Well I've been on the hunt for some time for another camera bag, with a specialized purpose...it'll be my 4th bag, and each has it's specific duty - but this one fills a big need I've had ever since I added a 2nd long lens. ; My Kata R102 remains the big repository - the main transport bag for all of my equipment when I travel...no changes there. ; My Tenba shoulder bag remains the camera + attached lens, and up to 2 other smaller lenses solution - for bringing along the ultrazoom lens, a prime or two, or the UWA. ; My Tamrac bag remains the small emergency bag which only fits my camera and a single lens, basically nothing more than convenient storage/rain/spill protection. My big problem was - what do you do when you shoot with those big supertele lenses - and you've got two of them? ; And you want the ability to bring both lenses along - one attached to the camera body and the other along for the ride? ; And moreover, you want to be able to switch out from one lens to the other without having to stop, unpack, put lenses on the ground, switch, reload the bag, and get on your way again...not something you want to do in a swamp. ; So my goal was to find a super lightweight holster-style bag - something that could hold just two big long lenses, vertically, with mounts facing up...and allow me to swap from one lens to the other without putting anything down. ; Two chambers - one empty, and one with the other lens - when ready to switch, drop the mounted lens into the empty chamber, and attach the camera to the other lens and go. ; So wasn't I happy when I found out someone makes EXACTLY that! ; Long lensers rejoice - Tamron 200-500 users, Bigma users...want to bring that nice sharp prime along too, but don't want to lose the range of the zoom when you need it? ; This bag is the solution! Here's the one I got: http://www.amazon.com/Retrospective-Lens-Changer-2-Pinestone/dp/B0039ZF73S They come in grey or black...and they come in a 2 lens or 3 lens version. ; Think Tank Retrospective Lens Changer 2 is the name - and I specifically checked with Think Tank to make sure the larger Tamron 200-500 measurements would fit (they mention enough room for a 70-200 F2.8...but the chambers each can handle lenses up to 10 inches by 4.5 inches wide). I'll report more and a quick review once it gets here in a few days.
Yes, let us know. ; While I'm no longer in the market for a different bag, it'll be nice to have options for the future. ; And I don't consider my 80-200/2.8 to be a "long" lens. ; Even though technically I guess it's about the same size as the other brands...
Well the 80-200 isn't overly long on its own - but the demos I saw of it showed a couple of shorter primes fitting nicely in the bag with their lens hoods mounted - seeing as how many of the slightly shorter fast zooms and primes become almost as long as a big telephoto if the hood is considered too. ; And it is nice to have 2 or 3 lenses to interchange quickly - I actually considered how this could be useful even at Disney when I don't have the two long lenses - I might be able to cart my 300mm F4 and my 18-250mm with hood attached in the two chambers, with the Sigma 30mm F1.4 attached to the camera - and swap between those 3 lenses on the fly...good for something like AK where I'll want the long lens but not all the time. I'm mainly getting it for the birding needs, but if it's comfortable and flexible, it could become a good walkaround bag at Disney or on my upcoming cruise.
It's a neat idea, but I'll be really interested to hear how comfortable it is to walk around with when it's fully loaded with the big lenses. That's going to be a fair amount of weight to be slung from one side all day. Erich
Yes it would be nice to have the lens hood attached all the time! ; I fixed my copy BTW. ; Enough to get a filter on.
Erich...true...should be heavy...but the strap looks pretty comfortable, and I could always exchange the strap too for a Kata reflexE like I use on my camera - that thing is very comfortable and strong. ; I'll likely use it on either shoulder throughout the day - I pretty much do that with all my current bags - this one looks to have a strap long enough to not have to change sides of the bag, but just wear the strap across the chest sling-style, or over the shoulder traditional style. ; That way the bag can stay to my left side but the strap can alternate. ; Plus, many times I won't actually have both heavy lenses in the bag at the same time - most of the time one will be out and mounted to the camera, and the other along for the ride for swapping on the fly. I got notice it'll ship today, so hopefully it'll be here mid-next week, in time for one weekend in the wetlands, then my cruise in 2 weeks.
