I must begin by saying that I'm finding it difficult to find my bag. Being well away from civilisation and even further away from a decent bricks and mortar photo store I'm finding it near impossible to test gear and find the right fit.
The bag I need must fit the K20D with Sigma 100-300/4 w/- 1.4x TC attached - this totals about 35cms in length. Other lenses in the bundle for nature treks are the Tamron 90mm macro and K20/3.5. I would like room for possibly one further zoom and a flash. So even counting random accessories this doesn't need to be HUGE (like Lowepro Photo-Trekker sized) but with some room to grow. The more difficult part is ensuring the bag can also accommodate my Manfrotto (Bogen) 055XPROB tripod with monster ball-head. This is where many bags come unstuck...as the tripod straps and pockets seem too small to house such a sturdy tripod...and until I can afford a Gitzo carbon this baby is not negotiable.
So I'd like a bag that can not only carry this bulk but do so in relative comfort for treks of a few hours at a time. I'm not wedded to a backpack as such, but thought it better than a sling or shoulder bag, for this outdoor purpose.
So I wondered from others' experience, what might be suggested? Again, I'd prefer to just take the gear in the car and down to the store and test them for myself.But since this is near impossible, it's an on-line option only for me and so I'd appreciate suggestions on what to look for.
Cheers