( 7 reviews )
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Posted: 08-12-2009
I purchased this bag for my Nikon D40 with the standard 55mm zoom and 70-200mm lenses. The entire camera fits great in the bag, with or without the zoom lens. Since I only have one extra lense, the other lens pack can be used for excessories such as usb cord, keys, etc. When I initially saw the bag, I feared it was too large, but now after using it on my trip to Alaska, it is very easy to carry and fits well in a back pack. With the camera and both lenses, the bag almost feels empty, very easy to carry either over the shoulder, with the hand strap or as a lumbar belt. Very satisfied with the quality, padding and roominess of bag. Well worth the money.
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Posted: 07-12-2009
Shame on you Adorama for selling this bag on Amazon for $87.95 and free shipping, yet you have it for sale, at the time I write this, on your own site for $44.95 and free shipping. I should know, since I just ordered this off-road 2 bag from the Adorama website for $44.95 and free shipping. I also ordered the Lowepro belt to go with it, but that is neither here nor there, as far as this item is concerned. I will delete this review and write a proper review of this bag after I receive it and have used it for a while.
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Posted: 07-12-2009
My previous bag was a KATA DC 443, but it was just a bit tight (top to bottom) for my Canon 40D with 70-300 IS USM lens attached (see my review of that bag). I had my eye on this Off Trail 2 bag for some time, but it was just too expensive. So, when Adorama knocked more than $20 off their usual price and still offered free shipping, I jumped at it. The bag and its parts are exceptionally well made, it is well padded, and much attention is given to detail. My camera/lens measures 8.5 inches from lens cap to eyepiece, and fits with room to spare. I may even buy a lens hood as it will now fit. Lowepro states the top-to-bottom internal dimension is 11.5 inches. The 2 main compartment dividers are adjustable with velcro, so just about any lens diameter will fit, and the dividers can also be adjusted to raise or lower the camera as it sits in the bag (to a point). The Lowepro site has a cutaway drawing of this bag where it appears these dividers might be long enough to reach the bottom of the bag, but they actually reach about halfway down. The Lowepro site drawing shows a flash unit stored between the side if the bag and one of these dividers. In reality the dividers would not keep that flash, or other accessories, from contacting the lens in the main compartment, so damage could result. Both of the dividers do have pockets on the outside for storage of small items. The top flap has a fairly large zippered storage pocket inside with a padded piece that covers the zipper pull. I do not like pockets on the inside of the top flap as items in that pocket may cause it to bulge enough to rub on the camera's LCD screen. The top flap also has a zippered pocket on the OUTSIDE, which makes more sense. The mesh pocket on the front of the bag is a good place for me to store a plastic trash bag, in case of rain. The 2 included zippered soft lens cases are nicely padded and both are about 8 inches deep, by my measure. My Canon Speedlite 430EX II easily fits in one of these cases and a larger 580EX or similarly sized flash would fit as well. The other case holds my kit lens and is too deep for me to easily reach that lens, so I used some of the packing paper and the case's padded spacer to fill the bottom. Each lens case does include a padded spacer so the lens can be kept separated from some accessories or another lens kept at the bottom of the cases. The lens cases are removeable, and Lowepro offers several other lens cases of various sizes that can attach to this bag, so I may get a smaller one for my kit lens. The main bag has a lumbar support system with permanently attached belt. With the lens cases removed, there aren't any pockets or other means to store those permanently attached batwing flaps and their straps. It takes a little ingenuity to run the straps through the rings and buckles on the rear of the bag to secure the batwings, and it is time consuming. There also is no place to store the if I want to use this strictly as a shoulder bag, but I can see no reason to use the shoulder strap without using the belt. The shoulder strap is detachable, so this can be used strictly as a fanny pack. The bag works quite well as a fanny pack as long as it is positioned high enough so the weight of the contents is supported by my upper butt/lower back. I have found that using this on my side as strictly a belt pack is uncomfortable due to the weight; the shoulder strap must also be used. My only real complaint with this bag is the shoulder strap. The padding is sewn in place, so it cannot be slid on the strap, instead the strap must be adjusted to move the padding. Also, the padding is a little thin and could be softer, and the strap itself is only 1.5 inches wide. I feel some pressure on my collarbone with the bag loaded. And the buit-in curve of the shoulder strap doesn't do anything for me. I will probably change out the shoulder strap with my KATA strap which is is the same width, but straight and more thickly padded. Overall, I am very satisfied with this bag. My gear fits better than in my previous bag, and I think this bag fits me better ergonomically than my previous squarish, shoulder-strap-only bag. ADDED: I changed to the KATA shoulder strap and it seemed to help a little, but not much. This bag just needs a wider shoulder strap to be comfortable with the weight, period!
