On Sat, Feb 08, 2003 at 11:46:35AM -0500, M.J.Shupe Photography wrote: > > On Friday, February 7, 2003, at 04:40 AM, Jim Davis wrote: > > > I will need a new camera bag for my EF 100-400 USM IS lens. If > >possible, I want something tall enough to put the camera with lens > >straight down into it with body on top, hood reversed. This would > >require a medium sized bag I think, and should have room in the bottom > >sides to hold an EF 20-30 USM and EF 50/1.4.
> Check out the Lowepro Specialist 85, the Off Trail 2, and, the best of > the lot, but the biggest of these, the Pro Mag 2 (it is what I use and > it is the best bag I have ever had). I had both the Off Trail 2 (still > have it up stairs somewhere) and the Specialist 85 before this one, and > they are all good, but the pro mag is the best. I also have both Pro Mag 2 and Off Trail 2, but I use the latter much more. Which is better depends on the situation. PM2 is nice because it is a single compact pack that easily holds a lot of stuff, but it is somewhat uncomfortable to carry for a long time, especially if you have to carry other stuff as well. OT2 won't hold nearly as much stuff and it's made of three detachabla parts, but that's also its main advantage, you can remove unnecessary parts (to a bagpack for example). If you plan to drive to the location and carry the stuff only for a few hundred meters or a few hours and carry nothing much else, the Pro Mag 2 is great. I would recommend replacing the waist belt with something sturdier though, at least if you plan to carry it in places like swamps where you can't put it down at all. But the Off Trail 2 is the best I've found when I go for a week-long walk in Lappland carrying a big backpack (filled with stuff like tent, sleeping bag, food &c): I can keep the OT2 in front all day and all week long, easily accessible when I need it. On harder terrain I usually remove the side lens cases and put them in the backpack. I've even worn it on horseback that way. Under such circumstances the PM2 is useless. It has to be said though that with 100-400 + EOS3 + PB-E2 with QR plate the OT2 is a bit tight. It does fit but only barely, and the center of gravity moves somewhat uncomfortably far from my body. Without PB-E2 it is quite comfortable. -- Tapani Tarvainen * **** ******* *********************************************************** * For list instructions, including unsubscribe, see: * http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/eos_list.htm ***********************************************************
