Is the ID a good choice for carrying a 13" MacBook Air and a DSLR?

[bdrago]

I've been researching the ID for a day bag to carry a 13" MBA and a medium-sized DSLR. I have more sturdy bags for travel, so plan on just using a sleeve and not a Brain Bag.

Unfortunately almost all the reviews linked from the ID product page no longer exist or are missing photographs, so it's hard to tell if this the ID is enough.

I want to keep the bag as small as possible, but still big enough to stash these items in it.

[misterN]

I wouldn't see why not. You might even be able to get away with an Imago.

[moriond]

I've been researching the ID for a day bag to carry a 13" MBA and a medium-sized DSLR. I have more sturdy bags for travel, so plan on just using a sleeve and not a Brain Bag.

Unfortunately almost all the reviews linked from the ID product page no longer exist or are missing photographs, so it's hard to tell if this the ID is enough.

I want to keep the bag as small as possible, but still big enough to stash these items in it.

Hi bdrago,

You might want to read through some of the posts in these forum threads:

• dbradford's Decision Time thread
• moose's imago vs. id thread
• ncb4's carrying synapse thread
• maverick's You tube video on using the Synapse as a Camera bag and the parent forum thread about using a Smart Alec as a camera bag

To put this in context, since not all these threads are directly related to your question about pictures and the ID bag as a camera bag: dbradford's thread was about trying to decide between an ID bag (which he ultimately got) and various other bags for travel. He sometimes carried a 13" Macbook. As I recall, I linked several images of the ID bag in the replies. (If not, there were even more in the private message exchanges that I still have. But they were a bit oddly chosen because he wanted reference photos to people with small builds to see how well this would work in Southeast Asia.)

I'm not sure that an Imago (misterN's suggestion) would work with both 13" MBA and DLSR. It might, because the MBA in sleeve is thin, but might also be a bit small. The thread by moose discusses size tradeoffs between the Imago and ID bag. ncb4 has used a number of different bags for camera equipment, and most recently is trying a Synapse (just received). This might also work for you, because it holds more than an Imago, but is easier to carry than an ID bag. It also works very well with 13" MacBook (Pro), and obviously will fit the MBAs. The maverick video shows using the Synapse just as a camera bag. There are also other maverick videos showing using the Synapse with other items.

This response has wandered around a bit, but if, after consideration of the contents of these various threads, and after posting questions to the various authors, you still want more links to images of the ID bag, and have specific questions, ask, and I'll post again.

moriond

[ncb4]

bdrago, moriond's response is excellent, especially with all the forum links she provided. I'm one of the people she referenced, and since I've had an ID, an Imago, a Medium Cafe Bag, and now a Synapse, I think perhaps my experience may help you. (I have an 11-inch Macbook Air and a medium-sized DSLR myself, an Olympus e620.)

If you want to carry both your DSLR and a 13-inch Macbook Air, I think your best choice would be between the ID and the Synapse. Without knowing what kind of DSLR you have and what size it is with your favorite lens attached, I can't say for sure. But you might conceivably be able to squeeze both of them "naked" into an Imago. But if you're like me, and want to protect your MBA and your camera in some kind of wrap or inset, I really don't think the Imago would work for you (nor would the Cafe bag, even a large one).

I was able to carry my camera, my larger 13-inch Macbook, and many, many other things in the ID bag when I made a trip to Edinburgh a couple years ago. The ID has tons of room inside, can carry a lot, and yet it didn't overwhelm me when I carried it (I'm female, 5'8"). However, I ended up selling it because on a daily basis, it was more bag than I needed. I much prefer the Imago for a day-bag, though I do have to make a decision when I take it: it is going to be a computer bag today, or a camera bag? It can't be both, not unless I decide to slip in my small Panasonic Lumix point-and-shoot camera.

I got the Synapse specifically to carry my Olympus, lenses, and other camera gear, but after packing it for the first time yesterday, I can tell you that there would be plenty of space leftover to add my MBA 11 in a protective sleeve such as the Cache. So I think the Synapse might work well for what you'd like to do.

Hope this helps.

[misterN]

Blah. For some reason I passed right over the 13 inch part. (Maybe because I've been trying to talk myself into buying an 11" for the past two days.) Yea the Imago would definitely be a no-go on that one.