Pac safe camera bag or other thoughts?

Don't think the Pac Safe bag is big enough but it is a great bag. Think you'd need to leave the tripod at the hotel. I have the 70D with a 18 -125 mm lens. I find that the small Tenba Shootout Sling Bag works extremely well and believe it would carry all that you wish to take.

The tenba doesn't look very purse like and I was thinking I needed something pursish to not have to check it in some churches and tourist sites????

Then go with the Pac Safe or something new like the Porteengear Camera Bags. Look online.

felicia, Are you buying the Camera bag mainly for carrying the Camera during air or rail travel OR for use when you're out day touring? Which bag to choose will depend to some extent on what you're planning to use it for. I use a LowePro Nova 4AW Camera bag ( www.amazon.com/Lowepro-Nova-AW-Camera-Black/dp/B00013J8G8 ) for travel between locations, but usually just carry my Camera "in the open" when I'm out touring. It's just too awkward to have to dig the Camera out of a bag every time I want to take a photo. I typically only take one extra Lens when touring, which would fit easily into a pocket on my Vest or in a Messenger Bag. The two Lenses I usually take for touring are a medium range zoom (24-105) on the Camera and a wide angle (10-22). I've thought of buying the PacSafe Camera Strap, but it doesn't get overly good ratings in user reviews. I try to be very careful with the Camera, and often have the Strap looped around my wrist even when I'm dining. Happy travels!

Ken,
Very good thoughts for me to think about. I am considering another camera bag mostly for site seeing in Italy. I have a camera backpack that I like. However, it seems that some site seeing places, mostly in Italy, require you to check all backpacks and I don't want to part with my camera equipment. I recently purchased the pacsafe camera strap but have not used it yet. I think I am taking only 1 lens 18-270mm. It is the one I use the most. My thought was to travel with my backpack and switch to the shoulder bag while site seeing in Italy. I've always put my camera back into the backpack when not shooting, sitting down to eat, etc. for safe keeping. I could consider carrying it just by itself on those days but, some of those places say NO PICTURES!, so will they just let me carry my camera in? Art museums in Florence, etc. IN Venice at St. mark's basillica, RS book pg. 85, it says, " smaller bags and shoulder slung bags allowed in the church but larger bags and backpacks are not." It also says, "Photography is forbidden inside the church but is allowed on the balcony of the san marco museum, which has great views overlooking the square" also, I enjoy photography and usually take more than 1 photo/view. I will not be able to download anything so need plenty of space on SD cards. I ordered some new from B&H. I have 12 cards 4G, 4 cards 8G, and 3 cards 2G. Does that seem enough for 2 weeks of pretty heavy shooting? I have 4 rechargeable batteries and an adapter that allows regular batteries. I will be the main photographer for the whole group. I am amatuer/hobby not professional.

Claudia,
Wow! the proteengear camera bags are beautiful. However, they might be too small and very pricey. I do like them and it would not look like a camera bag but more like a purse.

felicia, I also have a Camera Backpack, but there's absolutely no way I will ever travel with it. It's just too large and too cumbersome to haul around Europe, and not practical. Also, Backpacks are NOT a good idea in crowded places, as they tend to "smack into" other people. As you mentioned, some Museums and Cathedrals require Backpacks to be checked, and that's anohter reason I don't use a Daypack. The Borghese Gallery in Rome requires just about EVERYTHING to be checked, including larger Cameras. If you're visiting there, be prepared to check your Camera (they take good care of it). You could also use one of the cross-body "Sling" Packs (check the LowePro website). If you wear it in the front, it's easier to access the Camera. If you're using a Canon 30D, are you using SD cards or CF cards? I've always been allowed to carry my Camera into places that don't allow photos. Even if I see others taking photos inside, I always respect the rules. Some places allow photos but don't allow Flash or Tripods, so you'll need to use higher ISO in those locations. On the question of how many Memory Cards you'll need, the answer will often depend on whether you're shooting JPEG, RAW or both, and your "shooting style". Twelve memory cards should be more than adequate for two weeks. I normally travel with a Netbook now, so I'm able to backup photos at the end of each day. It doesn't have enough "horsepower" to process RAW photos, but can store them. I often keep "full" Memory Cards in my Moneybelt, or somewhere in the room in a different location than the Camera bag. If you keep Cards in the Moneybelt, it's a good idea to line it with plastic to prevent perspiration damage. Cheers!

Well (obviously) everyone has their own idea about travel with a camera. I use a small Lowepro bag that is shaped much like a camera. I take a DSLR with an 18 to 250mm attached and a 30mm f 1.8 in the bottom (I know lots of people take wide angle, but to me it gets distorted pretty fast. I appreciate the speed of the 30 and use panorama stiching software to cover more ground.) Anyway, I also take one spare battery (rechargable), a few cleaning tools and some cards. A flashlight is a must, but I use the tiny little led light like the one RS sells. Weights nothing but does a very good job. This bag can be slung over the shoulder or attached to the belt. I have used monopods, mini tripods and have finally settled on a lightweight travel tripod (although I want one that is a little taller than my current model.) IMHO the tripod (although it can't be used everywhere) is a must for HDR, good night shots and covers a number of evils indoors (if you can use it.) I have attached it to the outside of the case. I leave what I can (the battery recharger some of the cards) with my luggage. I also carry a netbook computer in my luggage to back up my shots (I shoot in RAW and took about 4,000 pics on my last trip.) When traveling, the camera shaped bag fits nicely into my luggage as does the travel tripod. When touring, the bag attaches easily to my belt or shoulder and protects the camera when it isn't actually in my hands taking shots. ps. Not sure I see Italy as any more high risk than other places I have been. Common sense will likely be your best protection. Don't lay your camera down, ask someone (you don't know) to snap your pic, leave your bag unattended etc. Have fun and keep snapping!