jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Lots of backpacks have this feature, but it must be designed for the particular backpack to work well. I have a Lowepro with that feature, but I've never used it, since I have a tripod that will fit inside.

If you drop the "s" in a link, it becomes a hot link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhJv6VHzZjQ

jointerjohn

My wife and I shoot with Sony Alphas and carry a relatively modest load of accessories most of the time. We have found that good, padded, and weatherproof bags can be found at discount stores for minimal cost. They are sold as diaper bags! Not only that, but a diaper bag, (they are obvious by their appearance), is the last thing that any thief would ever break into your vehicle to steal, and even if you accidentally walk away from it in public nobody will touch it. Just be careful of the waterproofing so don't leave your gear in it if anything has become damp during your outing.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Davet, I called LowPro, they are only 30 mins from me. The equivalent of the Compu is the Pro-Runner 350. the 50 designates it will carry a laptop. The 400 is larger. My Compu is pretty big. It is comfortable, but not as much as my Canon pack.
The Lowpros are well made and stiff/rigid. That's good for camera protection put does not translat to as much comfort. If you had it full(probably 30lbs), it gives you a lot of support to spread out the load, if you're a backpacker, that means something. What I don't like about the Lowpros is that they do not have a lot of small pockets for extras like food, water, windbreakers, gloves etc.
That's what I like about my cheap little Canon pack. It's the most backpack-like. It's less stiff so feels comfy with lots of pockets. Admittedly, if they both fell of a cliff, the LowPro would come out on top.
The LowPro will take a computer and a tripod.
If you want to compare it to the new replacement model, it's the Pro-runner 350 size-wise. Good luck;-)
SS

mossgate Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Okay....first of all I'm not here to sell anything but I thought I'd throw this out there for anyone who is new to photography and would like to find a pack/camera bag of some sort that is conservative on space and relatively light on one's anatomy. I don't know how many people are familiar with sling bags but I personally am on my feet for a constant four hour stretch photographing...no rest....and have found this particular sling style, at least, very comfortable....not a strain on my back whatsoever. You do have to keep in mind that the larger your load the larger the stress on your anatomy, so you have to be conservative if you aren't really super physically fit. I've seen slings that are no more than a bag with straps sort of how purses are arranged. There are sling designs, however, that are designed to not put downward stress on the shoulder that the strap is resting on. So.....just as another input on this subject.....check out this youtube video. It actually shows the person wearing the sling and not just showing you how many compartments it has. I actually bought mine at a local camera shop to ensure that what I was buying was going to be COMFORTABLE. It's hard to judge that on the internet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_S6LmVMrCw

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

If I knew I had a four hour photo event coming up, I'd carry the bag with an equivalent weight, just to get used to it.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

John, are you talking about parking the car at a vista point and walking out and getting some shots, then driving to the next spot?
Or are you talking about leaving your hotel in Paris at 7am and carrying 20 pounds of gear, including your tripod, and being on foot untill you return at midnight? In the meantime, you climbed hundreds of stairs, walked miles of cobblestone streets and been to Versailles and back? I wouldn't do that with a roller, shoulder bag, sling or a diaper bag, but ONLY with a proper backpack. But maybe our styles are different, or maybe it's just me! ;-)
SS

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

Sharpie, I'm with you on this one. The roller gets my stuff to the hotel from my house. The backpack OR the sling bag lets me shoot at the venue(s).

mossgate Loc: Phoenix, AZ

I don't remember what type of camera gear you have so I can't imagine what your "equivalent weight" refers to. For a wimp like myself, I am only carrying approx. 5 pounds in my sling pack. Being that my back is somewhat touchy, I have stopped using back packs. Everyone's anatomy has its own glitches. One style doesn't fit all I know and for some of us slings of a certain construction are just the best option. It's nice if you have a pro camera store around so you can test drive your equipment in some of these bags (back or sling type) to see what they feel like loaded up. Of course, there is no test like schlepping this stuff around for hours on end. :wink:
My legs are in better shape than my back so walking I can do for hours on end.....like being on autopilot. That is where ergonomics proves itself. Twenty plus years ago I used a backpack loaded up with an amazing amount of weight and carried a heavy Bogen tripod, too, but no more. ;)

mossgate Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Oh and just one other comment.....Even thought he road to Hell is paved with good intentions :twisted: with the greatest of good intentions to save some people grief..... I suppose a bear in the woods could come up behind you and rip off your backpack but more likely is it that a human could dip into it without your knowledge. Knowing of one particular city that I've visited in Europe (trying to be very general here out of political correctness) a sling pack is the safest way to keep your eye on things. Backpacks in some populated places are a bad idea. Pickpockets are supremely good at what they do. Not worth the heartache to find out that it doesn't only happen to someone else. .....My last word........

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Many photo backpacks have the zipper against the wearer's back, a nice safety feature.

mossgate Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Sounds like a good idea. Never noticed one like that. No zippered sections on the outer side? How do you get at the camera quickly without taking the backpack off. Being a klutz I'd take something out while getting at something else and leave it behind. I'd opt for some kind of digital "mousetrap" for those risky places. Unfortunately I'd forget it was there and zap myself. There must be something like that out there somewhere however. :roll: Guess the sling still works best for me.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Some backpacks let you swing the pack not one shoulder and get it around in front of you. Regardless the configuration, you would not be able to unzip the pack while it is on your back.

country Loc: back woods

if you like a shoulder bag, this is a nice bag... http://www.amazon.com/Opteka-Excursion-C700-Weatherproof-Shoulder/dp/B004PAHUEA/ref=sr_1_4?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1391758607&sr=1-4&keywords=camera+bags

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

I just looked it up via your link. Thanks! Looks great, like it would fit the bill. Love the price!

tuffsheet Loc: WPB FL.

I use the LowePro Slingshot 302 because you don't have to set the bag down to reach your gear! Comes in handy if your in the puckerbrush trying to change a lens....