Top-load bag for SLR w/ 300mm f/4

[DiggitalD]

Anyone know of a shoulder bag - top-load preferred - that will hold an SLR with an attached 300mm f/4 lens (lens:8.9in, camera alone:3" deep)? Every bag seems to stop at 200mm f/2.8...

[James Eaton]

I use a Lowepro topload zoom AW for my equipment, which is a Canon 20D and 100-400 zoom lens, which would measure up about the same as your equipment. I went into a shop to try it out and it fitted perfectly, despite advertisements to the contrary. Overall the bag has been superb, though this is the second Lowepro toploader I've had in 2 years, and will be on the look out for a third now, as the zips around the corners keep on coming aprt, not sure why, maybe over use or wear and tear, but its very frustrating, anyone else experience similar problems? Otherwsie I'd strongly recommend the bag, you may struggle to find anything else.

All the best,

James

[mw_aurora]

Anyone know of a shoulder bag - top-load preferred - that will hold an SLR with an attached 300mm f/4 lens (lens:8.9in, camera alone:3" deep)? Every bag seems to stop at 200mm f/2.8...

I think your kit should fit in the Lowepro Toploader 75 AW...the blurb does state a pro SLR plus 80-200mm f2.8 but your 300mm sounds a similar size. Their site gives the following interior dimensions - "7W x 6D x 12.5H in"

http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Toploading/allWeather/Toploader_75_AW.aspx

Sounds like a trip to a shop to check before buying!

[stevo]

James

I have one of these toploader bags & have had no problems like you`ve mentioned.In all they are good well built bags.

Cheers Steve.

[DiggitalD]

Thanks, I'll have to try the lowepro. It looks like a quality bag.

[James Eaton]

Thanks for the feedback Steve, I wonder if its the way I rip open the bag, as I'm quite heavy with them, as its often on impulse that I open the bag when I'm birding, or whether the stitching rubs against me, loosening it. But it is the second year running its happened to the bags now, first time the Pro, this time just the Toploader AW, each bag only lasting 4-5 months before starting to wear out. Its the stitching between the zip and the bag that becomes undone, and is seemingly impossible to stitch back up due to the style of the bag.

Other than that, its a great bag! Surprisingly limited on choice for mid-length telephoto lens for toploader bags, I spent the best part of 6 months scanning through shops and websites only to find Lowepro being the only 'official' camera bag suitable.

Cheers,

James

[Neil]

I bought a Camrac 'Digital' bag in Hong Kong which takes my D100 plus Nikon 300mm/f4 or Nikon 80-400mm or Sigma 170-500mm. I've had it for 6 months and it does a good job. I don't use the zip all the time so that I can more easily get the camera out in a hurry.Neil.