Customer Reviews

Tamrac 5603 System 3 Camera Bag (Blue)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Tamrac System 3 (and other "System") bags are very well crafted camera bags. The bag has several very attractive features.

--Handles and straps are strong and very comfortable.
--Access to bag is easy, zippers very smooth, clips easy to manage.
--Main body of bag can be reconfigured with velcro separators.
--Surprisingly high capacity (I carry an SLR body with standard lens, a 75-300 zoom, spare short focal length lens, hot shoe full flash and digital 6x zoom camera all in central pocket)
--several additional useful separators, film holders, documentation, places for lens cleaner, paper or cloths)
--durable outer shell that can take some abuse

All of this is contained in what appears from the outside to be a very small bag that easily stores for travel. Perhaps most importantly the separators, outer shell, and body construction real do appear to protect your equipment (yes I am ashamed to admit that I have had my fully loaded bag drop off of tables and down steps). Don't buy more bag than you need. If you've got a reasonable amount of gear this bag probably can handle it.

The Tamrac System 3 camera bag is perfect for SLR owners who also have one or two compact lenses (e.g., the typical 28-200mm or 70-300mm zoom lens) in addition to the lens attached to the camera, plus a small external flash. The bag is small compared to other SLR gadget bags, but the inside can be partitioned in flexible ways. It's also well-padded, both inside and outside. It also has lining pockets for things like USB cables, camera body cap, lens caps, filters, etc. At the front, there's a compartment for miscellaneous items such as film, memory cards, pens, lens cleaning paper, etc. Hidden behind this is a pull-out pouch for batteries and memory cards, plus an ID tag (kinda hard to write on, though). You can also use the compartment this pouch is in to store film, etc, although stuff might fall out if you are not careful. At the back is another compartment, which I use to store the manual of my Nikon D70.

As you can see, this "small" bag is very versatile. In addition, you can get Tamrac's add-on pouches and pockets to attach to the strap or the sides of the bag, for additional storage.

I looked at many bags before settling on this one. It's compact and weighs about 1.5 pounds, so it's material enough to withstand tough conditions yet light enough for shoulder-use. As I mentioned it's also well padded and can accommodate extensions. If you are the typical SLR enthusiast with a total of 2-3 compact lenses and/or a small flash unit, you'll find this bag a very good fit for your needs.

I purchased this Tamrac 5603 System 3 Bag in black yesterday.

The first impression was really good (outside):
- Nice black-color
- looks and feels really weather-resistant (haven't tried it out yet)
- Sides soft and big enough, so your equipment stays secure.
- Good carry-around size
- Not too heavy itself

Inside:
- It is a bit smaller than I expected and I needed to figure out, how to "set it up"
- There is a wall-system inside which you can setup how you like/prefer it, depending on your stuff
- The walls are a little too soft in my oppinion, but doesnt do any bad at all
- Enough space for the small parts like memory-cards, cables, batteries etc

What I carry in it:
- Canon Rebel XTi (fits good)
- Canon 50mm f/1.4
- Canon 28-105mm USM
- Canon 70-200mm f/4 L
- Canon 430ex Speedlight

How good does the stuff fit?:
I'd say OK...a little too tight though...
- The Rebel-Body is not too big, definitely space for a bigger body!
- When the 70-200m L lens is mounted, the space to the sides is too small for putting the other lenses in
upright position.
- Keep the camera mounted with a smaller zoom-lens (like the 28-105mm) and you'll have enough space to
carry two extra lenses (even bigger ones up to 200mm L ) in upright position.
- The external flash easily fits into it (pretty flat in upright position)

Overall it is a good bag and I feel much better carrying around expensive equipment with a bag I feel safe with....
The capacity-limit is pretty much reached now, so If you read this and there is ANY thinking about "might my stuff fit in?" or "I could get another lens or piece of equipment?"....GET THIS BAG ONE SIZE BIGGER!

For all the others: It's a nice bag, that you totally can't go wrong with...

Have fun with it! ;)

After researching a number of bags for my new digital SLR camera, I thought this bag had the best combination of price, size, and features. I'm very happy with my selection. I've never owned a Tamrac bag that I didn't feel was quality made. The MAS (Modular Accessory System) and SAS (Strap Accessory System) are quite well thought out and the available accessories are very economical compared to other brands. The bag has a small footprint, but had plenty of room for my new camera (w/lens), flash, extra 28-300mm lens and all my other necessary items. Other bags seemed to lack the perfect combination of WxHxD like this bag. It would be hard to find camera/lens cominations that wouldn't fit in this bag. Plus, extra battery sets and memory cards have predesigned pockets so everything is quick and easy to find ... everything in it's place with quick, easy access.

The only things I could find that could be improved was 1) Heftier hook/loop closier for the flap and 2) more hook/loop material to enable more compartmental options inside the bag. But, these are very small nits compared to the overal quality of this bag.

This bag is everthing it was advertised to be.. very secure, lots of compartments and well built. I recommend this bag whole heartedly.

The bag holds all our camera equipment plus film and many other extras. I recommed this camera bag for those people who need a small camera bag but with a lot of space.

A very good deal for the money. There is more than enough space which can hold an array of accessories. The feature that impressed me the most was the slot for memory cards and batteries which can be accessed most comfortably.

We use this bag to organize our digital camera and digital camcorder. There's a pocket for everything, including all the cords and everything has it's own place. It's not easy to get into, great when you have kids but not quick for the adult. You just have to know when you will need the camera. Offers great protection for those expensive cameras.

Perfect size for an SLR and one or two lenses or a lens and flash. My favorite feature is the pull out CF card holder. I've used this bag for over a year with no complaints.

I purchased this bag for my Canon EOS Rebel XS, an additional lens, and a few other accessories. The bag I had previously was way too small and I felt the camera and lens were packed too tightly together. This bag is the perfect size for my needs. There is room for another lens as well. I'd say if you have several lenses that you'll be toting around, this bag may be a bit small. If you're looking for a decent sized bag that will hold your camera, a lens or two, and a few basic accessories, I'd say this is a great choice.