Lowepro SlingShot 100 All-Weather Digital Camera Backpack

The Slingshot 100 AW has a unique sling design that allows easy access to your camera while still being worn. This particular style is the ideal camera bag for photojournalists and sports photographers. It is comfortably worn on the back and it's simple to rotate for quick ready to go shots.

The Slingshot is able to hold a SLR camera with mid-range zoom lens still attached, plus up to 2 extra lenses, cables and other accessories. Some of the Slingshot 100AW camera bags have many features from Ergonomic sling strap, full access lid, all weather cover, zip-stops buckle, tuck away stability strap, built in memory card pouch, built in micro fiber LCD cloth, silent zipper pulls, slip lock attachment loops, accessory pockets and a mesh back pad.
The Slingshot is also available in two colors: red and black.

Recent Customer Comments...
… I have to say I'm quite impressed so far. My Canon Digital Rebel XT with 17-85 IS USM (attached), 50mm f/1.4, and 70-300 IS USM lenses all fit nicely into the bag. I had to do some rearranging … of the divider tabs, but the camera and lenses are secure now. The design of the bag is probably the best part as the other reviews mention … The camera is easily accessible, the padding is thick, and the built-in all-weather cover is pretty slick. After only playing around with the bag for just over a day, I highly recommend it.

John Brown

I have had this bag for a year and recommend it. I use it all the time… The first time you're in a place where you want to get to your camera quickly or don't want to put your bag down you'll appreciate the sling design. …A word on the all-weather cover - a great feature… I wouldn't buy a bag without one.

T. Caran

Canon Deluxe Photo Backpack 200EG for Canon EOS SLR Cameras

If you have a Canon EOS, then the Canon Deluxe Photo Backpack 200EG is the backpack camera bag to get. It's made of rugged waterproof polyester and nylon and is able to fit two small SLR camera bodies, up to 4 extra lenses, and a few small additional accessories. The material is of lightweight construction and features a compactable divider system for ultimate secure storage and easy access. It comes with padded shoulder straps and back for comfortably. You can also add tripod straps and front webbing for added carrying ability. The durability of this bag is second to none with water repellent and urethane coated material or ultimate protection.

Recent Customer Comments...
… the Canon 200EG Backpack based on reviews ordered one. I am impressed. …Its very well designed with lots of compartments, padding, external straps and quality materials. It holds everything that was in my other bag and I still have more room. I've got a Canon 20D with BGE2 battery grip, 3 zoom lenses (one a telephoto), a Canon 580EX flash, a Slik mini tripod, lens hoods for all the lenses, and a large assortment of filters for all the lenses all inside the main compartment. External compartments hold everything else like spare battery packs, chargers, cables, etc. Its got straps on the bottom to carry my tripod …Its got other straps for carrying all kinds of stuff. And I carry bag this much comfortably.

R. Wolfinger

i got this item a few months ago and what a deal. i looked around for other camera backpacks, and was shocked to find some of them costing 100s of dollars… so when i found the canon i was very pleased. i was able to fit my 20D with Bg-e2 grip still attached, 4 lens and lots of other parts in this pack with no problems. it looks nice and the build quality is very good. lots of straps for other stuff, its soft and padded in the right places. for the money is one of the best out there.

Patrick E. Smith

Lowepro Fastpack 250 Camera Bag Review

With the CompuDaypack line of SLR and laptop bags from a few years back, Lowepro pioneered the first designs for a backpack that can transport both camera equipment and a notebook computer. While the CompuDaypack was original, it was heavily criticized for its lower camera compartment that wasn't easy to access. Photographers require quick retrieval of their equipment whenever a photo opportunity arrives. Learning from this first attempt, Lowepro's newest offerings – the Fastpack series – moves the access point to the side of the bag alloying you to quickly grab your gear and go.



On the surface the look and feel of the Fastpack 250 is quite conventional and downright maybe even a little bland, but look a little deeper and you'll find the Fastpack offers a unique approach to the traditional camera or laptop backpack.

Design and Construction
Lowepro's Fastpack bags come in two sizes, with the smaller 250 that we used for this review recommended for larger semi-pro and pro-sized DSLRs and laptops with up to 15.4-inch screen. The larger Fastpack 350 is designed for photographers using larger lenses and holds 17-inch widescreen notebooks. In both cases, the Fastpack has a typical backpack profile, with the laptop storage inside a side-entry pocket behind the back pad and the side-entry camera compartment located at the bottom of the bag.


I find the look of the Fastpack's commonplace looks quite appealing. Stylistically, the bag looks like any other average backpack, which means it doesn't look like a stereotypical photo bag and is less likely to draw attention from thieves.


In terms of build quality, Lowepro is well known for high quality standards, and the Fastpack 250 is no exception. Thick ballistic nylon fabric, smooth polyester interiors, solid stitching, and durable hardware, and thick padding help make the Fastpack a superior product. The various zippers feel rugged, Velcro camera compartment dividers stay firmly in place, and even the accessory pockets feel like they can handle some abuse. In terms of padding, Lowepro provides ample padding around both the laptop compartment and the camera compartments; with a camera, several lenses, and a laptop packed away, everything feels safe and secure.


A relatively minor omission from the design of the Faskpack series is the lack of either weather-sealed zippers or an accessory rain cover. Since the Fastpack is targeted at nature photographers and urban photojournalists who need to access camera and notebook quickly in a range of environments we would have liked to see a more weather-resistant design. Even the addition of the mesh pocket on the side of the bag for a water bottle seems ill advised since a broken or otherwise leaky water bottle could spell doom for both your camera equipment and your laptop.
Cargo Space and Capacity
Internally, the Fastpack is laid out much like many other side-loading DSLR backpacks, with Velcro-in-place dividers that you can customize to fit your needs. The security flap which is secured with two plastic clips holds the main side flap from opening too far and spilling your expensive gear on the floor. There is abundant padding between both camera gear and the notebook compartment.

The main notebook compartment is nice and well padded, but lacks a retention strap inside. This isn't a problem if you remember to close the zipper on the Fastpack, but most laptop bags include a retention strap to help hold your laptop in place and such a strap would have been welcome inside this bag.

In terms of size, the Fastpack 250 is deep enough to easily hold one DSLR body with battery grip attached, two or three lenses, a flash, batteries, and a charger. Our test unit has enough space for my camera, and my three favorite lenses (a 50mm prime lens, a 24-70mm f2.8 lens, and a cheap telephoto zoom lens).


Lowepro officially states the Fastpack 250 holds "one Digital SLR with a mid-range zoom lens attached plus 2-3 additional lenses or flash units (up to a 70-300mm f/4.5), a 15.4-inch widescreen notebook, memory cards, batteries, and cables."

In Use
Over the shoulders, the Fastpack's heavy-duty straps offer the perfect amount of padding for a bag of this size. One additional note about the straps is that the cell phone storage pocket on the left shoulder strap is only large enough to hold the smallest cell phones. If you use a larger smartphone such as a Treo or Blackberry you won't be able to fit the phone inside the storage pocket on the strap. In fact, many mid-size cell phones won't fit inside the cell phone pouch either.


The back padding, like the shoulder strap padding, is very nice. Unfortunately, given the location of the laptop storage compartment (directly behind the back pad) the Fastpack is uncomfortable to wear as a backpack when a full-sized 15.4" notebook is inside. With a large notebook inside the backpack feels like a slab of solid rock is pressing against your back. I found the Fastpack comfortable enough for all-day use only when I placed a much smaller 7" Asus Eee PC inside the storage compartment. While it's nice that the Eee PC fits with room to spare, most photographers prefer to bring a larger notebook with better photo editing capabilities.


Depending on the weight of your laptop and the weight of your camera gear, the bag does an excellent job of sitting upright on its flat, padded base. This makes it nice when you just want to sit down at a desk or in a chair at the airport to do some work.


The extremely roomy top compartment gives you quick access to small accessories, business cards, pens, or anything that doesn't fit in the laptop compartment or camera compartment. If all this storage wasn't enough for you Lowepro also offers a number of small bags and pouches that can connect to the shoulder straps on the Fastpack using the Lowepro "SlipLock" accessory pouches.

Conclusion
Overall, while the idea of a combination camera and notebook bag might not be anything new, the Fastpack proves itself as a solid, functional bag that works well in the field. If you've ever watched a once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity pass by while fumbling to pull your camera from a conventional backpack, the Fastpack's side-entry compartment probably makes some sense to you. Although the laptop storage compartment isn't placed in a very comfortable location, being able to transport a laptop and serious camera equipment in one bag offers a lot of benefits.
Photographers using larger professional SLR bodies and large zoom lenses or telephoto primes will likely find the Fastpack's space a little cramped. The Fastpack series might not offer as much camera equipment storage as similarly sized camera bags, but most camera bags can't protect a full-sized laptop as well. The storage flexibility combined with a $90 street price make the Fastpack 250 one of the best options for digital photographers.

Pros:

• Plenty of room for notebook, accessories, and a reasonable camera kit
• Excellent padding
• Rugged build quality
• Traditional design that doesn't draw unwanted attention

Cons:

• Placing a 15.4-inch notebook inside makes it uncomfortable to wear as a backpack
• Cell phone holder only fits smaller cell phones
• Not weather proof

Crumpler Whickey and Cox Camera Bag Review

Few bag manufacturers do a better job at creating innovative bags (and bag names) than Crumpler. The same company that brought you the popular "Brazillion Dollar Home" camera bag and "The Bucket for Soupansalad" is no stranger to exceptional camera bags with outrageous names. Crumpler's latest camera and notebook bag is called the "The Whickey and Cox" and despite the strange name it's one amazing bag.


On the surface the look and feel of the Whickey and Cox is quite conventional for modern SLR system backpacks. The tripod holder and lack of multiple exterior pockets give serve as telltale signs you're looking at a camera bag. But this isn't an ordinary camera bag. The product description on Crumpler's website reads, "Come on down to the Whickey and Cox, we got all kinds of burs, winos and spurts, you can drunk till you drink you're not drunkin. But don't drive and trunk or we'll call the elephant and barrow squad."
I don't know what the heck that means, but it sure got my attention.
Design and Construction
The Whickey and Cox is Crumpler's middle-of-the-range photo/video location pack. This means it's designed to hold enough gear for a working professional on assignment but isn't the largest bag in Crumpler's product line.


In terms of exterior construction, the Whickey and Cox is a truly professional piece of equipment with a water resistant 1000D nylon shell and 420D Ripstop nylon lining that covers the entire bag. Crumpler has a loyal following among working photographers and photo enthusiasts, and the attention to detail in the Whickey and Cox proves why.
The main compartment opens from a zipper along the very well-cushioned back pad on the backpack.


The fully padded removable laptop sleeve is designed for 15-inch laptops and contains six organizer pockets for various accessories.


The laptop sleeve can also be used to insulate your lap while you're working, keeping a hot laptop off your lap.


One of the key elements that make the Whickey and Cox unique is that the bag is convertible for carrying camera and computer, computer and accessories/cargo, or just "cargo only" (in essence, a giant backpack).


The fully padded, removable, brushed nylon lined camera compartment with mesh zip cover comes with 11 configurable dividers and 3 elastic retention straps. The entire compartment can be removed and you can use the bag for anything that fits inside the massive compartment.



Thick ballistic nylon fabric, soft brushed nylon interiors, solid stitching, extremely durable hardware, and thick padding help make this bag one of the best I've ever used.


The various zippers feel rugged and the Velcro camera compartment dividers stay firmly in place. In terms of padding, Crumpler provides ample padding around both the laptop compartment and the camera compartments; with two camera bodies, several lenses, three flashes, and a laptop packed away, everything feels safe and secure.


Cargo Space and Capacity
The external dimensions of the Whickey and Cox are 34 x 52 x 25 cm. The laptop sleeve dimensions are 27 x 39.5 x 4 cm. In short, this makes the Whickey and Cox a large backpack with a larger-than-average notebook sleeve.


Crumpler officially states the Whickey and Cox holds "D-SLR kits with one body, tele zoom attached, wide zoom lens, an external flash & accessories or medium sized video kits and compact tripod." The company also says the notebook sleeve "fits most 15" laptops."

In practice, I found that I could fit two SLR bodies with short prime lenses attached, three flash units, a memory card holder, a battery charger, two short zoom lenses and a third prime lens inside the bag.

While the laptop sleeve easily holds a 15-inch notebook I did run into one problem. If the camera compartment is fully loaded with gear you cannot easily close the bag with the laptop sleeve and a 15-inch laptop inside. Yes, you can force it closed, but I didn't feel comfortable pushing several thousand dollars worth of camera and computer gear together just to zip the bag shut. If the sleeve was empty or I used a smaller laptop I didn't run into this problem. Luckily, you can remove the sleeve if you don't need to carry a laptop/

In Use
Over the shoulders, the perfectly padded, heavy-duty straps are so comfortable that I hardly recognize the massive weight of a fully loaded bag. One additional note about the straps is the lack of a cell phone pocket. Crumpler does offer a variety of cell phone pockets as additional accessories, but it seems unfortunate that a $220 bag doesn't come with a cell phone holder.

Another minor annoyance with the Whickey and Cox is the angled side panels. If you arrange the storage dividers inside the camera compartment as pictured you cannot place large (i.e. constant-aperture) zoom lenses vertically between these dividers: the angled panels prevent larger lenses from dropping all the way to the bottom of the bag. This isn't a huge problem if you place the lenses sideways or use smaller lenses.


The back padding, like the shoulder strap padding, is beyond nice. I was a little concerned about the location of the laptop sleeve since it sits right behind the back pad. In most laptop camera backpacks this type of location for the laptop makes the back pad feel like a slab of rock is being pressed against your back. Thankfully, Crumpler gave the Whickey and Cox enough padding to make the bag comfortable to wear even with a 15-inch notebook inside.

Conclusion
Overall, while the idea of a combination camera and notebook bag isn't anything new, the Whickey and Cox is one of the best backpacks I've used.

The Whickey and Cox has more than enough room for two professional DSLR bodies and several lenses, but anyone using larger zoom lenses will find this backpack a little cramped in terms of space. Likewise, if you plan to haul a large amount of camera gear and a 15-inch laptop you may have difficulty getting this bag closed. Still, most photographers don't carry more than two f/2.8 constant-aperture zoom lenses at one time, meaning the Whickey and Cox has plenty of room for most uses.

The rugged construction and storage flexibility combined with a $220 street price make the Whickey and Cox one of the best options for digital photographers who are willing to spend a little more for a quality bag.
Pros:

• Excellent padding
• Rugged build quality
• Water resistant
• Removable notebook sleeve
• Removable camera compartment
• Comfortable straps
• Removable belt and chest strap

Cons:

• Placing a 15.4-inch notebook inside limits space for camera gear (sleeve too bulky)
• No cell phone holder on the shoulder straps
• Angled side panels make it difficult to fit multiple large zoom lenses

Lowepro CompuDaypack Notebook/Camera Backpack Review

Introduction The Lowepro CompuDaypack backpack was introduced back in February. Targeted at photo enthusiasts and students at a list price of $99, it can handle up to a 17 inch notebook computer and a Digital SLR with 2-3 lenses, flash units and other accessories. Available in three colors, you'll be able to find one that matches your style.

(view large image)
Features and Design
By far, the most important feature of the CompuDaypack is the ability to carry a full size notebook computer, Digital SLR and all of the extra accessories you need. Lowepro has done this by providing three compartments in the backpack. A lower compartment holds the camera, above the camera section is a compartment to hold accessories, and a compartment against the wearer's back holds the notebook computer. Overall, the backpack actually has a pretty slim line, especially given everything that you can fit in it. It will easily slide under an airline seat.


The lower camera compartment is fully padded with adjustable dividers. The dividers attach to the walls of the compartment, and each other with Velcro. To keep the bottom compartment from flopping all the way open and dumping you camera, there is a gusset system to keep it from opening too far. The bottom compartment measures 11 x 5.3 x 5.5 inches.

Camera compartment
Above the camera compartment is a compartment to hold the miscellaneous stuff that you carry. There are a handful of organizer-style pockets -- sleeves for writing utensils, business card sized sleeves, and a few zipper pockets. The bulk of the space in this compartment is open, so you can fit just about anything in it. Outside of this top compartment is a media player pocket with a headphone wire port. The top compartment measures 12.6 x 5.5 x 11.4 inches.

Top compartment
The notebook compartment can accommodate most 17 inch laptops. My IBM Thinkpad T40 (14.1 inch) fits with plenty of space to spare. The notebook compartment is padded well on all sides, against your back, between the notebook and top compartment, and on the bottom as well. A slim sleeve pocket can handle a couple file folders or magazines. One thing that I've seen on other bags that isn't in the CompuDaypack is a simple Velcro strap for additional security within the notebook compartment. Since the whole compartment is used for the notebook (there's no additional padded sleeve) in order to accommodate a wider set of notebooks, implementation for an additional security strap would be difficult. The notebook compartment measures 12.2 x 1.8 x 15.9 inches.
The CompuDaypack is available in Burnt Orange, Slate Gray, and Leaf Green. I got the Leaf Green variant for this review. From what I hear from Lowepro, the gray bag is the most popular. The outer fabric is water-resistant 840D and 600D rip-stop nylon.

The back of the backpack (that touches your back) has plenty of padding for comfort. The back and straps (also nicely padded) are lined with a mesh to help you keep cool. The straps are contoured and if you want to carry it like a briefcase, there is a padded handle at the top of the straps that provides a nice grip when carrying off of your back. There is plenty of room for adjustment of the straps.


Performance
On a daily basis, here's what's I carry in the backpack:

• IBM Thinkpad T40
• Digital slr with 2 lens (14-45mm, and 40-150mm)
• Card reader
• 2-3 Point and Shoot cameras that I'm reviewing
• Brown bag lunch
• Coffee thermos that holds 16 oz.
• Miscellaneous -- pens, business cards, external hard drive, chargers, and more

The Lowepro CompuDaypack handles all of that extremely well. It's by no means a light load, but the backpack handles it very well. I don't have to walk far or leave it on my back very long, but I have worn it for a couple hours at a time with a similar load. The backpack remained very comfortable.

Loaded top compartment - it will still zip closed with this book in it
The camera compartment and notebook compartment have two zipper pulls, so you can open the zipper in both directions. The top compartment only has one zipper, which I was a little disappointed with

Conclusion
If you're looking for a reasonably priced notebook/camera backpack, you should definitely take a look at the Lowepro CompuDaypack. It can handle a notebook and camera load perfectly in a slim size that will fit easily under an airplane seat. The high quality products from Lowepro are backed up with their limited lifetime warranty.

Pros

• Excellent quality
• Holds a lot, but is not too bulky
• Good padding for notebook and camera equipment

Cons

• Single zipper on top compartment
• No extra sleeve to secure smaller notebooks in the larger notebook compartment