Watch as I load the gear from my smaller bag into my new Lowpro Fastpack 350. I was using a smaller bag that I was starting to outgrow. Love the new bag it answered all my issues I was having with my smaller bag.
After around one month of using this bag extensively, I can say that I have found it to be almost exactly what I would have designed for myself! I have taken this bag with me on long commercial flights with several connections, in the car for short as well as extended trips, on four seater prop planes for aerial shoots, etc. It always also contains my 17" Macintosh laptop as well, plus two extra batteries for the laptop. I have packed this bag in "default" mode relatively full, with all the gear I would likely need for a trip for BOTH the laptop as well as the D300, the extra 105 mm Macro Nikkor lens, two lens hoods, the SB800 flash, additional filters, batteries, etc. Yes, it is of course heavy (by my choice, of course), but the key is that it can and does handle it all well. The camera is very readily accessible (albeit not with the lens hood, which would require my opening the side compartment for access), I have the comfort of knowing that I have almost everything on me that I might need for the shoot, and the portability of a very sturdy and well built backpack that fits superbly when completely cinched around the shoulders, chest, and waist. The only reason that I gave it four and not five stars is because try as I might I have not found a way to attach even my smallest tripod (except for the table top version, which is indeed already in the bag) to the bag to take with me. The cost to step up to the model that accepts the tripod is rather steep, whereas it should have been a rather simple addition to a bag of this dimensions to attach a tripod hooking mechanism. Nevertheless, despite this drawback, this is the bag that I want with me for 99% of my travels and which has become not only my #1 camera bag but frankly my #1 (17") laptop bag as well, now that I can take my laptop and camera equipment with me at all times. Great job, Lowepro!
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I purchased the Fastpack 350 as a replacement for my Lowepro SlingShot 200 AW so most of this review will be a comparison between the two. After owning the SS 200 for around a year, I found that I quickly out grew it and I ultimately felt that moving up to the SS 300 or SS 350 would not do the trick. The SlingShot series is good if you do not have a lot of the extras like a filter pouch, lens hoods, spare batteries, chargers, etc., but if you have any of that gear a SS simply does not work out...and forget about carrying a book or anything else with a Slingshot.
One other aspect of the Slingshot that I ended up not liking was the single strap sling approach. At first I thought that was going to be a great feature but it was cumbersome and awkward for me...this Fastpack is much easier to simply take one arm out of the strap and swing around. That is a more natural approach and works much better in my opinion.
This bag seems to be a better fit for my needs and easily holds my Canon 50d with battery grip, 28-135mm, 10-22mm, and 50mm lens. I even have 1-2 lens spaces open depending on what is mounted and there is still room for more. I can see how this bag will hold a 70-200mm (if I am fortunate enough to aquire one).
The top storage area on the Fastpack 350 has plenty of room for the extras mentioned above and there is still room for a book and snacks on a trip. The mesh side pocket is nice, but it doesn't feel that sturdy so I will be curious how it holds up over time. The laptop compartment is very well padded and makes this bag a true must have travel companion.
As far as the size, I would consider this a large camera backpack, but it is not too large as some have suggested. The materials are good, but it does seem that the SlingShot was a bit more refined (i.e. this bag does not have a microfiber cloth attached at the side opening which was a great touch on the SS and the memory card holders on the main compartment flap are not as nice as the SS and there are two less spaces for cards which seems odd for a bigger bag?) The zippers and clasps are good, but the SS just seems like it was built with better materials.
Also, it always seems as though every Lowepro bag I have purchased (this makes #4) is missing that one thing, but this one has a couple. I am disappointed that there is not an AW cover built in...that should be automatic on a higher end, premium brand product like this. Also, why is there no tripod attachment? Give me those two features and a couple more sliplock attachments and this could be that elusive perfect bag.
All in all this is a good bag and a better alternative than the SlingShot series if you like the side entry and extra storage space.
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The idea is great. I am a hiker and I always bring my DSLR when hiking.
I always wanted a way I can quickly take out the camera from my backpack
and vice versa. I thought that this product might be the one that fulfill
my wish. When I tried at home after I received it, it looked great.
I can put all the necessary items for a day hike as well as my DSLR and
a couple of lenses. The real caveat happened when I hiked in reality.
I could not close the zipper or open it while I was wearing my backpack.
Sometimes opening was OK, but when I put my camera back and tried to
close it, the zipper wouldn't work. So, I had to put off my backpack anyway,
and then I had to use both of my TWO hands to close it. Sometimes, it's
the other way. I had to put off the backpack and then open it to get the
camera, but then closing was OK. And sometimes, I have problem both in
opening and closing. But I was never able to successfully open and close
with one hand while I was wearing the backpack.
So, for me, it is exactly the same as before. I have to put off my
backpack anyway. And I was wondering then why I bought this one ... ?
Thankfully, I bought this from Amazon, and I am returning this.
I really wanted it to work for me. Sadly it isn't. And I am looking forward to
a better one which is actually working while hiking.
I examined the zipper to see whether there is something wrong in the zipper.
And I compared it with the other products' zipper that are very smooth.
I found that LowePro's critical flaw is in its low quality small zippers.
Other products' zippers were much larger, very strong, and solid, as well as
very smooth. The zippers in LowePro are not. They are rather too small.
Not smooth. And it looked so weak that you will never know when the zippers
would be broken.
And hopefully the one that can hold tripod also (This one doesn't take the
tripod. There are videos and pictures here and there that show the trick
with which you can attach the tripod on this backpack. But trust me. If you
hike and you use such method, it will never work. And you will regret in the
middle of the mountain that you brought the tripod in that way).
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Lowepro Fastpack 350 (Black)
This is my third camera bag from Lowepro and as with the two previous, this is a very well designed product with excellent usability and build quality. This bag really meets my needs for a travel camera bag. It allows me to keep my EF 70-200 f/2.8L lens, with lens hood reversed, on my 40D and easily access it out the side opening. My only thing I would change on this bag would be that the padded storage spots for your additional lenses are a little on the small side. I have room for my EF 24-105 f/4L lens, but it won't fit with the lens hood reversed on it. I have to store the lens hood separately. Otherwise, it really meets my needs.
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I sold my Gura Gear Kiboko 30L bag as I downsized the amount of equipment I carry. I loved the Kiboko 30L and still do for its quality materials and smooth zippers. I bought a Batafle 26L and received it the other day and had to return it. The zippers were quite hard to open and close and not smooth at all. The material felt cheaper than the durable sail cloth material of the Kiboko. The inside zippers were nice and smooth but I just couldn't get the outside zippers to zip smoothly. On one side where the handle is, the zipper wasn't sown straight. For the price, I expect something stellar. Was a disappointment.
