having trouble finding one that big enough for the essential kit, (EOS5D 70-200 f-2.8, 24-70 2.8, and flash)
Any pointers from wedding togs appreciated.
Regards
Jules
Some of the crumpler range are very suitable for this type of task. With very flexible interiors that allow you to create access for your most used kit quickly and easily.
Dan
I'm not so sure now but the standard bag of most wedding photographers at one time was the Billingham 550 because it was the only one that held a Metz 45 or 60 flash upright for easy access.
Lowepro's Magnum AW or Commercial Reporter would probably be the choice today.
Shame you didn't go to Focus on Imaging as all the major players had their bags on display. Your best bet is to go into a larger dealer with all your kit and try it in a selection of bags.
Billingham make good shoulder bags of all sizes but the prices match the quality (£150+).
Surprises me you are having any trouble finding one big enough for a body with a couple of lenses and flash. LCE, Jessops,Wharehouse Express, etc all sell them in the size you want from as little as £50 (sale now on so £39)for Tamrac System 6 to £226 for the Billingham 550.
Lowepro do a good mid price range.
I have a small Crumpler bag and find it OK in size for camera and spare lens plus cards and batteries but uncomfortable to carry and to be honest a bit poncey.
Depends on your age elowes 
(PS - I'm a Tamrac man myself .. but they do give you that deranged Micheal Ryan, Hungerford massacre look . esp the 7 and 8 with MAS accessories attached ... )
Saying that im sure the full face gas mask and balaclava don't help ...
CCS Gladstone bags are good for access - I used to have one before I kit got too heavy to carry on one shoulder. The Lowepro Stealth Reporter series have a zip in the lid so you can access what's inside without opening up the main lid.
Kata do reporter style bags - they also do bags with easy access to the camera/lens you put in the main compartment, without having to open the main zip.
A National Geographic bag was tested in in one of this month's magazines. The Singshot style bags may suit you. You are spoiled for choice if you look across the manufacturers' ranges.
Happy shopping!
Jo
I'm not much help
I've a great domke reporter bag years old bought in US and a fairly new calumet bag (have found this a good solid bag so check out there own brand stuff) but I've just got my first digital camera on Friday the 5D with the 28-105 and have also got the 17-40 and the 70-200 and the flash I'm a wedding photographer too, I have to say having an assistant to hold the bag nearby is what works best for me!
Please do post when you get what you get as I need one for all my new kit too!
Cheers
D
Not a wedding photographer but I do like carrying a 70-200. I use a Crumpler Long Schlong (crazy name, crazy bag....) which does the job for me.
Body and short zoom in main top compartment, long zoom in bottom compartment, flash and diffuser in side compartment, spare batteries and cards in the front, business cards in the lid.
Looks smart and doesn't look too much like the typical camera bag.
I have a Crumpler (photo bunny) bag. Its a shoulder bag, and whilst they can be rather heavy on one shoulder, the beauty of Crumpler bags is they have a "third leg", a strap that fits around the body and clips onto the bag, and it certainly helps to distribute the load better. Though the Crumpler photo bunny may be too small for you, they do have a good range of bags, and they have flexible interiors that will allow you easy and quick access to the kit you use the most.
Chant
I use an aged but very capacious Lowepro Commercial which seems to be robust especially as I carry the equivalent of the wedding photographer's kitchen sink in it.
I think today's equivalent is the Lowepro AW Commercial Reporter; dunno the Magnum.
OK Jules...as I see it, you're gonna be carryng it all day, so comforts a big factor. The rigid style boxes are a nightmare to work from - go for something that will mould comfortably to your body.
Then will it fit your kit - pretty straight forward!
Then whether you can get to your kit easily or not - look towards a "working bag" as against something you have to continuously put down to access all the time.
There're a few to consider and I think Little Jo more or less hits most of 'em. Here's my top three:
1st up - Kata SB-907
It's comfortable, tough, and features fast access lid with a wide opening (need to make sure you can pull the bigger bodies through - allow for buying a grip for that 5D!)take s a big laptop (or take the sleeve out and put a portfolio in it instead)
2nd Choice - Lowepro Stealth 650AW
Subtle design, and like the Kata, it's a soft design that moulds to your body . Holds a laptop (or again, use it for a small portfolio). Only comes in second because the access zip is narrow and a bit harder to pull a big body through.
3rd Choice - Crumpler messenger bag
Many models to choose from, so hard to name a specific one! Nice quality, bright colours, although the sizing can be a little tricky to suss, and the messenger strap isn't for everyone.
Hope that helps?!
Andy
I usually carry two bodies one with 70-200mm one with 18-200mm attached, two flash guns, a quantum turbo, a nikon battery flash booster (SD8A), flash bracket, diffusers, laptop, mains leads, plus 2 or 3 wide and or standard lenses.
The best bag i have found for all this is the Tamrac Cyberpro express. It has wheels and a shoulder strap and is easy to set up so everything is accessible.
The problem when using this bag on the shoulder is the weight and although its ok for short periods the wheels are a real blessing.
I have just bought a Lowepro Slingshot 300 for days when the wheeled option isnt appropriate and it seems to be very spacious as well as providing ease of access.
Blimey, lots of good advice there for me to trawl through. Many thanks all. I quite like the Tamrac Pro 12 bag, but I really think I need to go somewhere and try and get all my kit into it before buying. Trouble is its seems finding somewhere with loads of bags to try is nigh on impossible!
Thanks Again, and I will update this thread once I have a bag.
Regards
Jules
Hi
I have several bags as its definitely a 'horse for a course'.
I undertake, weddings, animal, motor racing and portraiture and one bag does not fully function for all. For starters Rucksacks are NOT suitable for that type of work unless you have a runner who will access kit as and when you want it. My billingham 550 is fabulous. Easy on the body and will take as much or as little kit as I want. Pricey but got it off ebay a few years back for sub £100! Bargain. Tamrac have just introduced a messenger type bag which I got free with DSLR user and I have added one of their MAS lens bags on the side. Undertook the BTTC race meeting last week and it was excellent. Had three lenses including a 70 -200 2.8 L and it coped admirably.
There is a big choice out there and some of the dealers like Calumet and Jessops have good and adequate bags. You cant beat quality materials though!
Regards
Mark
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