Hello all,

I'm looking for a "hold a few lenses and maybe a flash" bag to wear while shooting. I love the Shootsac's "six pack" configuration, but I'd like something that zips shut. Any ideas?

Thanks,

-TM

I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that the shootsac 2.0 will have zippers, velcro, or someway to close it. It's really a cool bag. My wife is having a fit for one, I just don't like the fact that it doesn't close. I guess i could sew velcro in myself huh?

I've had my eye on this... althought it doesn't zip shut, it buckles.
http://goboda.com/

I love my new Boda bag.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1600...Bag_Black_.html

I love this bag. I wouldn't shoot a wedding w/out it.

Karen

I use the Boda bag on Wedding and children's shoots. I seem to tend towards finding some odd place to shoot from and the Boda always keeps my gear in place; no fears losing anything. You can wear it as an over the should "bandolero" style or as a holster. For me, the holster (belt with bag at hip) keeps my gear in place the most solidly.

~Matt

You don't have to sew velcro! Just buy the velcro with the adhesive on the back...it is pretty strong. (Velcro is still on my flash that is probably 10 years old!) You can find it in any fabric store.

Hi Kari,

It looks like they've thought of everything, but I would like to be able to store three lenses in seperate compartments, and the Boda only has 2 lens slots, right?

-TM



Hi Karen,

I'd like to avoid reversing the shade on my 70-200 2.8 all the time, so I think this bag is a little too shallow top-to-bottom, right? I think it needs to be at least 12" high. Am I missing something?

-TM

Velcro = good idea, but loud in a quiet church. Zippers = possible scratches on lenses. I'm hoping for magnetic closures sewn inside!

I was hoping for magnetic closures, too!

I would definitely buy the Shootsac if it closed, and I know a few other photographer who haven't bought it because it won't close.

right on! how could you possibly deal with velcro in a church?

i couldnt shoot without my sac, never have and never will.......

Ahem, can we focus on the topic at hand?

I'm looking for something that ain't Shootsac. Anything but Shootsac. I just don't like the look. And the price. And the look. I'm not as pretty as Dane, so it just won't work for me.

-TM

Yet another possible use for gaff / duct tape?

Nope. I don't shoot with the 70-200, so that's not an issue for me. The bag is about 9" deep, I'd guess. If you shoot with a larger zoom with a shade, it probbly won't work for you.

Karen

NO.

http://www.prolenswear.com/

Looks very similar... don't know much about it...
but it's an option.

Wow ... that's a total Shootsac copycat!

2 slots, but it also has lots of pouches that can fit smaller lenses
In my Boda, I carry:
70-200
85 1.2
28
Fisheye 15mm
and a 580exII
(not to mention cards and batteries)

(oh, sometimes I cram my 100 macro in, but take it out right after the detail shots- that gets too bulky).

I have heard of one photographers Boda coming apart at the seams recently- could have been a fluke. Mine is in great shape, no problems.

Yes, I think it only has the two main pouches, but there are a lot of smaller ones. I can't speek frop experience, becasue I don't own it.... Yet.

Think about it...

Magnets....

Compact flash media....

Magnetic data going by a magnet.

If you want a nice bag, that doesn't have velcro or zippers, try Billingham. I use a 550 for everything, but they have other bags that are smaller. But when i shoot i use a think tank belt. I can't shoot with a shoulder bag, the strap gets in the way of the 2 camera straps.


billingham

"No", meaning we have to talk about shootsac, or "no", I am in fact as pretty as Dane?

-TM

heeehee - I just had to giggle when someone said 'magnetic closures'........then Troy piped up.......... still giggling.........imagine if you will shooting a wedding and slipping your cards inside your bag only to get home and .......hey, what the hell, I'm sure I took photos today, and why the heck won't my card reader read this card????? and then you go and get some money out of the atm to buy a new card (and pay for all the lost images of the wedding day) and you pull your card out of your magnetic shoot sac....and HEY!! why won't this stupid ATM read my card??!!!?? man am I having bad luck.......



*GIGGLE*



sorry, now back to the previous conversation.......

Brent, I was soooooo thinking that! HAHA! ROFL!!!!!

What's up with that???

For what it is worth - I'm pretty active with my ShootSac - laying on the ground, climbing, kneeling, etc and I've never even had a lens start to slip out. (I don't put lenses in the non covered part though).

Having any kind of closure would slow me down during my speedwalk from one end of the church to the other while simultaneously changing lenses.

Ah, good point. Didn't think about folks who stick their cards in there bare - mine are in a big fat card wallet, so I doubt the magnets would be strong enough to get through that - but who wants to take THAT chance, right?

Hi Thomas,

I couldn't find a "550" bag on their website. Does it have another name?

-TM



Hi Marc,

I'll have 70-200 2.8 w/hood, 24-70 2.8 w/hood, and the Sigma 15-30. Methinks I need a bigger bag than the Boda!

-TM

Will all three lenses be in the bag at once? Or will one be on the camera, and two in the bag.

Hi Kari,

At the moment the lenses are being switched, all 3 are in the bag, as I have to bag lens "A" before removing lens "B". The first time I wore a belt system to a wedding, I thought "3 lenses, 1 on camera, I need 2 lens holders".

It worked well until the first time I had to switch lenses.

-TM

[quote name='stateofthenation' date='October 25 2007, 04:52 PM' post='225808']
heeehee - I just had to giggle when someone said 'magnetic closures'........then Troy piped up.......... still giggling.........imagine if you will shooting a wedding and slipping your cards inside your bag only to get home and .......hey, what the hell, I'm sure I took photos today, and why the heck won't my card reader read this card????? and then you go and get some money out of the atm to buy a new card (and pay for all the lost images of the wedding day) and you pull your card out of your magnetic shoot sac....and HEY!! why won't this stupid ATM read my card??!!!?? man am I having bad luck.......

Doh, mine is actually at 555, they do make a 550. The 555 is kinda a kitchen sink bag. You would probably want something like a 225, for just a couple lenses.


555

225

Hi Thomas,

They certainly are beautiful, aren't they? Unfortunately, they're not deep enough to hold my 70-200 2.8 with the hood on. Hmm.......

-TM

Considering the Shootsac doesn't close at all right now, some light magnets to just hold the flap shut wouldn't do any damage as long as the cards were stored in a card wallet, in a pocket away from the flap...

I once had a second shooter lay haer card wallet right on a huge speaker... Talk about some fun.

I am kind of out of control with buying camera bags, I have the boda bag and a bunch of lowepro bags of varying sizes. I have 8 bags last count, anybody know of a 12 step program.
Here is a page that reviews a few different bags including my new current favorite the National Geographis NG2475.
http://www.takegreatpictures.com/HOME/Colu...and_new_bag.fci

My 555, can almost take a 70-200 with the hood on. Close enough i can get the flap to close, but not the zipper. I don't think you will find many bags that will be tall enough for a 70-200 with hood on.

The Boda is designed with a pouch in the front that unzips to be used as a "staging" area. You take off one lens, put it in the front pouch, put the next lens on, and move the other lens from the staging area to the main bag. Jim, the owner, showed me how he does this and why he designed the bag to do this. He also puts his 24 1.4 in the drawstring pouch on the side of the bag, so he does carry 3 lenses at a time.
Cory

I wonder how hard it would be to buy neoprene and design a bag based on your needs (from what I've read that's what shootsac and the shootsac copycat is made out of). Anyone know if that stuff is hard to sew?

It is extremely hard to sew. Would anyone like a neoprene lesson? Of all the things I never thought I'd be an expert in!

My bags are sewn by a company that manufactures wetsuits. It doesn't quite work to just slap two pieces of neoprene together and call it a day. The Shootsacs are deceptively simple looking, so a lot of people think they can make their own, which they can, but probably not well unless they invest in machines to do the particular stitch that won't pull out because of the stretchy fabric.

Anyway, I did think of magnetic closures but decided against that because I don't need data-loss related lawsuits! The bag doesn't close because it isn't a bag for transporting your gear, like a camera bag, its a bag ONLY for while shooting and is meant to be gotten in and out of very very quickly.

Anyhoo, that's what's up!

cool, yeah I didn't think it would be that easy to work with, especially considering the extent of my sewing was in junior high! lol

i definitely need the shootsac or something similar, i've been using a backpack and sticking my primes in my pockets!!

i'm going to be launching a new shoot sac alternative for men... it will be called the "mansac"

we should be rolling it out later this year.











***don't worry jessica, i'm completely kidding! but if you do ever come out with a man-sac, i expect at least credit for coining the name ;-)***

dude, the shootsac is totally manly! just don't use the pretty covers unless you're very very secure.

the basic shootsac is black with a black cover. plus, it's very slick so nobody notices it much anyway. it's just a toolbelt, worn messenger style.

besides, I already have a mansac thanks........... yeah, I went there.......what else would you all expect??

I took a laptop sleeve (made out of that rubbery stuff), sewed two lines, making 3 equal compartments and sewed on a strap. TA DA!! not as pretty as the shootsac, but does the job nicely! (and it zips at the top.)

Wow, that is just great. Good for you!

-TM

I have an $1000 sewing machine, and I will second Jessica, neoprene (of high quality), and thick, slippery, stretchy fabric in general is challenging to sew.

There's an alternative?

I already found a manly alternative to the shoot sac.
It's called a tool belt.
I saw this at Home depot. It has multiple compartments that can hold up to a reasonable sized lens, a flash and accessories.
It fits over the shoulder and has an open top for easy access.
This is more what I feel I need for the purpose that the shoot sac is intended for. As long as I don't trip & fall, it's pretty cool.
It's also black, so I won't look like a full-on construction worker, and is reasonably priced at $45.
;-)