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I've been using this bag since December 09, and I've been very satisfied with the material and build of this bag. PERFECT. What's in my bag you ask?
1.(2x) Nikon D300s 12MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) 1 of'em with battery grip MB-D10
2. Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S NIKKOR Lens For Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
3. Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED AF-S DX Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
4. Nikon 50mm f/1.4G SIC SW Prime Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
5. Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens
6. Kenko DG Auto Extension Tube Set for the Nikon AF Mount.
7. (2x)Nikon SB-900 AF Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
8. MacBook 13.3 (I believe this bag would still fit 17", many space still)
9. Lumiquest The Softbox III Lumiquest LQ-119
10. Manfrotto 785 Modo Maxi Photo Video Grip Head Tripod (YES, it's strong enough for this tripod. I hang this on the side)
Also many other small stuffs, such as CF Cards, shutter cable, flash triggers, Sanyo Eneloop 8 Pack AA NiMH, cleaning brush, couple B&W filters, cellphone chargers..ETC
As you can see, I do carry many stuffs..and this bag is STRONG.
If you're a single wedding photographer and don't have a partner or helper..this maybe your best bag. Plus it looks very professional. I don't like those backpack style..it makes people look like a high school kid not a pro.
Comfort wise, well.. the shoulder strap has good padding. I would give it a 9
the bag also has a water sealer, located on the bottom, so you can cover the whole bag.. even without interfering with the shoulder strap. very nice.
I can attached my D300s with 70-200mm lens ON together IN the bag facing down, and still have plenty extra space.
The only DOWNSIDE I have now, is that..the bag SAGS to the front now.. maybe because I have so much stuffs or also maybe the way I put things aren't properly balanced.
Also, if Lowepro is reading this...
Please put some padding on the top,under the top zipper to protect people's expensive investments, in case people put some stuffs on top.
--------UPDATE 10/26/12-------------
I'd like to add something:
THE POSITIVE: the bag is holding strong after many abuse of photography gigs (wedding, engagements, family, maternity sessions)
THE NEGATIVE: On the BACKSIDE of the bag (outside), there's a "space" where you could put stuffs...BUT HERE'S THE NEGATIVE..The bottom/underneath part of the "sleeve space" it has a ZIPPER!!! sometimes the zipper will undo itself and the stuffs I have in it would come out unexpectedly on the floor. So the solution was for me to check the zipper once in awhile to make sure it isn't unzipping itself.
I lost things because I didn't know where my stuffs go... Now I understood that the zipper was unzipped during some of my gigs. One time I notice stuffs started falling as I was walking toward the parking lot.
So so far that the negative I could comment on. Pretty scary, because the "outside sleeve" is the easy access place where I could put my quick access stuffs (cellphone, carkeys, batteries, chargers). So please beware of the ZIPPER!!!
and oh .. to Lowepro.. my wife sometimes put "light items" on top of the bag when I get home from work. So..it'd be nice if Lowepro could put paddings on the "top" part. I would buy it again, if you revised the bag. Thank you!
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Background:This review is for the D650 Stealth Reporter. It has been almost three months since I have bought this bag. I have taken it on various trips within United States, and on a big trip to India, Hong Kong, and Macau. I regularly use it as my daily work bag (I am a advanced amateur photographer with no sustenance from my hobby). I bought the bag to be future-proof while I expanded my camera gear.
Equipment:
Currently I have an EOS 7D camera with 24-105L zoom, 70-200/F2.8 IS zoom, and EX 580II flash. Also I carry my Dell Precision 17" workstation Laptop along. Other accessories include camera charger, two batteries, cables, camera manual, Charlotte Lowrie's EOS 7D book, three CF cards, laptop charger and mouse, three filters, pens and diary, and some baubles and trinkets.
Considering the equipment, the bag can gulp the stuff in a heart beat and yet have some room left.
Strong Points:
1. Spectacular build quality. Apart from the flimsy handle, the bag is built like a tank.
2. Stealth it really is stealth, people mistake it for a cooler (that is a good thing) rather than a bag carrying over $6,000 worth of equipment.
3. Good ergonomics and layout. Some thought out compartments for passports, CF cards, etc. The waist-belt is a good thought to transfer weight from the shoulder.
4. The bag is amazingly water proof, even without putting its hoodie on. While in India, we were hammered by a downpour, and there was no time to put the hoodie over the bag. The interior remained dry despite of the bag being in the rain for an hour or so. The locking zipper and an "encompassing" top cover is the reason for the interior to stay dry.
Improvements Needed:
1. The greatest improvement needed is a padded top cover. While, I understand that the cover essentially is for ease of removing the cameras through the upper zipper opening, the thin cover causes some equipment damage (see point 2).
2. The specifications indicate that the laptop compartment would fit "most" 17-inch laptops. Not my Dell military tank. It takes some efforts to put it inside the compartment. And after it does go in, the protective flap does not cover the laptop completely, leaving the sides open. The side of the laptop got chipped while stowing the bag inside the top bin of an airplane.
3. The bag could use a big compartment to put books, notepads, etc. I had difficulties finding places for the stuff I had comfortably placed in my old Tenba bag's compartments. For a bag that is almost size and a half of my old Tenba, I think, it should carry more stuff judiciously.
4. As others have noticed, the handle for carrying needs a more sturdy design.
5. Place for stowing a tripod is needed. May be I have not figured it out, but a good hook system can help with it.
Indifferent:
1. Weight the bag can become heavy. But if you pack equipment that packs serious poundage, the bag will be heavy.
2. Size Fully loaded the bag had hard time fitting inside the overhead bin in the first class cabin of a Boeing 777. I had to take the laptop out and place it in another bag. Ironically, it fit fine with the same amount of material in a puddle-jumper overhead bin.
Conclusion:
Some people may argue, why I do give 5 stars despite of having more points for improvements than the virtues for the bag? For one, I believe the bag needs a 4.5 than a 5 and Amazon's system does not entertain that. Secondly, those improvements are not really negative factors for me to really down-rate the bag. Third, the item that I did not discuss the price; I paid almost the same amount for this bag than I did for the flimsy, smaller, already-broken-in-3-months Tenba bag. If I add that factor to others, the bag is certainly a good value for what I paid.
I admire Lowepro's products, and I hope its representatives read these reviews to make its already strong product lineup even better.
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This is the perfect bag for holding my equipment, which includes 2 camera bodies (Canon EOS 40D and 50D, 3 lenses, (Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS, Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L, and a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8), a Canon 430EX flash, 2 battery chargers, and 2 additional Lowepro compact flash cases, plus a 15.4 inch Dell laptop. My only concern, is if I'll be able to get this on an airplane as carry on luggage. GREAT BAG!Honest reviews on Lowepro Stealth Reporter D650 AW Camera Bag
I had gone to a local camera store to shop for bags first hand before buying one (at a lower price) online. This is one that had caught my eye I like the layout a lot. Lot's of pockets for keeping items separated, I don't like storing everything in the same big pouch. I notice that the separators in the camera/lens area are very thoughtfully made they are easy to move and they also allow access underneath them as well. Some bags I've owned don't. Great build quality METAL clasps, good padding, good material and the weather resistant touches are useful. Very nice touch that there is an all-weather cover hidden in the bottom it doesn't take up room and it is easy to pull out and over the bag in case you need it. Very nice laptop pocket in this bag because it is well padded and to the back (but not all the way to the back) and out-of-the-way. My only dislike about this bag (and the only reason I gave it 4stars) is the handle on the top of the bag (not the large strap), which I don't think is all that well designed. It should have the quick-release clasps so it can be taken off quickly and also so it will swing out of the way easier. Otherwise a great bag with lot's of space that is well built. An added plus for me was the great price I got by buying online instead of at the local store.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Lowepro Stealth Reporter D650 AW Camera Bag
I started out four years ago with a photo style backpack where all the other newspaper guys used shoulder bags and that always made me think do they know something I don't know. My main gripe with my back pack was that I had to take it off and set it on the ground to change camera components which was very time consuming and inconvenient. Jump in time to where I am now. I no longer work in the news field and now work on my own as a freelance photographer where I started doing architectural related contract work. In short my backpack carried over to my new job because it held my lenses but just did not fit the bill with usability. Of course I had to buy an additional hard case style cargo container to carry all the additional gear but having my lenses and flash on or near me is important. Anyways the final straw that broke my trust in the backpack was when my main zipper started acting up which meant it was time to start with something new. My 70-200 fell out of the backpack and onto the concrete just before I got this bag but that's another story. Anyways, started shopping around but nothing caught me eye until I saw this bag. Let me tell you the Stealth Reporter D650 AW bag is big where now that I've seen it I don't think I'd really strap it around my shoulder for an all day, out in the field photo assignment but I could if needed. The main reason I bought a bag like this was so that it could carry the majority of my essential camera gear around where I'd be able to make camera body, lens and flash changes and not be worried about having to set something on the ground or a table like surface and not be protected. The bag is made well and its design has the photographer in mind. Everything seems to be made extra tough like the zippers, bag material, metal strap rings and the main latch in front. I really like how Lowepro adds the extra strap so that you can use it to stabilize the load of the bag by placing it around your waist. I actually rode my sportbike with this bag on and the added strap really helped make this possible. Another aspect that made this bag a great purchase was that I already owned two additional padded lens bags made by Lowepro with the sliplock attachment system but they just ended up barely been used and were stored away in my closet until now. I pulled them out and attached them to this bag as there are specific places to add these types of accessories. This bag for my needs could even be a slight bit bigger as I'm having to add gear constantly where I use all this stuff all the time.What I have in my bag:
1. 5D2 body
2. 50D body w batt grip
3. 70-200mm w/lens hood
4. 15mm fisheye
5. 100 IS macro w/lens hood
4. 16-35mm lens hood stored separately
5. and my extra nice Powerex NiMH battery charger which is large
6. laptop
7. also holds all the other stuff like filters, camera chargers, cables, gels and such
In closing this is a nice product offered by Lowepro. I like to read the professional reviews from others when I purchase/research items so maybe this review will help someone to determine if this is the right bag for their needs.
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