New LowePro FastPacks

[MagicNikon]

These remind me of a Slingshot/backpack hybrid. I love the way you can access the gear inside.

More detailed info here: Lowepro Fastpack Camera Bag | Photography Bay

They look pretty awesome. I'm going to snag one for my new D300.

Here it is in action! DSLR Magazine - Lowepro Fastpack

[W.Smith]

Thanks! I've been waiting for something like that Fastpack 350! Excellent for taking my MacBook Pro along. Let's find Santa to tell him I want it, I want it!

[d2creative]

That's badass!
Do you think this would be better for my trip to Italy than my Tamrac Velocity bag? (slingshot style)
The velocity isn't the easiest to get into but it is nice that you can swing it around.

[MagicNikon]

OKay gang...I got a 200 delivered yesterday. Pics to follow soon. I like, and I think it's going to work out nicely. Accessing the cam is very similar to using a SlingShot bag. It's cool!

[digitalzed]

I'm curious to know how comfortable it is when fully loaded and on your back. Josh, let us know as soon as possible and thanks for posting about it.

[Freezframe_2]

Can it be classified as carry on for air lines Size wize !!! I am going to be looking for something a little more comfortable than my over the shoulder Lowerpro...Having my laptop along for the ride is a bonus.....What are most air lines restrictions ? (General)

Thanx :Brady

[MagicNikon]

Originally Posted by Freezframe_2

Can it be classified as carry on for air lines Size wize !!! I am going to be looking for something a little more comfortable than my over the shoulder Lowerpro...Having my laptop along for the ride is a bonus.....What are most air lines restrictions ? (General)

Thanx :Brady

It's no bigger than my Jansport bookbag (think college books, etc). I would imagine that it would fit well within the FAA guidelines.

it has a nice firm body to it, so it doesn't give very much in the bottom area. This is good, as it will take a little beating around, and I think my gear will still be safe.

[Freezframe_2]

Thanx For reply:My son and I are taking a trip to Germany in April (Hockey) He will play a total of 8 games in "Chek" and in Austria as well...I own a lowerpro 5 bag now and there is no room for my laptop.....Plus its always falling of my shoulder.....I have a 30D with an 70 -200-2.8 -28-70 2.8 aswell as a 580EX ....extra batteries accessories.etc. Oh a 15.4 laptop....I'm hoping for the rite fit ?

[cyclohexane]

Freezeframe_2, try looking at some of ThinkTank Photo's bags. The largest Urban Disguise series bags will hold all of your gear plus laptop, and it will stay on your shoulder, but it might be a little more weight than you'd want on just one shoulder. Also, access in and out of the bags isn't the best if you're using a battery grip on your 30D.

When shooting sporting events I tend to just wheel my gear in a Pelican 1510 case (carry-on allowable for US domestic; I haven't lined it up next to an internationally-allowable bag to check if I can fly international with it yet but it looks about the same size as ThinkTank's Airport International Roller). On location I wear a ThinkTank "Modulus" belt with my extra gear attached (usually just an extra shorter lens and an extra lens pouch to stash my 70-200 when it's not in use). My laptop is in a separate bag as I don't need it at every event.

Do you think this would be better for my trip to Italy than my Tamrac Velocity bag? (slingshot style)

I gave my Velocity 9 away because while it was pretty nice to swing around, the strap wouldn't support all of my gear comfortably, and I started suffering from all sorts of upper body pain unless I just slipped it over one shoulder like a normal bag. Also, like you said, it was somewhat difficult to constantly get in and out of.

[d2creative]

I couldn't find one at my local shops and I don't see it on Lowepro's website either.

I still don't understand how you access it like the slingshot if it's a two strap backpack.

[MagicNikon]

Originally Posted by d2creative

I couldn't find one at my local shops and I don't see it on Lowepro's website either.

I still don't understand how you access it like the slingshot if it's a two strap backpack.

The second link that I provided in the original post shows how it works. I have one now, and it works as described. Very nice.

[d2creative]

Thanks. So you take one arm out to access it? I wonder how that compares in practice to the slingshot?

The other question I have is if the 100 can hold a nikon d200 with the 17-55 attached?
Plus a 70-200vr and a Sigma 10-20?
I like the size and shape of it for walking around on vacation. But it looks like I might need a 200 for that much...

[MagicNikon]

Originally Posted by d2creative

Thanks. So you take one arm out to access it? I wonder how that compares in practice to the slingshot?

I had a Slingshot in the past and while accessing the equipment was a breeze, I didn't care for the way the bag fit on my back/over my shoulder.

I much prefer the backpack style of this bag to the Slingshot. Accessing equipment is pretty easy actually.

[digitalzed]

I'd still like to know how it feels, fully loaded, on a trek. Josh, have you taken it out loaded for a full afternoon of shooting and is the bag well balanced? Do the straps cut into you or cut you off in the shoulders or mid section? I like the way you access your gear, but a bags comfort when you're NOT accessing the gear is just as important to me.

[MagicNikon]

Originally Posted by digitalzed

I'd still like to know how it feels, fully loaded, on a trek. Josh, have you taken it out loaded for a full afternoon of shooting and is the bag well balanced? Do the straps cut into you or cut you off in the shoulders or mid section? I like the way you access your gear, but a bags comfort when you're NOT accessing the gear is just as important to me.

I'll know better next week after I spend the week walking around Orlando with it.

[digitalzed]

Originally Posted by MagicNikon

I'll know better next week after I spend the week walking around Orlando with it.

Thanks Josh. I appreciate it.

[d2creative]

Well.... I ordered a Fastback 200 and it looks like I'll be sending it back.
It's a really nice bag. It's made well. Has some nice interior pockets. Seems comfortable. But it's just not going to work for me size wise.

All I was trying to pack in the main compartment was my d200, 70-200vr, 17-55, 35 prime, and my 10-20. Everything was just a tad too tight. I took the battery grip off my d200 and it still was tight fitting in the bag with the 17-55 attached. The 70-200 was on the very bottom and didn't really fit but I shoved it in. Forget about lens hoods all together. My Sb800 flash would have to flop around in the unpadded top compartment along with my epson p-5000, because if I put it in the main compartment I would not be able to fit all the lenses. If i had my 70-200 attached to the camera I wouldn't be able to put it in the bag without swapping to another lens on the camera first. Not cool.

In use, you take your right arm out and swing the bag around to your left side. This is good for accessing the camera but not much else... safely. So I don't really see much of a point to it.

In reality, my Kata R-103 fits everything I want to take more comfortably. It does have to be completely removed to access my gear but it does have a quick access door that lets you quickly grab just the camera so your additional lenses and other gear don't fall out. The Kata is also built a lot better, better materials, has way more protective padding, better shoulder straps, is more configurable, has loops on the outside for attaching stuff, has a chest stabilizer strap... in a nutshell it fits my stuff and is pretty much bombproof.

The 300 may have worked better but I'm not sold on the way you access it as being all that helpful... not enough to justify the cost of another bag anyway.

[digitalzed]

Originally Posted by d2creative

Well.... I ordered a Fastback 200 and it looks like I'll be sending it back.
It's a really nice bag. It's made well. Has some nice interior pockets. Seems comfortable. But it's just not going to work for me size wise.

All I was trying to pack in the main compartment was my d200, 70-200vr, 17-55, 35 prime, and my 10-20. Everything was just a tad too tight. I took the battery grip off my d200 and it still was tight fitting in the bag with the 17-55 attached. The 70-200 was on the very bottom and didn't really fit but I shoved it in. Forget about lens hoods all together. My Sb800 flash would have to flop around in the unpadded top compartment along with my epson p-5000, because if I put it in the main compartment I would not be able to fit all the lenses. If i had my 70-200 attached to the camera I wouldn't be able to put it in the bag without swapping to another lens on the camera first. Not cool.

In use, you take your right arm out and swing the bag around to your left side. This is good for accessing the camera but not much else... safely. So I don't really see much of a point to it.

In reality, my Kata R-103 fits everything I want to take more comfortably. It does have to be completely removed to access my gear but it does have a quick access door that lets you quickly grab just the camera so your additional lenses and other gear don't fall out. The Kata is also built a lot better, better materials, has way more protective padding, better shoulder straps, is more configurable, has loops on the outside for attaching stuff, has a chest stabilizer strap... in a nutshell it fits my stuff and is pretty much bombproof.

The 300 may have worked better but I'm not sold on the way you access it as being all that helpful... not enough to justify the cost of another bag anyway.

Nice to know. Thanks for chiming in. The information is very, very useful to me as I carry a similar kit, if not more!

[MagicNikon]

Well, here are my thoughts on it after using the Fastpack 200 on vacation and carrying around my gear for 10 days.

It is well made and protects everything inside realyl well. The bottom of the pack is rather stiff and not very pliable, more shell-like than a canvas backpack. This was only a problem when I needed to stow my pack at the amusement parks free lockers: it wouldnt crush down and fit int he small lockers. No big deal really.

I had packed a D300, sb-800, sc-29 flash cord, 50mm 1.8, 105mm vr 12-24mm and a 55-200mm vr. I was able to access all of my gear and change lenses without removing the pack completely from my shoulder. It works as advertised.

It was rather comfortable despite not having a wasit belt or a chest strap. The shoulder straps were padded and comfortable. The load is distributed low on the back. I spent up to 9-10 hours in each amusement park in Orlando carryign all of that gear without any back problems or any other issue. It worked well for the amount of gear that I had.

[digitalzed]

Thanks for the great report Josh. That helps a lot. Bags are probably the most frustrating of all gear; no perfect bag made yet.