Customer Ratings: 
List Price: $199.99
Sale Price: $84.99
Today's Bonus: 58% Off
this stores a d7000 with 18-200, tokina 100, 50 prime and sb700. also stores cables, spare batteries, cards, cloths, batteries, chargers... a few documents and a tablet. good base construction to try protect from puddles, and rain cover for those not great weather days. a cool feature is the top zip to be able to quickly pull out the camera. they have this interesting magnet tab to protect the zip from getting accidentally pulled and keeping the top exposed. cool. also can be put on the handle of a suitcase.
this is the perfect travel bag for my gear... and I have been looking for a bag like this for a LONG time.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
I have been looking for a mid range "carry-all" for some time now, and I just happened to see this at a local store. I'd never heard of Vanguard before, but the quality was really nice and it was the perfect size for what I wanted to have portable on foot:
body w/lens
extra lens
2 speedlites
a few filters
extra batteries
random stuff
The velcro dividers & pads are well made, unlike many other brands on the market which feel flimsy. The bag also feels very sturdy and well padded, and the rubber feet are sturdy as well to keep your bag in an upright position even when fully packed.
I also went with this bag over other styles because:
-it isn't as awkward as a sling style bag, and you can wear it over either shoulder with more comfort
-the camera is much more accessible than a backpack
-is more maneuverable than a rolling attache-style bag
-holds more than a waist bag (such as Lowepro's outback)
True, it gets a bit uncomfortable fully loaded with a tripod to boot, but that's the beauty of just offloading what you don't need. But for me, this is the perfect size for a very well-rounded shooting experience without feeling limited as to what I can bring with me.
-------UPDATE 3/2013---------
Still going strong, no issues whatsoever with this bag. It's awesome as a walkaround bag if you need to carry more than one lens or a speedlite or two. Very comfortable if you don't stuff it completely full. All the stitching, velcro, snaps... all holding up perfectly.
One great feature I didn't mention in the original review is that even though this messenger has a traditional folding flap, there is also a hidden zipper up top so you can do a quick unzip & retrieve the camera quickly if needed.
Best Deals for Vanguard Up-rise 38 Zoom Expandable Camera Bag - Black
I have been looking for the proverbial perfect camera bag for decades, ever since I got two additional lenses (Kiron 28-105 and Kiron 70-200 zooms) for my Nikon FM2 (in mid `80s).
Having bought a couple camera bags in various styles and sizes, I realized that there was no such thing as the perfect camera bag. Make it even worse, I was addicted to collecting camera for several years and tried by bring multiple cameras/lenses to the field every time I go out. Then, my aging process seemed to accelerate in the past few years, my body and spine started to protest to the hefty weight on my shoulder and back. Hence, I was looking for the perfect camera bag again. This time, I tried to be realistic to myself.
From my perspective, the camera bag has 2 basic designs (these are my terminologies): 1) horizontal design the depth of the bag is about 6 to 8 inches such that all lenses can be seen and fetched from the top easily. The main drawbacks are that you need to put a (D)SLR body with a medium or large lens attached horizontally. Hence, this combo will take much of the useful space. The 2nd type is "Vertical." You can put a body with a medium or large lens attached and put the combo vertically in the bag. It is very convenient to take the rig and shoot. The drawback is that some smaller lenses will be stacked vertically within the depth of the bag. Therefore, nothing is perfect. It all depends upon what you need.
I was looking for a vertical bag that can accommodate 2 medium-sized (D)SLR bodies and each has a lens attached, plus maybe 2 additional lenses and a flash. Having read every possible review on medium to large shoulder bag in the Internet, I picked this not-so-well-known Vanguard Up-Rise 38 expandable shoulder bag.
First, I tested its maximum capacity (without a laptop, since I will not lug a laptop to the field) without the expansion. I can easily put the following combos into the bag: (1) Nikon F100 (film) attached with a Nikkor AF-S 70-300mm VR, (2) Nikon D7000 attached with Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8D AF ED, and (3) Nikon SB-600 flash. I still have some space to spare. See the attached pictures that I uploaded. They fit very well vertically in the bag albeit, the Nikon F100 body is pushing to the limits of the bag. I only wish the front latch can be a little bit longer.
The upper portion of some removable dividers has additional flap on the top; it is very handy to cushion, say, 2 (D) SLR bodies.
It is comfortable to carry 2 bodies and 4 lenses (still heavy) and to walk around for several hours. I wish it has an external holder to accommodate a water bottle. Overall, it is an excellent shoulder camera bag.
Honest reviews on Vanguard Up-rise 38 Zoom Expandable Camera Bag - Black
I bought this bag about a year ago because I travel alot for work. I usually bring my camera with me along with a work laptop. This bag is the perfect solution! I have packed my Nikon D90, kit 18-105, 50mm 1.4, Tokina 11-16, and SB 600 along with a Dell 15 inch computer on several trips. It is also big enough to carry my Nikon 70-200 VRII attached. It looks very professional especially when traveling and wearing a suit and tie. It doesnt attract alot of attention or scream, "Ive got $3000 worth of camera equipment in here along with a laptop".
The bag is very well made with several neat features like the top zipper that allows you to access your camera without exposing everything in your bag to the world. This was my first vanguard product and I am going to purchase the sling bag Vanguard Up-rise 43 Zoom Expandable Sling Camera Bag (Black) very soon. I started doing some concert photography and it looks perfect for that environment. If you are looking for a messenger style bag for your camera, your search is over.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Vanguard Up-rise 38 Zoom Expandable Camera Bag - Black
We just got through taking this camera bag for a week trip to California, so we really put it through its paces. The bag is lightweight and has many pockets to put accessories in. One of the things I like best about the bag is that is has a zipper opening across the top, so you can get your camera through this slot instead of having to open the flap. GREAT IDEA! I investigated a lot of bags, but this topped the list with style, size, weight and features. We love it.
