So, I have a problem.
It has been zero (“0”) days since I last bought a camera bag. No token or badge for me!
The Mindshift/Think Tank Photocross 13 has been on my radar for a while. I have the Think Tank Turnstyle 10 and it has been great, but it is just too small sometimes. The Lowepro Pro Tactic 350 (first model) is my least liked, but quite often used bag, so looking at it logically (ahem), it only felt right, necessary even to get the lovechild of the TT design and the PT’s size.
The need, yes lets get to the need, because there is one (seriously), for a bag that can be used at sporting events capable of carrying the 40-150 f2.8, 300 f4, flash and a backup gripped camera, that can be worn and worked from, even when I am running.
A shoulder bag is a no-go here, just too impractical and the LP back pack is similalrly annoying as I have to take it off to get at it, contary to the promise of the design. The LP is also regularly frustrating, often being a hair too small for most of the rigs I would like to put in it. It even struggles with a M43 gripped body standing up!
The P-Cross hopefully, and I have done enough research here to be sure, should be able to take the 40-150 f2.8 and/or the 300 f4 standing up in the bag, or even one of these mounted on a camera. I have photographic evidence of it taking the 70-200 and 100-400 Canon slr lenses.
The 70-200 in that config is about the same as the 300 f4 or 40-150 f2.8 with hood on. Looks like there is room to spare.
A small advantage of this bag also in getting into good habits with this type of sling bag. I will use the TT for travel, but fear I may forget to zip it before re-slinging, so a little in the field habit forming is needed. Occasional bags (habits) can get you into trouble, regularly used ones do not.
There is a possibility if this works as envisaged, I will end up using this as my every day work bag.
Ed. this bag has proven to be very hard to track down, so I am going to give it a miss. It is the right choice, but comes at a time when I really need to question any purchase in light of my opaque future plans. In reality I have several bags that can take the afore mentioned gear, I just wanted the most comfortable option.