camera bag for Canon 80d

[shorty1]

If I have a Canon 80D with a 18-135mm  f/3.5-5.6 lens attached, should I get a Lowepro Toploader Zoom 50 AW II Camera Bag or the Lowepro Toploader Zoom 55 AW II bag? I have chatted with different people from two online vendors and I am getting different answers to this question. Thanks for any advice.

[TTMartin · Accepted solution]

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@RobertTheFat wrote:

Don't overlook the Canon bags. They're not very expensive, and some of them are pretty good. I got one as a freebie with my 5D3 a couple of years ago, and I find myself using it often as an alternative to my giant Domke bag.

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I just checked the EOS 80D with EF-S 18-135 IS STM lens will fit in the Canon Zoom Pack 1000.

Great bag if you just want to carry the camera with one lens, spare battery, a filter, and a spare memory card.

It is a holster style that fits over your shoulder, it also has a tucked away waist band if you need to hold it into your body for hiking or climbing. 

I really love that little bag and at $20 I've ended up owning several of them.

[TTMartin · Accepted solution]

I checked with the 40D and EF-S 18-135 IS STM.

The 40D has very similar dimensions to the 80D. (146 x 108 x 74 mm vs 139.0 x 105.2 x 78.5mm)

[Waddizzle]

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@TTMartin wrote:

@Waddizzle wrote:

Those are really tight fits with a 6D, w/grip. 

I don't use a grip in the 6D, I bought the 6D because I wanted a compact full frame camera, using a grip on it goes counter to that concept.

@Waddizzle wrote:

Basically, you have removed the inserts and padding, and then crammed it in. 

I didn't remove any of the inserts or padding. The adjustable padded Velcro cradle is at the bottom of the bag to provide extra padding for the end of the lens.

@Waddizzle wrote:

IMHO, I say spend a few more bucks and get at least 50% more room, 100% more padding, plus a rain cover.  Protect your gear. 

The Zoompack 1000 is waterproof enough that you don't need an external rain cover, and has plenty of padding, many reviewers complain it has too much padding. When I'm using the Zoompack 1000, I don't want to have extra room, I want a compact holster, that doesn't get in the way.

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I use a grip on a 6D because I realized I needed the extra battery power with bigger lenses.  AI Servo consumes more power than simple One Shot mode..  Plus, my big hands like the balance of it.

I have since given that bag to my son, who has a Rebel.  I recall having to stuff the T5 into the bag with the 18-135 attached, and I don't recall if the hood was still mounted in reverse.  Basically, it was too tight for my liking.  It didn't fit.

The Zoompack 1000 is made for smaller Rebel bodies, not medium size bodies like ##D camera bodies.  The Zoompack is about as waterproof as an old sweatshirt.  It will keep me dry until it gets soaked through.  Rain covers can also be useful in dusty, dirty locations, especially on a backpack.  It's easier to brush sand and dust off of a rain cover than the bag itself.  Plus, the cover can be washed.

I'm going to laugh at people who say that it has too much padding.  I'll translate it for you.  "My camera and lens doesn't fit very well, so I have to take some of the padding out."

If you don't want extra room, then that is your choice. I come from the school of thought that says plan ahead.  If this is your first bag, or holster, then buy one that can carry a lens one size larger that what you currently own.

The Zoompack 1000 is a compact holster, which I feel is ill suited for an 80D camera body. The EF-S 18-55mm IS II lens, is just about the only zoom that fits inside of it, without stuffing it and straining the zippers.  Sorry, but an 18-135 is a poor fit.  You can see it in you pictures that you posted.

[shorty1]

Thanks for your response. I have not ordered the bag for the camera yet. I will most likely try to order a bag online from a place where I can return the bag locally if the bag does not work out.

[Waddizzle]

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@shorty1 wrote:

Thanks for your response. I have not ordered the bag for the camera yet. I will most likely try to order a bag online from a place where I can return the bag locally if the bag does not work out.

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I order online mostly from B&H Photo Video.  They have excellent customer service AFTER the sale.  They offer free shipping on orders over a certain minimum, and they will pay return postage for returns.  They are reportedly very reasonable when it comes to returns.  I once returned a backpack because it was a shade too small, without any complaints.  I got a store credit and ordered a bigger one.

I once had to exchange a tripod that had a sticky leg.  They emailed me a shipping label one Monday morning.  I dropped it off at UPS around 4pm that same day.  The UPS guy was knocking on my door at 10am on Wednesday with a new one.  Granted, it was delivered less than an hour's drive from their warehouse, but still.  When they say "expedited delivery" they really mean it.

[shorty1]

It is too bad that there are so few camera stores (brick and morter). I would really prefer to try out a bag before I buy it. 

[diverhank]

Unless you're planning to get multiple bags for multiple different uses, I'd get a larger bag that can hold more than what you currently have.  A good all purpose bag should be able to hold one camera, 2 zoom lenses, a flash, charger, spare batteries, remote controls and room enough for a 14" laptop.

I'd avoid sling type (single strap) bag as it will hurt your shoulders if you carry all those above.  The ability to quickly pull the camera out is not that big of a deal.  When you get to location, the camera is permanently out, you don't need to put it back to be pulled out quickly again.  So a regular camera backpack will be just fine...get the one with padded straps it will be far more comfortable.

Trust me I have a total of 7 bags - half of them are due to my failure to plan well.  Two of them are sling types they totally are collecting dust in my closet.  My two most favorite bags are the Tamrac Expedition 6X (I also have an 8X) and the Canon standard backpack.  I use the Tamrac when I need extra padding protection otherwise the Canon bag goes everywhere.  The Canon bag costs a fifth of the Tamrac and any bit as useful.  I highly recommend it.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/248295-REG/Canon_6229A003_Deluxe_Backpack_200_EG.html

[Waddizzle · Accepted solution]

"I'd avoid sling type (single strap) bag as it will hurt your shoulders if you carry all those above.  The ability to quickly pull the camera out is not that big of a deal.  When you get to location, the camera is permanently out, you don't need to put it back to be pulled out quickly again.  So a regular camera backpack will be just fine...get the one with padded straps it will be far more comfortable."  

I have found a holster type of bag to be very useful in casual social settings.  You carry one bag with you, and leave the backpack camera kit behind in your car.  For example, we recently went out to dinner to celebrate something.  The holster was perfect, while a backpack would have been too much.  I could hang it on my chair as I ate.

Of course, there is a no substitute for a bag that can hold your entire camera kit, or at least most of it.  If you have mulitple cameras and lens arsenals, now that is a horse of a different color.

[TTMartin]

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@diverhank wrote:

Unless you're planning to get multiple bags for multiple different uses, I'd get a larger bag that can hold more than what you currently have.  A good all purpose bag should be able to hold one camera, 2 zoom lenses, a flash, charger, spare batteries, remote controls and room enough for a 14" laptop.

I'd avoid sling type (single strap) bag as it will hurt your shoulders if you carry all those above.  The ability to quickly pull the camera out is not that big of a deal.  When you get to location, the camera is permanently out, you don't need to put it back to be pulled out quickly again.  So a regular camera backpack will be just fine...get the one with padded straps it will be far more comfortable.

Trust me I have a total of 7 bags - half of them are due to my failure to plan well.  Two of them are sling types they totally are collecting dust in my closet.  My two most favorite bags are the Tamrac Expedition 6X (I also have an 8X) and the Canon standard backpack.  I use the Tamrac when I need extra padding protection otherwise the Canon bag goes everywhere.  The Canon bag costs a fifth of the Tamrac and any bit as useful.  I highly recommend it.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/248295-REG/Canon_6229A003_Deluxe_Backpack_200_EG.html

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I have 3 of the Canon 200 EG backpacks also.

One for my 7D Mk II and grip with Extender 1.4X II and EF 100-400 L IS II attached. 580EX II on one side of the lens, and EF-S 18-135 STM and EF-S 55-250 STM on the other. Better Beamer is in the outer pocket. Filters and spare AA batteries in the middle pocket. Charger and spare batteries are in the side pocket.

The second bag is my wife's 7D and grip with Sigma 150-500 OS. I'm not sure what lenses she has on the side. The third bag, is for all the rest of my lenses, and an off camera flash bracket with cord. 

My 6D is in a Lowpro Slingpack AW100. I keep the EF 24-105 f/4L attached, and have 430EX II on one side and Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 on the other. Spare batteries charger and cards in the top pocket.

The XTi, 40D, and 1N are all in their own Zoompack 1000.  

For the most part these are grab and go kits, optimized for what the camera is optimized for. When I go out birding I don't want to bring the 6D anyway. And I don't want to have to pack and repack a bag when I go out.

edit: the one bag I have unused at this time is a Lowpro Slingpack 300AW. I use to carry my 7D with grip and 17-50 f/2.8 attached. I got tired of always pulling that lens to put on a big telephoto zoom, that's why I did go with the Canon 200 EG backpack for it too.  

[ebiggs1]

"My two most favorite bags are the Tamrac Expedition 6X (I also have an 8X) and the Canon standard backpack."

1+   Especially, "the Canon standard backpack."  Love it.

I have a personal affiliation with Tamrac so I use their bags.   They are top notch.  I also have the Super Pro 614.  If it can't carry it, I don't know what would.