Lowepro LP36407 PAM Messenger Backpack Slate
I obsessed over the research involved in buying this bag. I must have looked at just about every manufacturer there is, read every review and watched every YouTube video on the subject of DSLR bags. I was looking for a bag that would carry a couple of extra lenses and my flash, and give me easy access to them. I have a Canon 7D with a 70-200mm f2.8L lens that I use for shooting hockey. I tended to not carry an additional lens, or when I did, it was in my Canon backpack. In order to change lenses I had to take off the pack, set it down, perform the lens change and remount the pack. This Lowepro Pro Messenger bag does exactly what I want it to do. I have easy access to all of my gear, and it doesn't look like I'm carrying half the world's photographic supplies. The bag fits the 7D with the 70 - 200 2.8L with hood reversed, a 50mm 1.8, a 17 - 85mm 4/5.6 and the 40mm 2.8 lenses. It also will carry my Speedlite, my Canon charger, a batter charger, extra memory cards, pad, pen, lens cleaner and cloth with a lot of room left over. I use the zippered slot on the back to carry my Rogue Flash Bender and Small Softbox.
All that gear can get quite heavy, but the bag fits fine (and I'm not a big person). I was a bit concerned about how big this might look on me, but it really isn't all that much larger than my Canon backpack. The 2-way flap is quite convenient for either keeping things secure or giving you quick access to the main compartment. The front pocket really is big enough to hold a second body.
The bag appears to be well made. The color isn't exactly jet black. It does have a bit of a greenish overtone to it, and the color would be one thing that I would change. Aside from that, it's an outstanding bag!
I've come to the realization that I'll never find a bag that works for everything. When I began shopping for camera bags this became even more apparent. My first was an Opteka Excursion Series C900. Big as a house but not good for walking around. I went cheap and got a generic canvas bag and a BBP DSLR Camera Insert. Okay for compacts and mirrorless but too thin for a metal DSLR and heavy lenses. I like the messenger bag form factor since it doesn't scream $$$$$ camera! Rob me! Most of the messenger camera bags, however, had designs and logos that I didn't care for and I wanted to keep the price under $200. I narrowed it down to the Lowepro Pro Messengers and the Thinktank Retrospectives. I picked up the Retrospective 30 and was very impressed with it. It's an excellent bag but too big for everyday use when I don't have the 5DII and a couple of lenses with me. I was about to get a smaller model but I saw a couple of glowing review videos for the Pro Messengers so I gave it a shot.
BalasHapusI thought that they had sent me the smaller 160 by mistake. I took measurements and it was close to the description but I thought it was on the small side (and it looks square). Then I saw the stitched tag which confirmed the model number. As I expected, the build quality is very good and at this price it had better be.
First impressions:
-Tough material and stitching
-Thick padding
-Configurable compartments
-Lots of pockets
-Subtle and classic styling
-Magnet for silent flap operation or the more secure velcro
-Fast and easy access to the pockets.
I packed it full of my usual junk and dropped in the 5dII/70-200 attached, 24-70 and 50 stacked. Getting tight in there but it fit and the inside pocket could still take a speedlight. The retro would not let you put in a DSLR/70-200 standing up but this will. Since I got this for light use I'm fine with the smaller capacity. I would go with a larger model if I was bringing the trinity + speedlight + junk. I adjusted the strap to my height and slung it across the chest as I usually wear these and found the fit surprisingly comfortable (like a pair of sneakers). Perfect for light duty.
I obsessed over the research involved in buying this bag. I must have looked at just about every manufacturer there is, read every review and watched every YouTube video on the subject of DSLR bags. I was looking for a bag that would carry a couple of extra lenses and my flash, and give me easy access to them. I have a Canon 7D with a 70-200mm f2.8L lens that I use for shooting hockey. I tended to not carry an additional lens, or when I did, it was in my Canon backpack. In order to change lenses I had to take off the pack, set it down, perform the lens change and remount the pack. This Lowepro Pro Messenger bag does exactly what I want it to do. I have easy access to all of my gear, and it doesn't look like I'm carrying half the world's photographic supplies. The bag fits the 7D with the 70 - 200 2.8L with hood reversed, a 50mm 1.8, a 17 - 85mm 4/5.6 and the 40mm 2.8 lenses. It also will carry my Speedlite, my Canon charger, a batter charger, extra memory cards, pad, pen, lens cleaner and cloth with a lot of room left over. I use the zippered slot on the back to carry my Rogue Flash Bender and Small Softbox.
BalasHapusAll that gear can get quite heavy, but the bag fits fine (and I'm not a big person). I was a bit concerned about how big this might look on me, but it really isn't all that much larger than my Canon backpack. The 2-way flap is quite convenient for either keeping things secure or giving you quick access to the main compartment. The front pocket really is big enough to hold a second body.
The bag appears to be well made. The color isn't exactly jet black. It does have a bit of a greenish overtone to it, and the color would be one thing that I would change. Aside from that, it's an outstanding bag!
BalasHapusAwesome bag, sturdy construction, lots of key location pockets for carrying photo equip. The fact that it's not bloated like many bags out there, the Pro Messenger 180AW is perfectly sized no matter what you're doing. I took it on vacation for both carrying equipment and security because it would be in front of me rather than a backpack(easy to pick pocket things out of it).
BalasHapusPros: Light. Sturdy. Key Pocket Locations, Strong Velcro Inserts.
Cons: I don't have any.
I purchased the Lowepro Pro Messenger 180 AW because I almost never take my 70-200mm f/2.8 II off my 5Dmk2. So I needed a bag that held them together.
BalasHapusThis bag is confortable and very solid. Never had a Lowepro that was poorly constructed.
I needed to carry a Canon 5d mkII, 70-200mm f2.8 'L' lens, plus a 24-105 f4 and a 17-40 f4 as well as some additional small equipment for Third World travel in crowded cities and off-road. After buying and returning half a dozen bags, the 180AW Messenger bag was the only bag that truly met my needs for compactness, carrying capacity and unobtrusiveness. For over 25 years my old LowePro over the shoulder bag never let me down until I bought the 70-200 f2.8, suddenly I was out of room. This was the ONLY bag which could hold it and my other lenses comfortably and compactly.
BalasHapusSure it's over the shoulder and can be heavy when fully loaded, but sling bags and backpacks just don't cut it for Third World travel. A backpack is needed for trekking, but for almost any other use this is just perfect. The cover is brilliant, as it folds in half: open fully it uses velcro to strongly prevent anything from falling out, but if you are in a fast moving situation, the cover folds in half and uses a magnet to keep it closed. Thus there is no sound to tell people you are opening your bag and pulling out your camera or to create noise for another person shooting video.
The AW version contains a waterproof cover that, although it takes a bit of work to figure out how it fits, completely saved my equipment in a downpour. (Make sure you get the AW version). It's got excellent pockets, including a nice hidden one for passports. And the back opens with a zipper to be either another thin large pocket for printed materials, OR it opens on the bottom too, so as to secure itself over the handle of a wheelie. Color is slightly Khaki, not really gray, heavy duty nylon weave. Worth every penny.