padded inserts?

[keast]

anyone know any where else can i find a good selection of padded modular inserts? came upon an old thread that OP only sold a type. thinking of using them to zhng my chrome metropolis into cam bag. and also like to know rough range of prices for those stuff, wonder if i might actually end up being better off with a dedicated 2nd hand cam bag (am looking at stealth reporter d300 aw)?

advice advice thanks guys!

[keast]

Thanks for the cold shoulders, let me reply myself to share the outcome of my 1 day search.

Read on if you are keen on converting your weatherproof messenger into a weatherproof cam bag. Why Messenger Bags? Most of them are built to be very tough and weatherproof for couriers who have to might have to deliver in the rain without packages drenched and all of them have their fair share of getting into a crash and kissing the tarmac together with their bags without ripping a hole through it. They are also easy to access too, no real fiddling with zippers, just pull up flap rip out cam and start spamming like Rambo. They also provide a good cover for your $xxxx equipment, nothing screams I AM A CAMERA BAG like the typical Lowepro boxy shoulder bag series. This add-on would do good to those already with mid to large-sized messenger bags, love their messenger bags and also have no RPG Launcher sized lense in their arsenal yet.

Checked out CP today, they look way too occupied to serve me. Was gonna ask if they have any domke/lowepro inserts. Forget it, i went over to TCW. The old man with long beard intro me this Safrotto bag, design concept you can take it as a Crumpler Bucket with no Teletubby colours. Bought it for 25 bucks as size just nice for my use.

Personal Review
self measured interior specs :

29 x 16 x 20 cm (L*B*H)....... feels like a mid-sized to me

Olive green, exterior nylon machiam those old army bags (i saw another grey one in wrapper)

Black interior, 2 long dividers and 3 half length ones.

Dividers inside feel harder or more 'solid' than the ones in my Lowepro Rezo

Top access zipper closure. Good for isolating your cam stuff from other nonsense u put into the same messenger bag. Also prevents your lens or stuff from jumping out of the padded interior

Built in handle.

Able to fit both my FE2 and 400D+grip with lens on (35-105 nikkor, 18-200 sigma) together in 'standby grab n go Toploader style' orientation and other nonsense in the spare holes.

MAY barely fit in an unmounted 70-200 2.8 hood reverse-mounted.

An advice if you are getting this one, go get the ones with light color interior, mine's black I think I will have fun digging for small black objects.

For those with chrome metropolis or bigger bags, I believe you can easily stuff 2+ of these packs in it. The bag wont break, your back will.



Didn't manage to check out the bright orange insert which one of our bros here brought from OP.

first review post, thanks for your time


pictures time

Front View of insert with 400d + battery grip as scale



Top View of insert with 400d as scale



Opened Top View
cams in


cams out, here u can see the dividers

[keast]

into the messenger

[calebk]

Hey bro, interesting find. Strange that I did not see this thread earlier. I am also a fan of using non-designated camera bags as camera bags, however, because I have a Domke J1, I usually use the insert that comes with it, and dump it into my Crumpler Super Snipe.

With that in it, I can take a 1D with a 35mm f/2, a 24-70 f/2.8 and there's still room for a sweater, water bottle, notepad and odds and ends.

[jeremyW]

Thanks Keast.

That was very useful advice. Much appreciated.

But a silly question, please humour me. Where's TCW?

Cheers

jeremy

[calebk]

Originally Posted by jeremyW Thanks Keast. That was very useful advice. Much appreciated. But a silly question, please humour me. Where's TCW? Cheers jeremy

The Camera Workshop. It's at Peninsula Shopping Center (the building across from Cathay Photo).

[keast]

Thanks Calebk, yea the best part is that you can stuff sweaters, quick bites and anything imaginable into the spare spaces. Just be careful not to overstuff, kills your back

There are a couple of camera bags out in the market with inserts that can be extracted and used like this in the bags, eg Stealth Reporter series. Smaller camera bags like Rezo series or any generic padded pouches can also be thrown in too, just need to take out the straps.

Hope you guys find it useful, feel free to share more ideas or tried and tested methods

Cheers

[calebk]

Well, I have a Think Tank Skin Chimp Cage that I sometimes stuff into my bag when I just bring my camera with a 35mm f/2. Works well for that, but not with anything more.

[jeremyW]

Thanks CalebK.

[hjbyeo]

Keast... could you help me out? I am thinking of getting the Timbuk 2 messenger and wondering if this insert will fit. Could you show us a bigger picture?

[keast]

Originally Posted by hjbyeo Keast... could you help me out? I am thinking of getting the Timbuk 2 messenger and wondering if this insert will fit. Could you show us a bigger picture?

I wonder if bigger images can really help. Better way will be to go down to TCW if you are looking for this insert and with a friend's timbuk2 to actually try. my messenger holds 32L space, Timbuk2 Large classic messenger should be around 34-36L and Medium to be around 25L. large will probably give u enough space to stuff 3 inserts in if u put properly. Medium should be ok for one insert with space for other stuff. This is rough capacity is for the Classic Messenger series only.


try if this link to bigger pics works
http://gallery.clubsnap.com/showgall...0/ppuser/55609

Btw I mailed the guy at Fallfactor last week and they said they do sell inserts by Ortlieb its own bags for $45 but didn't get a specific reply on the model thou. They also carry a range of Timbuk2 there so you might wanna take a look and check out prices/sizes/inserts.

[drewdam]

this insert look fit just nice for the timbuk2 messenger bag (S) ... if there's those slim insert will be perfect...

[hjbyeo]

Originally Posted by keast I wonder if bigger images can really help. Better way will be to go down to TCW if you are looking for this insert and with a friend's timbuk2 to actually try. my messenger holds 32L space, Timbuk2 Large classic messenger should be around 34-36L and Medium to be around 25L. large will probably give u enough space to stuff 3 inserts in if u put properly. Medium should be ok for one insert with space for other stuff. This is rough capacity is for the Classic Messenger series only. try if this link to bigger pics works Btw I mailed the guy at Fallfactor last week and they said they do sell inserts by Ortlieb its own bags for $45 but didn't get a specific reply on the model thou. They also carry a range of Timbuk2 there so you might wanna take a look and check out prices/sizes/inserts.

Thanks so much for attempting to even show me the pix.. really appreciate it.

[antacid]

you can get the domke rectangular inserts that is not the usual cube shape. however, i dont think they're worth the money! they want like $30-40 for a simple divider set! i'll probably go make my own when i get back to singapore. get the aunties at beach road to sew it up for me for half the price.

[BluSpoon]

how many would fit in a crumpler complete seed?

[drewdam]

Originally Posted by BluSpoon how many would fit in a crumpler complete seed?

how many u want to put in? u should know the size of the complete seed..n TS has already stated the size of the insert..why not u bring ur bag with ur cam go to TCW to test it up...$25 each....