Customer Reviews

Tamrac 5765 Velocity 5x Photo Hip Pack Convertible (Black)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Like many dSLR owners, I've been in search of the 'perfect' camera bag. While that will differ for others based on the size of the camera, lenses, accessories, etc, I'm very happy with my purchase of the Tamrac 5765 Velocity 5X.

I'm planning on traveling with my new Nikon D300 and want to take along my Nikon 18-70mm lens, 70-300mm VR lens, and 50mm lens. I'm happy to report that all three lens and the camera fit snugly into the main body of this great bag. I'll probably keep the 18-70 on the camera although it does work with the 70-300 on camera -- just a little tighter fit when I zip the lid closed. The front pocket can be used for personal items and can even fit my SB600 flash. The top opens away from my body - a feature that I find makes it much easier to remove the camera.

While I want to fit ALL these items in my bag, I also want it to be as discreet and small as possible. That's asking a lot of any bag, but the Velocity 5X manages to do this. It can be worn on the shoulder or across the shoulder, and can be used with or without the hip belt, which tucks away very conveniently into it's own storage pocket on the back of the bag. It's not too big, and not to small - just the perfect-sized bag in my opinion.

Overall, it's OK.

It's well constructed. The bag has some good padding, and I don't feel like the waist belt or the alternative shoulder strap will come loose. For that, Tamrac gets an unequivocal 5 stars.

It has enough room for my Nikon D80 with 18 - 55 zoom attached, a 55 - 200 VR zoom next to it, and another small lens on the other side. Additionally, the front pouch holds my cleaning supplies and extra SD cards comfortably. And that's it. Enough room for me, so they get another 5 stars in this area as well.

HOWEVER, the waist belt is almost entirely useless as a fanny pack. I use the bag in the city, where I need my hands free. A shoulder strap won't cut it out here, which is why I got the Velocity 5x, so that my hands are free. However, the bag slides down if used as a fanny pack. I've used many fanny packs, including on 15 mile hikes. But this slides down so quickly, it's useless - worse than useless. I solved the problem by sliding the pack to the side (on my hip), but the waist belt is fairly narrow (not wide), so it gets uncomfortable after a while. The shoulder strap is fine, but if you use a shoulder strap, you might as well get the larger bag. So for this category, Tamrac gets 2 stars.

Still, overall, I will use the bag, and it is OK. However, I would not hesistate to buy another Tamrac product. I think the construction is top quality.

Just returned from a trip to Cancun. High quality product. Enough space for my Nikon D200 with Nikon 18-200 VR, and accesories: Nikon SB600 (OmniBouncer attached) + Spare camera battery + Battery Charger + Flash extra batteries (4 AA) + 2 CF + Lens cleaner. Almost everything I needed. Gave 4 stars because not completely comfortable using it with the attached belt, it slip down a little (some rubber dots will help to prevent that) so you have to put it TIGHT !! Will recommend it to a friend.

I use it with my Canon 5D, 15 fisheye, 50 1.4 and 70-300DO and 430ex flash. It all fits! I've used it at zoo's, sporting events and family gatherings with no attention gathered b/c of it's small size. I use the waist straps for street photos and shoulder strap around my chest in airports.

Really nice bag.

In my view - the best feature of this bag is that it can be carried on shoulder so that the top opens away from the body, which allows one to reach easily inside. However I don't like the hip belt solution, I find it uncomfortable to carry the loaded bag on the waist in any orientation, I have cut the hip straps off which also makes the "tuck away" compartment leaner, and it is usable for stashing away some flat items.

I've been using this as my main camera bag since mid spring of 2008. I'm carrying in it, my 70-300 IS USM lens and hood, 60mm lens and hood, Canon 40D with 17-85 lens attached, and its hood, all in the main compartment. In the zipper pocket at the front outside, I've three extra camera batteries, knife, small torch, a handful of extra CF cards, cable shutter release. In the zipper pocket inside the main compartment I've lens cleaning cloths and paper. On the belt of the camera bag I've a small pouch hanging that has my rocket lens blower. In another small pouch is where I can place my cell phone.

This whole kit can fit in my larger day pack backpack along with other lenses and tripod.

All in all, its a well made product that I use constantly.

I love the versatility - carry it by the handle, or wear it as a waist-pack, or carry it by the shoulder strap.

GREAT FOR HIKING. However, you won't be able to wear a hiking waist pack. (Carry your water bottles somewhere else).

I use it primarily as a waist pack. As for the COMPLAINTS by others that this thing slips down your rear end, well, that is sort of true. The weight of the camera gear pulls it downward more than your conventional fanny pack. However, I have found that all is fine if the belt strap is tighted sufficiently. And you have to tighten it pretty snug. If you wear it with a moderate amount of slack, it will indeed creep down your butt.

AND LET'S BE HONESTt: It helps to not have a flat rear end. Thank you, mom and dad, for my non-flat rear end genes. The slight protrusion helps keep the pack in place. (Alternative: maybe put extra wallets in your hip pocket)

There are only two complaints, and they are minor:

1. Once you have the waist strap tightened sufficiently, you must loosen it in order to swing the pack around to the front. And then tighten it again when you rotate it back. Minor detail.

2. I have also found that after putting on the pack and taking it off several times, the belt will tend to loosen a little on its own. So, every now and then you need to re-tigthen. Again, minor detail.

SUMMMARY: This bag is a great, compact alternative to the conventional black bags. It's not perfect, but no camera bag is. This one is darn close.

Good: very low profile and sleek for capacity and protection, room for the everyday kit with room to spare, fits common form-factor DSLR or panorama, deep enough for slower tele-zooms, will fit a couple fat lenses or handfull of primes.

Bad: buckles on lid make opening the zippers hard, no good place to attach filter pouch or other accessories, no tripod mount or provision to strap things on, no place for water bottle, not big enough for battery grip or square form-factor DSLR, waist strap only good for short term use, lens hoods hang up inside the case, could use more loop velcro inside case. The flag system is useless and does not fit batteries, I would prefer a few velcro straps to close the internal pockets and a more memory card specific holder.

Inventory of bag: Pentax K7, 18-55WR zoom, 55-300 zoom, Optika EF-600 DG flash, spare battery, 2 lens pens, 3 SD cards, large sport glasses case, card reader, misc cleaning supplies, filter pouch attached to carrying handle.

Updated kit 12/25/2010: Pentax K7, 18-55WR zoom, 55-300 zoom, 28mm, 50mm, 100mm macro, screw on rubber hood, right angle finder, spare battery, 2 lens pens, 3 SD cards, card reader, misc cleaning supplies, filter pouch attached to compression strap. Takes a little juggling to change lenses, and no padded separations between my primes, is heavy, but it all fits!

How I wear it: chest mounted using binocular strap such as Think Tank Digital Holster Chest Harness or OP/TECH USA Bino/Cam Harness. I hate shoulder straps with a passion.

How I use it: Mostly for walking and shooting missions where I have the camera in-hand most of the time. With the lid opening away, the gear inside seems secure for walking and crouching with the lid unzipped. Makes a perfect elbow rest on long shoots like parades. Makes it easy to change lenses and access gear. Doesn't scream "CAMERA". If I were traveling, there is room for charger, blower etc.

This bag is just the right size to carry my SLR with lense attached, plus my zoom lens and my speedlight. The pocket in the front can hold additional small items like your battery or some cards. I'll be using this bag on hikes, rather than my laarger bag which tends to be too much for hiking. Very sturdy construction!

Let me start off by mentioning what I fit into this bag:
*Nikon D40 with 18-55mm VR lens
*55-200mm VR lens
*35mm f/1.8 prime lens
*SB-600 flash
*Lumiquest Pocket Bouncer
*Battery charger with cord
*Various accessories like the wireless remote, grad ND filter, flash filter gels, lens cleaner, USB cord.

Now this is A LOT of stuff to be carrying all at once, and yet this bag manages to fit it all snuggly, but not too tight, while maintaining compact size and light weight, so it's easily manageable. The flexibility to carry it on your shoulder or around the waist is just icing on the cake, letting you have both hands free when you need it. The construction feels solid - there are weather flaps covering the zippers, the padding seems adequate, and I can see no obvious weak spots. Carrying it is no problem either - the shoulder strap has a contoured, textured pad, and is secured by metal hooks to the bag. The waist strap folds into the bag you don't need it, and is easy to use when you do.

Anyone wishing to carry a small-medium camera setup comfortably should definitely give this bag a try, and at a price well under $100, this is a hard deal to pass up.