Big Prime - Camera Bags & Backpacks

[arbitrage]

anyone have the new Sony 300 2.8 and a big prime? 400 f2.8 or 600 f4? @arbitrage

wondering if it's easier to pack say a 300/600 vs 400/800. I should've done testing when I had both, but alas I didn't.

I have the 300GM and the 600GM now. 400GM was sold to fund the 300GM.

My preferred bag for day to day is the F-stop Ajna with XL ICU. It was very tight to fit both the 600 and 400 into that bag. Camera had to lie flat on top in a lens coat camera pouch which isn't ideal.
Now with the 300GM it has made things better but still not as good as I had hoped. I was hoping I could have the 600 without camera alongside the 300 attached to camera. But it is just a bit too tight width wise because I use a batter grip. Without a grip it would work and still room for the two TC cases on the 300 side. I can fit the 600, 300 and A1 gripped in with the TC cases tucked up around the narrow end of the 600 but everything is detached.
So obviously it is going to pack easier with a 300/600 vs a 400/600. I'm not sure how it would all work out with 300/600 vs 400/800 (I assume 800 is the 800PF and not an 800E).

With other bags like my larger GuraGear bags I have more room left over on the side that would hold the 300 and camera and camera can easily be left attached with hood in shooting position on the 300 and room for the TCs. 600 stays on its own side.

 

[arbitrage]

I splurged on the XL ICU this morning as well when it finally showed back in stock. I don't even have the 60L. I ordered the 50C on the Kickstarter and the XL will fit in it. I just won't be able to use the top access, but I am fine with that because someday I will get the 60L. For me, the NYA line seems the best and with the range of ICU sizes I can use the one bag in a ton of different configurations.

the 60L will probably enter into my gear at some point, but for my needs now, the 50C is just the right size and can be expanded to almost a 60L. We'll see how this plays out in June when my bag comes.

Good luck with yours, I think with the offerings out there.. it was a great choice.

Did you get your 50C yet? If not, have they given you a shipping date now that we are in the last few days of June?
Please post some photos of the XL ICU in it once you get it.
Having a smaller bag than the 60L but still able to fit the XL ICU might tempt me.

 

[wotan1]

I tend to prefer travel by vehicle these days, I have had my fill of air flight misery. This greatly simplifies my packing needs. Living in the Pacific Northwest I can cover Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Idaho or western Montana by vehicle in one day. Trips to Yellowstone/Grand Tetons and the Canadian Rockies are very feasible by vehicle.

I have a custom built McHale backpack that has a front entry and accepts camera insert modules. I use the F Stop XL insert. I added a single insert above it for smaller items, all of that is accessible from the front opening. The top of the pack is expandable for added storage. This pack would not qualify for airline carry-on restrictions.

The main point for this pack is the bag’s backpacking prowess. It is capable of carrying substantial weight in comfort. I can carry pretty much anything I choose with comfort with all weight transferred to the hips.

I also have a GuraGear 30l which I can use for flights. It also doubles as storage for gear I am not carrying in the McHale pack.

During photo trips by vehicle I will transport the 800mm pf lens in its own OEM pack. I like that pack because it provides robust protection to the lens and holds the lens with Z9 attached. Carrying two bags in a vehicle is not a problem.

The McHale pack also has external QD straps that allow me to either carry two lenses and cameras on straps, or a camera on one side and tripod on the other. I can then deploy either camera or tripod without having to remove the pack.

 

[Ashlandish]

The Nya-Evo 36 and 60-C packs in Canyon Red are currently 25% off on the Nya-Evo web site.

 

[SoCalRick]

The Nya-Evo 36 and 60-C packs in Canyon Red are currently 25% off on the Nya-Evo web site.

I'm only seeing the previous gen (older style) bags listed for sale. Do you have a link to other sale prices?

 

[madone]

Did you get your 50C yet? If not, have they given you a shipping date now that we are in the last few days of June?
Please post some photos of the XL ICU in it once you get it.
Having a smaller bag than the 60L but still able to fit the XL ICU might tempt me.

OK. Sorry, yes, the received my 50C on 6/14. I forgot about this thread. I only have had a couple shoots with me using the 50C so far, but I have an extended one this weekend so I should get a better feel for it.

As for how the RCI XL fits.... Well as they warned me, but I did not grasp until seeing it in person. The inner liner separating the compartments is cut to allow up to the Large RCI. So unless you want to cut the inside liner separating the compartments, its not going to fit.

I see a way for them to make future ones compatible...(all they would have to do is leave some extra inner material in there and it would fit) but as of the shipping of my 50C that is not the case. So, so far I have not wanted to cut the liner. Maybe I will someday, but not yet. I have been very happy using the Large RCI in it however.

TLDR; don't buy the 50C to use the XL RCI. If you want to modify it, it will work however.

 

[Ashlandish]

If you add the 36 or 60-C in Canyon Red it will be $315 in the cart. The older version is $299.

FJORD 60-C ECONYL® Adventure Camera Backpack

Fit more in, go even further (C is for Carry-on) Our brand new NYA-EVO Fjord 60-C now features an updated main fabric made of ECONYL® — A strong lightweight nylon fabric made from nylon waste otherwise polluting the Earth. Through the regeneration process the nylon comes out just as strong as...

www.nya-evo.com

 

[nmerc_photos]

I have the 300GM and the 600GM now. 400GM was sold to fund the 300GM.

My preferred bag for day to day is the F-stop Ajna with XL ICU. It was very tight to fit both the 600 and 400 into that bag. Camera had to lie flat on top in a lens coat camera pouch which isn't ideal.
Now with the 300GM it has made things better but still not as good as I had hoped. I was hoping I could have the 600 without camera alongside the 300 attached to camera. But it is just a bit too tight width wise because I use a batter grip. Without a grip it would work and still room for the two TC cases on the 300 side. I can fit the 600, 300 and A1 gripped in with the TC cases tucked up around the narrow end of the 600 but everything is detached.
So obviously it is going to pack easier with a 300/600 vs a 400/600. I'm not sure how it would all work out with 300/600 vs 400/800 (I assume 800 is the 800PF and not an 800E).

With other bags like my larger GuraGear bags I have more room left over on the side that would hold the 300 and camera and camera can easily be left attached with hood in shooting position on the 300 and room for the TCs. 600 stays on its own side.

thanks for the update! is the XL ICU you have, the f-stop PRO XL?

Pro XL - Interchangeable Camera Unit (ICU) - f-stop Gear

Camera Insert for f-stop packs

fstopgear.com

if so, looks like 19" tall x 11.5" wide vs 21.5" tall x 11.8" wide with the Nya Evo XL ICU. that could be enough to make a difference... granted those are exterior dimensions. Nya publishes internal dimensions, but f-stop does not. if the fabric or dividers are different width - that could have an impact as well

I suspect I'll have a 300GM and 600TC shortly and be able to post up if/when I do.

thanks for responding and so quickly!

 

[madone]

The XL I have is the Nya Evo XL RCI

 

[Calson]

I tend to use two bags as well with one for a camera with a tele zoom attached along with the Nikon carry case for the 800mm PF. I do wish that Nikon had made provision for having a second strap but it is still more compact than my Lowepro large lens case and so is what I tend to use. For air travel the Gura Gear Bataflae 32L is as good as it gets but it is not needed for travel by car where a Gura Gear 26L is adequate as a second bag.

Something I started using with my SUV and now with my pickup truck, is a "pet bridge" that attaches to the front and rear seats headrests. This provides a safe way to have cameras and lenses ready for use and not have to worry about them falling to the floor. It also makes it easy to keep valuables out of sight in the passenger area of a vehicle.

What is great about the Gura Gear bags is their use of much thinner padding so more space is available and their exterior pockets so I have less need to open and expose the contents of the main compartment.

 

[arbitrage]

thanks for the update! is the XL ICU you have, the f-stop PRO XL?

Pro XL - Interchangeable Camera Unit (ICU) - f-stop Gear

Camera Insert for f-stop packs

fstopgear.com

if so, looks like 19" tall x 11.5" wide vs 21.5" tall x 11.8" wide with the Nya Evo XL ICU. that could be enough to make a difference... granted those are exterior dimensions. Nya publishes internal dimensions, but f-stop does not. if the fabric or dividers are different width - that could have an impact as well

I suspect I'll have a 300GM and 600TC shortly and be able to post up if/when I do.

thanks for responding and so quickly!

Yes it is the f-stop pro xl ICU I have.

Here are a few photos I snapped this morning. 600GM with my really short hood in shooting position is always on the left. On the right in the first photo is with the 300GM mounted to the A1 without the battery grip. I have a short hood reversed on the 300GM but it fits the same with the stock hood reversed. TC pouches stacked on top of each other.

The 2nd photo shows a way I had the gripped A1 with the lens detached (hood reversed) and the TCs.
The last photo has my short hood in shooting position

I can measure the internal dimensions of the F-stop XL if you'd like. I will say I am stretching the top with the 600...it bulges up into the small top compartment space left over in the Ajna bag.

Included a photo of the 300GM with my custom short hood and Shadow Black Life+Guard skin.

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[vbnut]

Wow, this is a great, informative thread.

My prime isn't quite as big (hopefully Canon announces a fast RF 500mm - prime or zoom - soon), but I've got an Alaska trip in a few weeks, and I don't have anything that will hold my gear (all Canon)

2 EOS R3
RF 100-500 F4.5-7.1 L
RF 1.4x Extender
RF 24-70 F2.8 L
EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II
Extender EF 1.4X III
Extender EF 2X III
Control Ring Mount Adapter EF-EOS R

I just purchased a large f-stop PRO ICU, and managed to fit everything I have in it, but (1) I don't have the 2nd R3 as I'm renting it and there is definitely no space left for it, and (2) the depth & width of the ICE is too big to get in my Osprey Stratos 34 Pack.

I need a pack that I can carry on Alaska Airlines (they say maximum dimension 22" x 14" x 9" or 45 linear inches), as well as use to carry the gear while out "chasing" bears. That said, I don't need the cameras attached to the lenses (although it would be a nice bonus), and don't mind the hoods reversed or detached.

I assume the XL f-stop PRO ICU would accommodate my gear, but it still won't fit in my back, so I would need a carry on backpack that will hold that ICU. Is the f-stop Ajna37L carry-on compliant?
I'm also tempted by the Nya-Evo 60-C and XL RCI, but I'm not sure if the XL RCI fits when the top expansion pocket is collapsed to keep the pack size within the carry on limits.
Finally, I could purchase a bigger non-photo backpack that the XL f-stop PRO ICU would fit in.

Any suggestions/recommendations?

 

[nmerc_photos]

Wow, this is a great, informative thread.

My prime isn't quite as big (hopefully Canon announces a fast RF 500mm - prime or zoom - soon), but I've got an Alaska trip in a few weeks, and I don't have anything that will hold my gear (all Canon)

2 EOS R3
RF 100-500 F4.5-7.1 L
RF 1.4x Extender
RF 24-70 F2.8 L
EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II
Extender EF 1.4X III
Extender EF 2X III
Control Ring Mount Adapter EF-EOS R

I just purchased a large f-stop PRO ICU, and managed to fit everything I have in it, but (1) I don't have the 2nd R3 as I'm renting it and there is definitely no space left for it, and (2) the depth & width of the ICE is too big to get in my Osprey Stratos 34 Pack.

I need a pack that I can carry on Alaska Airlines (they say maximum dimension 22" x 14" x 9" or 45 linear inches), as well as use to carry the gear while out "chasing" bears. That said, I don't need the cameras attached to the lenses (although it would be a nice bonus), and don't mind the hoods reversed or detached.

I assume the XL f-stop PRO ICU would accommodate my gear, but it still won't fit in my back, so I would need a carry on backpack that will hold that ICU. Is the f-stop Ajna37L carry-on compliant?
I'm also tempted by the Nya-Evo 60-C and XL RCI, but I'm not sure if the XL RCI fits when the top expansion pocket is collapsed to keep the pack size within the carry on limits.
Finally, I could purchase a bigger non-photo backpack that the XL f-stop PRO ICU would fit in.

Any suggestions/recommendations?

according to fstops published specs, the Ajna 37L is 23.8" tall x 12.8" wide x 10.1" deep which is oversized on both height and depth. the Nya Evo 60L is also oversized at 22" tall x 13.4" wide x 9.8" deep, but it's only one dimension (depth) and I imagine you'd be able to "squeeze" out that 0.8" if needed.

the benefit of both packs - you can pull the ICU out and you know that will fly. the fstop xl pro icu is 19" tall x 11.5" wide x 7" deep vs 21.5" tall x 11.8" wide x 7.3" deep for the Nya XL ICU.

I have the Nya Evo 60L and can confirm that the XL RCI fits with the top expansion pocket collapsed. the top expansion pocket is completely separate, and it's all just additional space when needed.

Either of the setups would definitely accommodate your gear no problem. I'm biased as I own the Nya Evo, so that would be my choice. the Nya Evo is closer to being carryon compliant, while also being wider. their ICU is taller, wider, and deeper - while still being carryon compliant. all things that are valuable when packing.

FWIW - I will be taking my Nya Evo with me to Brooks Lodge in Katmai, Alaska in September 2025 to shoot the bears. 2x Z9 + either 400TC, 100-400, 35-150, or 2x Z9 + 300GM, 600TC, 70-200. plus both extenders. I know for sure the 400TC setup fits with ease, and I think the second setup will as well. if not, I may have to stash a small lens and/or body on personal item.

 

[groob]

I bit the bullet and got the Nya Evo 60L with XL ICU. I can also attest that it is extremely well made and has no obvious annoyances. I can fit my 600mm f/4 FL E with FTZ II connected to a Z9 on one side of the ICU, and I can fit numerous things on the other, like a 24-70 and 70-200 f/4. Almost pains me to say that it’s worth the money.

 

[nmerc_photos]

I bit the bullet and got the Nya Evo 60L with XL ICU. I can also attest that it is extremely well made and has no obvious annoyances. I can fit my 600mm f/4 FL E with FTZ II connected to a Z9 on one side of the ICU, and I dan fit numerous other things on the other, like a 24-70 and 70-200 f/4. Almost pains me to say that it’s worth the money.

cmon now man, you can't tease the people like that

WE NEED PICS!!!

 

[groob]

Ha. We’ve got a 2 year old and a 6 week old running around. I’ll see what I can do.

Well, I suppose the 6 week old isn’t really running around. He’s more akin to a pet rock, but he does require a lot of attention that could otherwise go to packing a bag and taking photos of it.

 

[Winston Churchill (Sir)]

Ha. We’ve got a 2 year old and a 6 week old running around. I’ll see what I can do.

Well, I suppose the 6 week old isn’t really running around. He’s more akin to a pet rock, but he does require a lot of attention that could otherwise go to packing a bag and taking photos of it.

I think you might be banned packing a 2 year old and a six week old in the bag

 

[Thern]

Being a grandpa with 9 of those critters I can certainly understand why one would do that occasionally LOL

 

[ssheipel]

I think this is the video? He's a welcome source of sanity in this materialistic world of yet another photography accessory, which doesn't work well enough. I also learned the hard way where/how almost all backpacks fail for wildlife photography. Finally I realized the best way forward is to focus on the ICUs and fit the optimum bag to the ICU(s) for the specific trip and its gear system.

Morten H learned invaluable lessons in his military service with Danish Special Forces in Greenland. So I was not surprised he prefers a Bergan 130, which were/are among the very best packs for carrying heavy loads. The early models were infamous from service in the southern African bushwars; and notably with C Sqn SAS (Rhodesia) who deployed mostly by nighttime HALO parachuting: with the very heavy Bergan swinging on its D-rings off a lanyard, so it hit the ground first. An ex-army Bergan is a valuable possession for a lifetime of outdoor use.

He mentions using an ICU in the Bergan (so it becomes a camera pack); assuming that's the XL so it fits the 600 with camera attached?

 

[fcotterill]

He mentions using an ICU in the Bergan (so it becomes a camera pack); assuming that's the XL so it fits the 600 with camera attached?

Yes, the fstop XL ICU fits a 600 (as best I recall). I use the Telemaster ICU in a fstop Sukha

How to choose the right f-stop Camera Insert: Compatibility & Fitting Guide - f-stop Gear

The heart of each Camera Pack is the Internal Camera Unit which carries your kit. The Camera Inserts are interchangeable and each pack is compatible with various Camera Inserts.

fstopgear.com

 

[boviscopophobic]

Could anyone with the Nya-Evo XL RCI comment on the internal depth? They quote it at 6.3 inches but I am hoping that in reality it is a bit deeper than that. I am currently using an f-stop Pro XL ICU which is often just a touch shallow for my needs, at 6.5" internal depth. Items like the Z9 viewfinder hump or the 600 TC lens hood end up protruding a bit.

 

[Wrogu]

Could anyone with the Nya-Evo XL RCI comment on the internal depth? They quote it at 6.3 inches but I am hoping that in reality it is a bit deeper than that. I am currently using an f-stop Pro XL ICU which is often just a touch shallow for my needs, at 6.5" internal depth. Items like the Z9 viewfinder hump or the 600 TC lens hood end up protruding a bit.

Toy will have to loosen the foot and slide it to the side if you do not want to strech the backpack.

 

[SoCalRick]

Could anyone with the Nya-Evo XL RCI comment on the internal depth? They quote it at 6.3 inches but I am hoping that in reality it is a bit deeper than that. I am currently using an f-stop Pro XL ICU which is often just a touch shallow for my needs, at 6.5" internal depth. Items like the Z9 viewfinder hump or the 600 TC lens hood end up protruding a bit.

On mine I've got almost 7 inches of depth up to the Zipper.

Here are some photos of it empty, and with the Z 600 TZ (with Zemlin hood) inside.

NYA-EVO XL RCI Interior:

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600 TC w/Zemlin Hood

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Side view of 600 TC inside NYA-EVO XL RCI

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[nmerc_photos]

On mine I've got almost 7 inches of depth up to the Zipper.

Here are some photos of it empty, and with the Z 600 TZ (with Zemlin hood) inside.

NYA-EVO XL RCI Interior:

600 TC w/Zemlin Hood

Side view of 600 TC inside NYA-EVO XL RCI

Thanks Rick! Can you fit a Z9 attached to that 600TC in there?

What else do you usually carry on the other side?

 

[SoCalRick]

Thanks Rick! Can you fit a Z9 attached to that 600TC in there?

What else do you usually carry on the other side?

Yes, the Z9 fits with just a smidge to spare when attached to the 600 TC (see photos).

One of my gear combinations is to also carry the Z8, 24-70 F2.8 and the 100-400 F4.5-5.6 (see photos).

View from the top looking down. Z9 attached to 600 TC (with the top of the 100-400 F4.5-5.6 to its right (photo bottom)).
The eyecup of the Z9 appears to extend over the top of the insert here, but the bag actually has more expansion room built-in as you zip it closed, so it ends up fitting just fine (also see last photo in the series).

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Possible interior gear combo - 600 TC w/Z9 attached (but out of view towards the top of the insert (photo right)), Z8 attached to 24-70 F2.8, 100-400 F4.5-5.6 (unattached). A 70-200 F2.8 would also fit in place of the 100-400.
Note: The gear orientation in the photo is just for illustration purposes. I probably would organize things differently (to help with load balance/protection) in actual use.
Also note that the Z8 could just as easily be attached to the 100-400 vice the 24-70.

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In this photo I am trying to show how much slack/expansion room there is when closing the zipper. There is plenty of room to comfortably zip it over the top of the Z9 while attached to the 600 TC.
It's hard to explain, but there is essentially some extra material that is folded over a bit next to the zipper. This is what provides the extra expansion volume as you zip the insert up.
You can see what I am trying to describe in the top and bottom curled over areas next to the zipper on the right side of this photo (and also in the first photo in this series).

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