Lowepro Topload Zoom AW Holster Bag

I have a few cases and this is by far the best one. I have the waist belt as well as a few lens bags. With the waist belt and shoulder strap it is possible to keep the bag very close to the small of your back; making hiking easier. The main compartment can fit a Rebel Xt/XTi with a 70-200 2.8L IS or a 100-400 L IS with tripod collar, it was a tight fit but I was able too carry that camera for 4 days with rented lenses. I can fit a flash in the side pocket, a few batteries, CF cards, remote, lens pen and a micro fibre cloth. In the lid I may fit a filter if the camera does not have a long lens. My 70-200mm 4L IS fits great with a lens bag attached and a water bottle holder. I'm just attaching bags to the belt as I need them. Even another lowepro bag with a second body and lens. Had it for two years hiked it on the west coast trail with XT and 28-135 USM IS lens and accessories. Even has a rain cover that can be deployed quickly and is useful.

Tough as nails construction. I hike in the rain forest with this.
Comfortable with Waistbelt or Chest hardness.
Can add other bags to the system .
Black, hides dirt well, cleans with a damp cloth
Customizable depending on lens collection.

Waist Belt required caribiners to securely attach to bag, no biggie. The attached Zelcro does not hold well.

Pelican Cases,
Amvona Backpacks

Like many on this board, I've acquired a few bags over the years. In terms of construction and material, all of them were good bags. One or another met my needs at the time, but I outgrew them. Another just wasn't the best choice in the first place. And so on... This is simply the best bag I've ever purchased. It's big enough to carry all the stuff I seldom leave home without-- my Elan 7 with Sigma 24-135 and comfort neckstrap attached, 420 EX with Stofen OmniBouncer attached, a cleaning kit, a 50mm lens, spare batteries and film. I should have bought this bag a long time ago. This bag will serve me for a long time to come.

It's light weight, so it doesn't add noticable weight to the stuff you're carrying. The bag's design and layout is its best feature. You can carry several items in addtion to your camera and attached lens in the main compartment. There are two smaller compartments on either side of where you put your camera and attached lens. I carry my flash in one and a cleaning kit in the other. Your usage may vary. It's also deep enough to carry an extra lens (a 50mm or wide angle zoom) at the bottom in addtion to camera and attached lens. There is also a zippered compartment in the lid. The first thing I noticed about this bag was the huge front pocket. It can be divided into two pockets-- a large one on top and a smaller one on the bottom-- or be used as a single huge one. I keep mine dived and keep my batteries in the smaller bottom one. There's still plenty of room for extra film even in a divided pocket. There's also an inner pocket for pens, a sharpie (*every* bag needs its own sharpie marker), flash cards, chewing gum, smaller cords or whatever. Again, your usage may vary. The price is right too. You can get this bag for around $50 (not counting S&H) almost anywhere on the web. You can carry this bag several ways. You can use the supplied chest harness, the belt loop, or the shoulder strap. You can also put additional cases on either side for lenses, film, an extra body...

The bag has few weaknesses and they amount to chicken feed. The front pocket isn't padded like the rest of the bag. You might want to excercise a little caution about what you put in it. The lid doesn't have a handle sewn on it. Not that it's a big deal, but it would make for a convenient place to put my filter pouch.

Lowepro Sideline Shooter-- more of an accessory bag than a true camera bag. A good choice as long as you keep this in mind. Tamrac holster-- a good choice, but not nearly as well designed or thought out. I outgrew mine. Canon shoulder bag-- great for storage and transport.

Never needed it from Lowepro. Great service from Adorama.

I have the 2004 and 2001 models of LowePro Topload Zoom AW. The 2004 model has the highly useful sliplock attachment loops, which are missing from the 2001 model. Allows for fast access to your camera and its still secure. Fits my 20D with 70-200f4 (with hood reversed)/24-70f2.8 with hood on. Can also just fit a 70-200f2.8L IS. With a battery grip it'd get pretty tight and I'm not sure if a EOS-1 body would fit. Still has room in various zippered compartments to carry spare cards (or 4 rolls of film), batteries, lens tissue, pens, polariser, card & small cloth. You can attach stuff to the D rings outside as well (eg blower brush).

- Metal D rings and camera strap (nonslip)top quality. 2001 model ones are plastic - hard wearing outer material & thick foam padding - Great value for money, considering the other Topload S&F bags (that are wider but not as long) are more expensive, but have the same features (I think) - Comes with chest strap (though haven't used it) - Has removable and washable foam on back of bag. - Can be used in multiple configurations (on shoulder, across chest, on chest with chest strap, around waist with belt) - AW cover handy with rain and dust/sand

Plastic loops for sliplock attachments weak. Broke one when I was trying to compress a lens bag to the side. Couldn't glue the thing back together, so bought another pair of cinch straps in Australia (for some reason cheaper than in US).

Lowepro Zoom 1, Lowepro Orion

Haven't tried yet.

There is a lot to like about this bag. I originally bought the non-AW version for half the price but took it back as I figured I needed a bag that would survive and be useful for backpacking, cycling, and other outdoor quests. Besides holding my Rebel XT within easy reach, it is an extremely well balanced bag with a comfortable shoulder strap that holds the bag on your hip without it boucing or swinging while you walk. I was able to strap a SLIK tripod to one side and it was still very easy on the shoulder. Material and assembly look good as well and I know from previous LOWEPRO experience that they'll hold up to travel wear and tear.

Well balanced bag Good padding to protect your camera and a spare lens. Strong, dense ripstop fabric. Front pocket will accomodate Canon EOS battery charger and a few ad-ons. Metal clasps. Compression/gear straps on the sides Rain cover

Outside pocket is not well padded so filters must be kept in hard cases.

Other LOWEPRO bags

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This is another top notch bag from LowePro. When I think about new camera bags, LowePro is my first stop. I used this bag with a Canon Rebel G, and two lenses. 50-80mm and 80-200mm. I was also able to fit a small tripod inside the bag as well as extra batteries, film, cleaning kit, manual,some zip lock baggies, and more film without a problem. The chest harnes was the main reason I bought the bag. It was for a backpacking trip and I needed something to secure my gear to my chest for easy, hands free access. This bag did the job it was intended to do without a problem. The rain cover has come in handy on several occasion, and worked great.

LowePro quality. Rain cover. Chest harness. Lots of room.

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