VANGUARDAlta Sky 51D Camera Backpack for Sony, Nikon, Canon, DSLR, Drones

The individual or team that designed this camera backpack should get an award, if they havent already. The first thing you notice is its durability. Nothing was held back in materials, padding, stitching and overall tank-like construction. The straps are super padded and very comfortable. I'm an avid hiker and this pack is built to, and even surpasses in some cases, the specifications of the best hiking packs you might find at your local outdoor recreation retailers. Even the bottom is especially reinforced with tough material, and its very flat so the pack stands UPRIGHT and doesnt tip over, which is an exceptional feature for a backpack every time you set it down. Perfect!The second thing you notice is the number of pockets. Wherever there is real estate on this bag it has a pocket, and its definitely making the best use of space for its moderately smaller, much easily-manageable 45L size.The next thing that stood out was how well it looked. The designers put in the effort and attention to making it look nice, with the angles and layering of the materials and overall appearance. It's stylish and less box-square, bulky shaped than your typical camera bag. Yet even this is an illusion, because it maintains its reinforced inner shape to keep your lenses and gear stacked and padded in that compartment shape but it just doesnt look like it on the outside --which lends itself to the added brilliance in the design.Now nothing is perfect ... so here are the few (and there are only a few) features I wish were different: When you open the main compartment via the back of the bag (which is the best method by the way, than from the front face on camera bags), the flap does not stay open and lay back, but always falls closed. When you're reaching for something or putting it away quickly that's fine, but when you're packing and organizing it would be nice that it stayed open. (I lay my jacket on it to keep the flap back). But its annoying.You also have to turn the should straps so they flip backward and out of the way while accessing this back compartment, but they do so just fine, and that doesnt count as a problem of this pack ---as all packs of this style would require that.Really the only other thing I wish were better was the selection in sizes. It may appear that many sizes are offered but they alternate in style/design as you go up in size.. So I cant get this same type of pack in a slightly larger size (which I would prefer a slightly larger 49L would be perfect) without jumping from 45 to 51 to keep the same style. But the 51 is too big for what I want. The one(s) in between are a style that doesnt have the compartments in the locations I prefer that are found on this one, the 45, and 51. But oh well.. I just have to get a little creative with the (slightly too small for my needs) 45, and just hang a few more things off its side, or strap it over the top or something.Overall, VERY pleased with this purchase.Good job Vanguard engineers/designers.

This camera bag is a beast. It holds all my lenses, batteries and accessories. There are pouches for additional memory cards. I have been able to carry 3 cameras within the main area. The section at the bottom will hold additional lenses or camera bodies. The Velcro partitions can be moved around to accommodate any setup you like. The zippers are sturdy and seem like they will not wear out any time soon. The padding is great and I have no concerns that my gear is well protected. The straps are padded and comfortable. They are also very durable. Overall this is a great camera bagis large and will suit your needs just fine.

This bag is almost perfect.For me at least the hip strap is too large, so I broke out the sewing machine and cut off a bit of material at the base of the strap and sowed it back on so it fits me. However I don't expect this to be a problem for most people.However, IN GENERAL THE MAIN COMPARTMENT SUFFERS FROM AN AKWARD DEPTH. For most of my lenses, they can slide around quite a bit in the extra height (when the bag is laying flat so you can access the internal compartment) when laid flat, however, I can fit even my largest zoom lens in the bag (Sigma 150-600 f6.3 Contemporary), even with the lens hood and 2x teleconverter installed. Still, I wish that there was extra padding included to fill the extra space. And even then, the included dividers are not as tall as the compartment, so small lenses can slip around the dividers when the backpack is worn or upright. However I definitely would have liked a better configuration for holding the DSLR in the top of the bag by the top accessible flap (another symptom of the main compartment being to tall/deep). Also, it would be nice to have a few more dividers to allow transport of multiple smaller lenses/items.I've solved the first problem by sewing little "blocks" of felt folded like an accordion to give them thickness, with a small patch of Velcro on each corner of the bottom (so the cushions don't fall out), to the size of each compartment/lens footprint, to take up the extra space. I've solved the second problem by using the "U" shaped dividers included to make a cradle that fits my frequented lens (Sigma 24-105 f4 Art), against the front wall of the bag, so the camera is well secured, but the remaining space is large enough to fit an entire other camera body attached to a small lens vertically below it in the depth/thickness of the pocket, along with small spaces for other gear along the sides of the pocket. I've used this space to store my film camera (Minolta 7000 Maxxim), alongside my DSLR (Nikon D610), and used the side space to hold a film container and the softbag containing extra screws for my tripod, and few lens adapters. You can use one of the dividers to separate the two cameras bodies so they don't touch. For the third problem I've bought some third party dividers of the same dimensions (but taller) to fit the bag.IF YOU HAVE LONG AND LARGE DIAMETER LENSES, YOU'LL LOVE THIS BAG. If you have smaller diameter lenses, like Olympus or others, get something else.Secondly, for a hiking backpack I really expect a pouch for a water pouch (a flexible reservoir, ie a platypus). There isn't one, and while you can use the laptop pocket, make sure that the pressure of the bag doesn't cause your mouthpiece to drop while wearing the backpack, for me it didn't, however my Osprey water bag has a backpressure prevention valve built in, most don't. However, even if this solution works, it means I can't really bring my laptop, which isn't great. I don't have a solution for this yet.Finally, I really wish that they had added side pouches on the hip support strap. They are very long as it is (a problem for people with small waists like me as they won't tighten far enough) and they could have used that space to add a zippered pocket on each side. As it is, there are no pouches easily accessible while the backpack is on. I solved this problem by purchasing kevlar-cloth zipper bags and sewing them to my modified hip straps, and appreciate the extra space and easy access on the trail.With all the problems out of the way however, I love everything else. The quality of the materials is impressive, and the padding is luxurious. I am no longer worried for my camera's safety when I hike. The side pouches are especially nice, with very stretchy fabric that slides easily, perfect for water bottles or small tripods. Not many packs can let you bring a drone, a DSLR, extra lenses, a tripod, and a water bottle. The bag is very comfortable, and I've used it on several strenuous 8+ hour hikes with significant elevation gain, and absolutely love it (with the modified hip straps at least). The rain cover works very well, however isn't quite large enough to cover my large tripod when strapped to the back of the bag vertically, however this can be solved by moving the tripod to the bottom horizontal roll mount, if you don't have something there already, but it can be a bit akward (and make sure your tripod is waterproof), but it means all the rest of your gear is protected. Even during fairly intense rain, the backpack was fairly dry, and all of my gear inside was completely dry, and not even damp (even my viewfinder didn't fog up, which is a first). There are just enough dividers included to configure the backpack to carry almost everything. The dividers have a stiff foam inside and a non-abrasive yet slick outside covering, allowing even tightly packed lenses to slide in and out of storage easily, and the inside is very well padded, especially the bottom of the bag, and covered with a thick, soft fabric. The padding on the back wall of the backpack is exceptional, even better than my dedicated hiking backpack, and the bottom of the bag has a very thick kevlar-like plastic that allows you to set the bag down even on sharp rocks, damp grass, or wet sand without worry of poking through the bag to your gear, or getting it wet. I HAVEN'T FOUND ANYTHING BETTER, and I've hiked a combined 45 miles with it and I'VE TRIED MANY OTHER HIKING-CAMERA BACKPACKS, AND THIS IS THE ONLY ONE I HAVEN'T RETURNED. Even with it's flaws, it's a keeper.TLDR----------------------------------------CONS:Main compartment is maybe too tall/deep, too few dividers, no place for platypus/water reservoir, no hip pouches.PROS:Premium materials, sturdy construction, great protection for your gear, practically fully customizable, and unmatched comfort, even for strenuous hikes and long durations.

Thought I would share my thoughts on a backpack I just received for my camera setup. It is a vanguard Alta sky 68 bought on Amazon for $298 usd. First it appears to be made of good quality materials. The padding on the back is excellent and the hip belt and chest band fit. I am large 6’4” 270# with a 42” waist and 46” chest plus size LOL this is the first backpack that actually fits my body. It will work as a carry on for airlines but is too large for an under seat bag. They make a couple slightly smaller bags as well that would work for the Sony 200-600 lens. With my Sony a7r4 with the 200-600, my Sony a7r3 with a 24-240mm my Sony a6700 with 18-105 I can access all of these cameras from the top of the bag as well as access to a large laptop pocket. several outside pockets for extra batteries filters and cleaning supplies. The back opening is large and has lots more room plenty for a drone and accessories or more lenses. On the outside is a crane gimbal and a tripod.