camera backpacks for low cost airlines

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I am looking for a camera backpack which will take my Nikon D200, several lenses and filters etc. together with my 17" MAC book. The external dimensions must be maximum 55cmH x 40cmW x 20cmD to fit in with low cost airline bag size restrictions:help:
 
I had a Lowepro Fastpack 350 which held my camera gear and laptop (up to 17") but it was 25cm deep (the other dimensions were fine). I was travelling Ryanair earlier this year but couldn't find a bag to take camera gear and laptop that was 20cm deep, so I ended up having to buy a smaller camera bag (Flipside 300) and got one of my mates who didn't have hand luggage to carry my laptop for me.
 
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Jackwow said:
I had a Lowepro Fastpack 350 which held my camera gear and laptop (up to 17") but it was 25cm deep (the other dimensions were fine). I was travelling Ryanair earlier this year but couldn't find a bag to take camera gear and laptop that was 20cm deep, so I ended up having to buy a smaller camera bag (Flipside 300) and got one of my mates who didn't have hand luggage to carry my laptop for me.
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Couldn't you just not fill your Fastpack so much and squash it into the baggage guage? Reason I ask is that I'm getting one of those as an ideal bag for a short break away; camera gear in camera part, washbag in top part, and clothing in laptop section. I' sure I could squeeze it into hand baggage size. ;)
 
Don't forget Ryanair may weigh your carry on at the gate - any more than 10kg and you have to pay £40 in excess charges.
 
Vertex 100 is close http://products.lowepro.com/product/Vertex-100-AW,2072,16.htm
I think your laptop will just about fit but the bag itself is about 5cm too deep.

CompuDay 250 http://products.lowepro.com/product/CompuDay-Photo-250,2249,16.htm
The dimensions work out, but the laptop compartment is very tight, according to http://www.apple.com/uk/macbookpro/specs-17inch.html the laptop is 39.3 x 26.7 x 2.5, the laptop bit of that bag is 40 x 27 x 3.5 !

CompuDayPack http://products.lowepro.com/product/CompuDaypack,1922,16.htm could be the one, its only 1.5cm too deep overall but the laptop bit is 40.5 x 31 x 4.5
 
Goody13 said:
Couldn't you just not fill your Fastpack so much and squash it into the baggage guage?
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Sorry but I have no idea how to squash camera equipment and laptops?! They're all pretty solid. :thinking:
 
Think tank streetwalker hard drive, great bag, looks small but holds lots and has a separate laptop compartment
 
Jackwow said:
Sorry but I have no idea how to squash camera equipment and laptops?! They're all pretty solid. :thinking:
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So are you trying to say that if you had a bag that was smaller, as were a couple other ones mentioned on this thread, then your camera would not fit in it? Have you thought that some bags may be bigger to allow for extra capacity rather than being tight for all gear?

Rather than trying to make smart comments, it is useful to think sometimes to see if people are trying to be constructive. We do not live in a black and white world.
 
Another vote for Thinktank, but it also depends on your budget, they ain't cheap. I got the Airport Accelerator for my trip to South Africa. Another thing to point out is check the weight of the bag enpty, usually info given as part of the spec, what you don't want is a bag that fits the size requirements but weighs 3kg with nothing in it. I had the choice of the 2 versions of the Airport Ultralight, the Antidote and the Accelerator, in the end went for the Acc because it took the 300mm f2.8 attached to my camera body, plus other lenses. Easyjet abit more relaxed over the weight, its just the size of the bag that matters to them. Never flown with Ryanair and probably never will
 
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Thanks for help. I had a look at the Think Tank site and the "Shape Shifter" has the following spec.which looks good but it seems hugely expensive. Has any one used one of these?

Outer Dimensions When Expanded: 20”H x 12.5”W x 7”D” (51.0 x 32.0 x 18.0 cm)
Outer Dimensions When Compressed: 20”H x 12.5W” x 3”D (51.0 x 32.0 x 8.0 cm)
Laptop Compartment Inner Dimensions: 19” H x 12”W x 1.5”D (48.0 x 30.5 x 4.0cm)
3.75 lbs (1.73 kg)
 
Goody13 said:
Rather than trying to make smart comments, it is useful to think sometimes to see if people are trying to be constructive. We do not live in a black and white world.
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I don’t think trying to squash a camera bag into a luggage gauge, or anything else for that matter, is very constructive.

I fail to see how putting less in a bag will make the bag any less thick (unless of course you pile your pieces of equipment on top of each other). The items of camera equipment in a bag are usually the items with the greatest depth and as these are stored side by side then the item with the greatest depth (probably the camera body), together with the depth of the laptop, which in the case of the bag I was referring to is stored behind the camera / lens compartment, plus the thickness of the bag material and all the padding will determine the overall thickness of the bag and if this is greater than 20cm then it ain’t going to fit in a 20cm gauge, is it?
 
I have this bag here:

http://www.amazon.com/Case-Logic-TBC-307-Camera-Backpack/dp/B001T0HYJA

I've taken it on board a few flights to date, inc. Ryanair. I'll be flying with it again on Sunday.

It won't fit your dslr with a 70-200 attached or anything, but there is room for a 70-200 lens un-attached inside, along with a couple more short lenses. in the upper section you'll fit your dslt with a standard lens, a 70-300 zoom will fit.

It's an ok bag, not the best but cheap and works for hand luggage.
 
Thank you so much for this info. I am living in France and have found the Shape shifter for 213€ on Amazon.fr which is about the same price. Just one thing more. The spec says it is 2,3Kg empty while on the US site it said 1.73Kg. I know this sounds like nit picking but I need every gram for my gear with the 10kg limit. Do you know hat yours weight empty Pete?
Thanks again
 
Think Tank Airport Accelerator V2.0
3 lbs. 5oz./1508 g – 7 lbs/3175 g

My assumption is the weight depends on what accessories (dividers, rain cover, tripod pouch , laptop pouch etc.) are attached

Think Tank Shape Shifter according to HC website is 3.75 lbs (1.73 kg) and the same on Thinktank's main website

There's always the Ultralight version which is 1.1-1.6kg depending on what's fitted to it
 
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