backpack

Yes, the BackLight Elite Has Different Sizes of Camera Insert!

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During the initial development and testing stages of the new BackLight Elite photo pack from MindShift Gear, it had just one large removable camera insert. This standard insert is quite large. In fact it’ll hold a 600mm lens, so it’s as big as you could ever hope it to be. At this point in the design process I pushed hard for the designers to create a second option for people that wanted to use the bag with less camera gear, and more other outdoor equipment. Be that camping gear, climbing gear or backcountry ski gear. We went through a few

Mindshift Rotation180 Pro – Free Shipping With My Coupon Code

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PLEASE NOTE:  You no longer are required to use this coupon code to get free shipping. Free shipping is now included as standard on all US shipments from MindShift. Great news today that I know many of you were waiting for.  The excellent Mindshift Rotation 180 backpack is now in stock and to celebrate they have given me a coupon code to get you FREE shipping from their store.  Just enter the code DANCARR into the ‘discount’ box in the shopping cart!  This is a limited time offer so act fast if you want one of these bags.  I also

Mindshift Gear’s New Rotation 180 Pro – Full Review

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Last year at Photo Plus Expo in New York I came across a surprise as I was walking across the show floor to the Think Tank Photo booth. Attached to the side of their booth was a small table and a new banner; Mindshift Gear. I’m a big fan of Think Tank’s stuff, you guys have probably read a review or three on here in the past but whilst they make the best roller bags and sports/event photography gear in the business they have never produced a bag that suits my main needs as an outdoor and adventure sports photographer.

Rotation 180 Pro

Mindshift Gear – A New Outdoor Photography Bag Company From Within Think Tank

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EDIT:  Note that this bag is now available and I have done a HUGE in-depth review of it HERE on my new website Shutter Muse. Mindshift is an entirely new company formed from within the design studios of Think Tank Photo that will concentrate on the outdoor photography market. It will be run as a separate company but with all the same focus on design and high quality that we have come to expect from Think Tank. Products will be manufactured alongside the existing Think Tank ones and the design of the Rotation 180 Professional was done in house by

Gura Gear Kiboko 22L Review

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IMPORTANT NOTE

Gura Gear acquired the Tamrac brand and merged the two together.  Gura Gear as a standalone brand is gone, and all of their bags have been renamed to be sold under the Tamrac name in the G-Elite collection.  Aside from small aesthetic changes to use the Tamrac logo, the bags have remained the same.  Throughout this review, I have used the name Gura Gear, but when searching for more info on these products, or searching to buy them, you should now search for the Tamrac G-Elite bags instead.

Design & Features

Exterior Dimensions: 14x18x9 inches (35.6 x 45.7 x 22.9 cm); 22 Liters useable

The Kiboko 22l+ continues on from the popular 30L with a the same butterfly opening design.  The benefit of this is that you can selectively access your gear whilst keeping other parts of it away from the elements.  The downside is that you have to lay the bag with its back on the ground when you do this and padded back panel picks up a lot of dust and dirt.  The outside of the bag is made from VX-21 , a lightweight yet tough and abrasion resistant material which is often used to make sails.  It is expensive but it seems to do a decent job and designing a bag that was lightweight was a top consideration.  If we’re all going to have to deal with reduced carry-on allowances there’s little point using up half our allowance with the weight of the bag.  It’s a theory that I very much like.

gura gear kiboko 22l review

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Think Tank Launches New Airport Backpack Series

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Santa Rosa, Calif. – Think Tank Photo announced today that in May it will release the Airport™ series, a new line of travel-specific, high-capacity camera backpacks designed with maneuvering through airports quickly in mind. The three backpacks – the Airport Accelerator, Airport Commuter, and Airport Essentials —  integrate quick access pockets for both laptops and iPad, a top pocket for boarding passes, and three robust handles to ensure easy placement and retrieval from overhead bins.
The Airport™ series makes life easier for the traveling photographer. All meet international carry on size requirements.  The two smaller bags, the Airport Commuter and the Airport Essentials, are designed to fit under-seat in regional commuter planes.
Their light, adjustable, contoured harness provides comfort along with lumbar support.  The air mesh paneling keeps backs cool. The height-adjustable sternum strap allows for the perfect fit.  A removable waist belt, side water bottle pocket, tripod/ monopod mounting system and seam sealed rain cover extend their versatility. Adding even more functionality, these backpacks can be used with Think Tank’s Pro Speed Belts for additional support and capacity by adding component pouches and cases from the company’s Modular Rotation Component System.  For photographers who travel by air, these bags deliver on the three “C’s”:  Carry-on size, Comfort, Capacity,” said Doug Murdoch, Think Tank’s co-founder and lead designer.  “Their design, build quality and functionality are second to none.”

The three sizes allow photographers to select the best fit for their needs.

  1. Airport Accelerator accommodates two pro size DSLRs, six to eight standard zooms, a 500 f/4.0, iPad, and up to a 17” laptop. The largest of the three, this one has a padded removable waist belt.
  2. Airport Commuter accommodates a pro size DSLR, four to six standard zooms, (increased depth holds a 400 f/2.8), iPad and 15” laptop .
  3. Airport Essentials accommodates a standard DSLR, four to six standard zooms, iPad, and up to 13” laptop.

Features include:

  • Bottom hinge opens bag completely for quick and unencumbered access.
  • Cable lock and locking YKK zipper sliders for added security.
  • Laptop and iPad stored in a separate locking zippered compartment.
  •  Light, comfortable and contoured harness system.
  • Tripod/monopod mounting system.
  • Top zippered pocket for boarding pass.
  • Removable waist belt for additional stability when walking, running, etc.
  • Easily accessible front organizer pocket.
  • Seam sealed rain cover included.

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Lowepro Photo Sport 200 AW Review

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The eternal quest for the perfect camera bag is one that I’m sure you’re all familiar with.  I’ve given up looking for “The One” though because the breadth of photography that I enjoy makes such a bag an impossibility.  I prefer to narrow things down a little and in this instance I’m on the hunt for the best outdoor adventure photography pack. This year Lowepro launched two bags that fall into this category, the Photo Sport Sling 100 and the Photo Sport 200 AW. Lowepro recently sent me a 200 AW to try out and it’s actually the first Lowepro

Introducing the F-Stop Satori EXP Backpack

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Last week we took a look at the newly released Guru 28 liter backpack.  This week I’m giving you guys a first in-depth look at the soon to be released F-Stop Satori EXP which is due to be on sale this coming July.  This pack sits at the opposite end of the Mountain Series to the Guru, with a Capacity of 62 liters and as the EXP designation implies this one will hold everything you need on your next expedition.  The pack might be larger than the F-Stop Tilopa backpack, but by forgoing the waterproof TPU base seen on the

Introducing the F-Stop Loka backpack

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Regular readers of the blog will know that I use mainly use the F-Stop Satori to carry my gear around. I am also part of the F-Stop Faction team.  For some time now the guys at F-Stop have been working on a new pack called the Loka.  With input from all the Faction members they have created a new pack that slots into the Mountain Series lineup below the Satori and the Tilopa in sizing. The new pack is now up for pre-order and the first production versions are expected to be delivered in late August. As soon as I