[TENBA Shootout, medium size, black.]
Let me first say that just like there is no perfect camera, there is also no perfect sling-bag (or any kind of a gear-bag for that matter). Everything depends on your particular situation. Sling-bags are either too small, too big, too difficult to switch between carrying and shooting modes, or their shape may be too awkward to accomodate your stuff in a logical and convenient way. So, mine is just a personal opinion that may or may not apply to your particular needs. Also, nobody should compare the functionality, convenience and comfort of use of sling-bags in relation to photo-backpacks or shoulder bags. All three have different uses and are completely different from one another.
Over the last seven years, I have bought and used 5 sling-bags from 3 different manufacturers (TAMRAC Velocity 6 and 7, LOWE PRO Slingshot 200AW and 300AW and TENBA Shootout Medium).
Tenba has been the last one on my list of preferences mainly because it looks quite awful in all product shots I have ever seen, both in print and online. But not long ago, I read a Shutterbug review and it made me think again about the Tenba sling-bag.
What I found out as a result of comparing all three systems, was that for small compact or hybrid camera there is no bad choice. All three systems (in appropriate sizes) work similarly well. In case of a DSLR system, though, things do not look the same.
The shape of Tamrac Velocity series does not allow to fully utilize the size of the bag for fitting an adeqate amount of gear. But it is certainly the best choice for street photography, when you don't need to carry a lot of gear with you. And it looks best of the 3 systems.
Lowe Pro Slingshot is not bad, but the difference between consecutive sizes is too big and changing from carrying to shooting mode is quick enough only if you carry the bag all the time in a manner appropriate for shooting mode (low on the back). In the aesthetics department, Lowe Pro seems very conservative and plain. The all-weather cover is implemented in the best possible way.
Tenba not only looks much better in real life than in product shots, but it also offers the most intelligent and pro-oriented design, with more useful features than the other two. Tenba represents to me the best combination of size-to-capacity ratio, ease of access to the equipment and ease of change between carrying and shooting modes, quality of materials/craftsmanship and aesthetics. It is the only one of the three systems that allows a configuration for carrying (and very easy access to) a body with a long lens attached to it, has a built-in facility for secure strapping of a small tripod and has a built-in 'bungee'-cord holder for a water bottle. The only negative I can find in its design is the fact that a rain/snow cover is stashed in such a way, that it takes up almost all the space in an outside pocket, preventing the use of that pocket for anything else.
So, Tenba Shootout became my sling-bag of choice, especially for occasions when I shoot landscapes and outdoors portraits.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
This is one of four bags that I have in my collection. This is the perfect bag to take on short trips into the city or on a nature walk into the woods. It lets you pull out your camera, while you are still walking, and shoot your shot and put it back into the bag. I use to miss shots while traveling but now I am able to get them and still have my equipment protected. The zipper seem to seal themselves shut to protect from water. I carry one camera with lens, second camera body, flash w/GF difuser, 3 lenes and most important it holds a tripod. None of the other sling bags that I found hold a tripod.
Best Deals for Tenba Shootout Sling Bag - Medium
This bag does perform as advertised very nicely. I do find it's not as comfortable as a regular back-pack, but it does offer quicker access. Reasonable trade-off.
I carry a D90 w/lense, and two additional lenses and accessories. There is no good way to carry filters. Some padded pockets would be nice, maybe there's after-market available?
**I had my top-handle pull off the bag on the flight to Hawaii. An email sent to Tenba was answered within an hour to my cell phone, and a new bag was overnited to my hotel. They did ask for a CC number that would be discarded once they recieved my old bag back. (also sent pre-paid shipping label for return)
Anything this bag lacks, the company made up for with superb customer service!
Honest reviews on Tenba Shootout Sling Bag - Medium
This bag is very nice. There are some good things about it and other that can be improved. Let's start with the good ones. First the bag is very spacious for the size of it. This means that you control where the things go. One of the great things about this bag is that you can customize it however you want depending on the equipment that you want to carry. The design of the bag is very ingenious. It allows you to have easy and fast access to your camera and you don't have to take off the bag to do this. I have no problems carrying lenses, batteries, charger, memory media, flashes, remotes control, tripods or monopods. The bag is very comfortable when it is worn the right way. Here are some negative things that can be improved. Sometimes I need to take the bag off many times when I am shooting so instead of putting it on the way it is suppose to be I just place it on my shoulder (left shoulder that is, it will not stay on the right shoulder) and this position is a little uncomfortable. So really there is only one comfortable way to carry this bag and that is across your torso (the right way to carry it) if you are this type of photographer that needs to take off the bag continuously for shooting (that is to go on the ground or through a small place) I would recommend to get another bag that has two straps and can be easily placed on any shoulder, stay there, and be comfortable. Another thing that can be improved is the side access to the camera, in order to use this great feature you need to have a specific lens mounted on the camera, if you have a mid range lens the camera might not fit in this compartment limiting you on the easy fast access to the camera while walking or hiking. There are other compartments where you can place the camera with a bigger lens mounted but you will not have the easy access that the bag offers. However, I think this is a minor thing and it will not be of much concern (at least for the kind of shooting I do). However, this bag is one of the few that you can carry your camera and a high power (very long and big) lens. You can take all the things from the inside and it will carry this big lens with your camera. I just think this is a great plus for this bag (considering it is a medium size bag). Finally another great thing about this bag is that the zippers are covered with rubber making it water resistant. So if suddenly starts raining you will have time to pull out the raincoat and cover your bag (this is supplied when you buy the bag). The bag can get a little wet and the things inside will not get wet thanks to this rubber on the zippers. Overall, I think this is a great bag for an amateur photographer (like me). It will hold numerous lenses and accessories with ease and the best thing is that you can customize it depending on your photography needs
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Tenba Shootout Sling Bag - Medium
Recently I ordered first the Tenba Shootout (medium) and later the Kata 3in1-20 sling bags. A friend had recently picked up the LowePro AWS sling, which I also tried out; I liked the lowepro, but the top compartment was too small.
First some thoughts overall, both Tenba and Kata are really solid, well put-together bags. Some notes on each follow...
TENBA Shootout
very solid, pretty stylish, but rather bulky
very stiff/rigid; for me, this was not a good thing as I wanted a less bulky bag
roomy top compartment
zippers were quite stiff; taking the camera out was slow, required both hands and quite a bit of force on the zippers
wide strap was very comfortable around the shoulders (though I didn't wear it for more than an hour on my short trek); secondary strap secured the bag against the body quite well
very easy to "swing about" to access the camera
interior access was fantastic, as the entire back unzips
interior dividers OK, but not as good as the KATA's
side strap for tripod and back bungee for misc stuff handy (though securing a tripod on the side strap seemed kinda iffy, as it would tend to slide down & out)
KATA 3in1-20
very stylish bag, not much smaller but much less "bulky" than the Tenba
roomy top compartment
one-handed "unclip & zip-back" to reveal the camera was fantastic, very easy to use!
interior access was just OK, as only half the bag unzips (not a huge issue, imo)
nice interior dividers, and the neon yellow makes it very hard to lose something!
the top side pockets were very useful; lacking on the Tenba
harder than the Tenba to "swing about" to access the camera
the main issue w/the Kata was the sling strap; it is much less wide then the Tenba, and so in sling mode wasn't nearly as comfortable; in fact, during a short trek and w/the bag only moderately loaded (D90, + three lenses), I found myself adjusting the bag quite often to relieve slight discomfort on my shoulder. (didn't use the bag in backpack mode, though presumably this would be more comfy)
FWIW, the gear I stowed in the bags was a D90 with 18-200, 35-70/2.8 and 85/1.4 lenses, along with some camera miscellany (SD, batteries, cleaner, etc).
The Tenba bag went back; the Kata 3in1 bag (as I've already taken it on one trip) I'm going to try to sell locally.
