GH3 Biggest photo backpack not bigger than 50x35x20(22) which fits my m43 video gear

[den59]

Dear all,

Here in Europe airline have ugly regulations for hand luggage.
Here are a few (all dimensions in cm):
Lufthansa------55 x 40 x 23
Airberlin--------55 x 40 x 20
Airfrance-------55 x 35 x 25
S7--------------55 x 40 x 20
EasyJet--------50 x 40 x 20
Ryanair--------55 x 40 x 20
Czech Airlines-55 x 45 x 25
Aeroflot--------55× 40 × 20

That's pretty tough...
Sometimes airline stuff check everyone's bags by asking people to fit their bags into a frame of maximum allowed size.
If people are principal you can't argue with them and they don't give a sh@t...
So I am in search for a biggest backpack which fits 50 x 35 x 20.

Here's a gear I must fit (W x H x D):
=======================
1. Gh3+12-40/2.8 + Honu Cage-------18 x 12 x 18
2. Tascam dr-70d-----------------------17 x 4 x 11
3. Audio-Technica AT 875 R
4. Rode VMP
5. HDV-Z96-----------------------------4.5 x 7.5 x 12.7
6. Rycote Invision Video shockmout---8 x 8 x 9
7. collapsable Sony headphones
8. Macbook pro Retina 15''
9. gh3 charger, extra battery, small xlr cabel, etc

Extra gear to be used sometime later:
========================
10. GH3/4-----------------------------14 x 10 x 8
11. Olympus 40-150/2.8-------------8 x 8 x 16
12. Voigtlander Nokton 25/0.95-----6 x 6 x 7
13. Sennheiser wireless lavs


Here is what I found so far :
=================
Tamrac Evolution 8------------------32 x 48 x 22
Tamrac Evolution 6------------------25 x 43 x 19
Lowepro video fastpack 250aw-----33 x 48 x 25
Lowepro video fastpack 350aw-----35 x 49 x 25
Kata DL3in1-33----------------------33 x 47 x 26
Lowepro ProTactic 350aw-----------31 x 43 x 23
Lowepro ProTactic 450aw-----------35 x 48 x 27
Lowepro Flipside400aw--------------30 x 46 x 25
Manfrotto Pro 20---------------------31 x 44 x 20.5 (inner depth 12cm)
Kata 3N1-20 DL----------------------25 x 43 x 21
Manfrotto Advance Traveler---------30 x 48 x 23
Manfrotto Pro Light bug 230PL------35 x 48 x 23
Manfrotto Veloce V-------------------34 x 42 x 20


I think I can get away with 22cm depth, my current backpack CompuDaypack is 21.5 and I never had issues with it.
Thus, among those back which I found so far, the best bet is Tamrac Evolution 8.
The second best bet is Manfrotto Pro 20, yet is it a bit smaller in W and H and I am not sure my macbook will fit there.
Anybody own both to tell if it fits?
Manfrotto Veloce V is what is needed dimension-wise, but it doesn't look any good, IMHO.

Any other good photo backpacks which are around 20cm deep but not too small?

p.s. I live in a small city in Germany and there is literally no good photo-dedicated shops with wide choice of backpacks to try.
So I must buy on-line...


UPDATE 1:
============
Thinktank Airport Commuter--------32×46×21.6 (inner depth 17cm)
============

UPDATE 2:
=======
nailed it down to Thinktank Airport Commuter vs Lowepro Pro Tactic 350
From the spec list
both:
+ can fit two m43 bodies with two Olympus 2.8 zooms attached (GH3+12-40 ~ 15cm deep; GH3+40-150 ~ 21cm deep)
+ are deep enough to fit GH3/4 with battery grip (~14 cm height)

Thinktank Airport Commuter:
Exterior: 31.6 × 45.7 × 21.6cm
Interior: 29.2 × 42.4 × 17.3cm
+ fits 15'' macbook pro
+ has lockable zippers
- does not have any quick access
- bulkier

Lowepro Tactics 350:
Internal Dimensions: 27 x 16 x 38.5 cm
External Dimensions: 30.8 x 23 x 43 cm
+ has 3 quick access spots (top and 2 sidewise)
+ less bulkier (shall work as a city bag)
+ has a proper waist belt which is also removable
+ one can remove all the side pouches etc (customisable)
- 15'' macpro retina will likely fit 33.5cm x 25.5cm x 2.0cm but it will be tight
- Side access zippers are not lockable => invitation to thieves
here is a video on Youtube which shows 2 mirrorless in the bag: http://youtu.be/liHfxgcy3vA?list=LLorMkHMxa6XFOBq6KnE6CCQ


Even though from specs Lowepro has larger external depth (23 vs 21.6), this is not how it
seems to be in reality when I had two bags side by side.

I will bring my essential gear to the shop and give it a try to decide between the two.
Will also try to take couple of snapshots comparing the two...

 

[iHeimo]

Hi!

I am using (with very similar equipment, 2 GH4, Varavon Cage, 4-5 lenses, Sennheisers, HDV-Z96, Retina MacBook Pro 15") the ThinkTank Airport Antidote, which has since been replaced by the Airport Commuter. The Essentials looks good also, but will be too shallow and small sometimes.

My bag is now almost ten years old and still going strong; the quality is top notch, and it is light and spacious for its exterior dimensions.

When traveling in planes with really small overheads, the bag will usually fit when I remove the Computer, or it would fit under the seat.

You can check them out in the bigger professional photo stores in Germany, for instance here.

I am only using ThinkTank bags and belt systems nowadays - for me, they are simply the best!

Liebe Grüße aus Wien,


Heimo

 

[den59]

Hi iHeimo,

Thanks for your advice. Airport Commuter looks good indeed. Will try to find a place around to check it in person.
Do you mind, when you have some spare time, to take a snapshot of your bag loaded?
I struggle to find any pictures of loaded bags with mirrorless cameras, in particular GH4/3 which I am interested in.

Vielen dank!
Mit freundlichen grüßen
Denis.

 

[yslee]

Definitely a Think Tank.

 

[den59]

I updated the post and nailed it down to two bags. Pros/Cons are there as far as I can see.

 

[yslee]

Tactic 350 is a much smaller bag. I really recommend the Think Tank if you want the most space possible.

 

[Bern Caughey]

I'm a sucker for camera bags & have far too many. ThinkTanks, CineBags, Katas, etc, etc, they're all very good, but my most used for travel abroad is InCase's DSLR Pro Pack Camera Backpack.

It's less deep than most others & does not look like a camera bag. Access to the camera compartment is thru the back panel which makes pickpocketing difficult & keeps the back panel from getting soiled when laying it down, but also has a zipper on top that allows quick access to a GH4 (with lens attached), & a couple other lenses, plus another zippered compartment that can hold a lens, or in my case, filter wallets.

It's not as heavily padded as most others, & lacks a waist belt, but I see these as advantages since it reduces weight & bulk. Think less production & more photojournalist's. Makes the bag easier to move thru a crowd & to squeeze into overhead compartments on commuter-sized airlines, especially European.

Used to have a nice heathered version of this backpack, but I damaged mine & they discontinued that style, so currently use the all black version.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...s_corp_cl58068_dslr_pro_pack_nylon_black.html

 

[den59]

So I went with Tactic 450. On inspection in shop it turned out to be almost the same size-wise with Commuter.

Quick load-out of Commuter in the shop:


Quick load-out of Tactic 450 in the shop:


Tactic 450 loaded with Gh3, Tascam dr-70d, LED light, Video Mic Pro, xlr mic and shock mount, headphones and other minor things:


Outside comparison of Commuter with Tactic 450: