Customer Reviews

Tamrac 5248 Adventure 8 Photo Backpack (Black)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I just received this bag as a gift. It's perfect. I own a Canon AE1, a standard 50mm, a 25-80mm, and a 75-300mm (lenses). This bag fits it all EASILY, including rolls of film, cleaning materials, my wallet, cellphone, keys, and other such items. Also, I feel like it definitely keeps my equipment safe from the elements and packed neatly in a padded enclosure. Plus, it's very convenient to have a backpack (I used an over-the-shoulder strap bag before, which always got in the way) The backpack stays out of my way so I can concentrate on the picture I'm taking. This is a great deal too.

Tamrac has designed a small/medium bag for single camera body carrying that I have found very convient. Over the year plus I've used the bag - I like it VERY MUCH.

This is not my primary camera bag - simply because I cannot fit everything I might need for a professional photoshoot. For this I use a $200+monster bag and a cart to wheel it around. One backpack bag will not fit all needs.

Here's what I like about this Photo backpack:

1. Great Value for the money
2. Comfortable when under full load
3. Adjustable shoulder and chest straps
4. My vacation configuration: Canon dSLR Rebel w/kit lens, BGE-1 battery grip/w2 canon batteries, a 70-300mm telephoto, 420EX speedlight, bounce flash portrait diffuser, camera battery charger, 4AA Ni-Mh ( for speedlight and Powershot A75 or A-85 + AA battery charger, a mini-tripod, Canon Powershot A85 backup camera, printer cable, extra Compact Flash cards, 8 in 1 flash memory reader, camera/speedlight instruction manuals, 58mm lens filter sets, and lens cleaner kits.
5. Plastic coated overflap makes the bag somewhat weather resistant (except for side pockets). (IMHO) This is NOT a weatherproof bag, and do not attempt to use it as such.
6. Adjustable internal padding allows for many different configurations.
7. My Homeland Security airport checkpoint bag of choice. Throw it on the X-ray belt - easy to open if necessary.
8. Carry handle between shoulder straps is a convenient feature.
9. Cargo net pockets allow handy storage of manuals.

Things this bag will not do - no matter how much you wish it would:

1. It's NOT a two camera-body photo bag (unless you want to leave speedlight or telephto or a whole bunch of stuff at home).
2. It's not an ideal shooting event bag because of back flap and and zippered main compartment - it must come off your back - and on the ground or table to take out what you need easily. This is a two hands and a firm surface to change your stuff bag. You'll still need a fanny pack or belt bag for quick changes of lens.
3. I can't use it as an all weather bag. I wish entire backpack were made of more water-resistant materials and designed to be more equipment protective.

For limited photoshoots; vacations or a casual backpack bag to carry a limited load of camera equipment the Adventure 8 is a GREAT purchase. It's convenient as a carrier bag for modest amounts of equipment. Perfect size allows me NOT to tempt fate by carrying backbreaking loads. Paired up with my roller laptop computer bag and backpack - I'm only looking like a minor uber-geek road warrior when on vacation.

I have owned this camera backpack for over a year, and used it on trips and a few day hikes. (Mine is green, which I prefer over the black.) I like it when used certain ways, but am thinking I need a more complete backpack or go back to my briefcase-style carrier for those trips where I want to be more fully equipped and be changing lenses and filters frequently.
Features I like are:
- its pockets and mesh compartments are handy and hold a lot (many are accessible from the outside for quick access)
- it has enough straps (chest, sternum, and nicely padded shoulder) to ride very comfortably
- it has plenty of padded section pieces inside
- it includes straps to fasten a small tripod underneath
- the top half has proved very handy for sandwiches, a water bottle or two, and a few extras like t-shirt
- it is great for hauling my camera gear somewhere if I can then set the backpack down and work out of it
- it doesn't look like a camera bag (less chance of theft)
Things I don't like are:
- The camera and lenses themselves are not very accessible. The only way to get to them is to unzip the top half (hiking gear section)and fold it clear over. This means taking it off my back, setting it on the ground, etc.
- It really doesn't hold enough for my purposes. I have a Canon Elan SLR camera, 420EX flash, and a couple extra lenses. If I put the camera and flash inside, I can get one long or two short lenses in too, with the short ones stacked. If I have my flash on its foldable bracket, I can't get it in without something hanging out. If I don't take the flash, then I can get the camera and two lenses inside, maybe three. Thus, as I said above, this backpack seems best for me to haul my gear from point A to point B, then work out of it, than to use along the trail (or zoo, or wherever), unless I keep my camera around my neck, which is sometimes hard when in less-than-smooth pathways. Even then, to swap lenses, it's a bit of an ordeal.
- Again, accessories like filters, collapsible lens hoods, etc., are readily accessible in the outside pockets, which are roomy.

I recently purchased this very sleek backpack and it holds all of my equipment perfectly. It has so many compartments for storage that I couldn't find enough stuff to put in it. My only problem is that it can sometimes be uncomfortable to wear because it is smaller than a normal backpack. The hip strap is more like a chest strap. If you are an adult than you might not like how it looks or how it feels. I love this pack but it could be more comfortable. I suggest going to you camera store and try it out before you buy it.

I went to France last summer and was searching for something that would fit my needs: hold 3 cameras, maps, 20+ rolls of film, etc.

Without a doubt this backpack made the trip a joy. I was able to carry a Nikon CP990, an SLR with an extra lens, a Lomo LC-A, all my filters, film, maps, a bottle of water, keys, passports, etc. It all fit it. And while the backpack may have felt heavy to lift, on my back it didn't cause any difficulty wearing it for extended periods of time.

I love it, it feels great on my back and can carry more things than I need to.
I now use it at home to carry all my stuff around. The rebuildable compartments are perfect. The greatest thing is that it just looks like a regular backpack.

Tamrac's Adventure 8 backpack is well suited for all sorts of day trips. The bag has a padded compartment for camera equipment, a main compartment suitable for holding a variety of goodies, and an assortment of smaller nooks and compartments for holding the rest of your gear.

The Tamrac website boasts that the padded compartment has the capability to hold a camera body, 3 lenses of varying size, and a flash. While this is essentially true (assuming one of your lenses is attached to your camera body), squeezing that much gear would be a tight fit. I generally
carry a camera body, a table-top tripod, and either 2 extra lenses or a lens and the flash.

The bag is small in size but large enough to handle a day's worth of gear and goodies. And because it looks like a backpack, the bag passes through certain security checks where traditional camera bags may be red flagged.

If your looking for that in between backpack this is it. It's big enough to carry my Canon 5D along with 2 lenses. Loads of storage as well, with multiple inside and outside pockets. Fully adjustable shoulder and waist straps. I love this model so much I'm on my second one. I purposely searched for this model rather than newer models because of the configuration. I would not hesitate in buying this brand, excellent product.

I'm the type that obsesses before I make a purchase. I looked at tons of bags online, some in stores and initially purchased a different backpack that I HATED. I saw a smaller version of this bag and set out to find one big enough to meet my needs. This bag is well constructed. I feel like my camera and lenses are completely safe. It comfortably holds my Canon XSi with one lens on and 2 in the bag as well as multiple other accessories in the other pockets. The small pocket on top does well with my keys, cellphone and a small snack. My only complaint is the big flap over the top. It's not enough to deter me from wanting to use this bag as it is comfortable to carry with the sternum strap clipped and holds what I need, but it is the reason I rated 4 stars and not 5. It's just an inconvenience more than anything. You do, also, have to remove the pack and put it down to get anything out of it. There's no quick ease of access, so if that is something you are looking for, this is not the right bag. But overall, I like the size, materials, construction, comfort when carrying. Oh...and I wish it had a water bottle holder on it. But I'd definitely recommend it to a person who knows these limitations and feels it'd meet their needs anyway!