I already owned the Tenba Mixx small top load bag, and was pleased with the quality and value. So I was prepared for the same level of quality, as the Mixx large top load is basically the same product, but just slightly bigger. Being taller, this bag might be best suited for a SLR with a telephoto lens
A triangular shaped holster just screams "I'm carrying a DSLR!", so the more generic rectangular shape of the MIXX Top Load is a positive, although it still looks like a camera bag. Tenba's build quality and workmanship is very good, pretty much on par with Lowepro and Tamrac.
The bag has a sturdy nylon belt loop located near the top of the case, where it provides good stability. There is a layer of nylon mesh on the back side which is against the body, to help with heat dissipation. In the front there is a large zippered compartment, which contains an internal zippered compartment, and two small pockets suitable for memory cards, batteries, or other small items. The included rain cover can be stored here, or inside the bag.
On each of the bag's side panels, there is a small pocket made of neoprene. Although Tenba claims that you can securely store items like a cell phone here, I would not place anything valuable in these pockets, as they can easily slide out. The adjustable shoulder strap has easily operable metal clips, and metal swivel fittings. The attachment fittings on the bag are plastic rather than metal, but at least they are thick walled, and not likely to break easily. There is also a carrying handle on the top of the bag.
The case has a decent amount of padding surrounding the main compartment. The approximate interior dimensions are 10.5" high, 7" at its widest point, and 5.5" across. The bag can comfortably accommodate a DSLR with a mid-sized lens up to about 8" with a 77mm filter. Unfortunately, the opening at the top is probably not wide enough to accommodate most DSLR's with a battery grip attached. There has been a recent improvement to the design, as there are now adjustable dividers in the interior, which can be used to help support and stabilize your camera body.
If you are not using a telephoto lens, there is some space for additional gear. You will just need to experiment, and see what works best for you. Besides another small lens, there could be enough room for a stiff sling type strap, like those by Black Rapid. Finding a bag with enough space to accommodate a sling strap can be tricky, as these bulky straps take up a lot of space.
There is a zippered pocket made of opaque plastic with a mesh overlay, on the bottom of the lid. There is a cloth tab over the zipper tab to prevent it from scraping your camera. If you store the rain cover at the bottom of the main compartment, it provides a little more padding in a crucial area, and frees space in the front pocket.
If you need to carry several lenses and a flash, this bag may not meet your needs. However if you can get by with a couple of midsized lenses, it might be big enough. The various methods for carrying, and good build quality are a plus, and for those who care, the bag comes in various color schemes.
I have three Tenba bags, all purchased really cheap, through Amazon's Warehouse Deals. I assume they were returned by buyers who didn't like them. I'm not sure why, as Tenba's bags are a pretty good value even at full price.
Just because I know I relied so heavily on others' reviews to decide which bag to buy, I thought I'd add my own since my camera body and lens combo didn't seem to be represented yet in the reviews. I have a Sony A55 with 2 lenses: 18-55 and a 75-300. This bag will accommodate my Sony A55 body with the 18-55 lens attached AND the 75-300 lens in a soft lens bag on top of the camera. OR it will fit the Sony A55 body with the 75-300 lens and hood attached. And there are pouches to fit a spare battery WITH the charger, extra lens caps, media cards, etc. I think it's well-made, well-padded, and oversized (for those of us who TRY to keep our gear to a min).
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Quality zippers, padding and exterior material. Fits perfectly a Nikon D7000 with a pro class 17-55 metal lens. I find this bag very handy when walking around with only all-around lens on your camera.
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I have been looking for a nice, compact bag for my Nikon D3000, and I think this bag does the trick. The adjustable and removable shoulder strap is super comfy and doesn't slide around on my shoulder and the bag feels very quality. I also love that it comes with the weather proof cover-that was an added surprise. I like the Velcro on the inside that can be positioned like a shelf. I can comfortably fit my telephoto lens and my camera body with its kit lens attached.
The only reason there are 4 stars instead of 5 is that I do think this bag looks like a lunch box. I also wish that there was another pocket on the outside or the pocket that was on the outside was a little bit larger-I like to be able to fit my cell phone and wallet in my bag-which I can squeeze in there if I take out the weather proof cover it came with.
Overall, great little bag that is very comfy to carry around and I would really recommend it, especially to those who don't typically carry much on them.
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I am delighted with this bag. I have room for a SLR and two lenses, assorted filters, a smaller digital point-and-shoot, a cell phone, an ipod and earbuds, lip gloss, note pad and pens and pencils for sketching and notes, bandana, and my Kindle. I love having the rain cover which also serves as a good dust cover for times when the camera must be set aside for more mundane activities.
The zippers are sturdy and easy to use. The fabric is tough and wipes clean with a damp cloth. I suspect this bag will be quite durable. At last, my quest for a light-weight, sturdy bag with room for extras is complete. Looking forward to lots of
happy hours seeing what I can see with my camera. If I didn't like to carry a couple of lenses as well as a small camera and extras, I would have gone with one of the smaller sizes.
If you are on the fence, I would recommend trying this one. I think it is a winner.
I had one of these for 7 years. It stood up to a lot of abuse. It's great for traveling and school. It can hold 4-5 days worth of cloths, my lap top and other supplies without an issue. It got me through high school, undergrad and my masters degree. It was still functioning well but showing its age so I just bought another identical one.
