Spec Comparison

Not every single item on the D4 spec list has been released yet so I will be upgrading this as they are unveiled.

In terms of specs this is probably the closest that Canon and Nikon’s  flagships have been in a while.  A lot of that comes from Canon’s leap to a full frame sensor but it’s interesting that they were able to squeeze 12fps out of it while Nikon are still ‘only’ on 11fps, especially given the larger MP count on the 1d X.  The DIGIC 5+ processors in the Canon must be incredibly powerful and they are also likely gaining some ground by offsetting the metering to it’s own Digic 4 processor leaving the 5+s to do the heavy lifting.

It’s also interesting to see that the Nikon D4 will be available in February while we have to wait until March for the 1d X, even though it was announced back in November.  Either way though, the major target of the Summer Olympics in London will be met by both parties with relative ease it would seem.

D4 and 1D X For Photos

I think this one is going to be too close to call really.  For the last few years Nikon has had the upper hand in terms of iso quality but the Canon 1DMK 4 was also very very impressive.  Nikon’s advantage though was always that they had a lower pixel density from spreading their megapixel count across a full frame sensor, whereas Canon’s was a 1.3 crop ASP-H sized sensor.  Now that Canon has jumped up to full frame I predict that we’ll see image qualities within 1/3 to 2/3 of a stop of each other in iso performance.  Canon would actually appear to have a slight edge in this areas as well as their native range goes to 51,200 with the D4 only going to 12,800 BUT both expanded ranges from both manufacturers top out at in identical 204,800.

In terms of speed, Canon has a clear edge at 12fps, and a trick up it’s sleeve with the 14fps JPEG mode as well.  The Nikon D4 maintains the 10fps of the D3s but offers an 11fps mode when AF is disabled.  I’m surprised that Nikon have lagged behind in this area.  For AF we’re going to have to wait to get them side by side.  Typically Nikon has been the winner in this category but the huge difference in Canon’s new system compared to that which is in the 1DMK4 indicates that they have been very busy in this area.  They have sacrificed the ability to focus with lenses of a minimum f8 aperture (where Nikon has not) BUT the 1D X has an incredible 21 cross type focus points available for lenses of a minimum f5.6, compared to Nikon D4′s 9 cross type points.  Cross type points aide accuracy greatly so this is a sign that the Canon should be pretty killer in this department and much like the other areas I expect this to be a close call between the two.

D4 & 1D X For Video

I’ve already written an extensive article on the video feature improvements of the 1D X which are plentiful.  DSLR movie making isn’t going anywhere for the moment, despite the launch of highly capable and dedicated large sensor video cameras like the SONY F3 and the Canon C300.  Nikon’s hidden bombshell though is the ability to output uncompressed video from the cameras HDMI port, a feature which people would love to have seen in the Canon 1D X.  H.264 is not a professional video format, it is highly compressed, but with HDMI output it allows filmmakers to attach external recorders to the D4 and record the output direct to Apple ProRes of Avid DNxHD. I have a funny feeling that well priced external recorders like the Atmos Ninja are about to become extremely hot property. The question will be though whether such a feature will overcome the form factor shortcomings of any DSLR ?  At $6000 it’s no small investment and it’s not much more of a jump up to the next level for a camera that will natively record something better than H.264 AND offer other pro features such as timecode and XLR inputs.

The D4 also has a headphone jack !!! See photo below.  This is an awesome feature for this camera.  Canon failed on this one.  To be able to monitor your audio track is a must for good video production.  The article also confirms that there will be on screen audio meters just like the 1D X but the headphone jack is another trump card.

Nonetheless this is quite a coup for Nikon as Canon have long been seen as the leader in DSLR video but this is a feature many people have been waiting for.  Canon are no doubt aware of this but integrating uncompressed output from the 1D X would have severely undermined their new Cinema EOS line of cameras.  Whilst at the moment it only includes the C300, we know that they have a DSLR form factor camera in development for launch sometime this year which will almost certainly feature uncompressed output itself.  They will want to be charging at least the $6800 of the 1D X for the ‘in-development’ camera so you can see why they might wand to hold off on that feature for a little while though it sucks for us as consumers.

XQD Cards

I felt this was worth a separate mention as the Nikon D4 is the very first camera to be announced as using XQD cards.  XQD are the next iteration of Compact Flash cards that will take transfer speeds up to 250mbps.  Currently CF cards in UDMA7 format are topping out at about 167mbps for reference.  The actual XQD card itself is somewhere between the physical size of an SD card and a current CF card.

So is this a big deal ?  Well no not really.  Current CF cards are mighty fast and incredibly reliable and robust.  I remember the failure rate of early CF cards many years ago and I certainly wouldn’t want to be dipping my toes in the world of the very first XQD cards when CF is working so well right now.  I’m sure that the Canon 1D X2 will feature XQD and that should be fine as it will give it time to come down in price and get some more development.  UDMA CF cards are more than capable of capturing the images from either of these cameras at the moment.

What can actually be seen as a downside is that the D4 no longer has dual CF slots.  Those who like to use two cards are going to be forced to adopt both the CF and XQD and then also have to carry around two types of card readers.

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The Tascam DR-100 was also used by quite a few people instead of the H4N but the original version also lacked the line level input that I would like to see.  Tascam has just recently started to ship two new recorders though that BOTH feature mic and line level XLR inputs.  The updated MKII version of the DR-100 and the brand new DR-40 which now takes over from the H4N as the most affordable XLR recorder on the market at around $200.  Let’s take a look at their main features:

Tascam DR-40

• Compact Design
• Adjustable Condenser Mics
• Records to SD/SDHC Media
• WAV/BWF and MP3 Recording
• XLR and 1/4″ Combo Inputs
• Phantom Power
• USB 2.0 Connector
• Integrated Speaker
• 3.5mm Headphone/Line Output
• Battery, AC, or USB Power

Tascam DR-100 MKII

• 4 Built-In Microphones
• Dual XLR Inputs with 48V Phantom Power
• 24-bit/96kHz WAV and MP3 Recording
• Record to SD and SD-HC Cards
• Line Level I/O
• S/PDIF Input
• Variable Speed Playback (-50% to +16%)
• Built-in Speaker
• Rugged Aluminum Casing
• AC or Battery Power

So What’s The Difference ?

The recording functions of both units are very very similar but the DR-100MKII has a lot more physical buttons.  The DR-40 on the other hand is very menu driven.  Buttons cost money !  So the DR-40 had to loose a few in order to come in at a $200 price point whereas the DR-100 MKII is $330.  The physical gain dials on the side of the DR-100 in particular are a very nice addition.  Another big difference is that the XLR input levels of the DR-40 are linked together whereas the DR-100′s can be adjusted independently.  This is the most important difference to be aware of in my opinion !  If you are plugging two different microphones into a DR-40 , they will have to be at the exact same level.  They can be increased and decreased, but only by the same amounts.  If you intent to run an external mixer into the DR-40 then no problem but if you want to mix 2 mics together then the DR-100 is going to be a better bet for you.  The DR-40 also has position changeable mics as you can see from the images.  They can be flipped inwards for a tighter field or outwards to capture more ambient from a scene.  This is a really nice feature to have if you intend to just use he on board mics.

A lot of people have taken to running the line out from a recorder into the mic input of a DSLR to provide a scratch track for syncing, or just for a faster solution in general.  On a Zoom H4N this is possible by using a -25db pad cable to get the line level back down to a mic level input on a DSLR.  For a Tascam recorder you need a -35db pad cable .  The problem has been though that you loose the headphone jack for monitoring with the H4N and the same is to be said for the DR-40 as it only has a headphone jack as a line out.  Some manufacturers are selling -25db pads with a headphone splitter for the H4N but I haven’t seen a -35db version for the Tascam yet, though it could be made.  A benefit of the DR-100 MKII though is that it has BOTH a line out AND a headphone socket.  So you can monitor audio and , using the -35db cable send the audio to record directly in camera.

Other differences include a small size and weight difference and the DR-40′s ability to accept 1/4″ TRS plugs within the XLR socket.

Which One To Buy ?

I’ll try and keep this simple for the sake of brevity.  If you are looking for a good, well priced ambient recorder and intent to use the onboard mics the new DR-40 looks to be a winner over both the H4N and the DR-100 MKII.  If you intent to send the audio directly into the camera via the line out then I would take the DR-100 MKII over the other options.  If you intend to use more than one XLR mic then I would take the DR-100MKII with the one caveat being unless you are running an external mixer.

In short, to me the venerable Zoom H4N has been replaced as the go-to digital recorder for those looking to make the first steps to better audio. Aside from the inability to apply separate gain to both XLR inputs, even the cheaper DR-40 seems to be a better proposition.  The price difference between H4N and DR-100 MKII is worth it for having proper XLR line inputs (not just mic level) and also for having more physical buttons and gain dials , plus the extra line out socket.

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TVC-33s with TA-3-LC HK

I’m a big fan of Really Right Stuff products in general and I use their BH-40 ballhead as well as an MH-01 on my monopod so I was interested to watch their development of a tripod lineup over the last couple of years.  Initially they launched the TVC-33 which promised the support capacity of a Gitzo 5-series but in a size and weight that was closer to a Gitzo 3-series.  Those that have ever handled anything made by RRS will know that they are second to none when it comes to quality of machining and construction.  The new carbon fiber tripods are no different but it comes at a price of course.

When you begin your search for “the one” there are 6 main considerations.  Folded length,   maximum height, weight, capacity, number of leg sections and price.  On top of that there are some secondary considerations like ability to add a center column, ability to change the feet, minimum height (for low level shooting),  and potentially compatibility with certain ball heads (more on this one later).

Now this is MY search for MY perfect tripod and I’m not suggesting it will be everyones answer but in explaining my choices perhaps it will shed light on the direction you should go in.  So here are the considerations I took into account.

• Capable of supporting a 500mm lens with a pro body as this is the heaviest combination  I shoot with.

• Relatively short when collapsed as I travel a lot and want it to fit easily in my checked baggage.  I had previously looked at the TVC-33 and decided that it was a bit too long for my liking, so essentially I was looking for something a little shorter than that.

• Relatively lightweight as I want to have it on my back when skiing and hiking.

• A hook underneath the platform to hang my camera bag on.

• 3-section design.  Every leg lock will add an amount of instability to a tripod so one with only two locks and three sections will be inherently more stable than a 4 section design.  Of course the tradeoff here is that a 3-section design will have a longer folded length but whilst I wanted something relatively short I would sacrifice a couple of inches for stability.

• I want a leveling head because I know that occasionally I would like to shoot panoramas.  A leveling head that is built in to the tripod is preferential to one that you add on later on top of the tripod as it cuts down on a little weight.

• When extended to full height I want a tripod that puts the camera roughly at eye level. I’m 5 foot 9 by the way. This is something that I went back and forth on for a long time.  The general consensus says that you should go for a tripod that is close to your full height.  This means that when shooting on a slope you have plenty of extra length to extend the downward leg and still have the camera at eye level.  The problem is that having this extra height means the tripod is a little heavier and a little longer.  I was willing to sacrifice maximum height for the decrease in weight.  I also want to use it for shooting video, where you never need a tripod that is as tall as one for photography.  Typically for video the camera will be at mid-torso height.

Having looked at some Gitzo 3-Series tripods and the RRS TVC-33 I decided that I wanted the build quality of an RRS TVC tripod and the support capacity that they offered for a lower tripod weight.  I ruled out the TVC-33 as too long when collapsed but RRS also introduced a TVC-33s which was 3 inches shorter when collapsed, and also a quarter pound lighter but still rated to supports 50lbs.  They also have a TVC-23 , TVC-24 and TVC-24L which are all rated to hold 40lbs.  I ruled out the 24 and 24L as I wanted a 3 section tripod and not 4. So that left me going back and forth between the 23 and the 33s.  The TVC-23 is 0.6 inches longer and 3 inches taller when extended but weights 0.8 lbs less than the 33s.  RRS makes leveling heads specific for both tripods so that was not going to be an issue but the 3-series leveling head also features a 75mm bowl, compatible with many video fluid heads.  This is a pretty big bonus when you are looking for a tripod that you want to use for the next ten years.  If I get into shooting more video then a tripod with a video bowl would be a necessity and that rules out the TVC-23.  Luckily for me, RRS just redesigned their 3-series leveling heads to include a hook on the bottom as well.  In fact I received one from the very first manufactured batch.  Whilst a 40lb load rating on the 2-series would have been fine for my biggest gear, it doesn’t hurt to have a 50lb rating either.  It all adds to the stability and allows some expansion room.

Removing the leveling platform leaves a standard 75mm video bowl for a fluid head.

On the left is the standard base plate that comes with the TVC-33s. On the right is the brand new TA-3-LC-HK

One thing that surprised me about the series-3 leveling base is how light it is.  Feels lighter than the 440g quoted on the website.

The new version of the series-3 leveling base features a hook and an elongated handle.

The 3-series tripods were designed to compliment the BH-55 ball head but I intend to use the BH-40 on it for the moment.  Again it all comes down to weighing up the considerations I listed earlier.  A BH-40 is considerably smaller and lighter and I want to travel with it a lot and also carry it to remote locations.  Whilst the BH-40 is supposed to compliment the 2-series tripods it will offer a considerably more stable platform on a 3-series so that combination represents a middle ground between the two combinations of TVC-23 + BH40 and TVC-33 + BH55.  I can get away without the BH55 as I do not intend to use the 500mm on the ballhead.  When the 500mm comes into play it will be mounted on a gimbal head.  Therefore by biggest lens on the ballhead will be a 300mm which I have found to work just fine with the BH40.  In some scenarios a BH-55 would be an improvement but you have to balance things out, otherwise the perfect tripod would simply be the tallest, heaviest one with the biggest ballhead on and we all know that is rarely the case unless you can drive right up to a location.

When I originally questioned RRS about using a BH-40 on a series-3 tripod they said it wasn’t the best idea as the locking knob would foul on the top plate as it was 55mm wide compared to the 40mm wide base of the BH-40.  In fact though, by adding the optional dovetail plate to the BH-40 and using the quick release version of the leveling base you can see in this image above that there is just enough clearance for the knob to move freely.
RRS makes a version of their leveling bases that includes a lever release clamp and I opted to go for that.  By adding a dovetail plate to the bottom of my BH-40 I can very quickly remove the ballhead and switch to my PG-02-HB which I use as a nodal slide for panoramas (also fitted with a dovetail plate).  I also intend to buy a PG-02-VA at some point to go with it for the full gimbal when using long lenses.

BH-40 with dovetail plate

PG-02 HB with dovetail plate

TA-2 HB with FAS clamp as pano nodal slide

TA-3-FS spikes

I also opted to go for a set of TA-3-FS spikes.  At very nearly $100 for the set it is an expensive addition but they are in fact much larger and more solid than I anticipated. Hopefully this photo above does a better job of showing them to you than the RRS site did for me.  Having handled them I can see where the cost comes from as they are machined out of solid aluminum billet.

TVC-33 top plate size comparison

TVC-33s – $895

BH-40 – $375

TA-3-LC-HK – $290

PG-02 HB – $260

FAS Clamp – $140

TA-3-FS – $90

This setup represents a considerable financial outlay but I believe that I’ve finally found the perfect tripod for my variety of needs and that is worth a lot to me.  The build quality is phenomenal, and the whole thing is simply a joy to use.

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Bag Design & Features

The pack is constructed from Nylon 330 Denier Double Ripstop PU 1500mm DWR.  In other words is damn tough and pretty waterproof !

The main feature of the bag – both sides feature large zippered openings for quick gear access when you swing the bag off one shoulder.

Size comparison with the F-Stop Satori EXP

A small fleece lined zippered pocket at the top of the pack provides safe storage for sunglasses but not ski goggles.

The right hand hip belt provides a pocket which is suitably sized for small items like glove liners, sun screen or lens cleaners.

The left hand hip belt features molle straps ready for Dakota Components, or other belt bags such as those from Think Tank

The sternum strap features a whistle

The H2O exit features hook and loop to close it up when not in use, and a small nylon loop to help direct the hose.

Zippered rear compartment for the water bladder

Without a water bladder in the bag the Kenti is a very comfortable pack.  Unfortunately that changes somewhat when a full bladder is inserted into the rear pocket.  The issue stems from two places; firstly due to the interior design of the main camera compartment, which is pretty solid to provide protection and rigidity, the bulge of a bladder has nowhere to go but outwards.  Secondly, the back panel of the bag is quite thin and very flexible.  The result is that a full bladder (I tried 3L Camelbaks) bulges the back panel considerably.  For me it was past the point of a mere annoyance, I had to empty some water from my bladder when I was testing this out.  Comfort and fit of a pack on a hike are of the utmost importance to me and I rank it far higher than a bags ability to carry a particular type or amount of equipment so this is a bit of a disappointment to me, especially given that the bag features a few features designed to make it a great mountain biking companion, a scenario where you would almost certainly want to be traveling with a large amount of water as well.

Removable key chain in the front organizer compartment

Keeping memory card holders attached to your pack is a necessity in my opinion so this is a great use of the key chain.

There is a zippered pocket within the organizer compartment, here seen with a Macbook Air power supply inside.

The packs low profile and sleek design make it a great pack for mountain biking, this has been recognized with the inclusion of a dedicated bike pump sleeve in the front organizer which is a great idea. You will also find another couple of smaller pockets tucked down in the bottom of the front organizer but they are tricky to keep track of what is in them.

Zippered bottom pocket for storing the optional rain cover.  The rain cover is an additional $19, for a pack that costs $269 I think it should come with the rain cover.  Many sub $150 packs do.

Rain cover

Opening up the roll top reveals a heavily padded sleeve for a laptop.  In this photo it is an 11″ Macbook Air but F-Stop says that it will fit a 13″.  No 15″.  I was also able to fit my Air into the water bladder pocket and I believe a 13″ would fit as well.  As you can see though, if you also put other things in there then the laptop is buried with no easy way to get to it.

This internal laptop sleeve is very well padded.

Fully opened roll top.

The roll top seems like it would one of the standout features of the bag but it falls short by offering little in the way of extra room.  In the photo above you can see that I was able to fit a wind proof mid layer in the top section but that was about it.  I had expected this feature to offer much much more room than it actually did.  The photo below shows the pack closed up with the mid layer in the top section.  The problem for me is that there was just not enough excess material in the roll top.  When fully unrolled (as in the photo 2 above here), it looks as though there is a lot of extra material but in order for the bag to close properly and seal away the elements you have to perform one full twist of the top of the roll.  Once you have done this there really is almost nothing left of the excess material.  You could do a half twist of the top before clipping it but it would allow dirt and water to enter directly. If you refer up to the photos showing the laptop sleeve you’ll notice that there is already room internally on top of the camera compartment and this is where 95% of my mid layer is situated in the above photo.  If the pack had a regular top with a zipper on it I still would have been able to fit this layer in there and it would have been faster to open and close. I do like the width of the opening provided by the roll top design but it falls short of my expectations in the area of expanded capacity, where it essentially offers very little.  As You’ll have noticed from the topmost profile shots of the bag the roll top has some clever straps which secure it further down the side of the bag.  These straps keep the top of the bag sleek just like the rest of the design but leaves me wandering what the disadvantage would have been had the roll top area been given more material.  Any excess when not in use could have been rolled up, and when in use the compression straps would still have kept the sleeker, slimmer design.

Mid layer stowed away.

Bag weight including padded inserts

Gatekeeper straps can be used for attaching things like tripods, they cost an additional $15 for a set and much like the rain cover, on a bag that costs $269 I think this should have been included.  As you can see in the photo above there is one set of loops for attaching a GateKeeper across the front.  When I took the product images I only put the one strap on there because it was not obvious to me that if you want a second strap below that one you should insert it into the same loop as the side strap.  Why bother putting loops on the top and not the bottom ?  I have no idea, it’s very odd but essentially it makes little difference other than it’s very slightly trickier to insert the straps to begin with.  Thankfully the lower strap does fit because that provides a stable way of attaching a tripod to the bag, something which a singe strap (as in the above photo) would not have done.  On the issue of tripods, the only other place to put one would be on the side of the bag.  Given that the bags main feature is side openings I don’t really rate this as a good place for one as it instantly negates the speed of access.  With the bag being quite small as well, anything more than a small to medium sized tripod would really unbalance the load if it was placed on the side.  With this in mind I would have preferred to see front straps on the bag as a permanent feature, not an optional GateKeeper solution because I think every bag should come with a good tripod carrying solution.  “How well” or “Where can you carry a tripod?” is one of the most asked questions I get about these sorts of bags.  In this case I would have to tell someone they should definitely spend a further $15 which is not an ideal answer for a premium quality bag.

Those of you who have read my Dakota Component review might be wandering about compatibility with the chest mount system for the Navin.  If you purchase the $19 chest mount kit with a Navin then Gatekeeper loops are provided on the side of the bag for the two lower straps.  Loops are not provided for the top strap though as they are on all the other bags designed to work with the Navin.  Much like the missing front panel loops I can’t think why this would be, but you can fit them straps through the webbing loop that also secures the D-rings on the shoulder strap.  It works just fine except that it requires a very short strap which leaves you with a large amount of excess strap hanging down on the front, something that would not be the case if dedicated loops were provided as they are on the Tilopa and Satori.

Zippered pockets useful for filters in the side openings.

Camera Capacity

One thing that is nice about the camera compartment design is that the central divider is removable and re-positionable.  So you can choose to have lots of depth on one side and much less on another.  This is perfect for those just wanting to use one camera body mounted with a lens, and just lenses on the other side.  Those who want to have two bodies mounted up will probably leave the divider right in the middle.  As you can see, capacity s very roughly 1 body and 4 lenses or two bodies and three lenses, assuming that one of the two bodies would only have a wide angle attached thus leaving room for an extra lens in that side.

Here we see a Canon 1dMK4 and a 70-300 attached though a 70-200 will also fit. Whilst F-Stop say the bag will accommodate up to  a pro sized body, that does come with some caveats.  With a laptop inserted into the internal sleeve I was unable to satisfactorily insert the canon 1-Series pro sized camera with lens attached.  The only way I could accommodate it comfortably with the laptop was in the configuration shown in the photo below.  If you compare the photo above and below you can see the bulge of the 11″ Macbook air encroaching on the camera compartment and making it no longer possible to fit this camera.  Note that I was only using a Macbook Air, the slimmest laptop that I’ve ever seen.  Those wanting to put a 13″ Macbook will find that it takes up even more space in this area.  I say accommodate it ‘comfortably’ because whilst I could physically squeeze the camera in there, with the solid form of the laptop in the front, it pushed the camera grip into an uncomfortable bulge on the back panel which you could easily feel while carrying it.

When using a smaller cameras you can of course rotate the camera to that the side is facing out of the opening rather than the top as in these photos.  This clears up the issues with the laptop bulge and the bulge in the back panel and in that way you can very easily accommodate two cameras with lenses attached.  For people using things like 5dMKII and 7Ds this is a great way to work, especially for travel photography where you’ll never be quite sure what you are going to find.

If you don’t need dual bodies then three lenses line up neatly on one side.

Mountain Series Reviews

As fans of this site will no doubt be aware, I have reviewed all the other Mountain Series packs in great detail before.

Guru – 28 liter all purpose mountain pack for small & medium ICU

Tilopa BC – 48 liter backcountry specific pack for small,medium & large ICU.

Loka- 37 liter all purpose mountain pack for small,medium & large ICU.

Satori EXP – 58 liter expedition photography pack for small, medium, large, XL and Monster ICU.

Dakota Components – Accessories designed to compliment the Mountain Series.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Holds 2 regular sized DSLRs with lenses attached
• Sleek design keeps weight close to your core and allows you to move very freely feeling relatively unencumbered
• Side panel access makes camera retrieval very quick
• Excellent protection for small laptops
• Bike pump sleeve
• Excellent protection of camera gear
• Bombproof feel to the materials and build

Cons

• Relatively expensive, several other manufacturers offering single side access bags for 30-50% less money
• No included rain cover
• Gatekeeper straps an extra expense
• Side mounting of tripod impedes access to the bag so purchase of GateKeepers necessary for tripod
• Roll top section of bag provides limited extra storage room, nothing like what I was expecting
• Uncomfortable when used with full water bladder
• Can’t fit pro sized body in satisfactorily with lens attached when laptop is in laptop sleeve
• Even without laptop in sleeve larger cameras have to be squeezed in tightly
• Laptop hard to access if you have other gear on top of the camera compartment

Conclusion

F-Stop have set the bar so high before with their previous Mountain Series packs but if you’ll pardon the pun but this one is a bit of a  mixed bag.  Whilst the double side opening is unique, it’s only really useable for someone with two smaller bodies.  If that is you and you can live with the bags other foibles then you’ll get on with it just fine as F-Stop’s renowned build quality is here in swathes.  The sleek, well padded design lends itself very well to mountain bike photography but the uncomfortable use of water bladder and limited extra storage at the roll top are a shame.  The roll top idea is great, there just isn’t enough of it for me to justify it as a reason to get the pack.  As such it’s really going to limit who I would recommend it to when compared to their other small bags like the Loka and the Guru, both of which are fantastic packs and at a similar price point offer far more flexibility.  I can see it being a great bag to carry around for some urban shooting but at that point you’re paying for some more adventure specific features like the materials and the roll top, when you likely don’t need them and cheaper options would serve just as well.  I have had a few days skiing with this pack on mountain and for that use it works very well.  It’s thin profile means I didn’t even need to take it off my back when I sat on the chair lift which was awesome.  Very occasionally when I ski, photos are not my priority, but I like to carry a camera “just in case”.  In that scenario this is great pack for the job because the minimal weight is kept close to the body and you can ski like you aren’t even wearing a pack.  This has so far been my favorite use for the bag.

Bottom line is that if you only want to carry small camera bodies (one or two) and a couple of lenses to do a physical activity like skiing, biking or a long days hiking then the small design will suit you very well and your gear will be  very well protected.  If you need to take pro sized bodies and almost anything else on your adventure other than your camera gear then you are going to be better off looking at the Loka or the Guru so long as you don’t mind back panel access.  If you still want side panel access then consider the Lowepro Photo Sport 200 AW , you still have to wrestle a bit to get a pro sized body in the side flap but at almost half the price of the Kenti it probably won’t bug you quite so much.

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• Letus Direct

Gura Gear Chobe can be purchased from Outdoor Photo Gear.

Videos

Colorado based photographer Daniel Kelly Brown made this great little animation of the Chobe which is also worth watching.

GURA GEAR Chobe 19-24L Product Animation from Daniel Kelly Brown on Vimeo.

Design Features

The Gura Gear website makes several mentions of business usage and it’s clear that they are trying not to post hole this bag into the photography sector.  The Chobe was also featured in the Holiday Gift Guide on fashion website More.com recently.  I wander if we will see the company come out with more travel accessories in the future that are designed for the more main stream market ?  The Chobe is a great looking bag and time has obviously been spent on the aesthetics but at $299 without the optional insert, is there enough features to justify the high price tag ?

Attractive shoulder strap is relatively lightweight in keeping with the design of the bag itself.  To achieve this though is sacrifices and decent amount of padding and prolonged use of a heavy load is certainly not that comfortable.

Underside of the strap is high grip rubber which works very well to prevent slipping from the shoulder.

Expandable water bottle holder on the side of the bag works well and is something I always like to see on a bag intended for travel.

Zippered sleeve on the back of the bag can either be zipped up to create a useful magazine pocket, or opened to allow the Chobe to slide into the handle of a roller bag.

Front velcro pocket proved excellent for temporary storage of boarding passes and passport when transiting airports.  With other bags I’ve always found myself at a loss for a good place to put these things whilst moving from check in through security etc.  Having this one empty pocket on the front sounds like a small thing but for me it worked great for this purpose.

Zippered pocket #1 on the front is the perfect spot for your Passport, business cards, frequent flyer cards and various immigration documents.

As well as the zippered pocket in the flap there is an additional elasticated one tucked down a bit lower which is great for storing your phone, ipod and headphones

Zippered pocket #2 is designed for your iPad of other eReader device along with other small paperwork and smaller accessories. I have a toothbrush in in the zippered pocket.

This side on close up shot shows the further elasticated pockets at the bottom of this pocket

The elasticated side pocket is designed for a phone though I would certainly not use it for this.  Seems like an easy place to get it stolen or damaged.

The rear laptop pocket is nicely padded front back and sides

Shown here with an 11″ Macbook Air, but there is room for up to a 15″ laptop

If you use an Air, you’ll find plenty of extra room in there for magazines and also your power cables.

The interior compartment features a total of 5 pockets.  Here you can see 2 zippered ones and two thin flat ones that are held closed with hook and loop.

An iPad fits perfectly into the left hand flat interior pocket as shown.  The right hand pocket is a perfect sized for a small notebook like a Moleskine book or planner.

The fifth interior pocket is on the other side and designed to hold your reading material or paperwork.

Room to spare with camera insert loaded up

Expansion & Size

As the 19-24L designation suggests, the Chobe is expandable.  Anyone who has ever used an expandable bag will probably be familiar with the struggle to freely move the zipper to achieve the expansion.  Typically the excess material that the zipper is gathering up gets caught up and it can be a bit of a struggle.  The Chobe is no different in this respect.  After just 3 inches of zipper movement you come across a hidden seam which almost always snags.  In lesser priced bags I find it more excusable as this is definitely a tricky thing to design in smoothly but this is a premium bag and I believe this area could have been designed much better.

Once expanded though you are left with a bag that is quite a lot bigger than you started with and one that is now wide enough to accommodate their camera insert (more on that later).

Before:

After:

GURA GEAR SAYS : Expanded dimensions: 15 x 11.5 x 8.5 inches (38.1 x 29.2 x 22.9 cm)

DAN SAYS : Expanded dimension: 16 x 11.5 x 10 inches. Based on actually measuring a Chobe containing a camera insert, a laptop in the rear pocket and an iPad in the front pockets as well as passport and other necessities.  In no way was the bag bulging or bursting at the seams to achieve that measurement, I would consider it a modest load.

Whilst before we had an excellent travel companion for all of a photographers accessories and computer related trinkets, now we suddenly have a full blown camera shoulder bag capable of holding up to s Nikon 200-400mm f4 lens !  The versatility of this bag is surely it’s best feature, a versatility that is backed up by the option to only optionally include the camera insert leaving it otherwise as a very capable overnight bag for quick business trip where you need just a laptop and a change of clothes.

We are seeing more and more clampdowns in carry-on luggage size these days and you’re not a professional photographer until you’ve stood at the entrance to an aircraft gangway arguing with flight attendants about the size and weight of your camera bags Experiences differ greatly depending on who you fly with with but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.  I used to fly with a packed Think Tank Airport International but on several occasions, despite being within legal size limits it drew too much attention and got weighed.  Game over.  Recently then I have experimented with using a Think Tank Airport Airstream which is much smaller.  The camera body and extra lenses that no longer fit in the Airstream have been placed in a shoulder bag instead, your allowable ‘Personal Item’.  The personal item can be used to great advantage because it’s rarely weighed by the airline staff who assume it simply to be a laptop and a few personal affects.  The Chobe then makes an excellent companion as your personal item as you can very easily fit a camera and a few lenses in there along with your laptop and travel necessities.  If you are worried about the weight of your main carry-on bag you could put your 200-400, or even a pro body attached to a 300mm f2.8 in the Chobe to lighten the load of your main bag and hopefully sneak more weight overall onto the plane with you.

BUT…  You knew there was going to be one right ?  There always is with airline travel these days…. But… if you plan on using the expanded size of the Chobe , perhaps with the camera insert in it, the Chobe is all of a sudden a pretty big bag.  I have some major concerns about the stealthiness of this bag as a personal item alongside what is likely to be a fairly large camera bag as your main carry-on item.  I feel certain that with some of the more judicious airlines you are going to run into some trouble in this regard at some point.

Different airlines have wildly different regulation relating to personal items.  Some airlines like Continental, US Airways and Delta do not specify any size or weight whatsoever but some of the other airlines I have flow with recently have strict size regulations for both your carry-on items.

Personal Item examples:

Air Canada: 16 cm x 33 cm x 43 cm (6 in x 13 in x 17 in)

American Airlines:  Must not exceed 36 inches( length+width+height) and must fit under the seat in front of you.

British Airways:  Must not exceed 36 inches( length+width+height) and must fit under the seat in front of you.

Some airlines state just that your main carry-on item should be put in the storage compartments and that your personal item should be able to fit under the seat in front of you.  Having just flown on a Boeing 737 last week with my Chobe I can tell you that when expanded to it’s larger size it did NOT fit under the seat in front of me.  In it’s expanded size the Chobe fails the Air Canada personal item specification.   By Gura Gear’s measurements it would just sneak into the specifications of American Airline and British Airways but by my tape measure, which measures a Chobe containing a latop, camera inset and items in the front pockets, it would also fail those specs with a total length of 37.5 inches.  When passing through an airport last week there was an unmarked personal item cage near security, the sort that they make you squeeze you bag in to check dimensions.  The Chobe did not fit in that cage, it was too fat, though the cage was not marked with an airlines name so I’m not sure what it’s purpose was but it seemed similar in size to Air Canada specs.  I’m not saying don’t give it a try fully expanded and loaded up as your second carry-on bag, it seems as if Andy Biggs himself has been doing this without reported issue recently, just be aware that it’s a big bag in this configuration and it could bring attention to it.  In some cases it does not meet personal item specifications and in other cases it is right on the borderline, if not a little bit over.

Of course one thing to remember is that not everyone will be using this as the second carry-on item.  For many people it’s big enough to be the main item in which case it easily falls within all international dimension restrictions that I could find out there.  In this manner, which is actually how I used it on my recent trip, it was great to have a couple of camera bodies and a modest selection of lenses in the camera insert at the bottom of the bag.  On top of the photographic items I was able to place a rain jacket and some reading materials as well as obviously filling all the pockets as shown in the previous photos.  For a modest amount of camera gear it does a great job in this capacity, though I have to say I still prefer a small roller for a main bag to save back ache on longer journeys.

 The Camera Insert

For an additional $50 you can add the insert to your order.  The insert will ONLY fit into the bag in it’s expanded 24L capacity though.  A you can see in the photos, the obvious way to set things up is in a sort of double-row format for cameras and lenses.  I wish that Gura Gear also made a ‘single-row’ insert that fitted into the bag when it was in the 19L configuration.  This would allow a camera body and 2 or 3 lenses to fit in there nicely and the bag would still conform to all the personal item regulations that we discussed earlier.  How about it Gura Gear ? Pretty please ?

The insert is very nicely made though and the padding is in all the right places.  A personal pet peeve of mine is when bag companies make the padding too thick, but the Chobe insert has a good balance between bulk and protection.  A $50 price seems right for this addition.

Standard configuration, a stack of extra dividers is also provided

4 lenses and 2 bodies no problem

1 body ready to go and 5 lenses total

Pro sized body mounted to a 300mm f2.8 L IS

A 300mm will also fit in the bag when it is stood vertically in the insert

The Competition

Of course there are other similar bags on the market and no review would be fair without taking a look at the other options.  Due to the versatility of the expandable size, the Chobe needs to be compared to a few options and the first, in my opinion is the Think Tank Airport Check In.  The Airport Check In shoulder bag is designed specifically as the personal item for a traveling photographer and I have been using one myself for about 3 years now.  It lacks the expandability of the Chobe but features many of the other features like tons of pockets, water bottle holder, organizer and ability to attach to a roller bag.  In it’s only form it is slightly smaller than the Chobe is in it’s 19L configuration but it has been a great bag for me when loaded up with laptop, cables, hard drives etc and you are guaranteed to see a huge collection of them in the press room of any major sporting event.  It’s beautifully made and tough as nails just as all Think Tank gear is.  The price: $149.  Is it better value than the Chobe ?  Yes undoubtedly so.  It even comes with a rain cover which the Chobe does not, and it has a much better shoulder strap plus a huge dedicated, removable cable organizer.  Is it as versatile though ?  No way.  But it’s not designed to be.  As the name suggests, the Check In is a one trick pony, though it scores high marks when performing that trick! I have on occasion tried to put a camera and lenses in the Check In when trying to sneak more gear onto the plane and it just doesn’t work for that.  The bag is too thin for that and it bulges out uncomfortably.

Chobe Vs. Think Tank Check In

Other comparisons can also be draw with the Chobe and the larger Think Tank Urban Disguise 50 V2.0.  This bag sized somewhere between the Chobe in it’s 19L and 24L capacities but lacks the easy removal of camera compartments.  Of course you can just remove all the padding piece by piece though.  Again at $185 though it is fully half the price of the Chobe + insert and for some people that’s going to be a tough hurdle.  The UD50 also allows you to sling a tripod or lightstand on the bottom of the bag which would have been a nice feature to see on the Chobe too.

From Lowepro the Stealth Reporter 650 AW seems to be roughly equivalent and again comes in less than half the price of the Chobe and even features a full removable insert.  I haven’t used this particular bag but prior experience with the brand suggests to me that the Think Tank UD 50 would be well worth the $20 premium over the Lowepro bag.  Of course there are many other bags out there of this size and I guess what you should take away from this section is that they are all much much cheaper than the Chobe, though I haven’t seen one yet that has such versatility and good looks.

The Good & The Bad

Good

• Versatility of sizing and optional camera insert
• Lightweight and tough materials
• Good looking
• More pockets than you’ll ever know what to do with
• iPad/eReader pocket on front is perfect
• Pocket sizings in general seem to be very well thought out
• Will hold a super telephoto lens if needed like a 200-400

Bad

• No included rain cover
• Only one size of camera insert available that only works with bag in expanded 24L capacity
• Main compartment zipper not designed to allow padlocks (though some small ones work, I would have like to have seem zippers designed for this purpose)
• Shoulder strap lacks much padding
• Expensive
• Expansion/compression zipper gets jammed easily
• Sail cloth material holds dirt easily so bag appears to get dirty quicker than you would expect for something black
• No ability to attach a tripod beneath the bag

Conclusion

Simply put, feature-wise this is the best photographic travel shoulder bag out there that I have seen due.  You can’t help but love the sleek looks and feel of the sailcloth material and the expandable size of it set’s it apart from others out there.  It comes at a high price though but what I can say is that if you can afford to get this bag it will likely last you a very long time and you’ll be exceptionally pleased with it.  I purchased this bag to review and when I do that I often sell things on afterwards if they don’t fit my needs.  I’ll be keeping the Chobe though, mainly for it’s ability to more comfortably accommodate a camera body and a couple of lenses than my Think Tank Check In did.

 Purchasing A Chobe

Having spend a month with this bag I can highly recommend it if you haven’t yet found your perfect travel companion.  You can buy a Chobe from Gura Gear but If you decided to pick one up I would love it if you bought from my friends at Outdoor Photo Gear.

Direct link to Chobe – $ 299 without insert or $349 including insert.

Outdoor Photo Gear also stock a full range of other Gura Gear products:

Kiboko 30L

Kiboko 22L+

Support the site

• B&H Photo
• Amazon.com
• Adorama
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• Outdoor Photo Gear
• ebay
• Think Tank Photo -As a friend of this site, clicking through to the Think Tank site and spending more than $50 will earn you a FREE bag when you reach the checkout. Choose from several different accessory or modular bags for FREE!
• Borrowlenses.com
• DROBO Enter coupon code DANCARRPHOTO for up to $150 off on certain models.
• Letus Direct

Tripod Bag

This bag is available in either black or foliage green for a modest $49 and will work with just about any bag you can imagine.  Whilst it’s called the tripod bag, its sufficiently large enough for a two or possibly a three man tent, or perhaps a bedroll.  Those who own one of the previously reviewed Mountain Series packs such as the Tilopa or Loka will be familiar with the tough nylon that this bag is also made from and this version takes it one step further with water proofing rated to 15000mm.  The bag has been designed to handle just about any size size of tripod you can imagine, including larger video specific variations with hefty fluid heads on top.  Any excess material can be neatly rolled up and because the material is thin, there is no real leftover bulk to speak of.

I’ve seen a few tripod bags before and they tend to be bulky, heavily padded unwieldy things.  Well that doesn’t really jive with the Mountain Series packs that this is designed to complement.  These are packs that you want to take anywhere, however far or however wild the ride may be on the way.  As such, this tripod bag offers little in the way of padded protection and instead concentrates on protecting your 3-legged investment from the mud, sand, rain, dust and snow that mother nature might chuck at you while on your adventure.  The line of loops down the side of the bag means that there is always one in the right place for threading a side strap or Gatekeeper through to secure it to your chosen pack.

Dimensions (cm): 18 cm Diameter x 88 cm

Weight : 0.5 lbs (confirmed)

A D-Ring on the clip allows attachment of an optional shoulder strap

When folded the bag is easy to store away until your next adventure

The Elkhorn Pouch

This is the bag of 1000 uses but I’ll tell you about the two ways I have used it in the last few weeks and I’m sure you will see your own ways from the images below.  The Elkhorn is an accessory bag that has been designed to tidy up that mess of cables and trinkets that rattle around inside your bag.  The main compartment features 4 elasticated loops that are designed to hold the industry standard Pocketwizard.  Surrounding the main compartment is a plethora of smaller zippered pockets and elasticated nooks to stow other things like blowers, batteries and zip ties.  For me it has been a perfect companion on a shoot with my flashes and also as a cable tidy on recent trip where I traveled with my laptop.  I was able to fit all the Firewire and USB cables I needed in the bag as well as my ipad charger, phone charger, Macbook Air charger and few other odds and ends.  As you’ll see from the following photos, the Elkhorn is very well thought out and I have not a single complaint about the design.  It even features a waterproof TPU panel (the black bit) on top and front of the bag for extra protection from the elements if you are mounting it externally.  My one small gripe is that at $65 it seems a little steep for an accessory bag, albeit probably the most useful one I have come across.

The topmost zippered compartment contains several elasticated loops inside for further organization of cables

A 77mm filter in a case fits in the front mesh pocket

D-Rings turn it into a small shoulder bag if needed

Once you set up at your location the handy hook will hang the Elkhorn on your tripod or lightstand

The rear of the Elkhorn features Molle straps which allow it to be attached to all of the Mountain Series backpacks that we discussed before.  The Satori EXP, Tilopa BC and Loka all feature side panels with Molle loops.  The Guru and Kenti have the same loops on the waist belt only, though this is not a bad place to put this bag anyway.  Of course you can also just stash it inside the bag if you have room too.

• Dimensions (cm): 8 Depth x 19.5 Wide x 18 Tall
• Weight: 230 grams (0.50 lbs)

The Redferm

There is also a smaller version of the Elkhorn called the Redfern.  The image below shows a Redfern in front of an Elkhorn for size comparison.  I was not sent a Redfern so I can’t provide similar detail images as I did for the Elkhorn but from the size of it I’d say this would be the perfect companion for a landscape filter set, especially those who use 4×6 filters for Cokin Z holders or smaller p-size filters and of course regular round threaded ones.  Internally it lacks the elasticated loops for the Pocketwizard but otherwise features remain the same, just a little smaller.

The Navin

The Navin is designed to hold a consumer sized DSLR with a lens attached.  It will not hold a body with a battery grip, or those that have the grip built in like a Nikon D3 or Canon 1D.  As it comes, the bag features Molle straps for attachment to the Mountain Series packs but you can also purchase an optional shoulder strap or optional Gatekeeper straps.  Purchasing the large Gatekeepers will allow you to mount the bag on your chest whilst wearing one of the Mountain series packs.  The most recent versions of the Satori EXP, Tilopa BC and Loka feature specific mounting points for the chest mount but older versions can be mounted in a similar fashion by attaching the straps to the webbing on the shoulder straps.  Personally I can’t see myself mounting it on my chest ( and I almost always use a Canon 1-Series which doesn’t fit anyway) but I will be using this attached to the Molle straps on the side of the bag or on the waist belt on occasion.  I particularly like the waterproof TPU top panel on this little bag though.  If you are caught short in the rain then it will offer good protection from above until you can cover it up properly.

The shoulder strap is optional extra for $19.  Whilst it’s nice to have a matching strap, this one has no grip on the underside of it and whilst using it on a recent vacation I was continually frustrated by it slipping off my shoulder.  It’s lightweight and nicely padded but the lack of grip is a deal breaker for me.  When I’m not carrying around my larger bags with all my gear I use a smaller Fuji X100 and the Navin has become my default bag for carrying that camera at the moment, though I am on the lookout for a different shoulder strap.

The Navin features small zippered pockets on either side though I could not find a good use for them.  Unfortunately they are too small to fit my memory card wallet in without trouble.

 Molle straps

Included dividers

Gatekeeper straps are useful on all the Mountain Series packs for attaching more gear to the outside.  A set to mount your Navin to your pack is an optional $19

4 X Gatekeepers ready for chest mounting

5dMK2 with attached wide angle lens

Photo courtesy of F-Stop

Purchasing Dakota components

All F-Stop products are only available for purchase from F-Stop directly.  Should you have trouble with their often confusing e-commerce site just give them a call and they will sort you out.

P.S.  Tell them I sent you 

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• Think Tank Photo -As a friend of this site, clicking through to the Think Tank site and spending more than $50 will earn you a FREE bag when you reach the checkout. Choose from several different accessory or modular bags for FREE!
• Borrowlenses.com
• DROBO Enter coupon code DANCARRPHOTO for up to $150 off on certain models.
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Two Lineups Updated

With this update Think Tank are releasing the Modular Rotation System and Modular Rotation System Skin™ Components.  These are the same two systems that we had previously but with updated pouches across the board.  The Skin system as I mentioned lacks the padding of the regular Modular System which makes it great for indoor work such as weddings and also great for packing if you have to fly with your gear.  It all packs down very flat and doesn’t weigh much at all.  If you need a little more protection then the Modular system is going to be best for you.

As always you guys can take advantage of reading my site when you spend more than $50 on the Think Tank store by clicking through any one of the links below you will be given a chance to choose a free bag/gift at the checkout !  There’s some great freebies to be had.

SHIPPING NOW !!

Think Tanks have just informed me that these new products are shipping NOW!!

You will still be able to take advantage of the special FREE gift from Think Tank that you get when you spend more than $50 because you are readers of my website>

Lets take a look at the new versions and the new and noteworthy features that have been introduced ……..

Modular Components

The Lens Cases’ new features are:

• Wide mouth opening allows for smoother lens retrieval and replacement.

• One-hand drawstring closure with the auto-locking mechanism:  only one hand is needed to securely close the pouch.

• Zippered bottom pocket includes seam-sealed rain cover.

• Top handle allows for easy gathering of multiple pouches.

• Smooth back reduces wear on clothing and helps components slide easily  around the belt.

• Padding under lens cover protects lenses from bumps and bruises.

• Improved front pocket material for increased durability and elasticity.

Modular Set V2.0

$142.75 – Modular Set link to Think Tank site

Noteworthy:  When you purchase the set you now get a neat little travel case to keep all the components in.

Lens Changer 15 V2.0

$25.75 – Lens Changer 15 V2.0 link to Think Tank site

Noteworthy:  As with ALL the components a rain cover is provided which lives in the zippered pocket on the bottom.

Lens Changer 25 V2.0

$27.75 – Lens Changer 25 V2.0 link to Think Tank site

Lens Changer 35 V2.0

$29.75 – Lens Changer 35 V2.0 link to Think Tank site

Lens Changer 50 V2.0

$32.75 – Lens Changer 50 V2.0 link to Think Tank site

Lens Changer 75 Pop Down V2.0

$39.75 – Lens Changer 75 Pop Down V2.0 link to Think Tank site

Noteworthy: The zippered section on the bottom allows you to leave the hood in place.

Lens Drop

Noteworthy:  This is a personal favorite of mine as I have one of the originals.  They have removed the previous 2 sizes and replaced it with just one.  It’s great for putting teleconverters in and you don’t even need to worry about putting caps on them as the interior is designed to protect!

$39.75 – Lens Drop link to Think Tank site

Slim Changer

$39.75 – Slim Changer link to Think Tank site

Noteworthy: The replacement for the old chimp cage but for smaller non-gripped bodies.

Speed Changer V2.0

Noteworthy: A much larger organizer pocket on the front of this now.

$49.75 – Speed Changer V2.0 link to Think Tank site

 Stuff It

$34.75 – Stuff It link to Think Tank site

Little Stuff It

$24.75 – Little Stuff It link to Think Tank site

Hubba Hubba Hiney

$49.75 – Hubba Hubba Hiney link to Think Tank Site

Noteworthy: This is an all new bag to the lineup though in some ways it follows on from the much smaller bum bag they had before.  This will now hold a 70-200 though if you put it sideways.

Strobe Stuff

$45.75 – Strobe Stuff link to Think Tank site

Noteworthy:  This has seen some worthwhile updates and stands out to me.  The previous version was fine for a strobe but little else.  Now you have a front pocket top put batteries in, colored gels and an external battery pack.  The pocket features a feed through to the main compartment so the batter pack can remain plugged in and attached at all times.  I own the original version but I think I will purchase this upgrade as it’s more than cosmetic.

R U Hot?

$27.75 – R U Hot link to Think Tank site

Keep It Up Shoulder Strap

$29.75 – Keep It Up Shoulder Strap link to Think Tank site

Noteworthy: This looks fantastic !  I had never wanted to use the full double shoulder Belly Dancer kit that they had because for me it was overkill and had too much material on your shoulder to get you sweaty on a hot day at the race track.  This is a great middle ground and includes a handy cell phone pocket.  On top of that they give you attachment points for three places on the belt to you can switch the strap from one shoulder to the other in just a split second without having to actually mes around un-clipping things.  Just release the quick release and plug it into the spare one on the opposite side.  This is on my must have list !

Modular Skin Components V2.0

The Skin components have had a much more minor update which is understandable as the the V1.0 versions were a newer product anyway.  They still maintain the excellent sound proof system that allows you to silence the hook and loop closure system to maintain discretion during things like conferences and wedding ceremonies.  Please take a look at my review of the V1.0 components HERE as everything is still relevant and only very cosmetic changes have taken place here.

Modular Skin Set V2.0

$132.75 – Modular Skin Set V2.0 link to Think Tank site

Notable features:  Set includes – Skin 50 V2.0, Skin 75 Pop Down V2.0, Skin Strobe V2.0, Skin Body Bag, Large Travel Pouch

Skin 50 V2.0

$29.75 – Skin 50 V2.0 link to the Think Tank site

Skin 75 Pop Down V2.0

No photo currently available.

$39.75 – Skin 75 Pop Down V2.0 link to the Think Tank site

Skin Strobe V2.0

$38.75 – Skin Strobe V2.0 link to Think Tank site

Skin Body Bag

$43.75 – Skin Body Bag link to Think Tank site

Support the site

• B&H Photo
• Amazon.com
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• Outdoor Photo Gear
• ebay
• Think Tank Photo -As a friend of this site, clicking through to the Think Tank site and spending more than $50 will earn you a FREE bag when you reach the checkout. Choose from several different accessory or modular bags for FREE!
• Borrowlenses.com
• DROBO Enter coupon code DANCARRPHOTO for up to $150 off on certain models.
• Letus Direct

Calibrating Your Lenses With Spyder LensCal From Datacolor

Support the site

• B&H Photo
• Amazon.com
• Adorama
• Zacuto
• Outdoor Photo Gear
• ebay
• Think Tank Photo -As a friend of this site, clicking through to the Think Tank site and spending more than $50 will earn you a FREE bag when you reach the checkout. Choose from several different accessory or modular bags for FREE!
• Borrowlenses.com
• DROBO Enter coupon code DANCARRPHOTO for up to $150 off on certain models.
• Letus Direct

Key Features

• Exterior: 10.6W x 6.7D x 19.3H in. 27 x 17 x 49 cm

• Interior Camera Chamber: 7.7W x 3.5D x 9.1H in. 19.5 x 9.0 x 23.0 cm

• Toploading Compartment: 13.9 liters

• Weight: 2.9 lbs / 1.3 kg

• Fits: Pro DSLR without grip with lens attached; flash; hydration reservoir (not included); personal items like a hat, light jacket, trekking or ski poles, snack, cell phone, keys, etc.

An amendment to the list above that I’d like to make…. whilst the bag is specified for pro DSLR without grips, I have been carrying my Canon 1dmk4 around in it without much trouble.  It makes it quite a tight squeeze when you close the zipper but it is a possibility.  Packing the bag is slightly easier with a grip-less body though.  See my photos later on in this post though for an example.

Lowepro’s Videos

The main compartment closure is provided with a drawstring.  The flap that covers the whole top of the bag reaches around plenty far enough to ensure that dust and dirt doesn’t come close to the drawstring area.

This rear pocket is designed for a water bladder but it’s also a perfect fit for an 11″ Macbook Air.

An excellent part of the design is that the interior pocket stretches right down the full length of the bag behind the camera compartment.  This gives you another excellent place for a small laptop like my Macbook Air in the photo above.  Alternatively I also found that there was room for my monopod or a few magazines and a book when I took it on a weekend trip.  The top loading compartment is just about 14 liters in capacity which is plenty of room for a couple of extra thick layers and food for a days hiking or biking, or even a full change of clothes if your spare outer layer isn’t too bulky.  To me it felt like more than 14 liters, on an overnight camping trip I also managed to fit a second pair of shoes on top as well.

Elasticated side pocket safely secures a range of items with the compression strap.  A minor complaint here is that the stretchy material used for this pocket seemed to be a bit of a dirt magnet.  On the far right of this photo you can also see a compression strap further up the bag.  Combining this strap with the elasticated pocket gives you a way to attach a small tripod to the bag.  I would love to have seen a way to attach a a tripod right on the front pf the bag.  I personally don’t like having a tripod on the side as it unbalances the pack much more.  Due to the small overall size of the bag though, users of huge 3 or 5 series  Gitzo tripods will probably find that they can’t secure it on the side of the pack very well but it lends itself nicely to to “traveler” style tripods.

The top lid pocket is the perfect place for your snacks and gloves in the winter.  It’s easily big enough for a bulky pair of gloves and a hat.

The bottom of the bag features a much tougher material to prevent rips and damage.  Also included is a pair of straps that could be used for additional equipment in a stuff sack.

In the base of the pack is a waterproof rain cover.  At this price point it’s great to see this included for free as some more expensive bags are charging additional $20 for a rain cover.

Chest strap features elasticated expansion and built in whistle.

The waist belt itself is very thin and the buckle is very small.  Obviously there will always be compromises between weight of a bag and size, thickness and padding of the support system.  With the waist belt I wish that Lowepro had gone for something more substantial.  I found that when the belt was tightened up, and I was hiking wearing just a T-Shirt, the belt dug into my stomach more than I would have liked.  With a couple more layers on it became less of an issue though.

The hip padding is quite thin and supple and didn’t help much with transferring the bags weight to your hips.  I wish that they had made them a bit thicker but it’s nice to have zippered pockets on both sides.

The side compartment features a dual zipper configuration.  A small point, but I really like the zipper pulls and they are large enough that you can use them easily with gloves on.

The bag comes with only one padded divider.  It would have been nice to see a couple more options in that area.

What you see in this photo is the heart of the Ultra Cinch camera chamber.  It’s a really nice feature that works very well, simply tighten up the camera chamber if you are using smaller cameras like micro four thirds systems.  If you are trail running or mountain biking then it does a very good job of preventing the camera and lenses from bouncing around and jarring your back.

In this image I have a Canon 5dMKII with an attached 24mm f1.4 and next to it a Canon 70-300 f4-5.6 L IS.

Here we have a Canon 1dMK4 with the 70-300 attached and the 24mm alongside.  PLEASE NOTE  this is not a configuration that was designed to be used in this bag.  Lowepro do not state a countability with cameras with grips attached.  However I did find that I was able to squeeze my 1-series in there.  It is a tight fit, and doing the zipper up afterwards is also quite tight but at a push it’s a useable combo in my opinion.  Your mileage may vary……

Walking/ski pole attachments are also present on both sides

Other options

F-Stop Kenti

If you’re looking at the Photo Sport 200 then you  are either looking at it because you want an adventure photography pack or you want a pack with a side opening.  Click Elite offers a ProBody Sport and a more comparable Compact Sport bag that ticks both boxes like the Photo Sport 200 does.  I’ve never tried either of them myself but I certainly prefer the look of the Lowepro design.  F-Stop also have the new Kenti which is considerably more expensive than Lowepro or Clik Elites offering but also looks to be a large pack with some interesting features like a roll top closure.  I’ve reviewed many F-Stop products in the past and always found them to be premium priced, but excellent products. I’m hoping to get my hands on a Kenti sometime soon and will make some comparisons with the Photo Sport 200 when I do.

If you’re only looking for side access and outdoor and adventure photography is not your main goal then there’s a whole world of products to explore in that category.  Think Tank even have an entire range of sling style packs with side openings.  Kata also make the confusingly named 3N1-20 Sling Backpack which actually morphs from a backpack to a sling,still featuring side panel access but like the Think Tank bags, not really designed with adventuring in mind.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Super lightweight
• Very well priced compared to other similar packs
• Comes with dedicated rain cover
• Hydration bladder compatible and separated from your camera gear
• Ultra-Cinch Camera Chamber secures smaller camera systems very well
• Full length interior pocket allows plenty of room for larger items like a small laptop/netbook or a monopod.
• Glove friendly zipper pulls
• Material repels dirt very well

Cons

• Waist belt could be a bit wider
• Hip pads/support are too thin and don’t transfer weight very well enough to your hips
• Front pocket seems a little tight for an extra layer of clothing, could benefit from a little more elasticity in the edges
• Officially not designed for pro sized ‘gripped’ camera bodies
• Just one internal camera divider

Conclusion

This is actually the first Lowepro bag that I’ve ever spent any great time with but I’m always attracted by lightweight things.  I’m a fan of traveling light whenever possible and that includes travel to and from location as well as on location.  I shoot a lot of outdoor sports living up here in Whistler, BC, and quite simply it makes for a better days shooting if you’re not constantly aware of the bulk on your back.  The Photo Sport 200 is the lightest photo backpack that I’ve ever used and it’s thin profile helps to keep weight balanced closer to your spine.  Whilst it doesn’t pretend to be a bag for all your gear, it makes you think about what gear you need to take with you and with a body and a couple of lenses you’ll be just fine.  I found the combination of a body, a long zoom and a wide prime were able to get me 95% of shots that I wanted.  One thing that I wasn’t expecting though was how many times I reached for the bag when I wasn’t shooting outdoor sports.  Spending a couple of nights away in a city, or heading into the local coffee shop for a change of scenery when doing some writing I grabbed the Photo Sport 200 on more than a couple of occasions.  It’s a fantastic fit for an 11″ Macbook air as you can see in my photos above and allows plenty of room for my Fuji X100, and anything else you might need for a quick night away from home or a photo walk around your local town or city.  The minimal dimensions of the bag mean that you don’t feel like you are grabbing your typical bulky camera bag though I will say that the Orange one screams LOOK AT ME a little too much for this usage.  Overall then I was mightily impressed with this bag and for the price point I don’t think there is anything else that can beat it for the adventurous people out there.  The main consideration is going to be whether you can manage with just two lenses, if you think you can then you definitely need to check this pack out.  The other thing to consider is whether you are using a camera like a Canon 1-Series or a Nikon D3s.  As I proved, it is possible to use them but the ease of usability does take a bit of a hit so make sure you try that out before purchasing  to use with one of those cameras.

Overall though this is s top notch bag for adventurous people, let down only slightly by a less then adequate waist/hip support system.

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The Sensor

The X100 features an APS-C sized 12MP sensor, roughly the same physical size as sensors in many DSLR cameras like the Nikon D7000 or Canon 7d.  This means that you can achieve comparable shallow depth of field and performance at higher ISO.  The X10 on the other hand features a 2/3″ sensor which much smaller than APS-C and smaller then Micro 4/3.  It is slightly bigger though sensors found in other high end point and shoot cameras which is good because price wise, the X10 is pushing the boundaries of that sector up to a new level.  You can expect ISO performance to be better than other point and shoot cameras but nowhere near as good as it’s bigger brother, the x100.  At comparable focal length and aperture the X100 is going to produce a much shallower depth of field for a more pleasing look but it is less forgiving in terms of getting sharp focus because accuracy of focus is a problem with the X100.  The X10 will have greater depth of focus in it’s shots but this will make it easier to get a perfectly sharp image.  If ease of use is a factor, the X10 will win in that situation.

Both sensors are 12 megapixels though so the image size is identical.  Interestingly the x100 and the x10 both feature a 3:2 aspect ratio for their images. 3:2 is standard for DSLRs but almost all point and shoot camera have a 4:3 ratio image.  I personally don’t like shooting 4:3 at all so I love that the x10 is 3:2 and it will lend a more professional look to the images right out of the box.

The Viewfinder

One of the standout features of the X100 was the one of a kind hybrid viewfinder that could act either as an EVF or with the flick of a switch an optical viewfinder with digital information overlaid on top.  The X10 only has an optical viewfinder though and this could present a problem because whilst the hybrid OVF on the x100 was very cool, the camera was terrible at focusing in that mode.  I almost exclusively use my x100 in EVF mode, which the X10 does not have….  Of course you could just use the rear LCD screen which is perfectly fine and the same method that most point and shoot cameras use these days.  Those that are fitted with optical viewfinders , like the Canon G12 and Nikon P7100 tend to be highly inaccurate VFs anyway.  If you really want to shoot through a viewfinder then the X100 will be the answer, not the X10.

Support the site

• B&H Photo
• Amazon.com
• Adorama
• Zacuto
• Outdoor Photo Gear
• ebay
• Think Tank Photo -As a friend of this site, clicking through to the Think Tank site and spending more than $50 will earn you a FREE bag when you reach the checkout. Choose from several different accessory or modular bags for FREE!
• Borrowlenses.com
• DROBO Enter coupon code DANCARRPHOTO for up to $150 off on certain models.
• Letus Direct