planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

I recently bought a new megazoom lens and now I need a new case as my old soft-sided lunchbox no longer fits everything. Thinking about a ThinkTank Streetwalker from Best Buy, but have not yet seen anything in person. My thought was to make cardboard cutouts of my body and lenses and see what fits. I'll probably have to carry some stuff separately (flash, filters, etc). I have a Sony a77, a 150-600g2, a 105 macro, 70-300 and a 17-50. I also have a tripod and footed monopod. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Quixdraw Loc: x

I'm a great fan and long time user of ThinkTank, but last visit my Daughter had a very neat reconfigurable back pack from Peak Designs. Personally not a back pack enthusiast, but if I was... Probably worth a look.

Selene03

Are there any good camera stores near where you live? Think Tank bags are great, but I wasted money on various bags that didn't work for one reason or another trying to figure them out like you are. I finally went into a Samys camera store (not close, but not far either). I told the guy what I needed to carry, he recommended a bag and showed me how it could all fit and asked me about different lenses I might carry. Each time he grabbed lenses off the shelf and showed me how they fit and how to think about backing them. I have now gotten rid of most of my other bags.

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

There's only one camera store relatively close and most of the stuff is overpriced, but I've gotten them to match some stuff with like B&H (I use this for an example - when I bought my Pro-100 printer it came with a box of 13x19 paper. A major NY retailer sells it for $75, but my local store charges $100 for the same thing). The only other store I can think of is about 1/2 hour or 45 min away in St. Louis.

hipines Loc: Prescott, AZ

As long as you're looking at the Streetwalker, check out the Mindshift Gear Trailscape 18L (also by Thinktank). It's the same size as the Streetwalker, but I like the configuration better, and it looks even less like a camera case.

https://www.thinktankphoto.com/collections/trailscape/products/trailscape-18l

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Mindshift Gear (div of Thinktank) Backlight 36L will hold more than you can realistically carry.

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

I think I'll go out to my local camera shop and see what they have...some good suggestions so far.

Tea8 Loc: Where the wind comes sweeping down the plain.

I'm not sure how it goes for printers and such, but as far as bags, lenses, camera bodies, etc. most of those are regulated to where you are going to pay the same price for them no matter where you purchase them from. It's just the fact that a larger retailer or chain type camera shop will make more money on them because they were able to purchase a bigger quantity from the manufacturer and get a discount. So then they sell to you at the regulated price and make more or less money that way. I bought a Manfrotto camera bag a month or two ago and it was the same to purchase it directly from the Manfrotto site as it was to shop at my local camera store. I bought a lens from B&H I'd been wanting for a while and it was on sale for $100 off at the time. Well it was also $100 less than my local store. B&H however, was throwing in the TAP-in console to go with it and a clear filter. I wouldn't have gotten those things by buying local. My local store definitely isn't as big as B&H so they can't afford to just throw in nearly $100 in extras like that. Now camera batteries, that's not something I will shop from at my local store again. I paid $20 more for a third party camera than I would have to get a genuine Nikon brand one directly from them. But lesson learned.

Anyway. Just do a search of camera bags and see what you think might meet your needs and then go to the store to try one out. Check the price online from the retailer and if you end up going to your local store and find out it's more expensive, just ask them why. If you don't like it, well, you've been able to try the bag out there to see if it meets you needs and then you can always go back home and order it from the retailer for less money.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I bought a Tamrac (#5374) backpack (I guess a small or medium, NOT a large) from B&H a few years ago. Based on the images they had on their site, from which I could tell what I could place where.
It fits everything I heed for a long hike in Acadia, has a chest strap, a place for a tripod, and two large add-on pouches that I also purchased in case I might need more space.
While I would much rather see a bag/backpack in person, images on the sales page really helped.
I'm very pleased with the Tamrac.

Remember,
a camera bag to a photographer is just like a pocketbook to a woman, it has to be just right.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

drsdayton Loc: Dayton, Ohio

I just recently got the 36L because it is actually large enough to handle all. It is impressive.

I have decided to keep the 26 L to handle those occasions where I can be specific and need to carry a little less.

Nice bags from Mindshift!

DaveJ Loc: NE Missouri

Go to Schiller's Camera near Maplewood in St Louis and you can see Think Tank gear in person, along with many others. They have been in business for a long time. I would recommend Think Tank, but they have many others. They have a big wall full of all kinds of bags. I drive 100 miles to go there, so if you are in the suburbs, should not be too bad on a Saturday.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

(I'm too frugal. )

Howard5252 Loc: New York / Florida (now)

You're about 45 minutes drive time from a store! Get in your car (with your equipment) and start driving.

joanloy Loc: St. Louis, MO

There are 2 good camera stores in St. Louis. Schiller's Camera is on Manchester Road and Creve Coeur Camera is on Olive St. Road.