argue all you want. when it comes down to it simplicity is the best thing. Mr Fusco and i seem to agree. all this flipsides and velocities and such give you such limited access to the other components vs a single camera and lens so fast changes are not going to be realized. with a satchel type bag as i have pictured above you have complete access to 90% of the product you need at any given point by eye and hand. a place to drop the old lens into and new one to remove. there is nothing better then open access. simplicity works.

it really depends on how much you need to carry- the Domke J1 is a great bag, but bigger than what i personally would like to have with me...

Crumpler 5 Million Dollar Home is perfect for me.

The fastest "change" is always gonna be a 2nd body.

Yeah, while Domke gives quick access, I don't think it'd be the most comfortable for me to carry. I'd rather have something I can get out of the way.

my 5 mil is so small and chill, i can carry it all day every day.

Is there something against the slingshot? I'm a rapid lens changer, dust be damned, and I have both a slingshot 100 and 200. Generally I stuff a D700 with 28-75mm attached, 80-400mm on side, 14-24mm on other side, and a speedlight in the top. There's still room in the front for grey cards, filters, extra CF cards, and a battery or two.

I've even stuff a 70-200mm in there sometimes. I think it's great. I just swing it around, swap out a lens in 20-30 seconds, and I'm ready to go.

Sure it's heavy and you probably don't want to go rock climbing or extensive hiking with it.

With the slingshot, I don't like that the lenses are sideways and not vertically towards you, so it would seem to me when the bag is towards you, you only have direct access to the camera when you open the side flap?

satchels aren't comfortable if you have to walk a long way but do give quicker access than rucksack style. have used both (still got billingham satchel) and use the tamrac now as I do walk quite a lot and it doesn't hurt my back so much (more even on the back)

everything is a give and take. if its real comfortable i can say w/o a doubt you will not get to it too easy. there is always the J2 but i like room to work the more compact things are the less accesible they are too. make up your mind what you are willing to give up for your real needs. my bag averages about 15lbs on any given day. i've managed to carry it for over 15 years.

m_appeal wrote:
With the slingshot, I don't like that the lenses are sideways and not vertically towards you, so it would seem to me when the bag is towards you, you only have direct access to the camera when you open the side flap?


Yes but wouldn't your camera be on your shoulder already?

poisonpill wrote:
m_appeal wrote:
With the slingshot, I don't like that the lenses are sideways and not vertically towards you, so it would seem to me when the bag is towards you, you only have direct access to the camera when you open the side flap?


Yes but wouldn't your camera be on your shoulder already?

I suppose, but don't you need to open the other flap at the front of the bag completely to have access?

m_appeal wrote:
poisonpill wrote:
m_appeal wrote:
With the slingshot, I don't like that the lenses are sideways and not vertically towards you, so it would seem to me when the bag is towards you, you only have direct access to the camera when you open the side flap?


Yes but wouldn't your camera be on your shoulder already?

I suppose, but don't you need to open the other flap at the front of the bag completely to have access?

would it not be a shopping bag if it didn't?

louis fusco wrote:
m_appeal wrote:
poisonpill wrote:
m_appeal wrote:
With the slingshot, I don't like that the lenses are sideways and not vertically towards you, so it would seem to me when the bag is towards you, you only have direct access to the camera when you open the side flap?


Yes but wouldn't your camera be on your shoulder already?

I suppose, but don't you need to open the other flap at the front of the bag completely to have access?

would it not be a shopping bag if it didn't?

Not really? When you open that flap, I'd be concerned about stuff falling out given the configuration of the lenses.

Camera on the shoulder. Lenses in a shootsac.
http://www.shootsac.com/

sky_barker wrote:
Camera on the shoulder. Lenses in a shootsac.
http://www.shootsac.com/

fashionwear for the well heeled. not that useful beyond a controlled situation. definition of controlled situation: where you only need a limited amount of gear and you have a fixed access to the rest of it when needed.

Here is a review of the Lowepro Flipside 400 I found that confirmed my concerns... for lens changing it doesn't look to be that great

http://slickpix.blogspot.com/2009/01/new-year-some-new-gear.html

I just pulled the trigger on the Tamrac Velocity 10X...

I just pulled the trigger on the Tamrac Velocity 10X...

Looks like a good call to me. Two bodies with lenses mounted make for the fastest change as Trenchmonkey pointed out, yet easy access to other gear. I'll be on the lookout for a 10x bag myself . . .

I'd read somewhere that it won't actually hold 2 bodies as advertised (it was a review from someone on B&H)... although I don't know if that's true. But since I only carry one, it's not a concern to me right now... I did want a bigger bag since I don't want to keep buying bags every time I get more lenses! And the fact that it will fit D700 + grip + a big lens mounted is a plus.

I had the velocity 9 and ended up selling it. Holds a lot of gear but not comfortable with sling on shoulder. Plus its not that quick and easy to pull gear out on the fly as I thought it would be.

My current thinking is that the fastest lens changers would be a belt system, such as Think Tank.

poisonpill wrote:
Is there something against the slingshot? I'm a rapid lens changer, dust be damned, and I have both a slingshot 100 and 200. Generally I stuff a D700 with 28-75mm attached, 80-400mm on side, 14-24mm on other side, and a speedlight in the top. There's still room in the front for grey cards, filters, extra CF cards, and a battery or two.

I've even stuff a 70-200mm in there sometimes. I think it's great. I just swing it around, swap out a lens in 20-30 seconds, and I'm ready to go.

Sure it's heavy and you probably don't want to go rock climbing or extensive hiking with it.

I had the 300 for a very short period. I found it way to cumbersome and very heavy when full. Holds a ton though, just don't put it on your shoulder.

rjk55425 wrote:
I had the velocity 9 and ended up selling it. Holds a lot of gear but not comfortable with sling on shoulder.

Isn't that the case for all bags of this type? They probably get heavy after walking for a long time...

Plus its not that quick and easy to pull gear out on the fly as I thought it would be.
My current thinking is that the fastest lens changers would be a belt system, such as Think Tank.

Why did you find it more difficult than anticipated? I've looked at the belt stuff... yeah, it's quick access, but again it seems cumbersome to carry. I guess you really have to have either / or. I should've probably phrased my initial question differently...

I like the Velocity 10X. Sure, it's not the most comofrtable to carry when you load it with stuff, but it fits a lot, and access is relatively easy.

Glad to hear you like it. I had forgotten about this thread and the existence of the Velocity 10x (I still haven't seen one in a local store).

Can you list all the gear you've put in it and how much it weighs? Can you really put two bodies w/lenses mounted on each?

I've had my Velocity 9x for two years now, and it's still my most used bag. I shot a school track meet (8th grade) a few months ago. When shooting the 4x100 relay, I positioned myself at the 1st hand-off spot at the end of turn, using the 70-200 VR. After catching the baton hand-off, I ran back across the infield to position myself for the finish, and managed to change lenses to the 24-70. If that's not quick change ability, I don't know what is.

davewolfs wrote:
I've gone through a lot of bags and what I find to to be the best are the Thinktank Photo modular components or the Domke F3X if you are carrying something like a 17-35 and a 24-70.

I've used Domke for many years, designed by and for news photogs. I can carry two pro bodies with lenses face down and numerous other lenses. The side pouches can expand to carry as many filters, batteries, cleaning supplies, etc as needed. Domke makes bags in a variety of sizes, the F7 being the largest, but you can pick you poison:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/82955-REG/Domke_700_70B_F_7_Double_AF_Bag.html

As far as access I can pull out either body and change lenses on the fly. No problems there! Immediate access!

It comes with a default shoulder strap but I highly recommend buying a "Post Office Shoulder Pad." it makes it soooo much more comfortable:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=details_accessories&A=kitInfo&Q=&sku=16198&is=REG&friendly=Domke_725_310_FA_031_Shoulder_Pad.html

Plus it has a built in waist belt. I only use the waist belt on longer treks. But it is sooo nice to have it when you need it. And it can stabilize the bag when changing lenses from your hip. Why throw out your back?

You can rip out all the inner compartments and use a very minimal stripped down bag with minimal bulk or add padding as needed:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=details_accessories&A=kitInfo&Q=&sku=16067&is=REG&friendly=Domke_720_240_FA_240_4_Compartment_Insert.html

I actually prefer the minimal bulk bags with the least padding. But it's nice to have the option to add padding when needed. It has a hard bottom to protect lenses placed face down.

I've packed this bag to the gills with bodies and lenses as an aircraft carry-on and never had a problem. Other times I'll FedEx out the gear in a hard Pelican case and bring the empty Domke in my checked baggage. Then I can lock the Pelican in the trunk of a rental and pop the gear into the Domke as needed.

But I have to concede for event work the Thinktank stuff looks like a really cool kit and many also swear by it. So I'd definitely consider it. But I haven't had a chance to try it. Kinesis also makes a nice belt system. I love the Kinesis backback for my really long lenses. But as much as I like to move and jog around I'm not sure I'd be a good candidate for a belt system as much as event photogs that stay in one place. A single bag like a Domke has it's own inertia to keep it put along with the optional waist belt.

Enjoy!

m_appeal wrote:
Does D700 with *grip* and 70-200 VR fit into the Velocity 9x? I know it will in the 10x.

Yes.