Tamrac 5784 Evolution Messenger 4 Bag

Comments about Tamrac 5784 Evolution Messenger 4 Bag:

I bought this bag to carry my Nikon D600 + 1 lens and flash on an upcoming vacation to Canada. The quality is typical Tamrac, well made and attractive.

I found that my Nikon D600 is too wide (top to bottom) for the bag, especially with my laptop in place. I have to remove the sun shade from it's stowed position on the lens because it make things wider yet and it's still too tight of a fit.

The divider system is not especially compatible with the hand grip on the D600 nor the shallow "edge" on the opposite side of the body.

The only way to fit the body adequately into the bag is remove the lens which then reduces room for an extra lens. With the body, two lenses, and the flash in the bag the bag is bulging so much the outside storage compartments are barely usuable.

Tamrac would have been better off to leave out the internal "tote bag" feature which simply wastes space. For large DSLR bodies the bag needs to be about 2" wider.

The laptop compartment is a very snug fit for my 15" HP laptop.

I'm not sure yet but I think I'll probably send it back and try something different. I have a feeling the crowded nature of this bag will be frustrating during travels and I can't see it being useful as a bag to work out of when siteseeing.

Comments about Tamrac 5784 Evolution Messenger 4 Bag:

Big enough and very safe agains damage, really satisfied with the product well done Tamrac

Comments about Tamrac 5784 Evolution Messenger 4 Bag:

I originally bought this bag to carry my electronics gear including laptop, hard drives, cables, array of Pocket Wizard radios, batteries, battery chargers etc. I soon found that it integrates into any scale of production really well.

What sold me right off the hop, was that it rides "Piggy-Back" on just about any rolling camera bag via camera bag's telescoping handle. I could carry all camera gear in the roller, and the computer gear and radios in the Messenger - without compromise.

Then as soon as I packed it full of camera gear, another thing became clear: this bag is like a "weather-resistant" pillow wrapped around your gear. Stuffed full of lenses and cameras, it bulges a bit, yes, but even at this pressure, you get the feeling that even if dropped, you stuff would survive without damage. Under pressure, the last thing you want is to worry about cracking your gear.

Next is the build quality. According to Tamrac's website, this bag is "weather proof" and made from material in the same family as Kevlar - company responsible for bullet-proof vests. So it's rip, puncture, and water resistant as well. To the touch, it sure feels like it.

Further, it's compatible with Tamrac's Belt and Strap systems. So as an example, the bag itself could only accommodate a 70-200, 24-70, 17-24 lenses, and a Canon 1ds3. To accommodate the Speedlite, cords, batteries for camera and flash, extra storage was needed. I was able to secure these using the various pockets and containers that attach to both ends of the bag, as well as the shoulder strap

Keep in mind, it's a shoulder bag. It pulls hard on the shoulder, as any fully loaded shoulder bag would. In my event setup, I have two vertical grip Canon cams hangin on front straps - this takes the pressure off your back, but not the shoulders. Carry 30lbs in any bag, and the pain will be the same..

Comments about Tamrac 5784 Evolution Messenger 4 Bag:

Best Value hands down.
I went from a huge back pack to the 5784 it holds a ton of gear. i am still amazed.

Comments about Tamrac 5784 Evolution Messenger 4 Bag:

I use this bag for class, and to put my canon 5d into. It works perfectly fine. Its a decent overall size and it fits practically anything. I fit thin books and camera gear such as light meters, photo paper, lens and camera. The only thing is that i cant really get my battery grip attached to the camera, to fit into the bag. But i still love this bag, and with free shipping, and fast delivery. Its phenominal.

Comments about Tamrac 5784 Evolution Messenger 4 Bag:

I took this bag on a cruise. It is big enough to hold 2 dslr cameras and one extra lens. The bag has plenty of cushioning and I didn't worry where I put it or bumping into anything during the shore excursion. The size of the bag is just slim enough. The top of the bag has a zippered opening for easy access to the camera.

Comments about Tamrac 5784 Evolution Messenger 4 Bag:

D40x w/ battery grip
-50mm F1.4 AI
-70-200mm F2.8 VRII
-18-55mm Kit lens
-Filters
-Lenspen
-Extra memory cards
-Pens
-Extra battery
-Cables and adapters
-Pocket knife
-a pair of gloves
-Remote
-electrical tapes
-small blower
-Alienware M11x
All in my Tamrac 5784 Evolution Messenger 4
Oh yes and a bottle of water.

The only cons is that once you go over the 12 pounds weight, your shoulder will be sore the next morning. How do i know? i hike with this bag last week and i bring with me 20 pounds worth of gear. at first it was fine, but after a while its a pain. But i think I'm just asking too much out of this bag. I don't think this bag is design for you to bring 20 pounds worth of gear. Anyways i still love this bag, its great for my everyday pack (8 poundish). The build is great. the top access is awesome.

Comments about Tamrac 5784 Evolution Messenger 4 Bag:

The bag space is awesome. I can fit my gripped D90 + a lense on, a SB600 and one other lens. It can fit more but I wanted to maximize the space so I wont have to move things around inside the bag.

The probleme, wich is not a problem, is that when the bag is full and have something in the 2 front pocket it get really bulky and puffy, you don't feel it in the back but if you wear it on your side it's kind of disturbing.

But overall I like it !

Comments about Tamrac 5784 Evolution Messenger 4 Bag:

Although I cannot carry all of my Photo equipment, it is very useful to carry my camera, 2 lenses (Nikkor 70-200 & Nikkor 24-70), flash, several accessories, and my laptop computer in 1 bag. This is very useful when traveling, especially by air.

Comments about Tamrac 5784 Evolution Messenger 4 Bag:

I got this bag because I needed something to carry my 13 " macbook air, my pentax K-X with the 18-55 and 55-300 kit lenses plus a few cables and "stuff"). I have used this bag with these items for several weeks and I can tell you that it is very uncomfortable and hard on the shoulders (both ways- on one shoulder only, and over the head on the opposite shoulder like a sling bag). My shoulders were killing me after only 10-15 minutes. of walking around. (The bag still has a fair amount of empty room so it has not been "full"). The shoulder strap pad is really poor.
What I do love about the bag is the top opening that opens "away" from you. This makes access to your gear really easy. Unfortunately this does not overcome the uncomfortable nature of the bag. I will probably keep the bag and use it only to carry my camera gear (never more than camera and 2 lenses) but not add the computer.

Comments about Tamrac 5784 Evolution Messenger 4 Bag:

I was loking for a bag that can carry both my laptop and camera when travelling, this one just suited that purpose at a reasonable price. The quick access zippered top was very convenient.

Comments about Tamrac 5784 Evolution Messenger 4 Bag:

I use this bag as a day-to-day carrying case. It hold my D90 with an attached lens, an extra tele and flash. There is room for some auxiliary stuff too.
Love the zip-top access.
Only downside is that when used to, or near, it's full capability, it gets pretty puffy.

Comments about Tamrac 5784 Evolution Messenger 4 Bag:

Having endured several times the inconvience of having my flight plans destroyed, this bag is just the right size for most any plane (even a Cessna 150). As neither Government nor supply and demand appear to be able to twart the airline industry, this item give you some peace of mind taht you'll be able to carry at least one camera body with you.

Comments about Tamrac 5784 Evolution Messenger 4 Bag:

This bag replaced one from Tamrac that traveled around the world with me umpteen times for 25 years. The upgrade is the addition of a sleeve to protect an iPad,, onto which I load my files after filling my M-9 disks. Plus the iPad keeps travel guides, periodicals, and email handy. A perfect travel bag for the digital traveler.