I recently took the jump into DSLR photography and wanted a convenient and safe place to transport and store my camera and accessories, but I also didn't want to spend a fortune. As this was to be my first camera bag, I spent several days researching and finally ended up choosing the Lowepro SlingShot 102AW - primarily due to the amount of features you get for the price and the strong reviews it received. As I am just getting started in photography I only have a small amount of basic equipment, so I didn't want to go overkill on a huge pro-level bag - more on that topic later on. So far, I am not disappointed. I have been using it for about a month at the time of this review.
Construction/Quality:
Overall it's an attractive, sleek and subtle looking bag. All the materials feel rugged and high quality. Stitching seems strong and sturdy. Zippers are smooth and require little effort to pull and do not bind up anywhere. They also seem to be a more heavy duty than you'd find on your standard backpack. Throughout the bag the padding is firm and reasonably thick. I imagine it offers adequate protection from accidental bumps or short drops. Even the velcro is some pretty stout stuff - almost to the point of being comically frustrating when you're trying to adjust the interior compartment panels. Even the plastic used on the zipper pulls and the snap buckles feels like quality stuff, and the buckles themselves snap together very positively and securely.
Storage:
Okay. This seems to be the bone of contention with most of the reviewers. Let's not kid ourselves here. This is NOT a huge bag that you're going to stuff 2 DSLR bodies and an array of lenses and accessories into. This bag seems to be intended for one of two types of buyers: 1) Those like myself who are just getting into the hobby and have yet to amass an vast arsenal of gear, and simply want a safe and convenient way to carry it when they go out shooting and store it when they're not. 2) Those who like to take a small selection of essential gear from their collection out with them when they go shooting because they want to travel light, or they are going to be doing a specific type of shooting that day.
If you're the type who takes the attitude of: "Well... I'd better just bring everything I've got just in case." this is probably NOT the bag you're looking for. With that out of the way, here's what I've got packed in there and where I've put it:
Main compartement:
Canon Rebel XSi/450D (no battery grip, so I can't comment on the "yes it will/no it won't" fit debate yet)
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS kit lens (mounted on camera)
2 spare SDHC cards (one in each of the velcro pouches provided just for that purpose - you could EASILY tuck 2 in each pouch, by the way - maybe 3)
Upper compartment:
Factory paper manual for camera
Canon cleaning kit in plastic case
USB/AV cables that came with the camera
LensPen
SD card reader (inside the zipper pouch on the flap)
Vertical zipper pouch on front of top compartment:
A couple of crappy screw-on filters that came with the camera that I never intend to use. Will probably use that compartment to store my circular polarizing filter(s) when I get them. (There's not really room in there for much more than that - it's pretty tight. You're not fitting anything bulky in there).
Front zipper pouch:
Battery charger
Spare battery
Rear dust cover for kit lens
Front camera body dust cover
That said - there's plenty of room left for other items. I have just ordered the following and I'm not at all worried about fitting them in there:
Canon EF-S 55-250 f/4-5.6 IS lens
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II prime lens
Wired remote shutter release
Lens hoods for all 3 lenses
In the upper compartment, there's still enough room for an external flash and some spare batteries as well. There are also a couple of loops that allow for expansion pouches to be attached that are available from Lowepro.
So as you can see - there's plenty of room in here for a decent array of gear for a day's shooting. I think once I add the above mentioned items (plus eventually an external flash) I'll be about at the limit of this bag's capacity. As I progress and acquire additional equipment, I'll have to look into a larger bag or an additional smaller one - but I knew that going into it.
Comfort:
I have yet to get an opportunity to throw the pack on and go walking around with it for a full day, so I can't really comment on how wearable this bag is all day long. So far, my longest experience wearing it was for about an hour's worth of walking. It sits pretty nicely on your back and the strap is wide and well padded (I'm about 5'10" tall and 168 pounds, if that helps). I didn't really feel it digging into my shoulder but it was also pretty lightly loaded. We'll see how it does when I have a bunch of extra gear in there. The stabilizing strap that loops under your right arm and connects to the main strap does a pretty good job of keeping the pack from flopping around on your back as you walk.
As a guy, I didn't have this issue - but I can imagine with the way that the strap runs across your chest that a sling pack might not be the most comfortable choice for a female user - as some have pointed out. I'll echo those reviewers and repeat that those of you out there with 2 X-chromosomes may want to consider trying this pack on somewhere locally before ordering.
Convenience:
While wearing the pack, getting your camera in and out is very easy. Just unbuckle the stabilizing strap and swing the pack around to your front. Unzip the side panel of the main compartment and your camera is right there and ready to go. They also thoughtfully located the memory card pockets on the inside of that flap, so they're within easy reach if you start running low on space. I've also found that with the pack situated around in front, you can use it to rest your elbows on while holding the camera for a bit of extra stability. Maybe more of a happy accident than an intended use, but it works!
I have yet to strap a tripod to the side of the pack yet, so I can't comment on the ease of attaching or removing it just yet. I will update when I do, however. Already I can see that adding anything other than a very lightweight tripod might make the pack uncomfortable to wear for long periods as it would set it off balance and probably tug on you a little as you walk.
Favorite features:
1) Access to your camera is excellent while wearing or not wearing the pack.
2) The 2 zip-stop buckles on the camera access panel that prevent you from unzipping the main compartment all the way and spilling your gear all over the ground was a very thoughtful touch.
3) The elastic strap in the upper storage compartment is a great place to tuck items that you don't need to pull in and out all the time. I have my cleaning kit tucked underneath it with my USB and AV cables underneath that to keep them from flopping around in there. The pocket clip on my LensPen also clips to that strap and tucks nicely in next to the cleaning kit.
4) Inside of the camera access door is an attached microfiber cloth that you can use to wipe fingerprints and smudges of your screen. While the camera is stored away you can also stretch it across the back of the camera for some additional screen protection.
5) Although I haven't had to deploy it yet except to test it out, the weather cover that's tucked away in the velcro compartment under the bag is easy to access and pull over the bag while wearing it or not. Seems like it could really save the day if you should get caught by a sudden shower.
Gripes:
Even though the majority of this bag's design is very thoughtful and well planned, there are a few things that make me scratch my head and ask: "What were they thinking?"
1) In the front zipper pocket, there are a few pouches on the inner panel. I used the large one for my battery charger and spare battery. There are 2 more in there that are laughably small and very tight with no stretch to them at all. I can't begin to imagine what they intended for you to put in there.
2) The microfiber cloth is permanently sewn into the bag. How are you supposed to clean it when it eventually gets dirty?
3) I wish they would have lined the whole inside of the main camera/lens compartment with the soft velcro material to give some additional flexibility for arranging the dividers. Your arrangement options are quite limited with where you can attach the panels. I don't foresee this being a problem - but down the road when I eventually outgrow this bag it's a feature that I'll be looking for.
Summary:
As I said before - this bag is excellent overall if your needs for it are as I described above. There is plenty of storage for a day's worth of gear, or all your gear if you're just getting started. It's got a lot of great features for the price, and it's thoughtfully designed and ruggedly constructed from quality materials. I can see it serving me well for quite a while until I outgrow it - and even then, I'll keep it around in case I want to travel light.
Good luck on your search. I hope this has helped you in your decision making!
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This Item  Lowepro Slingshot 202 DSLR Sling Camera Bag |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | Currently unavailable. | -21% $49.99 List: $62.99 | $39.99 | $65.99 | -15% $79.90 Typical: $94.04 | $131.22 |
| Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 16 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 16 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 16 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Apr 17 | Get it as soon as Thursday, Apr 18 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Durability | ||||||
| Value for money | ||||||
| For traveling | ||||||
| Quality of material | ||||||
| Weight distribution | ||||||
| Sold By | — | Jade-World US | K&F Concept | Jade-World US | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
| capacity | — | 35 liters | 10 liters | 12 liters | 18 liters | 9.1 liters |
| size | One Size | — | 10L | HX-S | 9.06 x 4.72 x 8.27 in | BP 200 AW II |
| outer material | — | Polyester | Polyester | Nylon | Nylon | Nylon |
| closure type | Buckle | Zipper | Zipper | Zipper | Zipper,Buckle | Zipper |
| weight | 0.01 ounces | 1.09 kilograms | 0.49 kilograms | — | 1.8 pounds | 0.95 kilograms |
| water resistance | — | water resistant | waterproof | waterproof | — | — |
Reviews with images
A Nice Surprise for My Nikon D600
I have a small non-camera backpack that I used for short trips and traveling. I would place towels in the backpack to pad and cushion the camera/lens. I've used it for a good 4 years, but it was a pain to use when I needed to get my camera in and out of the bag. Sometimes, I didn't have a place to put the bag down to remove/replace my camera in the bag. Sometimes I did a balancing act on my knee...not a great idea for expensive camera and lens.I recently saw a fellow female photographer using a small Lowepro Slingshot bag. For a small bag, it looked lightweight with a slim profile. Not bulky and heavy looking. I did some research and checked the reviews on "sling-type" bags. I kept coming back to this Slingshot bag.I was torn between the two sizes: 102 versus 202. I read many reviews and saw that the 102 was mostly used by folks who owned cropped sensor cameras...smaller DSLRs. I read the 202 was a good size for DSLRs and additional lens and accessories. Knowing that I didn't want to carry my "kitchen sink", I kept thinking the 202 was too much for me. Also size was a factor. The bigger the bag, the more I would carry and weight would be another factor as well. I read a review where the reviewer compared the 202 with the Evolution 8. That was the deciding factor. I ordered the 102 and hoped I made the right decision.I was surprised when I received the bag...how small it was. I tried placing my Nikon D600 with my Nikkor 24-120mm lens (reversed hood attached) inside. The back of the camera sat over the zippered lip of the bag by ½ inch. It didn't fit. The next thing I did was gutted the inside of the bag and removed all the dividers. This time I placed my camera in sideways with the grip of the camera facing out towards the side opening of the bag. It fit! My Crumpler's Industry Disgrace strap fits inside as well. All is well!I saw I had some extra space inside the bag. I extended the hood on my lens (as if I'm shooting) and placed the camera with lens inside the bag. It fit as well!My Nikon SB-700 flash fits inside the top storage area. Of course, the flash head has to be folded down for it to fit. There is ample room inside this top storage area for media cards, extra batteries, and cleaning cloth.I was able to fold the secondary side strap into the bag. There's a little opening in the back padded area right on the side edge of the opening for the weatherproof covering. It's nice to keep that extra strap from flapping around in the back when not in use.On top of the main padded strap there is a sliding front buckle that allows me to adjust where the secondary strap will hit in front when attached. I can place that secondary strap above or below my bust area.I've included pictures of my new bag in the gallery to give others an idea of how my camera is arranged inside. I hope my review will help others with a Nikon D600 camera and who may be looking for a similar solution.I'm glad I trusted my instinct and purchased this bag. It's definitely functional as well as holds what I need to take with me on the go.For those of you who are familiar with my reviews, I will post updates on the use of this bag and the comfort level. Stay tuned!
Top reviews from other countries
mithun
excellent slingshot bag even for telephoto lens
Reviewed in India on March 8, 2022Style: 202 AwVerified Purchase
mithun
Reviewed in India on March 8, 2022
-- 70-300 mm telephoto lens attached to dslr + 50mm lens + 15-45 lens + charger and other misc together can be carried and still more space left !
-- can carry medium tripod easily with attachments coming along with bag.
-- easy access to camera for quick shoot.
-- quality stitching and comfortable to wear.
-- inner compartments can be rearranged and customised to carry specific lens.
-- rain cover is an added bonus.
must have bag for photographers
Images in this review
SteveShig
Has Lowepro designed the perfect bag?...YUP!
Reviewed in Canada on December 17, 2017Style: 202 AwVerified Purchase
