Lowepro bags from Ebay????

Elliot87

Senior Member
I've been looking online at Lowepro bags, specifically the Flipside 200, 300 and 400 bags. I don't know for sure which one I want for sure as no bricks and mortar shops near me sell them (have they been discontinued?) so I can't look at one directly.

In any case I can buy them from Amazon.co.uk for £65 Flipside 200 and £79 Flipside 300 and 400. However on ebay there are a load of sellers mostly from China selling them for much cheaper, around £30 -£40, first off I don't trust these not to be fakes and I've read mixed reports about them. There are also sellers in the UK selling them for between £40-£60 depending on which bag you look for. My suspicion is that these are just the same Chinese stock that have been bought cheaply and sold as UK stock for additional profit but I don't know.

Has anyone bought Lowepro bags from Ebay and what did you think? Should I just avoid all of these cheaper Ebay priced bags like the plague?

The seller from this ad has 100% feedback, most of which is from customers who bought the Flipside 400 Lowepro Flipside 400 AW Black universal DSLR camera backpack - UK,NEW | eBay Would you trust this particular seller? They don't have many reviews but all good.



On a side note is it wrong to order any of these bags from amazon just so I can view them with a view to returning them. I want a bag to take my D7100 and 200-500mm attached, not sure the Flipside 200 is quite big enough and I don't know if I want the extra space of the 400 vs the 300. I have a bag not far off the 400 size wise and it is good for travelling but doesn't offer enough support so is not good for carrying lots of gear any significant distance.

I should really have separated this into a couple of posts but all responses welcome whether they're about ebay or just your own views on one or all of those bags.
Thanks
 

paul04

Senior Member
Hi, I got the lowepro 400 from the above link just over a month ago, arrived quickly and well packaged.

It came in the original lowepro packaging, Quality is spot on, and can not fault it, perfect for my D7100 and tamron 150-600mm+18-105mm lens+filters and spare batteries, and even has the rain cover, and clips to add a tripod,
if it is a copy, it's a good one.
 

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
On a side note is it wrong to order any of these bags from amazon just so I can view them with a view to returning them.

As someone who has had to return things to Amazon because the package was previously thumbed through, yes it's "wrong". Get a ruler and measure and compare to the specs. Go to YouTube and watch a dozen unpacking videos and see what people cram inside. It's not a hard job.

And FYI, Amazon will ban you from doing business with them if they suspect this type of activity.
 

Elliot87

Senior Member
As someone who has had to return things to Amazon because the package was previously thumbed through, yes it's "wrong". Get a ruler and measure and compare to the specs. Go to YouTube and watch a dozen unpacking videos and see what people cram inside. It's not a hard job.

And FYI, Amazon will ban you from doing business with them if they suspect this type of activity.

It's not something I've ever done and have only considered it because I've driven to multiple shops I thought might have them with no success. I've measured my gear to compare to specs and watched some review videos as you suggest but I'm still undecided. I would really like to see one first but agree it wouldn't be right just to order to send it back.
 

Elliot87

Senior Member
Hi, I got the lowepro 400 from the above link just over a month ago, arrived quickly and well packaged.

It came in the original lowepro packaging, Quality is spot on, and can not fault it, perfect for my D7100 and tamron 150-600mm+18-105mm lens+filters and spare batteries, and even has the rain cover, and clips to add a tripod,
if it is a copy, it's a good one.

That lines up with what I've read elsewhere, thanks.
 

cbay

Senior Member
Wow that's a lot cheaper than paid for my 400. If it's authentic that would be a great deal. It's a good bag for my Tamron with 150-600.
 

Elliot87

Senior Member
Wow, may be or not,,, seems like it would be a lot of work to copy stuff but then again it happens with stuff more complex than a bag. I guess the reviews with a seller would be the thing to look at.

A few neutral reviews for that seller saying not original Lowepro but good copy, this is the sellers standard response it seems "I get this bag from a lowepro factory in China! it is selling in China well! it is 100% the real bag! please understand!"

I have heard that factories will make exact copies with lesser materials,or make extra to be sold through sellers like this on ebay outside of the official channels. I just don't want to pay return package to China if it turns out to be no good!
 

Ironwood

Senior Member
My son bought one of the flipside 400's off a similar ebay seller here in Australia, he paid about $90 AUS, I paid $100 for my 200 at the local camera shop. He said he cant fault his bag, and said if its a fake, its a good one, and he is happy with it. I haven't seen it yet so cant comment about its quality.
I am thinking about getting a 400 for my 150-600 as I don't have a bag to fit camera and lens attached , so this thread has come along at the right time.
 

Elliot87

Senior Member
Hi, I got the lowepro 400 from the above link just over a month ago, arrived quickly and well packaged.

It came in the original lowepro packaging, Quality is spot on, and can not fault it, perfect for my D7100 and tamron 150-600mm+18-105mm lens+filters and spare batteries, and even has the rain cover, and clips to add a tripod,
if it is a copy, it's a good one.

I think I will probably go with this seller.
 
I have the Flipside 300 and mostly use it for storing and carrying my Tamron 150-600. If I want the camera attached I do have to remove the very long Lens Hood. It will reverse to store so that is not a big problem. Most of the time I carry all my gear in a Pelican hard case and the Tamron won't fit in it. When I get to where I am going and need a back pack I remove the Tamron and put whatever I need extra in the Flipside 300. I generally have the camera out ready to shoot and whatever spare lenses, filters, or flashes I might need in the shoot. I did have the Flipside 200 and it is just to small. I got both the 200 and 300 free with camera purchases

My favorite wife shoots with my D7100 and assorted lenses and she uses a Amazon Backpack for all her gear.
 

jiannazzone

New member
I purchased a Mini Trekker AW from one of the Chinese sellers on Ebay. I suspect it is a copy, perhaps from a factory where Lowepro sourced production. I have no complaints with the quality. I would have purchased from a local dealer if it had been available.
 

Ta2Dave

Senior Member
I ordered my Lowepro Slingshot 202 from a China seller. I must have sat there reading feedback from a dozen different "vendors" for three hours...the folks I ordered from assured me it's a legit Lowepro. Not that I'd be able to tell the difference, but for $40 I'll take a chance.
 

Elliot87

Senior Member
I have the Flipside 300 and mostly use it for storing and carrying my Tamron 150-600. If I want the camera attached I do have to remove the very long Lens Hood. It will reverse to store so that is not a big problem. Most of the time I carry all my gear in a Pelican hard case and the Tamron won't fit in it. When I get to where I am going and need a back pack I remove the Tamron and put whatever I need extra in the Flipside 300. I generally have the camera out ready to shoot and whatever spare lenses, filters, or flashes I might need in the shoot. I did have the Flipside 200 and it is just to small. I got both the 200 and 300 free with camera purchases

My favorite wife shoots with my D7100 and assorted lenses and she uses a Amazon Backpack for all her gear.

Thanks for this, you've helped me rule out the 200, I thought it would be too small but you've confirmed that. I think the 300 would fit my needs for probably 90% of the time, using it as you described, after all the camera isn't much use whilst in the bag. What is still pulling me towards the 400 is that I want a bag that will be good as a carry on bag for flights and also day to day use.

Whichever I choose my favourite wife will probably adopt my Goji bag from Curry's/PC world but she can keep her hands off my D7100 ;)

I think I'll order Flipside 400 from UK ebay seller and maybe down the line gamble £30 on a 300 from China, as it sounds like even if they are fakes they're good and still worth a few notes.
 

§am

Senior Member
If it's any help at all (maybe too late if you've already ordered);

My Flipside 300 will take the following;
D5100 with 18-105mm attached in the centre storage area
SB700 under that
50mm, 55-300mm, battery charger, 2 triggers and spare batteries along the sides all in the main compartment.
In the pouch that sits at the top of themain compartment is my body battery charger and various other bits and pieces.

If I was home I'd take a pic to show you, but it might give you an idea of spacing from that.

One slight grudge I have is, that the flap doesn't open fully so getting to the bottom of your bag is always a little tight. But given the security these bags provide, I'd happily get another one (but probably the 400 as the 300 is a little too narrow and looks odd on my back!!)
 

Elliot87

Senior Member
My bag should arrive today. I expect it to be good but will give feedback here later. I might also get a Flipside 300 down the line if I feel the need for a smaller bag than the 400 but if I do I will get one of the cheap ebay ones from China, as much because I'm curious to see what they are like.
 

Ta2Dave

Senior Member
My Slingshot 202aw arrived yesterday. Everything seems legit. The logo matches my small lowepro bag I got at Target last year. It came wrapped in a plastic bag with Lowepro all over it...stiching is good...straps, buckles and zippers are solid. For $40, I have no complaints. I just need more stuff to put in it. My d3300 with 70-300 lens fits nice. I'll post pics later.
 
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