Tamrac Anvil 17 Camera Backpack for Photographers, DSLR Camera Bag with Laptop Compartment, Professional Photography Backpack, Camera Bag with Tripod Holder, Camera Carrying Case, Black

Like most photographers, I've owned a wide variety of backpacks and bags over the years, always searching for the perfect one. While perfection is elusive, this the the closest thing I've found in a backpack, and it's currently my favorite bag. Of course, what works for me may not work for you, but here's what makes this bag stand out for me:-Quality construction. The pack is well built (as I'd expect from Tamrac) with thoughtful touches like corded zipper pulls and a sturdy grab handle on top.-Comfortable to carry. The straps comfortably distribute weight across the shoulders, and the waist belt can be removed if (like me) you prefer to be without it. If you do like to use the waist strap, you'll find this one is wide and well padded. I'd be comfortable wearing it on long hikes, but for day-to-day use I rarely want it so it's nice to be able to leave the extra bulk behind.-Thoughtful Tripod Carry System. If you carry a tripod regularly, you may be initially put off by the somewhat unusual configuration, but after getting used to it I've found it superior to anything else I've used. The large bottom pocket doubles as a foothold for the tripod, meaning your not going to want to carry small items in that pocket while you're carrying a tripod. I haven't found this to be a huge sacrifice. The advantage is that you have abundant space to anchor your tripod's feet. It's easy to fit two of the legs into the pocket to keep the tripod stable - none of the wobbling around you get when the tripod is hanging on by a single foot in one of those tiny tripod pockets that are typical. Then there are two straps that keep the tripod secured to the front of the bag, and a third strap at the top of the bag that holds the tripod head close to the pack. It's the most secure system I've found on a backpack.-Space. The "slim" designation in the name means the bag is only about 4 inches deep, so it's not ideal if you're carrying a gripped full frame body (though the bag isn't rigid so you could make it fit). My Canon 5DSR fits comfortably with a bulky L-bracket attached, and there's room inside for an assortment of lenses. I've currently got mine loaded with the 5DSR, a 70-200mm f2.8, 11-24mm f4, a Tamron 150-600mm, and a 50mm. The bag is tall enough to accommodate the 5DSR with the Tamron 150-600mm attached. There's also room for a 15" laptop in the front compartment.I do have a few minor issues with the bag. Since the it opens in the front, you'll need to release the top tripod strap before opening it when you're carrying a tripod. It also means you need to set the bag down on it's back to open (on the side that you'll later have against your body) which is less than ideal if you don't have a clean place to put the bag down. The mesh padding on the back, which helps keeps you cool when you're carrying it, tends to pick up sand like a sponge if you put the bag down at the beach. It cleans up easy enough, but it's worth noting if you're a regular beach-goer.If you want a low-profile backpack, need to carry a pretty complete selection of lenses, and don't need to carry a gripped body, this is one of the best choices out there.

I'm quite picky about my camera bags. After many years, I really haven't found the perfect bag to meet all my needs. Foremost, I want to carry quite a bit of gear as efficiently as possible, with the ability to convert from a short-walk day pack to a full-blown hiking rig. I want something well made, with zippers that work, and some weatherproofing. Finally, style counts, and I prefer something that doesn't scream "expensive camera gear", but rather looks like an ordinary backpack. My last big pack was the Lowe Trekker 350 AW. This pack was overkill, with full weatherproofing and covers. It was hard to open, and took forever to reach your gear.The new Anvil line from Tamrac caught my eye. The numbering system on this line is very, very confusing, with the the Slim 11 and 15, and the 17, 23, 27 and "super 25". First, the numbers have nothing to do with size. It would take a full page to describe the sizes of each, but suffice to say, its all very confusing.So, The Slim 15 is actually among the larger packs, and I found it holds my DSLRs just fine. Construction is first rate. Sturdy, quality fabrics, ventilated straps, lots of support, etc. The divider system is fantastic, among the best of any bag I've used. It's all removable and customizable, and the 2 center dividers are stiff while the others are nicely padded, with thick velcro tabs that stay put. I was able to configure my bag to hold 2 Nikon DSLRs (D7100 and D750), a 200-500 Nikon Zoom (yes, it's a big lens, see picture), 5 other lens including the big 24-120 f4, a full-sized flash, tripod head, and a spare grip.That's a lot of gear in this bag. The outer pockets are highly functional, including easy room for my MacBook Pro 15". I really like that the waist band is removable, and stores easily in the laptop sleeve. This bag is very svelte when the waist band and tripod straps are removed, and easily fits in overhead storage on airlines.In sum, this is the best camera backpack I've found so far. My only suggestions would be the addition of zipper pockets on the sides, and maybe a top-zipper to allow removal of a camera without opening the whole front. Otherwise, this bag is pretty much spot-on.

I would have rated it a perfect 5-star if not because that it does not have a side net pocket for holding water bottle, that my old Tamrac bag has.Other than that, it's a worthy upgrade from my old Tamrac bag that I have been using for last 10 years and still solid. The main reasons for my upgrade:1) It has a strap to allow me carry a tripod around which my old bag does not have.2) It can accommodate two d-SLR cameras, bodies and two lenses each. The main compartment is easily configurable to adjust to the size of lens and cameras.3) It has waist strap that looks bulky but it helps distribute the weight to make you feel not heavily loaded.Tamrac is known for its solid build and durability, and this one is no exception. Feel very solid and can last forever.Only wish there is a side net bottle holder. Or is there an accessory I can buy to attach to it?

Bag is quite good, BUT don't buy if you like your plastic pockets to be of the non-degrading type. I've had mine for only 2 years and all the plastic zip pockets have degraded to the point where they are no longer see-thru. When I tried to contact company they didn't want to know and came up with the lame excuse that this is known issue but they put a warning label in the bag to tell you this. So buyer beware. No customer service!