Camera Labs

Hi,
I have just bought a Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod with a Manfrotto 498RC2 ball head. Next I need to get a tripod bag but the Manfrotto's seem a pricey. Apart from the Manfrotto tripod bags has anyone any good tripod bag suggestions for this tripod and head combination without removing the head. I would prefer a padded bag with shoulder strap.
Having said all that, if the general consensus is that the Manfrotto is worth the extra then maybe I'll have to bite the bullet and go for Manfrotto. I'm open to suggestions.
Thanks, KC

I only have a manfrotto unpadded tripod bag as it was the cheapest tripod bag I could find at the time. It works... haven't looked around for more. I've heard there are unpadded tool bags that could be an option too if you are concentrating on the cost more than performance.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

What is your budget?

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Canon EOS 400D, EF-S 18-55mm, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, EF 50mm f/1.8 MK I, EF-S 10-22mm, EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM, EF 28mm f/1.8, EF 85mm f/1.8
Canon 430EX II, Manfrotto 055CXPRO3, Arca Swiss P0
Panasonic GF3, Panasonic 20mm f/1.7, Olympus 45mm f/1.8

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Thanks popo and mirageii for your replies. I don't have a budget as such but the Manfrotto bag to fit my tripod is over half the cost of the tripod which just seems a tad expensive. I have seen padded carrying bags on e-bay for a quarter of the cost which look okay and just wondered if anyone had any experience of something similar.
Thanks, KC

Which manfrotto bag would you go for if you had the budget?

I bought the Manfrotto MBAG80PN Tripod Bag Padded - 80cm when I bought my tripod legs. When I decided on a ball head I found this bag was a bit big. The bag has a tapered end to allow a pan tilt head (with levers attached) to be carried. I have never used it and keep meaning to ebay it.

I bought a gitzo GC2100 bag which fits my tripod and P0 head perfectly. It looks more like a snooker cue in a case than a tripod.

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Canon EOS 400D, EF-S 18-55mm, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, EF 50mm f/1.8 MK I, EF-S 10-22mm, EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM, EF 28mm f/1.8, EF 85mm f/1.8
Canon 430EX II, Manfrotto 055CXPRO3, Arca Swiss P0
Panasonic GF3, Panasonic 20mm f/1.7, Olympus 45mm f/1.8

MY FLICKR!