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View Full Version : "Bagman Snapshot" camera backpack - Review



Tricky
16-02-2009, 1:32pm
As you may have seen on another post, my Crumpler 6 million dollar home has felt a bit small and cramped since I bought a 70-200 f/4 lens. And with the expectation that this year I will buy at least another one or two small lenses and a flash, I felt it was time to buy a bigger camera bag (keeping the Crumpler for light/walk-around duties). Given that even the crumpler was starting to feel a bit heavy on just a single shoulder strap, I decided it had to be a backpack.

I was after a 'modern-looking' backpack, rather than one of the more traditional styled ones that have been made specifically for photography, but without sacrificing protection (ie decent padding, inserts/dividers and shower-proof).

I looked at the medium-sized (10 litre?) Crumpler Keystone ($300) and large-sized (16 litre) Whickey-Cox ($330), and also a cheaper alternative, the Bagman Snapshot (medium/large size @ $80) which basically looks like a fake Crumpler. In terms of sizing, its sort of halfway between the Keystone and Whickey Cox.

I decided to give the cheaper Bagman a go as there really wasn't much difference that I could tell in terms of quality or design; they really look like they've been made in the same factory except one of them costs three times as much. It comes with a 12 month warranty for defective workmanship (I think the Crumpler is lifetime?).

Amusingly enough, the price seems a bit varied between shops... one camera store in Brisbane had it at $80 whilst Ted's Camera Store next door had it at $108 (but came down to $85 pretty quickly upon mention of 'price-matching', which they claimed was their 'cost' price). The bagman website says $80, but they don't list the colour combination that I bought. Both stores in Brisbane said the bag had just come out.

As with the Crumplers, the Bagman Snapshot is made from heavy duty material, is shower-proof (though I might spray it with some 3M to be sure), has a detachable inner housing for the equipment (ie so the backpack could easily be converted for non-camera uses) and the main compartment opens at the back so that your camera/lenses can't be pick-pocketed whilst you're walking along with the backpack on.

Some pictures below, taken with my wife's P&S camera:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b79/Tricky999/bagmanoutside_sm.jpg

Rear of the backpack, showing zipper which can only be accessed from rear with the pack off.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b79/Tricky999/bagmanback_sm.jpg

Bagman Snapshot and Crumpler 6 million dollar home side by side. I noticed the bagman looks a little 'lob-sided' in this picture, but its really just an illusion re how it is sitting... its evenly proportioned in reality:)
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b79/Tricky999/bagmanandcrumpler_sm.jpg

Interior netting to stop any lenses etc falling out of the bag or moving around.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b79/Tricky999/bagmaninsidenetting.jpg

More dividers than I knew what to do with, so ended up using some of them for extra padding
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b79/Tricky999/bagmaninsideempty_sm.jpg

With the kit in place. As you can see, the camera equipment sits in a padded detachable tray within the bag, allowing the backpack to be used for other purposes if required.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b79/Tricky999/bagmaninsidefull_sm.jpg

This configuration allows me to keep any of the lenses (incl the 70-200) on the body when I put it away. Previously, with the Crumpler, everything would only fit into place if the body had the 24-105 lens on it.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b79/Tricky999/bagmaninsidefullcloseup_sm.jpg

Once I buy some further lenses, a flash and maybe a second body, I plan on turning the camera's orientation in the bag by 90 degrees, as there is currently a lot of unused space either side of the camera and at the top of the bag. With two cameras/lenses facing each other in a 'Pd' shape, you'd fit a bit more in.

Downsides so far?
- The handle for carrying the bag when its not on your back is a bit thin and not sufficiently padded. Not sure I'll end up carrying it much this way anyway, but could add some padding if required, I guess.
- The zip doesn't go down quite far enough to the bottom, so accessing equipment at the bottom of the bag requires a bit of technique to jiggle it free.

Other than that, all good so far... we'll see how it stands up to the test of time...

edenconnell
16-02-2009, 2:27pm
Is it water resistant?

edenconnell
16-02-2009, 3:16pm
Oh yeah Tricky great selection of equipment you have nice work!

Jcas
16-02-2009, 5:37pm
Thanks Tricky, when you mentioned this previously i was looking for reviews, doesn't look too bad for the price...:)

Tricky
16-02-2009, 9:34pm
Is it water resistant?

Yes, it is. The tag that comes with the bag is very "chatty" and in relation to water it says something like "I'm fine with the odd shower or splash, but please don't immerse me". The bagman website says:

Q. What sort of material are the bags made of?
A. Most bags are made from a synthetic Polytex fabric which is extremely tough yet comfortable against the human skin. The internal lining is usually of a softer fabric with or without padding and designed to cushion your prized possessions without buffing or scratching them. The outer fabrics are also coated with a water resistant resin to help protect against the accidental spill or inclement weather.

Q. Does water-resistant mean it will protect my camera from rain and hail?
A. To a certain degree, yes. The bags are not 100% impervious to water but it does offer some extra protection until you find some shelter.


Oh yeah Tricky great selection of equipment you have nice work! Thanks mate, its starting to come together :)


Thanks Tricky, when you mentioned this previously i was looking for reviews, doesn't look too bad for the price...:)

Agreed, the value for money equation appears pretty amazing... provided it stands the test of time! The crumpler, incidentally, has been excellent... almost indistinguishable from new and its been to the UK, round Europe, Thailand...

Just as a post-script: I have turned the interior fittings of the bag around 180 degrees, so the camera body is now at the top with the lenses further down.... makes the body a lot easier to extract quickly without any 'wiggling'.

The_Camera_Poser
16-02-2009, 9:37pm
Tricky- can we get some shots of the accessory pockets both inside the main compartment and in the little pouch at the back?

Do you know how the strap padding compares to a Lowepro Minitrekker?

Any provision for a tripod?

Tricky
17-02-2009, 9:34pm
Tricky- can we get some shots of the accessory pockets both inside the main compartment and in the little pouch at the back?

The accessory pockets aren't easy to photograph, particularly the outside ones as they are not particularly roomy. They're really just for storing a few memory cards, pens, keys, wallet, coins, mobile etc. The inside pockets are a bit more roomy, easily big enough for filters, hoods etc, maybe even a small laptop/notepad.

Top outside pocket. It has a clip inside for securing keys.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b79/Tricky999/pockets_top_sm.jpg

Bottom outside pocket. Pretty small.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b79/Tricky999/pockets_bottom_sm.jpg

Inside pockets. Pretty roomy.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b79/Tricky999/pockets_inside_sm.jpg



Do you know how the strap padding compares to a Lowepro Minitrekker?

Don't really know as I've never really looked at a Minitrekker in person. Judging by one I saw on Lowepro's website, the straps look similar in thickness and padding, by which I'd say they're sort of 'medium' padded. I have a larger backpack (Jansport) where the padding is way thicker. However, I think the bagman padding is acceptable - no complaints as yet and the bag sits pretty well on your back. There's a clip that stretches between the straps, clipping them together across your chest, which I find helps keep the load in place and secure. There's also some tacky strips on the underneath of the straps which help to grip your shoulder - useful when carrying on just one shoulder when bags have a tendency to slide off.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b79/Tricky999/strap_sm.jpg



Any provision for a tripod?

No. There's a small strap and elasticated netting on one side; I've tried hooking my light travel tripod through here and it fits, but really not ideal. Certainly trying to hook up a Manfrotto is a non-starter!

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b79/Tricky999/bag_side_sm.jpg

MarkChap
20-02-2009, 10:59am
Thats a good looking Bag

May be just what I am after

Buddah
20-02-2009, 9:36pm
Tricky

I I can jump in here, thanks for the review and a great bit of kit. The colour combination looks a bit lairy to me but then again I'm a grey-haired conservative.:D

T-C-P, I bought the Lowepro Minitrekker and thought I needed it for the tripod holder but never really used that feature fully. I found it easier and better to cart a tripod by other means. Having said that, the Minitrekker is a top quality bit of gear and I wouldn't part with it. It's been with me everywhere.

If I saw the Bagman when I was shopping around I probably would have bought it because it was much less than the price of the Minitrekker and appears to have a similar capacity. Just would have taken a while to get used to the colours.

Tricky
23-02-2009, 6:46pm
The colour combination looks a bit lairy to me but then again I'm a grey-haired conservative.:D


:D :D I thought the colour combination was pretty laid back and conservative! You should see some of the colours that the Crumplers come in :eek: :D

The bagman website says that this bag comes in a black / brown and a green/brown (neither of which I found particularly appealing).

trigger
23-02-2009, 8:58pm
:D :D I thought the colour combination was pretty laid back and conservative! You should see some of the colours that the Crumplers come in :eek: :D


Crumpler story here (http://www.ausphotography.net.au/forum/showthread.php?t=21547)

Yes. Its a wonder what we get suckered into when these bags are in those fancy displays.
I brought this one when i thought it looked nice next to the iMac Air and a iPod nano.

Oh how ridiculous it looks when your take it home

MattC
24-02-2009, 9:44am
Thanks for that in depth review Tricky :th3: - this is just what I was looking for. I just have to find a place in Adelaide that sells them now.

Cheers.