after my recent trips i'm looking to upgrade some of my gear and was looking for some recommendations of what others use, like or dislike.

right now i carry a 20d with a 70-200 IS, 28-135 IS, 18-55 kit lens, and a sigma 100-300(not used much) along with a 2nd body my old digital rebel. a bogen 3021bn with a 332 rc2 ball grip, and a mono pod. for a bag i'm using a over the shoulder canon bag i found at best buy. it works fine but on my last 2 trips i'm finding that i have to walk further and further to get the good shot, and the amount of stuff i'm carrying is not getting any lighter.

so i'm looking for a recommendation for a backpack bag that might be able to hold most of the gear.

after this past weekend at HIN, i quickly discovered that the flash on the 20d is not your best best for a dark room with cars in it. i have been looking and waiting to get the spped light 580ex, but would like to get an idea of what you guys use for flash mounts, either on top of the shoe, or on a spearate mount. also what are your thoughts on bounce cards for the 580?

this weekend i'm headed to NYC and J and R, to look around and play with stuff and build a wish list to buy on the net,

thanks

 

For a flash, pick up a 550EX or a 580EX and buy a white Stofen "Omnibounce" for it

As for a bag, I use a Lowepro backpack that holds all of that and more...

Go to B&H, go to the pro-digital counter and ask for either Rich or Oscar and tell them you are a friend of mine.. They will tell you like it is and are the only people I trust with gear questions.

 

b and h was my 1st choice but they are not open on sat, so i guess i will go to j and r play with some stuff and plan another trip during the week to go up to b and h.

would you happen to have and recommendations on polarizing filters? after the air and sea i would really like the blue of the sky to pop more.

 

I use the Kata HB-205 backpack. With about 22-25 lbs of gear in it, it's very comfortable. Tons of padding inside and out. The inside is yellow so it helps make rummaging through your gear in low light easier. There are straps to hook our camera to and have it hang from your shoulder straps instead of around your neck. You can strap a tripod to the side or back. The bag holds my 1D MKII w/ 70-200 f/2.8L IS and 20D (battery grip not attached) with 16-35 f/2.8L, 580EX, 420EX all in the main compartment. The other compartments hold the extra batteries, memory cards, gaffers tape, etc.

$200 from B&H Photo.

 

B&W thin profile circular polarizer

 

I'll tell you what wont work - and that's the Adventure 9. Though it fit my 20D w/ grip + 70-200 2.8 non-IS (attached), 10-20, 24-105, 60, 85 and 430ex. It got so tight in the main compartment that I had to keep the 24-105 in the upper portion of the bag crammed with my filters and batteries.

Also the straps (not included) for the tripod hang off the bottom and it's difficult to tightly secure a tripod.

 

thanks for the recommendations,

i went to B&H and J&R on sunday, i would have to say that i was very impressed wih B&H the store was packed but the service was outstanding. the people that work there really know there stuff.

as for J&R i was really disappointed with the store and service. it was a very confusing glorified best buy in my mind. i dont think the staff noticed me.

i ended up getting 2 extra batteries for my 20d and the filter at the store. i ordered the speed light, the kata hb-207, omni-bounce, and a 12 gig sandisk cf card while in the store. why pay what ever the ridiculuos sales tax when i can have it shipped.

my credit card hates you all (sorry it made me say that)

 

but the gear is worth every penny :D

 

hey guys i need some more advice,

so i placed the order from B&H and got an email today at 2:38pm today saying it shipped and a tracking number. in that email i noticed that they had the wrong shipping address, they shipped to where i was staying in Fort Lauderdale 2 weeks ago, and not to my house in philly. and to my supprise they closed today at 2pm for a jewish holiday and not opening until friday.

now i have a $1000 oder going to a state i dont live in, from a vendor i cant contact until after it arrives.

i'm at a loss for what to do as i wanted to use the gear this weekend.

 

You can contact UPS and they can attempt to put a tracer on the package. Generally, the shipper has to do this but if you can prove to them that your the actual recipient, they may make an exception since B&H is closed.