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- Mike Simpson
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Thought i would make this due to so little information on the net about decent camera bags. Not everyone can try before they buy, either because they simply can't be bothered to trek around different shops, or because the store don't have the products in stock.
The first bag i bought was a disaster, it was too small, and hardly fitted any of my gear in, and due to online retailers hyping up products and exaggerating there abilities is rather annoying when you get it delivered.
Lowe pro 200AW Sling bag Review
Quality and Construction
This bag really does feel like it could last forever. The materials are tough and durable, and the stitching is excellent. The zips feel very robust and i can't see them failing anytime soon.
The Velcro inside is strong, so you have no fears of it coming lose and your gear sliding all around in your bag.
The pen is there for scaling, and as you can see the bag isn't actually that large from the outside and it doesn't scream "I HAVE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT IN MY BAG". The colours and design are subtle but pleasing, which was one of the main reasons i went for this.
Another reason was the unique sling design of the bag, making it easy to move the bag from your back, to right in front of you in a matter of seconds, without even needing to remove the bag from your back.
The one main strap is comfortable and supports the weight extremely well, it has a quick release clipper on the bottom of the strap, which has padding underneath which supports the side of your hip. There is also an additional stabilising strap that is hidden at the bottom to really hold the bag in place when hiking/running.
Unlike most "unique amazing designs" that most company's claim they have, the sling design really does work, and it leads me to the next stage of the review.
Swing Mode
To prevent the bag from fully opening when in swing mode, two elastic stoppers are held over the zip lines which are connected to the bag via quick release. Even if you get the zips undone completely with the stoppers attached, the bag can still not physically open.
This is the view you are greeted by when in sling mode and the zips are undone. As you can see the camera is easily accessible, and when not in use there is a store away LCD screen protector which you can see hanging down the bag in the photo above.
Below is a photo of the LCD screen cloth in its netting holder.
On the underside of the flap is a small storage compartment, which is held shut with Velcro.
This compartment is large enough for 4 SD memory cards in there plastic holders, and 2 filters. Unfortunately the card holders are not red flagged, so its up to you to remember which are full or empty.
Main compartment
Although this sounds obvious, i thought i would say it anyway, you cannot access the main compartment where all your equipment is kept when the bag is in sling mode. You must undo the stoppers and fully unzip the bag, which looks like the below.
Im going to stay neutral when saying what i think might fit, and tell you what i have in the bag. That way you can look up the measurements of my equipment and use your own judgment if yours will fit.
Nikon D40 with Sigma 10-20mm attached. (The camera also fits with all my other lens including the 55-200mm with the lens hood attached.)
Nikon 55-200mm AF-S
Nikon 18-55mm AF-S Kit Lens
Nikon HB-34 Lens Hood
Sigma Lens Hood (Supplied with the 10-20mm, not sure on the model number, but its very wide)
The only reason i have taken the lens hoods off the lens and placed them in different slots is because i have the space. Both lenses fit in there compartments with the hoods attached.
I could easily fit a SB-400, SB-600 or SB-800 in one of the free slots taken up by the hoods.
The padded inserts are strong but flexible, and the padding around the bag is the same. I would feel completely safe dropping the bag with my equipment in from arms length no problem, and im sure it would all be fine. (Please don't try that at home though!)
Outside Compartments
You have two compartments on the 200aw, i'll start with the smaller one first.
This is located at the bottom of the bag, and to be honest, can't hold very much. At the moment i am using it for storing small things like my shutter release remote, Nikon driver/software CD, and lens caps.
The second of the two compartments is located at the very top of the bag and really is big.
Its easily big enough to hold another D40 without lens, or maybe a small camcorder, but i wouldn't recommend it because the padding is poor on the front of this compartment.
I use it to store cleaning products, personal belongings and filters. (Items shown are a wallet, medium rocket blower, 3 filters, and a microfiber cloth in the netting at the back.)
CONCLUSION
If you are a keen amature photographer, which has several medium sized lenses like myself, want something fairly inexpensive, will last a long time, and is comfortable, then i highly recommend the 200AW. The design is modern, and i doubt anyone without knowledge of Lowepro bags would know your carrying around photographer equipment.
The first bag i bought was a disaster, it was too small, and hardly fitted any of my gear in, and due to online retailers hyping up products and exaggerating there abilities is rather annoying when you get it delivered.
Lowe pro 200AW Sling bag Review
Quality and Construction
This bag really does feel like it could last forever. The materials are tough and durable, and the stitching is excellent. The zips feel very robust and i can't see them failing anytime soon.
The Velcro inside is strong, so you have no fears of it coming lose and your gear sliding all around in your bag.
The pen is there for scaling, and as you can see the bag isn't actually that large from the outside and it doesn't scream "I HAVE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT IN MY BAG". The colours and design are subtle but pleasing, which was one of the main reasons i went for this.
Another reason was the unique sling design of the bag, making it easy to move the bag from your back, to right in front of you in a matter of seconds, without even needing to remove the bag from your back.
The one main strap is comfortable and supports the weight extremely well, it has a quick release clipper on the bottom of the strap, which has padding underneath which supports the side of your hip. There is also an additional stabilising strap that is hidden at the bottom to really hold the bag in place when hiking/running.
Unlike most "unique amazing designs" that most company's claim they have, the sling design really does work, and it leads me to the next stage of the review.
Swing Mode
To prevent the bag from fully opening when in swing mode, two elastic stoppers are held over the zip lines which are connected to the bag via quick release. Even if you get the zips undone completely with the stoppers attached, the bag can still not physically open.
This is the view you are greeted by when in sling mode and the zips are undone. As you can see the camera is easily accessible, and when not in use there is a store away LCD screen protector which you can see hanging down the bag in the photo above.
Below is a photo of the LCD screen cloth in its netting holder.
On the underside of the flap is a small storage compartment, which is held shut with Velcro.
This compartment is large enough for 4 SD memory cards in there plastic holders, and 2 filters. Unfortunately the card holders are not red flagged, so its up to you to remember which are full or empty.
Main compartment
Although this sounds obvious, i thought i would say it anyway, you cannot access the main compartment where all your equipment is kept when the bag is in sling mode. You must undo the stoppers and fully unzip the bag, which looks like the below.
Im going to stay neutral when saying what i think might fit, and tell you what i have in the bag. That way you can look up the measurements of my equipment and use your own judgment if yours will fit.
Nikon D40 with Sigma 10-20mm attached. (The camera also fits with all my other lens including the 55-200mm with the lens hood attached.)
Nikon 55-200mm AF-S
Nikon 18-55mm AF-S Kit Lens
Nikon HB-34 Lens Hood
Sigma Lens Hood (Supplied with the 10-20mm, not sure on the model number, but its very wide)
The only reason i have taken the lens hoods off the lens and placed them in different slots is because i have the space. Both lenses fit in there compartments with the hoods attached.
I could easily fit a SB-400, SB-600 or SB-800 in one of the free slots taken up by the hoods.
The padded inserts are strong but flexible, and the padding around the bag is the same. I would feel completely safe dropping the bag with my equipment in from arms length no problem, and im sure it would all be fine. (Please don't try that at home though!)
Outside Compartments
You have two compartments on the 200aw, i'll start with the smaller one first.
This is located at the bottom of the bag, and to be honest, can't hold very much. At the moment i am using it for storing small things like my shutter release remote, Nikon driver/software CD, and lens caps.
The second of the two compartments is located at the very top of the bag and really is big.
Its easily big enough to hold another D40 without lens, or maybe a small camcorder, but i wouldn't recommend it because the padding is poor on the front of this compartment.
I use it to store cleaning products, personal belongings and filters. (Items shown are a wallet, medium rocket blower, 3 filters, and a microfiber cloth in the netting at the back.)
CONCLUSION
If you are a keen amature photographer, which has several medium sized lenses like myself, want something fairly inexpensive, will last a long time, and is comfortable, then i highly recommend the 200AW. The design is modern, and i doubt anyone without knowledge of Lowepro bags would know your carrying around photographer equipment.