Daily Backpack for Canon 40d and 15" Macbook Pro?

[Megaman]

Hey everyone,

I was wondering if anybody can recommend a good backpack that I can carry around my Canon 40D + a lens or two and 15" Macbook Pro?

I'm looking for a backpack that I can carry with me daily, not just for traveling.

Any advise is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[zirkle2007]

I would be interested in this too as for now I just have my MBP and camera gear in a Swiss Gear bag. This one actually. (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6564611&type=product&id=1077630481064&ref=06&loc=01&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=6564611)

[MadGoat]

Hey everyone,

I was wondering if anybody can recommend a good backpack that I can carry around my Canon 40D + a lens or two and 15" Macbook Pro?

I'm looking for a backpack that I can carry with me daily, not just for traveling.

Any advise is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!


What's your price range, LowePro makes amazing bags that are comfortable and sturdy, though pricy. You want sturdy, because no matter how careful you are, you will bang your bag and the last thing you want to do is break anything.

[Abstract]

Crumpler Customary Barge or Tamrac Adventure 9?

[onomatopoeia]

I'm a fan of Kata (http://www.kata-bags.com/index.asp) backpacks. They are purpose built for photo & video work. Very well made.

[SonicChronicler]

Crumpler Customary Barge or Tamrac Adventure 9?

I've had an Adventure 9 for a few months and am very happy with it.

[Westside guy]

I have Crumpler's Sinking Barge, and use it to carry my 15" MacBook Pro along with my Nikon D70 and a couple lenses (plus filters and other accessories). It works pretty well. The bag is expensive though - I paid $180 new.

[jessica.]

I have this bag. (http://products.lowepro.com/product/CompuTrekker-AW,1924,16.htm)
It is huge, carries a ton and is very sturdy. I love it though.

[Phrasikleia]

I have this bag. (http://products.lowepro.com/product/CompuTrekker-AW,1924,16.htm)
It is huge, carries a ton and is very sturdy. I love it though.

I think it's so funny how product shots always show the bags full of lenses without lens caps on them. "This bag's so great that you don't even need lens caps!"

[kitmos]

I agree with checking out the LowePro. Great bags.

[chriscl]

+1 for Kata.

I have a Kata R103, it holds my 30D (with Grip attached), EF-S 17-55, EF 70-200, 430 Flash, lots of accessories, spare batteries and odds-and-ends and also my 15" Mac Book Pro in a separate compartment.

Very high quality and lots of padding for the kit, it is also very comfortable to carry for long periods of time.

Current (UK) price is around £130 GBP, well worth it for the features and protection offered.

[OreoCookie]

Another vote for Loewe Pro.

[GGJstudios]

This one looked good, and Tamrac makes great stuff!

http://www.tamrac.com/5587.htm

[Sharewaredemon]

I think it's so funny how product shots always show the bags full of lenses without lens caps on them. "This bag's so great that you don't even need lens caps!"

If you have a filter on your lenses, you don't really need to use caps.

Lens caps are just one more thing getting in your way to take pictures.

The lenses in that shot of course don't have filters, :o

[Westside guy]

If you have a filter on your lenses, you don't really need to use caps.

Lens caps are just one more thing getting in your way to take pictures.

I disagree.

Unless you're really good about keeping your photo bag clean, or you don't ever go anywhere with it, you need a lens cap. Filters can get scratched just as easily as a lens, which means lower picture quality.

But then for the most part I don't use filters. :D

[GGJstudios]

.

[Abstract]

I have this bag. (http://products.lowepro.com/product/CompuTrekker-AW,1924,16.htm)
It is huge, carries a ton and is very sturdy. I love it though.

Yep, there's that, and the CompuRover AW. It really depends on what the OP wants.

[saxondale.]

I have a Canon 40D, 10-22mm, 35mm, 24-70mm and 15" MBP all in 1 bag.

Crumpler Opulent Rooster

Great bag, i can fit all the above and other things.

[nburwell]

I've had an Adventure 9 for a few months and am very happy with it.

+1. I have it as well, and it's absolutely great. Fits all my filters, water bottle, CF cards, lenses and body, plus some clothes and my 15" MBP.

[slick316]

I got an email from BooqBags yesterday for two new backpack/camera bags they have:

Python Pro: http://www.booqbags.com/s.nl/it.A/id.289/.f?sc=2&category=506

Python Pack: http://www.booqbags.com/s.nl/it.A/id.301/.f?sc=2&category=506

I like Booq's quality, but they are expensive. Use PPX promo code for 15% at check out.

[Rotary8]

I have a lowepro compudaypack. It fits my 17" mbp + d80 w/18-200 vr + another lens and flash.

It's a nice bag except the more I look at it the more retarded it looks on me. Looks is subjective but man... I wish it was nicer looking. Which is probably why I'm trying to sell it now.

[Megaman]

Thanks for the advise everyone!

[operator207]

Lowepro Fastpack 250 works great for me.

Carry my MBP and Camera everywhere, especially work.

[Hmac]

I've been using a LowePro Computrekker for several years. It's very roomy, very rugged, and very weatherproof. I got it because I travel with camera gear a lot and I didn't want to have to choose whether my camera gear or my laptop got gate-checked at the airport. I've carried the thing snowmobiling in Montana in a raging blizzard and in 5-foot seas in a Zodiac off the north coast of Haiti - never had any "environment" get inside.

It's very roomy, my MBP fits fine. Very comfortable to carry, but if there's one problem, it's that it can be heavy when it's loaded up.

http://www.pbase.com/hmac/image/35514497.jpg

[Fevida]

I have a Fastpack 250 from Lowepro and it's great. The quality is good, and it's not that expensive. The only thing I'm missing is a strap for a tripod.

[ipodtoucher]

I have the Tamrac Adventure 9 Series in Camo. It is a great bag and has tons of room. I carry my D50, Sigma 70-300, and my smaller lens, my quantaray flash, some filters, lens and body caps, and there is still more room! And the Laptop slot is great to carry Photo mags too for quick tips. I don't use it for my laptop, well I don't have a Mac laptop, but there is plenty of space in there too

http://www.tamrac.com/5549m_open.jpg

[Westside guy]

One thing the Crumpler has that most of these don't is "slingability" - you don't have to take the bag off and set it on the ground to get at your camera. You just slip off one shoulder strap and pull it around front a bit.

That may not matter to you at all; but it was something I was looking for.

[NeXTCube]

Tenba make a backpack-style bag, the ProDigital PB-15C (http://www.tenba.com/pc-533-3-prodigital-20-pb-15c-backpack.aspx):

http://www.tenba.com/images/PRODUCT/medium/638-184.jpg

It's available from Adorama (http://www.adorama.com/TBPB15C.html?searchinfo=pb-15c&item_no=1).

They also have a shoulder bag version, the PD-15C (http://www.tenba.com/pc-531-12-prodigital-20-pd-15c-shoulder-bag.aspx):

http://www.tenba.com/images/PRODUCT/medium/638-182.jpg

Also at Adorama (http://www.adorama.com/TBPD15C.html?searchinfo=PD-15C&item_no=1).

[atari1356]

Tenba make a backpack-style bag...

It looks like Tenba also has some other nice backpacks in it's "shootout" line.

I like how on this one it has the quick access pods on the side so you can take out lenses without taking off the backpack (watch the youtube video):

http://www.tenba.com/pc-875-6-shooutout-medium-backpack.aspx

Nice tripod carrying system too.

They also have rolling versions with a handle that extends out (although it looks like that adds about 4 lbs to the weight).

I've been shopping around for a bag too... and now I'm debating between the medium Tenba shootout, and one of the Crumpler bags.

[MacInTO]

I agree with this also. I actually use two crumpler bags, a 5 million dollar home for my camera equipment (slr + 2 lenses + flash) and put that in a Crumpler King Single.

I found the Barge a bit too big and returned it and got the King Single.

One thing the Crumpler has that most of these don't is "slingability" - you don't have to take the bag off and set it on the ground to get at your camera. You just slip off one shoulder strap and pull it around front a bit.

[MacGromit]

If you have a filter on your lenses, you don't really need to use caps.

Lens caps are just one more thing getting in your way to take pictures.

The lenses in that shot of course don't have filters, :o

While I appreciate the "throw caution to the wind, c'est la vie" attitude... even the filter costs more than you just want to be tossing into that same proverbial wind.

Scratching or worse, cracking a circular polarizing filter isn't worth the 2 seconds it takes to pop off a lens cap.

[mojohanna]

hi everyone. I am in the same boat. I am looking for a good backpack/laptop/camera bag. here are my uses/equipment

Equip:
d40X with 18-135 lens
either a macbook or a macbook air (to be purchased after WWDC)
ipod
sony noise canceling headphones
chargers, cords, accessories

Here are my uses.
Typically hit China 2x a year. Don't take the camera to this so I can free up that room, for the paper files and trip books i take w/me (business, not pleasure)
germany 1x/year (again, no camera)

Wife and I usually take one good trip every other year. This fall heading to Austria and Italy. Will be taking the big camera, laptop, other items.

I am torn between these two items.

Booq Python (not sure if it will have enough room for the paper files and other books that I take to China) also concerned about room for things like a book, my headphones etc.

Booq Python pro with sleeve. This looks like it may suit my needs since it has more room. I would rather have more than less. My question on this one though is that Booq offers this as a "kit" that includes a sleeve, but online it only lists the 15" and 17" sleeve. Will they sell me the pro kit with the Vyper XS2 sleeve for the same price?
I like the fact that you can access the camera bag thru the front of the bag. This would be very convenient rather than pulling everything out of the bag to reach the camera bag (my assumption on the python)

Thanks for any light you can shed on my dilemma here.

[johnsy]

I have Lowepro CompuDaypack. It is only $72 from Bestbuy. It is great backpack- you can use it as regular one after removing inserts. Or if you leave everything it carries camera with one lens attached and at least one more lens (zoom telephoto). There is a room for laptop and filters, flash, memory cards, a few books, and other gear. Fully loaded it is on a bigger side, but some people call it medium. I guess it really depends if you want to look like a turtle or not.:) Besides, would you like to carry more than 15 pounds or not? I prefer less heavy loads, because my back feels better.
Also this backpack does not look like you have a laptop and camera inside- it is very "regular" backpack.

[johnsy]

Booq is not made for camera gear. You can put camera, but it is not designed that way- it has no surrounding cushions. Or it might have, but it is not adjustable for your camera, so it will rattle around more or less. Also $225! Is it worth for 4 trips a year? You don't really need laptop sleeve unless you plan to use only a sleeve for some time and don't carry backpack. Other use would be if pocket for a laptop is too big, which would probably be with Mac Air.