Lots of space. Fits to your body and soft exterior makes it less bulky for travel. Top access. slap lock for other street and field attachment bags.

No tripod strap. Front pockets could be bigger.

Excellent bag for travel. Hold my 2 Pro SLR bodies, 4 lenses, 2 flashs, digital P&S, and other accessories and still has a lot of room left. Less bulky than other rigid bags like the Magnum or Nova. Top access zipper is the main reason I bought this bag. New re-design has removed the old handle at the back and now Lowepro added another short strap to the D rings for hand carry. It resulted in much better balance and the bag will not tilt even the top cover is not locked. When swing to the back, act as a strap to to handle of large lauggage.

Customer Service

Don't know.

Similar Products Used:

Nova 2, Nova 4, Minolta bag, Nikon bag.

It rules

It weaighs 100lbs.

It's hella baddasss, dude.

Customer Service

nkjsnnflk

Similar Products Used:

Shermnanb tank and dodge dart.

This bag holds a great deal of equipment in a nicely organized manner. I like the lense pouches and am still finding pockets. Although it is soft construction it certainly appears to have very good protective qualities. It is balanced and carries well also. I really like the top zippered cover that offers immediate access. Well thought out and nicely finished.

Although no bag is perfect I really haven't found any weaknesses yet.

This is a well constructed bag that holds a great deal of equipment in an orderly fashion. It will hold an 80-200,f 2:8 with the lense hood on. Very deep yet pouches organize items. I have rated this at a "4" only because I think there are too many 5's handed out and perfection does not exist in any one bag. This is a very good unit.

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

LowePro Magnum AW, Domke,

1) Roomy,
2) Quick through the top access of equipment, and
3) Loops and straps for additional peripheral items.

1) Same old uncomfortable strap similar to the Nova 5,
2) No rubber feet on the bottom of the bag like the Nova 5,
3) No Velcro vertical dividers like the Nova 5,
4) Bag will tip over onto its front, and
5) You had better not unlatch the two front clasps if you intend to lift this bag by the handle...you will get to watch your expensive goods tumble to the ground. This never happened with either the Nova 4 or 5 models.

I only bought this bag because Henry's was celebrating their grand opening of their expanded ground floor retail floor space and was offering 20% discount on the regular price of this bag.

I also needed something to carry the following stuff:

a) Nikon F5,
b) AF Zoom-Nikkor 80-200 mm f/2.8DN ED-IF,
c) AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70 mm f/2.8D ED,
d) AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 17-35 mm f/2.8D ED,
e) Nikon SB-28 Speedlight with Strobofen Omni-Bounce,
f) Nikon SC-17 cord,
g) Lens and body caps,
h) Drugstore size rubber squeeze blower,
i) Lenscleaning pen/brush,
j) Manfrotto 200PL quick-release tripod head plate,
k) Nikon F5 and SB-28 owners manuals,
l) Microfiber cleaning cloth and lens cleaning fluid, and
m) Sharpie black marker.

I barely still have room for other stuff.

Still not the perfect bag. I will never carry this bag on my shoulder with sixteen pounds of equipment. I leave it in the car or carry it into a building. The rubber feet will definitely help keep the bottom of the bag cleaner.

Customer Service

Have not tried yet.

Similar Products Used:

I used to own the Nova 4 and 5 models.

None

None

Dear www.photographyreview.com:

In my haste, I neglected to proofread the weaknesses category on my November 14, 2000 review. Please change sentence 3) "No Velcro vertical dividers like the Nova 5," to read "No smaller Velcro vertical dividers like the Nova 5 to configure my system...I had to use a divider from my old Nova 5 to use in my new Reporter 500 AW and luckily the two grey colours matched,"

Similar Products Used:

None

Comfortable against waist. Fast access to equipment via the top flap. Modular like to accept other Street and Field accessories. Wipe clean fabric.

External pockets could be larger. Rubber legs sewn to bag's bottom would help.

The namesakes suits my type of go-go-go photography. The best bag in its class for through the top accessibility.

Customer Service

Not tried yet.

Similar Products Used:

Tamrac and Domke.

Price,
Flexes to the contour of my hip when the central compartment (which houses my Nikon F5) is empty,
Full height internal Velcro walls,
Attachments for Street & Field goodies,
Easy to clean exterior fabric, and
Easy access into bag through zippered top.

Uncomfortable shoulder strap when bag is loaded with flagship camera body, flash and f/2.8 zoom lenses from 17mm to 200mm,
Unlike the new 600 and 650 bags, the 500 bag comes with a poorly designed off-centre carrying handle (the bag rotates forward and is awkward to carry),
A tight fit with a notebook computer, and
Missing rubber feet means constant wiping of the bags bottom.

I added and shortened a carrying strap from my carry-on travel bag to the D-rings of the 500. The load is now balanced making it easier to lift the 500 out of the back of my car. Lowepro should sell the carrying strap from their 600 and 650 bags as an accessory item.

I also purchased from a luggage store a $15 Canadian dollar heavy duty shoulder strap to replace the original shoulder strap. This replacement strap is almost similar to Lowepro's heavy duty strap which sells for around $30 Canadian dollars.

The 500 should come with more vertical dividers similar to the 600 and 650. Additional vertical dividers should also be optional accessory items.

To prevent the compression straps from dangling, I tie them around the accessory loops. This is not a permanent solution because the straps can still loosen and dangle.

The lack of feet on the bottom of the bag means I have to be more conscientious of maintaining a clean bottom.

My two beefy f/2.8 zoom lenses sit like bookends inside the bag with my F5 with another beefy f/2.8 zoom sandwiched in the middle. With the 500 on my shoulder, accessing the bookend beefcakes can be a struggle when I'm dressed in a thick winter coat.

Because of the off-centre location of the carrying handle and uncomfortable shoulder strap, I deduct one star for value and overall ratings.

Customer Service

I went to Dayman (Canadian distributor for Lowepro) to enquire about a carrying hand strap similar to the new 600 and 650 bags for the 500.

More than a month later and they still have not returned my call. Lousy customer service.

Similar Products Used:

Lowepro Nova 5,
Lowepro Street & Field 600 AW, and
Lowepro Street & Field 650 AW.

Deep bag with ample room for my gear. Protects my gear from the rain and snow with all those pull out rubber covers it has stashed in it.

This bag tips over to the front or back when you sit it down, since the bottom is not flat (plus there are no feet on this bag). The top MUST be snapped closed, or your gear pours out of it, as it tips over. If you pick it up by the back small strap, it leans forward, and the gear will fall out!, so make darn sure the snaps are closed holding the top flap. The strap is total junk. The front pockets are to small. This bag has hanging straps that catch on things as you move around. Poor bag design, period.

I dont care for this bag, but it is roomy, holding my long lenses. A working pro would never like this bag, that is my opinion.

Customer Service

none, not worth the money to send it in.

Similar Products Used:

Domke original, tamrac and temba bags.