Description: Our original pro bag, now an industry standard. Continually improved over the years, the Magnum AW is still our best-selling bag for commercial pros. Takes 2 SLRs with attached lenses plus 4 - 6 additional lenses, a pro flash and accessories.
Summary: I purchased this bag after much deliberation. I needed a bag that could carry a large amount of equipment without being too big to carry comfortably. You can fit a huge amount of kit into this bag - mine currently houses:
Canon 20D with battery grip
Canon 10D with battery grip
Canon 50mm 1.8 II
Sigma 17-35mm f2.8 EX
Tamron SP 28-75mm XR Di
Canon 70-200mm f4 L
Sigma 105mm EX Macro
Canon 550EX Flashgun
Canon 420EX Flashgun
Canon ST-E2 Speedlite Transmitter
Canon CP-E2 Flash Battery Pack
Sekonic light meter
Compaq Ipaq PDA
Epson P-1000 Photo Viewer
Wein Safe-sync adaptor
Radio Trigger for Studio Flash
Cable Release + Extension leads
Several Filters
Compact Flash Cards
Spare Batteries & Charger
NB. 2 of the lenses listed attached to the camera bodies.
All this in a bag that's not too bulky!!
Strengths: Huge capacity / flexibility. Well made. Not expensive compared to Billlingham etc.
Weaknesses: None (other than it's extremely heavy when it's fully loaded!!)
Summary: After searching the web and reading reviews, product information and visiting camera stores looking at bags, I selected this bag based on recommendations of a Professional Wedding Photographer, working in the store. My comment to him was, he is recommending it because he will get a bigger commission, he told me, he gets no commissions, just a salary. I haven't been disappointed with purchasing this bag at all. Take everything I want to put in it and therefore I have what I need when I want it.
Strengths: All the different pockets to take everything you need. The built in raincoat that is standard, didn't find that for a while. I also like being able to take one of the side pouches off the bag and put film in it to walk around with instead of taking the bag with me everywhere all the time (although I do that alot). The quality of the bag, thickness of materials, plethera of foam inserts allow for you to make any configuration needed. Having a bad back, I find the carry strap a god send, it is really comfortable and thick, unlike most other bags I looked at.
Weaknesses: Probably the over abundence of inserts, where do you put them all.
Similar Products Used: Lowpro Nova 1, Camera bag. Older style bag about the same dimensions as the Lowepro, but no where near the quality.
Summary: I really like the layout of this bag, (the older version) though I ended up selling it and later on buying the commercial AW bag, which is the same layout, just a bigger bag.
When I owned manual focus lenses/cameras, I thought this bag was great, when carrying all of my equipment, I essentially had a 6-pack of lenses in the 6 lens compartments, and one in the lens cradle. I also had two camera bodies with motor drives, two flashes and battery pack and filters, etc... plenty of room. When I sold my manual gear for AF, I found because of the fatter lenses, I could no longer put a 6 pack of lenses in the lens compartments, I could fit about 2 1/2 lenses in a row instead of 3. I solved this problem by buying the bigger Commercial AW bag (same layout,bigger bag-almost too big of a bag now). I must also say, I owned the older version of this bag, the current one has a different layout, I don''t care for it because it doesn''t have the lens cradle anymore.
The thing I like about the older version is that you can have two camera bodies (with or without drives) setting one on each side of the bag. You can have either one or both with a lens attatched while it is in the bag, as you rest the attatched lens on the lens cradle. It really depends on the lenght of the lens, if you have a long lens, you may only be able to store one body with lens attatched. The cradle lifts up easily for access to the other lenses. I like the storage space under where the body rests. Great for stuff you don''t access quite as often, like maybe a teleconverter or extra flash or filters. Keeps them out of the way and from rolling around in the bag.
I think this bag is more of a "location" bag that you would haul all of your equipment to a location with, but hopefully wouldn''t have to lug around too much as it gets heavy quickly. I would suggest bringing a smaller bag and only taking the equipment you need as this bag is heavy when packed full.
Strengths: -Large, usefull pockets
-Unique 6-pack design for lens storage
-Large lens cradle lifts up easily.
-plenty of padding
-Durable material
-AW cover
Weaknesses: -A bit small for a "6-pack" of AF lenses.
Similar Products Used: In a quest for a perfect bag, I have literally owned about a dozen or more bags. I still haven''t found the perfect bag, but I''ve found a few that are close (the ones I''ve kept). Here are the ones I
Rating Reviewed by: Jean Sinotte(Unregistered User)
(Professional)
Review Date April 20, 2002
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Value Rating 5 of 5
Used product for More than 1 year
Review 4 of 10
Price Paid:
$210.00
from Lozeau
Summary: Before l had a Cullman bad buy with my new Nikon F100 with batterie pack, F80 with batterie pack, 3 lenses (one is the Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8) flash meter, 2 flash SB-28, lots of filters, extra betterie holder, it''s just great. l bought the Lowepro Utility Case and attach to my bag to get more room (put on it all my filter and the Lowepro filter pouch).
Strengths: l like the system of lowepro the give opportunity to atach this bag, other small bag of accessories. Very well made and easy zipper.
Weaknesses: It''s not the fault of the bag but it is so full, that give me pain to carry it for a long period.
Rating Reviewed by: Henry Chan(Unregistered User)
(Professional)
Review Date March 15, 2002
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Value Rating 5 of 5
Used product for Less than 1 month
Visitors rate this review 2.33 of 5,
3 votes
Review 5 of 10
Price Paid:
$161.00
from BH Photo
Summary: I went to BH thinking that I''ll get something "good but cheap" since I just purchased a Nikon F100 with motor. Then I saw this bag and I was hooked. From interior to exterior, everything was very well built. It has a lot of room and the design was made so that I can pack tons of stuffs in it. I have two bodies, two flashes, a light meter, three lenses (a zoom, two prime), bateries, films, etc etc, all packed into one without forcing anything. It also have a waterproof bag that you can pull out and cover your whole bag, among other little gadgets (that you can take out if you don''t want, of course).
Strengths: roomy but not fat.
Durable, but we''ll see about that.
Comfortable. The belt is nicely done. The same amount of stuffs inside felt lighter than other bags I used.
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5 of 5
