Best Backpack Style Bags for A1? at DVinfo.net

Tanner Stevens · May 27th, 2008, 04:54 PM

I will be taking a trip here pretty soon, and I will be doing a lot of walking, so I was looking at buying a backpack style bag for my A1. I am looking at a price range of $100 - $250. Any suggestions?

Bill Pryor · May 27th, 2008, 06:47 PM

Petrol makes several, so do Portabrace and the other upscale bag manufacturers. Check B&H for listings on all of them. Also, Camrade bags are nice. I'm not sure if they do a backpack, but if they do it probably will be lighter than the others because their regular bags are. Go to the sponsors section here for a link to Tapeworks Texas and talk to Scott Cantrell for info on those and others. Sometimes they're cheaper than B&H and have excellent customer service (though their website isn't much).

Eric James Kline · May 27th, 2008, 07:06 PM

i just bought an OGIO Ty Video backback for mine and i like it. its padded well and all the compartments are adjustable. its made for slightly smaller cameras like the hvx-200's and the fx-1's of the world but you can make it fit. i got mine online for $150

Sean Malone · May 27th, 2008, 07:16 PM

It may be on the upper end of your price range, but I went for the Tamrac Expedition 7. It has a great lumbar support system with the ability to attach other components (water bottles, pouches, even a lower storage pack). It has customizable liners, a tripod strap, and clear internal pockets for viewing components. Seems to hold the basics well. I've used it on a limited bases but it seams to work as expected. Out big trip will be to Mesa Verde, CO in 2 weeks to give it a final test.

I really like it so far.

Sean

Tanner Stevens · May 27th, 2008, 07:54 PM

I've also seen several of these backpacks that have the removable/customizable dividers, but the descriptions say that they are for SLR cameras. Would it be possible to make mine fit?

Bill Pryor · May 27th, 2008, 08:06 PM

http://www.camrade.com/
Check out the Travelmate Handy 1. There's a photo of it with a Z7, which is about the same size as the XH A1 (maybe just a bit longer):
http://camrade.alphatron.com/upload/...ndyiopen-0.jpg

One thing I like about Camrade bags is that they're lighter in weight that Petrol and Portabrace. The tradeoff is that they probably aren't as rigid. But for a backpack, light is good.

Daniel Browning · May 27th, 2008, 10:18 PM

I'm cheap, so I got the Kata CB20. If you remove the lens hood, it will fit in the bag on its side. When it's put in right side up, the microphone holder protrudes enough to make it a tight fit. I don't use it, so removed mine.

http://thebrownings.name/photo/cb20/img_0641.jpg
http://thebrownings.name/photo/cb20/img_0642.jpg
http://thebrownings.name/photo/cb20/img_0643.jpg

Bill Pryor · May 28th, 2008, 08:46 AM

If you want to get really cheap, you can use an ordinary backpack. A couple of months ago I wanted to shoot some things downtown when I was in Chicago. I had an old Eddie Bauer medium size backpack, and with the lens hood off and mic shoved back a bit, the camera would sit upright, left to right, in the bottom of the bag, with the lens hood in a pocket. If I were going to do that on a regular basis, I'd cut some foam to put in, and maybe a piece of 1/4" plywood for the bottom.

Shawn Levin · May 28th, 2008, 09:11 AM

Hi,

I just got a KATA R103...... I think its perfect!

The Kata site was very helpful too...

kata-bags.com

Shawn

Tanner Stevens · May 28th, 2008, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Browning

I'm cheap, so I got the Kata CB20. If you remove the lens hood, it will fit in the bag on its side. When it's put in right side up, the microphone holder protrudes enough to make it a tight fit. I don't use it, so removed mine.

http://thebrownings.name/photo/cb20/img_0641.jpg
http://thebrownings.name/photo/cb20/img_0642.jpg
http://thebrownings.name/photo/cb20/img_0643.jpg

I really liked that bag, but unfortunately, I couldn't find it anywhere.

Daniel Browning · May 28th, 2008, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tanner Stevens

I really liked that bag, but unfortunately, I couldn't find it anywhere.

Sorry, I gave you the wrong information. It's not Kata, but Cinebags. I paid $130 for the CB-20, but it is discontinued now and the CB-22 has taken its place for $160.

Josh Newman · May 28th, 2008, 06:00 PM

Has anyone seen one of these in the flesh?

http://hprc-usa.com/3500.htm

They seem almost perfect for what I need (watertight hiker for sailboat use) but just slightly too shallow to hold an A1. 12.59"x16.22"x6.29" vs the A1's 6.4"x7.4"x13.8" From the photos it looks deeper towards the bottom. Any comments or experience out there? will it fit?

$350 is a lot of cash for a case but better than buying a pelican 1510 plus a Portabrace. Oh and yes, I honestly NEED a watertight case, we're headed to the Aluetians by sail boat ;)

by the way this is my first post... should I have started a new thread for this?

Cheers,
Josh.

Bill Watson · May 28th, 2008, 06:48 PM

G'day Josh.

I use a Pelican 1520 waterproof/shockproof case for my A1.

Came across a real find in a local tackle store. It's an Abu Garcia backpack.

Did a quick Google. This looks like the same one and you can get it online locally. At $45.00 it's a bargain and the Pelican 1520 fits snuggly inside. Good quality too:

http://www.discountfishingsupplies.c...906ee21bd06260

It's got two long side pockets, a top pocket and two front pockets for accessories.

Jacob Thomas · June 3rd, 2008, 07:49 AM

I've taken this bag hiking in Costa Rica, on planes, and to documentary shoots. It is awesome. Holds my laptop, lots of camera accessories, and even the A1 camera fully assembled with lens hood and shotgun mic (it sticks out a little). Not the smallest bag, but it's all I ever need. It protects the gear very well and is very comfortable as well.

Terwingen Niels · June 3rd, 2008, 08:08 AM

hi, i was wondering if anyone ownes the portabrace backpack BK 1N? i am going for a while to cambodia and was thinking to invest in the best around...??

looking on the portabrace folder they say it will fit the canon xh A1 but if i compare to the dimensions of the camera i wonder how it will fit in. anybody some info on this?

http://www.libraprobroadcast.co.uk/p...ckpack&cat=233

http://www.zgc.com/zgc.nsf/product/E...2572D5006DE136

May 27th, 2008, 04:54 PM	#1
Tanner Stevens New Boot Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Dublin, Ohio Posts: 6	Best Backpack Style Bags for A1? I will be taking a trip here pretty soon, and I will be doing a lot of walking, so I was looking at buying a backpack style bag for my A1. I am looking at a price range of $100 - $250. Any suggestions?

May 27th, 2008, 07:16 PM	#4
Sean Malone Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 40	Back Pack It may be on the upper end of your price range, but I went for the Tamrac Expedition 7. It has a great lumbar support system with the ability to attach other components (water bottles, pouches, even a lower storage pack). It has customizable liners, a tripod strap, and clear internal pockets for viewing components. Seems to hold the basics well. I've used it on a limited bases but it seams to work as expected. Out big trip will be to Mesa Verde, CO in 2 weeks to give it a final test. I really like it so far. Sean

May 27th, 2008, 10:18 PM	#7
Daniel Browning Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 949	Kata CB20 is a cheap option I'm cheap, so I got the Kata CB20. If you remove the lens hood, it will fit in the bag on its side. When it's put in right side up, the microphone holder protrudes enough to make it a tight fit. I don't use it, so removed mine. http://thebrownings.name/photo/cb20/img_0641.jpg http://thebrownings.name/photo/cb20/img_0642.jpg http://thebrownings.name/photo/cb20/img_0643.jpg

May 28th, 2008, 06:00 PM	#12
Josh Newman New Boot Join Date: May 2008 Location: Dunedin, New Zealand/ Seattle Washington Posts: 7	HPRC Hardpack Has anyone seen one of these in the flesh? http://hprc-usa.com/3500.htm They seem almost perfect for what I need (watertight hiker for sailboat use) but just slightly too shallow to hold an A1. 12.59"x16.22"x6.29" vs the A1's 6.4"x7.4"x13.8" From the photos it looks deeper towards the bottom. Any comments or experience out there? will it fit? $350 is a lot of cash for a case but better than buying a pelican 1510 plus a Portabrace. Oh and yes, I honestly NEED a watertight case, we're headed to the Aluetians by sail boat ;) by the way this is my first post... should I have started a new thread for this? Cheers, Josh.

May 28th, 2008, 06:48 PM	#13
Bill Watson Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Noosa Queensland Australia Posts: 248	G'day Josh. I use a Pelican 1520 waterproof/shockproof case for my A1. Came across a real find in a local tackle store. It's an Abu Garcia backpack. Did a quick Google. This looks like the same one and you can get it online locally. At $45.00 it's a bargain and the Pelican 1520 fits snuggly inside. Good quality too: http://www.discountfishingsupplies.c...906ee21bd06260 It's got two long side pockets, a top pocket and two front pockets for accessories. Last edited by Bill Watson; May 28th, 2008 at 08:34 PM.

May 27th, 2008, 06:47 PM	#2
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Petrol makes several, so do Portabrace and the other upscale bag manufacturers. Check B&H for listings on all of them. Also, Camrade bags are nice. I'm not sure if they do a backpack, but if they do it probably will be lighter than the others because their regular bags are. Go to the sponsors section here for a link to Tapeworks Texas and talk to Scott Cantrell for info on those and others. Sometimes they're cheaper than B&H and have excellent customer service (though their website isn't much).

May 27th, 2008, 07:06 PM	#3
Eric James Kline New Boot Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Morrice, Michigan Posts: 6	i just bought an OGIO Ty Video backback for mine and i like it. its padded well and all the compartments are adjustable. its made for slightly smaller cameras like the hvx-200's and the fx-1's of the world but you can make it fit. i got mine online for $150

May 27th, 2008, 07:54 PM	#5
Tanner Stevens New Boot Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Dublin, Ohio Posts: 6	I've also seen several of these backpacks that have the removable/customizable dividers, but the descriptions say that they are for SLR cameras. Would it be possible to make mine fit?

May 27th, 2008, 08:06 PM	#6
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	http://www.camrade.com/ Check out the Travelmate Handy 1. There's a photo of it with a Z7, which is about the same size as the XH A1 (maybe just a bit longer): http://camrade.alphatron.com/upload/...ndyiopen-0.jpg One thing I like about Camrade bags is that they're lighter in weight that Petrol and Portabrace. The tradeoff is that they probably aren't as rigid. But for a backpack, light is good.

May 28th, 2008, 08:46 AM	#8
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	If you want to get really cheap, you can use an ordinary backpack. A couple of months ago I wanted to shoot some things downtown when I was in Chicago. I had an old Eddie Bauer medium size backpack, and with the lens hood off and mic shoved back a bit, the camera would sit upright, left to right, in the bottom of the bag, with the lens hood in a pocket. If I were going to do that on a regular basis, I'd cut some foam to put in, and maybe a piece of 1/4" plywood for the bottom.

May 28th, 2008, 09:11 AM	#9
Shawn Levin Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: CAPE TOWN - SOUTH AFRICA Posts: 58	Hi, I just got a KATA R103...... I think its perfect! The Kata site was very helpful too... kata-bags.com Shawn

June 3rd, 2008, 07:49 AM	#14
Jacob Thomas Tourist Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 3	Kata HB-207 I've taken this bag hiking in Costa Rica, on planes, and to documentary shoots. It is awesome. Holds my laptop, lots of camera accessories, and even the A1 camera fully assembled with lens hood and shotgun mic (it sticks out a little). Not the smallest bag, but it's all I ever need. It protects the gear very well and is very comfortable as well.

June 3rd, 2008, 08:08 AM	#15
Terwingen Niels Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Belgium Posts: 57	portabrace backback hi, i was wondering if anyone ownes the portabrace backpack BK 1N? i am going for a while to cambodia and was thinking to invest in the best around...?? looking on the portabrace folder they say it will fit the canon xh A1 but if i compare to the dimensions of the camera i wonder how it will fit in. anybody some info on this? http://www.libraprobroadcast.co.uk/p...ckpack&cat=233 http://www.zgc.com/zgc.nsf/product/E...2572D5006DE136