12" PB/Camera bag

[jknight8907]

I'm going to South America for about 3 weeks in January, so I need a fairly big backpack to carry my 12" Powerbook and a camera, lens shade, cables, etc.

I like the Crumpler Farmer's Double because of it's camera compartment in the bottom.

What do you guys (and ladies) use for your stuff? Suggestions quite wecome.....

[Chip NoVaMac]

Most bags are designed with the 15" and 17" in mind.

Lowepro makes a large size one:

http://www.lowepro.com/pages/byStyle/backpack.htm

Tamrac offers these:

(look for the computer symbol)

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

[superbovine]

I'm going to South America for about 3 weeks in January, so I need a fairly big backpack to carry my 12" Powerbook and a camera, lens shade, cables, etc.

I like the Crumpler Farmer's Double because of it's camera compartment in the bottom.

What do you guys (and ladies) use for your stuff? Suggestions quite wecome.....

if you have to leave you pack in a hotel room in south america, it wise to make sure the pack you get can be locked cause you never know how can get into your hotel room. :(

[jknight8907]

if you have to leave you pack in a hotel room in south america, it wise to make sure the pack you get can be locked cause you never know how can get into your hotel room. :(

I'll take a small lock, but I will have it with me most of the time. Good suggestion, I hadn't thought of that. :)

[chiiyo]

I will really recommend the LowePro Stealth II
http://www.lowepro.com/pages/series/stealth/stealth.htm

It looks small but it can easily fit your 12" PB and quite a bit on the side, camera body, a few lenses... not too sure about the lens shade though, depends on how big is yours.

The whole point is that it's so small people don't realise it can fit so much inside, which would be good as a disguise.

We sell Lowe Pro bags here (we're a photo processing shop) so I can tell you it's a really good bag. All of the Lowe Pro bags are good, it's just that the camera laptop combi bags are really superb... (Yes I do want a Stealth myself, if you're wondering...)

[mattroberts]

i own a crumpler. best built bag i've ever seen - NOTHING will break this bag. if it falls off your shoulder or back it won't be because it broke.

As far as i know there are no locking mechanisms on the crumpler - or any i've seen. This is about the only down side on the product if price is a non-issue.

I highly recommend it.

cheers
m

[Chip NoVaMac]

I'll take a small lock, but I will have it with me most of the time. Good suggestion, I hadn't thought of that. :)

Actually a better idea is the PacSafe systems:

http://www.pac-safe.com/

They seal up the bag and can be locked down to something that can easily be moved. I have one, and I think it is the best idea.

[Chip NoVaMac]

I realized that I put in the wrong link for Lowepro:

http://www.lowepro.com/pages/byStyle/notebook_camera_combos.htm

I use the Stealth 650. It is not a backpack, but they do offer a belt that helps distribute the weight well. And it doesn't look like a camera bag. Just a large messenger bag.