The convenience of a back pack with top-loading bag ease of access
Written: May 03 '06 (Updated Jun 30 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Ability to access gear without taking the bag off. Great value.
Cons: Maybe more pockets? You can only carry on your right shoulder. I'm stretching here.
The Bottom Line: If the size fits your needs, a great way to carry your gear - the convenience of a back pack with the ease of access of a top-loader. Great value.
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| jemaer_rf's Full Review: Lowepro Slingshot 200AW Camera Bag |
Target consumer
Let me start by saying who I believe this is for and who it's not for. The bag is designed for the photographer who needs a reasonable amount of gear - say for a hike, a sporting event, or a social event like a birthday party. The bag is not meant for the photographer who needs (or wants) to bring more equipment than say a couple of bodies and 2-3 medium lenses. Very long lenses will also not fit in this bag. On the other end of the spectrum, if you've got a P&S, then this bag would be overkill.
Dimensions and usable space
The interior dimensions of the main compartment are 8.7"W x 5.9"D x 11.8"H. For our metric friends, that's 22 x 15 x 30 cm. There is a zippered accessory pocket outside the main compartment (suitable for a phone, PDA, nothing too big), and a bigger accessory space in the top part of the bag that has enough space for a couple of short lenses (I don't think lenses are meant to be stored there so this reference is only to give you an idea of how big the space is).
The main compartment has enough space for my Nikon D50 camera with a 55-200 DX Zoom Nikkor Lens attached, an 18-55mm DX Zoom Nikkor Lens, Nikon flash unit, a Canon S50 digital camera, and a Sony HC3 camcorder. Take out the Canon camera and the Sony camcorder and you've created space for a couple more medium lenses. Chargers, a mini-tripod, and cleaning supplies go into the bigger accessory pocket. DV tapes go into the smaller accessory pocket. Flash memory cards go in a sleeve in the inside of the main compartment flap.
Design
For me, the Slingshot 200's design is its main selling point. There's only one main strap and the bag is meant to be carried slung across the body. Picture a shoulder bag that you're carrying across your body; now move the load from your side onto your back and you'll be close. The Slingshot 200 is designed to be carried like a back pack so it frees your hands for taking those all-important pictures.
Here's the twist (no pun intended). When you're ready to access your equipment, you can rotate the bag to the front of your body (remember, there's only one strap). Once the bag is in front of you, the Slingshot 200 works like a top-loading bag. The flap to the main compartment is oriented so that you can quickly, easily, and safely get to your equipment. No need to take the bag off or put it down to take your pics. In fact, you can use the bag for stability by resting your arms on it as you compose your shot if you choose. After you get your gear, you can rotate the bag again so that it's out of the way. Very cool.
Performance
This bag really works for me. It has a water-resistant micro fiber, ripstop nylon outer material that looks to be very durable. Workmanship is top-notch. The bag feels like it's going to last a while. If you get caught in the rain, there is an included All-Weather cover that will protect your gear. I've not had to use this yet but it's good to know that the protection is there if I need it.
The bag is comfortable to carry. It has an ergonomic Sling Strap that helps distribute weight evenly. To help stabilize the load you are carrying even more, there is a stability strap that can be hidden when not in use. The Slingshot 200 has stop buckles positioned so that zippers will not completely open when the bag is in front of you. This helps ensure that your gear won't come tumbling out of your bag. When you have the bag on a table, you can disengage the stop buckles and get quick and full access to the main compartment to make packing and unpacking easy.
There are a lot of other touches that make me like this bag. The padding is such that you feel that your precious equipment is well protected. There are adjustable dividers in the main compartment for maximum stowage flexibility. The Slingshot 200 has a built-in flash memory card pouch so your cards are protected and won't get lost inside your bag (I hate it when that happens!). It has a microfiber LCD cloth to protect the LCD screen from scratches while inside your bag. Finally, it has loops for Lowepro Sliplock accessories (Sliplock accessories include lens cases, PDA cases, memory sleeves, etc.).
Conclusion
Yes, I like the Slingshot 200. A lot. If the bag meets your equipment capacity requirements, it's really hard not to like. If you're in the market for a shoulder camera bag or a camera back pack, I would recommend that you test drive the Slingshot 200. You'll get the best of both worlds.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
jemaer_rf
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Reviews written: 16
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