Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I am very impressed with the features and layout of the Lowepro Magnum 400 AW camera bag. Having spent the past several years toting my camera gear around in a Tamrac Pro 12, I was excited to see what Lowepro had to bring to the table in a similar sized shoulder bag.
The Lowepro Magnum 400 AW features plenty of room for lenses, flash, filters, two SLR or DSLR camera bodies manuals, and other accessories. The main compartment of the bag features velcro dividers that are foam padded and have a soft lining to keep the gear nestled into the bag without worry of damage. The dividers are moveable and can be arranged in any number of ways to suit your own gear and carry style. The camera bodies are carried vertically with the lens down with bag, which I am not used to, and doesn't seem quite as stable as the horizontal carry style with lens cradled underneath and from the sides, which is how I'm used to carrying them in the Tamrac Pro 12. Whether one style of holding the camera is better than other I cannot say, but the Lowepro bag does seem to make reaching in and grabbing the camera slightly easier, due ot the camera's orientation in the bag. In the cover of the main compartment are two zippered see-through pockets that are handy for keeping small reference manuals, business cards, or other non-bulky materials.
As for camera fit, I was able to fit my Nikon D300 inside and it felt perfect with the size of the compartment. Trying out my other cameras in the 2nd camera compartment, I found my Nikon N80, Nikon F3HP, and Nikkormat FT3 were a bit on the smallish side compared to the digital SLR's of today, and as such felt small inside the bag's camera compartment and would shift around quite easily, though this would cause no damage to anything as the dividers and padding would prevent any contact with other items in the bag.
The front zippered compartment has several small pouches sewn in to hold your accessories, such as pens, batteries, cables, and other items of interest. A zippered mesh pouch is also provided in the flap, which is a great place to store anything else that won't fit into the smaller pouches. I was able to fit most of my accessories in the front without any issue, though there was less space there than in my previous bag, so it took a little reorganizing to get everything placed conveniently. The side pockets are also spacious and the flaps zipper open a good 3/4th of the way around the pockets to provide easy access to anything you store inside these side pockets.
The exterior of the camera bag is touted as being water resistant, but anywhere there are zippers (these are non self-sealing zippers) there is a chance for water to leak in. Even keeping the exterior treated with a coating of camp-dry or other waterproofing spray will not completely eliminate the chance of water leaking in through any of the zippers, or soaking through fabric where the treatment has worn off. This is not a major issue with the Lowepro Magnum 400 AW camera bag however, as the innovative folks at Lowepro have managed to stash a little goody in the back pocket of the bag. Unzip the back pocket and out comes a waterproof rain cover that covers the entire bag, top and sides, keeping the heaviest of rains from getting into the camera bag. This is a great feature for outdoor photographers who take chances of getting stuck in a sudden downpour when out and about. Of course, I wouldn't go leaving the bag out unsheltered if at all possible, and you aren't going to want to set the bag down where water will pool around the base. This is still a fabric bag, and will not be 100% sealed from the elements like a bulky Pelican case would be.
There are plenty of carry choices with this bag, from a luggage carrier sleeve, to dual handles on either side of the lid, a single handle in the center of the lid, or a very thick, well padded shoulder strap with metal attaching hardware. Also found on the exterior of the bag are a couple of tripod straps, which hold the tripod at the back of the bag, but off the ground. This is a huge improvement over my Tamrac Pro 12 which holds the tripod at the bottom rear of the bag, making it the first thing to clunk down on the ground when setting the bag down. Kudos to the folks at Lowerpro for the excellent, well thought out placement of the tripod straps!
In addition, the Lowerpro Magnum 400 AW is digital friendly and came with a removable pouch that holds extra memory cards, batteries, and even enough room for a Firewire or USB card reader. Also of note is that this camera bag meets size requirements for carry-on baggage when flying is the method of travel. Overall, the bag is rugged, well built, with sturdy hardware, and overall is very well thought out in terms of functionality, durability, equipment protection, and ease of use. This bag has by far exceeded any expectations I could have wished for from a camera bag of this type.
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Lowepro Magnum 400 AW Shoulder Bag (Black)Lowepro\'s Magnum 400 AW shoulder bag is built on the foundation of its predecessor: the original pro bag designed in 1976 and an industry standard to this day. The next generation of Magnum AW remains a serious toolbox for the pro photographer. Portable, modern and loaded with topnotch features, it delivers on all tasks: organizing, protecting and transporting gear from point A to point B. The internal dividing system provides a flexible structure to accommodate a variety of gear, plus on-the-go changes. Lowepro\'s patented All Weather AW Cover protects bag and contents from the elements and zips away when not in use. A premium molded base offers the busy professional a trio of benefits: sturdy and stable protection, water resistance and the ability to stack multiple bags efficiently. Transport a heavily loaded Magnum AW (or two or three) with ease via adjustable handcart straps that attach to handles quickly and securely. Or carry the bag on the shoulder with the Vertebral Tech strap. An exclusive Lowepro design, this intelligent strap provides comfort and spreads weight evenly—no matter which way it\'s worn.
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