UPDATE: The laptop pocket is made for 13" laptops, My 13" MacBook Pro fits in it and there really is not too much "wiggle room" . May Mac measures roughly 9" wide by 13" long. You might want to look up exact measurements on apple's site.
I went to England over the summer, long story short, they had a Crumpler store! Boy, was I excited! (Oh, took some killer photos too)
I bought a new Crumpler camera backpack among a few other things. Crumpler has a different lineup of products in Europe then they do in the U.S. (I had my eye on the Pony Box for some time now but I had no way of buying it.) Now I am more of a messenger bag type person but I will eventually break down and agree that a backpack is more comfortable if your out and about for long periods of time. The reason why I like messenger bags so much is you can get your camera and accessories out of the bag without putting it down. You can even get stuff out while your walking. Not so with a backpack... until now. What I like about the Crumpler Pony Box so much is that there is a zipper on top of the bag so that you can get your camera out without laying the bag down on the ground in dog pee. The only problem is that you can only reach your camera and maybe one other accessory, depending on how you setup the bag. Unfortunately you can only reach the very top of the bag through this zipper, in order to reach the rest of the bag the bag must be placed on it's front. Unlike other bags the part of the bag that rests upon your back is the section that opens up. Some people like this setup, others don't. Personally, I like it. I feel that my gear is more protected from thieves. In past experience Crumpler's robust material actually is pretty dirt resistant too.
Now, I am a big fan of Crumpler, so naturally I have many of their bags. For the few years I had them I really beat the living snot out of them. None of my bags have broke, worn out, or failed me in any way shape or form. Most of them still look new. Crumpler bags are tougher than a Sherman tank. So take my word, the Pony Box is strong. Not only is the material tough, it is also rain proof/resistant. Crumpler also supplied a rain cover for the bag for your trecks though the Amazon rain forest.
I bought a new Crumpler camera backpack among a few other things. Crumpler has a different lineup of products in Europe then they do in the U.S. (I had my eye on the Pony Box for some time now but I had no way of buying it.) Now I am more of a messenger bag type person but I will eventually break down and agree that a backpack is more comfortable if your out and about for long periods of time. The reason why I like messenger bags so much is you can get your camera and accessories out of the bag without putting it down. You can even get stuff out while your walking. Not so with a backpack... until now. What I like about the Crumpler Pony Box so much is that there is a zipper on top of the bag so that you can get your camera out without laying the bag down on the ground in dog pee. The only problem is that you can only reach your camera and maybe one other accessory, depending on how you setup the bag. Unfortunately you can only reach the very top of the bag through this zipper, in order to reach the rest of the bag the bag must be placed on it's front. Unlike other bags the part of the bag that rests upon your back is the section that opens up. Some people like this setup, others don't. Personally, I like it. I feel that my gear is more protected from thieves. In past experience Crumpler's robust material actually is pretty dirt resistant too.
Now, I am a big fan of Crumpler, so naturally I have many of their bags. For the few years I had them I really beat the living snot out of them. None of my bags have broke, worn out, or failed me in any way shape or form. Most of them still look new. Crumpler bags are tougher than a Sherman tank. So take my word, the Pony Box is strong. Not only is the material tough, it is also rain proof/resistant. Crumpler also supplied a rain cover for the bag for your trecks though the Amazon rain forest.
Rain cover inside the side pocket.
The bag can swallow up more gear then what it looks like it can. I can fit 50D's in just fine and my trusty side kick camera. (My side kick camera is a Canon 350D with battery grip.) The Pony Box gets really deep at the bottom of the bag. I can stand my 580EX II flash upright at the bottom and it fits just fine. I can also fit more in the Pony Box than I can in my "6 Million Dollar Home." That includes my biggest (dimension wise) lens, a Sigma 50-500mm DG. Although I did have to get pretty creative with arranging the padded dividers. The bag has a laptop sleeve built into the back of the bag. It isn't removable.
The bag can swallow up more gear then what it looks like it can. I can fit 50D's in just fine and my trusty side kick camera. (My side kick camera is a Canon 350D with battery grip.) The Pony Box gets really deep at the bottom of the bag. I can stand my 580EX II flash upright at the bottom and it fits just fine. I can also fit more in the Pony Box than I can in my "6 Million Dollar Home." That includes my biggest (dimension wise) lens, a Sigma 50-500mm DG. Although I did have to get pretty creative with arranging the padded dividers. The bag has a laptop sleeve built into the back of the bag. It isn't removable.
The sleeve will probably fit a 13" laptop, it did not fit my 15" laptop. Not even close.
There are also a lot of other places to put memory cards, wires, pens, pencils, etc... (See pics)
While we are talking about size, this bag is a great travel companion. The Pony Box fits in a plane's overhead bins and under the seats fine. It even can fit in a regional jet's overhead bin. (A crj700) Also, this bag doesn't look as big as a house, like some other photo bags. It looks tailored, so the airline employees don't take it away from you because it looks too big.
As with all Crumplers, this bag doesn't look like a photo bag. That way the bag doesn't draw attention to baddies. My bag is a reddish-brownish. It looks stunning in person.
The Pony Box is very comfortable too. The padding on the back of the bag is very good. I thought the straps didn't have enough padding when I looked at it. I was wrong. They have plenty of padding, very comfortable.
While we are talking about size, this bag is a great travel companion. The Pony Box fits in a plane's overhead bins and under the seats fine. It even can fit in a regional jet's overhead bin. (A crj700) Also, this bag doesn't look as big as a house, like some other photo bags. It looks tailored, so the airline employees don't take it away from you because it looks too big.
As with all Crumplers, this bag doesn't look like a photo bag. That way the bag doesn't draw attention to baddies. My bag is a reddish-brownish. It looks stunning in person.
The Pony Box is very comfortable too. The padding on the back of the bag is very good. I thought the straps didn't have enough padding when I looked at it. I was wrong. They have plenty of padding, very comfortable.
View of the very well padded back...
I only have two gripes with this bag. Firstly, the outside side pockets can be difficult to open. (One has the rain cover in it, the other you can use for your ipod) Secondly, the top half of the bag is not very deep. In order for the bag to be styled the way it is, it must be like that. Even though the top is not deep, there's still plenty of room in it.
I only have two gripes with this bag. Firstly, the outside side pockets can be difficult to open. (One has the rain cover in it, the other you can use for your ipod) Secondly, the top half of the bag is not very deep. In order for the bag to be styled the way it is, it must be like that. Even though the top is not deep, there's still plenty of room in it.
What a great looking bag, huh?
With my Sigma 50-500mm for size.
Note the flash in the "deep end".
See the Sigma fits....
View of the quick access zipper.
View of the same quick access area, but with the extra storage flaps out.
I should let you know Crumpler's websites are kind of screwy, you just have to put up with it I guess.
Side Note: I have been doing a lot of apologizing in my posts for my pictures. Well, this post is no exception. I am sorry for the snapshot quality photos. I just came back from my trip yesterday and I am very tired and didn't feel like doing studio shots. So I took these photos in my bedroom, where my bed is. At a later time I will take better quality photos for yoZzzzzzzzzzzz.
Also, check out the archive (to the right of this post) for more photography tips and reviews. There is car stuff too.
Thank you very much! :) I'm buying it in october, but do you think it will fit a 40D with a mounted 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM?
ReplyDeleteYour welcome. That setup should fit with some rearranging of the dividers. The only problem is it will take up pretty much the entire center and length of the bag. There still should be room on the sides of the bag for more gear though.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'd rather pick up the "Italian Connection" either, since I also plan to carry the Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8 and the Canon Speedlite 580EX II in the same bag.
ReplyDeleteBut thank you, I stil got 1 month to pick the right one.. :)
Oh, and do you think both of them would fit as handbagage when I'm flying regional?
ReplyDeleteYou might want to buy the "Italian connection" with your camera gear.
ReplyDeleteI am pretty sure you could get all that to fit inside the pony box but you might want to be on the safe side and get the bigger one.
As far as fitting on the regional jets, the "Italian connection" should fit in the overhead bin but if it doesn't it should defiantly fit under the seat. The flight attendants allow the bag to stick out a little bit.
I take the Pony Box and a "6 Million Dollar Home" as my carry-on baggage. I have had no trouble with the airlines that I flew on with these bags.
Will fit a Macbook Pro 15" in The Pony Box or should I better look at the Italian Connection?
ReplyDeleteGo with the Italian Connection. The Pony Box will only fit a 13inch Laptop.
ReplyDeleteI'm planing to buy this great looking bag !
ReplyDeleteDoes your DSLR with a mounted bigma fit in the pony box ?
It does fit but I had to change the dividers all around it get it to fit.
ReplyDeleteGreat !
ReplyDeleteTwo small things and this bag is on his way home !
Is there a way to fix a tripod somewhere, so you can move hand free ?
And, do you think there is some space left for food and water somewhere with a dslr+ bigma, a 17-50 and a flash ?
If you don't have the Bigma attached to the camera body you should be able to fit a small plastic bottle of water and a snack or two inside with the camera. Unless you can fit the bottle/snacks into the outside pocket. With a bottle, you would leave the outside pocket open and let the bottle stick out. It's not too sturdy but it should be OK.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the tripod, no there is no place to attach one. You might be able to get creative and strap a tripod to the bag with a belt or something.
In my case I don't usually carry around my professional tripod unless if I'm doing a shoot for a client. What I do is bring along my heavy duty GorillaPod, as a general purpose tripod. I travel a lot and that Gorillapod fits in my bag just fine.
I'm not too sure if there are any smaller bags with a tripod holder. You might have to look at a bigger bag to get a holder.
Thanks to your advices, I finaly bought this bag.
ReplyDeleteEvery thing I own fit in and there is room for more.
Currently, I have a MacBook 13", K20D + sigma 100-300 mounted + tamron 17-50 + flash Metz 48 + binoculars + canon ixus 850.
And there is room for at less one more lens (depending the size of it).
The quick access zipper is a wonderful addition no other backpack have.
All in all, a wonderful bag for my use.
It would be great to see a photo of the Pony Box and Six Million Dollar Home side by side, as I own the six and the pony is 99% the next one :) ty
ReplyDeleteGive me a couple days. I'll get a pic up for you. And if I don't get another photo up, please post another comment to remind me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this awesome post! I just have one more question.
ReplyDeleteYou did say "The sleeve will probably fit a 13" laptop, it did fit my 15" laptop. Not even close."
But afterwards you recommended an 'Italian connection', right?
I've got a 15" MacBook Pro, and I wonder if it'll fit on it properly.
Thanks in advance!
Sorry 'bout that. I have a little problem of not reading what I type. So, the result is many typos. Check the update at the top of this post.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking of buying one Pony Box but I need to know something before doing so. I have a Benro C069 tripod whose length is exactly 13" when folded. Would it fit in the camera pouch after removing some of the dividers? I know the laptop pouch is 13" but i'd rather keep the tripod in the inner part of the bag.
Thanks!!
You could fit it, but it would take up a lot of space.
ReplyDelete