Pros: Well made, will fit a lot of equipment, distributes weight very well.
Cons: Not as big as I thought, Zippers might be a weak point.
The Bottom Line: I would recommend this bag to serious photographers with lots of needed equipment. It is big out of necessity, not because it looks impressive.
ncphototrekker's Full Review: Tamrac Expedition 7X Photo/Laptop Backpack #558701
Let me start out by saying that this bag is not quite what I was expecting, and if you are reading a lot of reviews you might be under a false impression. Everything that I read said that this bag was huge, and bulky. I realized when reading the reviews that these are but opinions based on different users. I got caught up in details like, "cavernous interior", "I had room for extra clothes, and food", and the every popular, "this bag is just too big". I needed a big bag, but also needed it for hiking purposes so I didn't want an unreasonably large bag to get in the way.
Having used the Tamrac Expedition 5 (before they made a padded compartment for a laptop), for a year, I had decided that I really liked the layout of the bag. However, with the addition of two new large lenses, I had outgrown the bag, and needed something larger. I had come down to deciding between the Expedition 7x and 8x, with the 8x being just slightly taller by a couple of inches. Everything that I read said that the 8x was too big, and the pictures of the 7x that I saw looked like I would have plenty of room for what I needed with a bit of growing room. This was where I really wish that my local camera stores stocked pro-level equipment so I could have checked the bag out in person.
At any rate, I ordered the bag from B&H Photo Video hoping that it wouldn't be too big. When it arrived, I remember my first thought being "Hmmmm, this is smaller than I figured". I checked to make sure that it was the right bag, which it was, and proceeded to open it up and start to customize the interior for my equipment. There was no extra room inside, in fact, the filters that I had been keeping on the inside of the Expedition 5 were now booted out, to make room for lenses. I said many times while organizing this bag that I should have gotten the 8x for some extra room, but that two inches wouldn't have made that much difference.
It sounds like I have buyers remorse at this point doesn't it? Not at all, actually, this bag has turned out to be perfect for me, and does everything that I need it to do, without causing any undue problems in the field. The next thing that you are wondering is what do I have that fills this bag up so much since so many people are fitting lots and lots of extras inside of their bags. Well, here is a brief list of what I have in the bag to give you an idea of what it will carry at its limit.
Inside main compartment Canon 40D with vertical battery grip installed (no lens attached) Canon remote release, flash diffuser, and hotshoe spirit level Canon 17-40mm f/4L Canon 70-200mm f/4L with hood attached and a pair of convertible gloves Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L with hood Canon 580EXII Speedlight in case (on top of 100-400mm) Canon 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L with hood attached, and wide angle hood Canon 180mm f/3.5L Macro with hood attached Portable picture viewer on top of 180mm Macro
Inside of Lid
Cleaning cloths, puff brush, USB Cable
Canon battery charger, spare lens caps
White balance filter, Enhancing filter
Outside of Lid, laptop compartment
Towel, shower cap, manuals, poncho, hand warmers, room for a spare tshirt
Wing Pockets
Six CF memory cards, spare battery, pens, business cards, lens pen, penlight, notebook, bandaids
Tripod base pocket
Gerber Multi-tool, mini-maglite, compass, screwdriver, spare AA batteries for flash
This is pretty much all that the bag will hold. Fortunately for those that like to carry more stuff into the field, Tamrac has a nice mounting system called MAS (modular accessory system) and SAS (strap accessory system). The bag has four MAS attachment points along the sides. I have them all loaded up with equipment. The top points have a water bottle holder, and a medium padded pocket which houses four Singh Ray 4x6” ND Grad filters, along with a Canon EF 25 II extension tube. There is a mesh pocket on the outside where I house the Lee Filter system for mounting the Singh Ray filters. Below, I carry two small pockets which house three (each) 77mm filters in their protective cases. While this was not my intention when I purchased the bag, I have to say that having all of my filters on the outside of the bag is a great way of doing business. Now I can switch filters without having to open the bag up, or even take it off in some cases.
The SAS is also a useful system, and it allows for four attachment points on the shoulder straps. I am currently only using one, which houses a Lowepro memory card wallet. Actually, I use this piece to keep two lens cloths close at hand so I can clean water spray, or rain from a lens while keeping the bag in place.
The Good
This bag is a wonderful bag for those that have a lot of equipment. As you have seen above, I carry a bunch of gear with me, and this bag does it admirably. Weighing in at around 40LBS fully loaded, one would think that this would be a pain to take on a hike. I won’t lie to you, it is heavy, but the sternum strap and waist belt really help to distribute the load on your back and waist. I have worn this bag for nearly four straight with no issues. I am 5’11” tall, and a good medium build so all the weight in the bag doesn’t really throw off my balance either.
I love having access to all of my gear when I am out Trekking. It has been said that the most expensive piece of equipment that you have is the piece that you don’t bring along. I can’t ever decide what to leave behind, because there are too many times that I come across something that I would not have been able to plan for, and would need something specific. With the Expedition 7x, I have it all at my fingertips, and it is well protected.
The bag is made up to Tamrac’s usual high standards. Materials feel very substantial, and thick. The padding is excellent for both photographic equipment as well as a laptop if you wish to carry one. Smaller items are easily accessible through the wing pockets on the lid. Each pocket has three memory card holders with a red flap that can be pulled out to indicate a full card, or dead battery. There are also two smaller pockets inside that can hold a small pocket notebook, or batteries. The zippers on all pockets, and compartments are either weather sealed, or protected from the elements by flaps.
The pockets on the inside of the lid are clear allowing you see at a glance what is inside of them. The zippers are protected by flaps that keep them from hitting your expensive lenses in the main compartment. The main compartment has many dividers that can be positioned to fit your rig. A nice touch, although one that I didn’t need was the ability to position the dividers to allow two camera bodies with lenses attached. This is very nice for those that like to keep two lenses at the ready. Keep in mind though that you have a certain amount of length to work with, and that will limit what lenses you can attach.
The straps are very well designed with a lot of padding. There are multiple adjustments built in to allow for the best comfort. The waist belt is also padded along the sides, but has pivot points built in to allow for movement. If you are in need of more storage, there is a section of this belt on either side that you could put something compatible with the SAS system on, such as a small point and shoot camera case. There is a nice padded section that rests in the small of your back, which is Velcro enclosed. You can adjust the amount of padding in this section to enhance your comfort. I have found that the factory padding is just fine. There is additional padding along the back of the bag that is designed to keep airflow on your back to reduce perspiration. I’m not sure how effective this is though, my back always seems soaked after a long hike.
Another good point is that the bag is black and gray, which are unobtrusive colors, and won’t garner a whole lot of attention. However, be warned, the Tamrac logo is pretty big on the face of the bag, so criminals that know what they are looking at will have a clue as to what is inside.
The Bad
This bag doesn’t have a lot of negatives in my eye. As with the Expedition 5, I would like to see some pockets inside of the main compartment for pens, paper, and a clip for keys. These are elements that Lowepro incorporates into their bags, and I’ve found them to be quite handy. Is it enough to convince me to go to Lowepro for my transporting needs…not hardly. This is my second Tamrac, and I have had no problems out of the zippers, however, many reviews I have read say that the zippers are a weak point. I’m thinking that this is due to tripods being put on the bag that are too big for the bag. I use a Manfrotto 055MF3 with a Slik 3-way pan head and would never think about putting it on the bag. There is just too much leverage, and it would ride too high. This brings me to the other negative about the bag…the tripod mount. That is more of a misnomer than Tamrac would like to admit. It would be great for a monopod, or a very small tripod, but for anything serious, it just won’t work. I have found the nylon loops to be perfect for holding onto a 3-5 “D” Cell Maglite though. This comes in handy for hikes that start in the day, and end at night.
Final Thoughts
While I might have done a bit better with the Expedition 8x, I really can’t complain about the 7x for the difference in price. I don’t think that I would have had any appreciable growing room in the 8x, and it was about $40.00 more expensive. I have room for all of my lenses with hoods for them, as well as my flash, and all of the accessories I could use. I’m not worried about fitting any more lenses, as this is all the weight I want to carry on a hike. If I get any more lenses, they will be specialized, and used for something specific so I could swap them in on those Treks.
I am very happy with Tamrac, having used their bags for over a year now. They are well thought out, and well built. They are deep enough for a 24-70mm f/2.8L to stand up and for the 40D to have the battery grip attached. The straps are comfortable and make carrying this large bag bearable. I was concerned at the size, and its mobility out in the field, but having taken this bag on several Treks, I have to admit it has not gotten in the way at all, and my back is no worse for the wear.
If you like having access to all of your equipment in the field, and understand that your equipment is heavy, this is a good choice for you. If you have a camera body, and a couple of lenses, don’t get this bag thinking that others will take you more seriously as a photographer. This is a bag you accept the size and weight for so you can have the convenience of having all of your gear with you. If you don’t need the size, go smaller, you will have more fun.
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