Lowepro Photo Runner Compact Belt Pack

This back really shines when used in conjunction with a backpack. It's got two 1" nylon fastex straps that slip under the nylon loops on my backpack's shoulder straps. This means that when I've got the backpack on, I can hang the photorunner flat against my chest (this might not work for certain women). Therefore, all of the weight is borne by the shoulder straps -- which means on my hips, not my neck or shoulders. I keep my D70s resting in the photorunner, lens down (with a 70-300 lens in the small second compartment). I don't usually zip it closed because it has some vecro patchs that keep the wide lid closed. Of course, I keep the camera strap around my neck for safety, but it doesn't hang on my neck. Whenever its time to shoot, I've got it in front of my face in 1.5 seconds. Its faster than reaching in my pocket for a P&S. Admittedly, it takes about a minute to get the thing rigged up. So if you like to remove your backpack every 45 minutes it will drive you crazy. But it works for me.

Well, I bought this bag to take the weight off my shoulders and onto my hips. I hoped that it would allow me to take out my camera faster, and tuck it back in with ease. Actually, the zippers were a nightmare and it acutally took longer to open due to jamming. When the bag is loaded, it will sag on your hip/waist and tends to get uncomfortable. I do not feel safe with my equipment hanging in there. I returned it and bought a Domke F-3x. Note: I like Lowepro products in general, but this bag did not work for me at all. It did not hold as advertised and the zippers! The zippers! Too hard to open and close. I give it a 3 value rating because it is useful under ideal conditions: light load AND zippers work perfectly. And as always, Lowepro packs alot of features in a small package. However, realistically, this bag just slowed me down. If your a street shooter, this may not work for you.

Good material, lots of straps.

Very small. Sags when wearing it. Dual zippers VERY difficult to open. Often jams. Uncomfortable after long wears.

Lowepro sideline shooter Lowepro orion

Lowepro''s email support is excellent.

No one bag can fit *all* requirements, and this concept drives this review.

It's a great bag, when I need something smaller than my other bag, a Lowepro Mini-Trekker. I can actually fit a Nikon F80 with 80-200mm f/2.8 lens in it, lengthwise, with a 28-105mm below (with a padded separator in between, of course).

One of the nylon clasps broke, and I could have gotten it replaced but was too lazy, so made do with a bit of epoxy and a metal pin.

If you want something nondescript (ie. doesn't look like a photo-bag), but still protects your camera gear, buy a "generic" haversack that can fit this at the bottom, and just stick it in.

For improvement (Photo Runner Mk II ? :-), perhaps they can redesign the top flap (though IMHO it's not too bad right now), that's about all I can think of. Oh, and perhaps some sort of a handle where you can just pick it up and go ... right now I use the loop on the back, not too bad, but something slightly larger will be good.

I don't miss having mesh outside, as the front zippered compartment is good enough.

Compact, well-balanced when worn the way it's designed to. When carried by the shoulder strap, it balances very well. Excellent materials and design.

Long zip-top, balance not good when fully-loaded and sitting on flat surface.

None

Not too good

I was set on buying this when I first saw it but then I brought my Nikon N80 in (with a 28-80mm lens attached) for a fitting. My camera barely fits... I find there's not enough room for the camera and basic accessories (filters, film, brush, etc.) I ended up getting a Nova 1.

None

Not enough pockets, no mesh, not big enough for my Nikon F80.

None

This awesome little camera bag gives me more and better pictures than any other camera bag because it lets me take pictures that would otherwise be missed. It's especially great while hiking, skiing and partying. I wear the Photo Runner in front of my waist while skiing. When skiing with an impatient group of friends, I can stop, pull the camera from the bag, and be set up for a shot in under 15 seconds. This allows me take a lot of great shots that otherwise would be missed. No other bag is so quick. There's a trick to using the zipper, however. Once I figured it out I could catch great fleeting shots. Before this bag, I was almost thinking of going back to a compact camera for getting those quick shots that I could never get with a more cumbersome 35 mm in a photobag. With the PhotoRunner, I'm very pleased to use my 35 mm in the field, on the road, and at the spur of the moment.

Super-fast access to camera. Compact, lightweight, ergonomic fit,

doesn't sit up well with tripod attached.

None