walkurie Loc: East Stroudsburg, PA

I will be in Italy for two weeks in October. Iwould like your thoughts/reccomendations on a sling type camer bag to hold the following:
D5300 with battery grip
Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8
Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6
Tokina 12-24mm f/4 DX II
Thanks
Gary

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Gary, I've been using this bag for 8 years now.
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-349254-1.html#5868432
--Bob

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Leave the 17-50 at home, you will not find many applications. Get yourself a PacSafe strap and backpack for security. Italy offers advanced degrees in Pick Pocketing with a major in lifting cameras and lenses while you don't even notice.

Strap: https://www.pacsafe.com/carrysafe-200-anti-theft-shoulder-strap/10100100.html?cgid=camera#start=1
Bag: https://www.pacsafe.com/camsafe-v25-anti-theft-camera-backpack/15240100.html?cgid=camera#start=1

And, see if you can get a rider for your camera on your Homeowners Insurance, full replacement value, that covers non-professional international travel.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Gary, I am aThink Tank Camra Bag guy. Super quality.
https://www.thinktankphoto.com/collections/turnstyle/products/turnstyle-20-v2

Have a great time in Italy. Beware of the pick pockets. Keep your Passport, cash,etc away from them. They were stored under my shirt.
https://www.amazon.com/Money-Belt-Blocking-Passport-Documents/dp/B01KXXU57Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?tag=shopperz_origin1-20&ascsubtag=105600713-2-611835098.1526524648&SubscriptionId=AKIAJO7E5OLQ67NVPFZA

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Anything that utilizes or allows the attachment of a case-hardened chain or cable to every component.

walkurie Loc: East Stroudsburg, PA

Just returned from my local brick & mortar camera store Dan's Camera in Allentown. PA.
Purchased the Thinktank Turnstyle V2.0.
Salesperson uses this one also. Best part was being able to check the fit.
Thanks for your reccomendation and sharing your experience. This is my first camera bag since my F4.
Regards
Gary

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Italy and camera equipment have become dangerous to visitors. Beware, large cities team with folks who want to lighten your load. Whenever I travel now I just take my Sony HX90V in a belt pouch. You are, in my opinion, asking for trouble. Besides, you are taking way too much equipment. TRAVEL RIGHT, TRAVEL LITE.

rdemarco52 Loc: Wantagh, NY

For what its worth, there are many pickpockets in Italy. I make a copy of my passport and carry that when I am touring, and I lock my original in the hotel room safe. I have been to Italy twice, and have not been bothered, but I am careful, aware of my surroundings, and I heed the advice of the tour leaders.

HallwoedHill Loc: Chattanooga,TN

Almost got arrested within site of the Colosseum. Riding a bus with our guide from Vatican City. When we got on just about 10 people total. By the time we got off you couldn't cram 5 more on board. As we got off 2 guys who hadn't had a bath in days approached, flashed some kind of badge in a totally worn out wallet and started jabbering away in Italian of which I don't understand a word. Kept brushing them off as they became more aggressive. Fortunately our guide made her way to me through the crowd and sorted it all out. Turns out they were undercover police who thought they saw two Algerian known pickpockets take something from my wife's bag as we got off the bus. These guys were WAY undercover in appearance. Good thing the guide was there or I was on my way to the pokie.

RolandDieter

Think Tank Turnstyle is too easy for thieves to access. Zipper is easy for others to open while slung over your shoulder ... someone zipped mine open without my feeling it so that an accomplice ahead of me could reach in as I passed. Fortunately, someone who saw the first person open it stopped me and let me know, so it was closed again before passing the accomplice. Otherwise it is a very great bag, but it also won't hold all you want to carry ... and I agree with the person who says to leave the 17 - 50 at home. A better sling for this trip would be the Mindstore as it is harder for others to open. Pacsafe is a surer bet, but the only Pacsafe sling I know of will not hold all the gear you are planning to take. You may also want to seriously consider a Panasonic FZ1000 (or a Sony RX10 series camera) which will cover the same zoom range as your outfit with less bulk, less weight and no having to change lenses. These cameras can be bought at very good prices nowadays and the images re great.

walkurie Loc: East Stroudsburg, PA

Roland,
Thanks for your response.
Gary

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

ANY BAG can be easily cut by professional pickpockets. They LOVE camera bags cause all your stuff is in ONE bag. Trust me, you buy a bag and wear it anywhere in Italy, you are inviting trouble. I would just take a pocket camera and leave that stuff at home. This is your fair warning.

Dossile

Seems like this has turned into a discussion about the safest camera bag. I have traveled extensively throughout Europe and, knock on wood, have never had anything stolen. Pick pockets being everywhere is a given. The Vatican, yes. Inside museums, yes. The airport, yes. In front of a police station, yes. The first advice that I give rookie travelers who ask is to never stop walking when someone approaches you for a survey, help, money or sympathy. Never stop walking, never, for anyone or anything. You will find something missing if you do.

As for a camera bag, get a Pacsafe strap to prevent slashers. I would significantly diminish the amount of gear you are taking. You will hopefully be walking almost everywhere. For me, a lot of gear really diminishes the enjoyment of the entire experience. I have several bags from several manufacturers and like them all. In Europe, I use a LowePro holster sized for my largest lens and a second smaller lens case Velcroed and strapped on. If I take a lens for a specific reason, such as a super fast lens, I pick when to carry it and otherwise keep it in the room safe. I always black out the LowePro with a sharpie and make the bag look a little dirty, don’t know if that helps. I walk with the holster in front of my left hip strapped cross body over my shoulder. On public transport I pull the bag directly in front of me with my hand on it. Between cities on a train I put the outfit in a 32 L Osprey backpack locked and use a small carabiner to hook the pacsafe strap to the pack to prevent a slasher from pulling it from a slashed pack bottom. Maybe a little paranoid. Have a great time. Take some small binoculars for the Sistine Chapel. The detail is phenomenal.

walkurie Loc: East Stroudsburg, PA

Based on the feedback thus far, sounds like I should take my old HP Photosmary 945 5.5 MP and be thankful if some one takes it.
Gary

Dossile

I have always taken my best camera to Europe and will continue to do so. Get some insurance if it worries you. The opportunities in Europe for great shots are endless, so have fun with it. I just hold off on bringing the kitchen sink. For me, to enjoy the sites, there is simply too much walking for heavy gear. In Europe, pick pockets are part of the culture. If you make it the least bit difficult, they’ll choose another victim. Take a look at Rick Steve’s website on safety while traveling. I have never had a problem, probably will at some time, but I have logged hundreds of days traveling throughout the continent.

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