Imago as a computer & camera bag?

[ltsching]

I am looking for a compact messenger-style bag for my traveling. I am hoping that the Imago will complement my Aeronaut or Tri-star. Would the Imago be large enough to carry a 13" laptop (in the Soft Cell) and a smallish dSLR camera such as the Panasonic G1? It'd be great if I can squeeze an extra lens in the side pocket, but I doubt it. I prefer a messenger-styled bag over a backpack simply because I want to be able to get the camera out quickly. Thanks.

[BPritchard]

The Buzz may work for you. It's made to slide easily around to the front for access.
Extra lens may fit in the water bottle slot.
You won't have as much protection as a camera bag or brain cell so you have to be careful.

[Akilae]

I've used the Imago to carry a 10 inch netbook + DSLR (Pentax ist DS2 + 40mm pancake lens), I think I also had a paperback, a 21mm pancake, and 16oz Nalgene in there, and it got awfully crowded and hard to access stuff.

[Jenne]

I've actually fit my 17" Dell 620, with an extended battery, into my Imago, so I can't see why it wouldn't hold a smaller laptop and small DSLR. I don't think a lens would fit into the side pockets, but it might fit into one of the front pockets.

[pretzelb]

Last year I tried to use the Imago to carry my Canon DSLR and I wasn't happy with it. I didn't like having an object like the DSLR in a bag messenger style because of how it dug into my back or side. I also did not like having expensive electronics bulging in a bag that I was swinging around. My camera survived but I kept worrying that my camera would catch the edge of wall or table when I went to swing the bag. This was just a preference though.

I wouldn't think you could get a lens in a side pocket. IIRC my BlackBerry Curve and my iPod Touch won't even fit in there because of the way it tapers. I could be wrong though.

[ltsching]

Thanks all, for the comments and suggestions. So, which messenger bag would you recommend to carry a 13" notebook and a smallish DSLR from TB? I have the older Mountainsmith Network bag and it should work, but was entertaining a TB solution. Personally, I am not crazy about the Ego or the SuperEgo. (sorry!)

[maverick]

Thanks all, for the comments and suggestions. So, which messenger bag would you recommend to carry a 13" notebook and a smallish DSLR from TB? I have the older Mountainsmith Network bag and it should work, but was entertaining a TB solution. Personally, I am not crazy about the Ego or the SuperEgo. (sorry!)

hi itsching,

i think you should be able to carry a 13" notebook and smallish dslr in the imago. which dslr and lens do you have?

my wife just got an imago (that she won't see until i go up to toronto this saturday). i don't think she'd mind if i took a couple of pictures with my macbook and camera inside .

[ltsching]

Thanks, M. i was thinking about a MacBook Air (in the forthcoming Cache) and either a Panasonic G1 or the Olympus EP-1 (or a rumored new micro 3/4 camera).

[maverick]

Thanks, M. i was thinking about a MacBook Air (in the forthcoming Cache) and either a Panasonic G1 or the Olympus EP-1 (or a rumored new micro 3/4 camera).

hi ltsching,

yes, i'm very interested in the rumored new mciro 4/3's camera as well!

in this video, you will see the imago with a macbook inside of the soft cell - so your macbook air inside the cache will occupy a little less space, an olympus ep-1 camera with the kit lens, and a few other items to show you what else you could carry in your imago.

the panasonic g1 will be slightly larger because of the viewfinder and built in flash, but it should still sit handsomely inside of the imago.

disclaimer: this video was a quick, off the cuff, without proper voiceover, not properly edited, just to quickly show you these items inside of the imago. we'll do another video of the imago soon.

let me know if you have any questions.

[ltsching]

Excellent video, M. It shows exactly how I would have liked to use it, a compact messenger bag that can hold the Macbook Air and a small DSLR. I also have a TB small Cafe Bag and a earlier version Ristretto, but they're too small. In the video, you seem to have a tough time taking the soft cell out, is it that tight of a fit? Would the Cache be easier for removal? Also, can you comment on the difference between Cordura and Ballistic? I am looking at the Ballistic Steel/Cork/Wasabi combination. Thank you for your always useful comment and video.

[maverick]

In the video, you seem to have a tough time taking the soft cell out, is it that tight of a fit? Would the Cache be easier for removal? Also, can you comment on the difference between Cordura and Ballistic? I am looking at the Ballistic Steel/Cork/Wasabi combination. Thank you for your always useful comment and video.

hi ltsching,

it's not the soft cell being a tight fit in the imago - the soft cell goes easily in and out. the 13" unibody macbook is a snug fit inside of the soft cell. it works better when you hold the soft cell with one hand and grab the macbook with the other, and when you're not trying to angle it for the video camera . i haven't had a chance to handle the cache, but i can let you know when i try it.

the 1050d ballistic nylon and 1000d cordura are two different fabrics. both are fantastic, both in terms of how the look and their durability. they have a different texture, a different weave.

darcy,

can you better describe how you would describe the difference between the 1050d ballistic nylon and the 1000d cordura?

thanks!

[ltsching]

Oh Maverick, how do you like the EP-1? I am having a hard time deciding between the G1 and the EP-1 mainly because I love the form factor of the EP-1, but heard about the slow auto focus. I also think I would want video-capability for those "just-in-case" moments. I mainly shoot in door party shots and outdoor landscapes. I feel like I should wait for the rumored Panasonic GF1 or the EP-2. But as with all technology, I can wait forever for better specs and take no pictures. I am trying to move up from Panasonic TZ5 (great little camera) to a smallish DSLR (the micro 4/3's).

[maverick]

Oh Maverick, how do you like the EP-1? I am having a hard time deciding between the G1 and the EP-1 mainly because I love the form factor of the EP-1, but heard about the slow auto focus. I also think I would want video-capability for those "just-in-case" moments. I mainly shoot in door party shots and outdoor landscapes. I feel like I should wait for the rumored Panasonic GF1 or the EP-2. But as with all technology, I can wait forever for better specs and take no pictures. I am trying to move up from Panasonic TZ5 (great little camera) to a smallish DSLR (the micro 4/3's).

hi ltsching,

i am torn over the EP-1. i like that it does well at higher iso's than the leica d-lux 4, but i don't care for the overall image quality compared to the leica d-lux 4. i expected more because of the larger size. i feel like it needs a flash, specially for indoor shots. which brings us to the gh1. i haven't had a chance to try one, but i'd like to make a decision between that and the rumored gf1.

[maverick]

in this video, you will see the imago with a macbook inside of the soft cell - so your macbook air inside the cache will occupy a little less space, an olympus ep-1 camera with the kit lens, and a few other items to show you what else you could carry in your imago.

i also wanted to mention that the imago filled as shown in this video fits very nicely inside of the middle compartment of the tri-star. this is very useful if you want to manage just one bag during your trip (the tri-star) and have the imago with your laptop, camera and other accessories ready to go at your destination.

[ltsching]

i also wanted to mention that the imago filled as shown in this video fits very nicely inside of the middle compartment of the tri-star. this is very useful if you want to manage just one bag during your trip (the tri-star) and have the imago with your laptop, camera and other accessories ready to go at your destination.

That's impressive! I also have a TriStar but would never have thought of putting an Imago in the center compartment. Do you still have room in the front and back compartments? Personally, I find that if I stuff the middle with a laptop and a few other items, it can get quite bulky and extend to the other two compartments hence reducing the loading capacities. I would love to see a picture of a stuffed Imago in the center compartment.