BeanPod
Quite Chatty
Registered: June 2007
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 79
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Review Date: Mon August 20, 2007
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: £38.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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versatility, size, component system, quality of construction
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Cons:
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balance, would not fit all SLR cameras
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Price converted from approx $75 CAD.
I bought this pack for a few reasons. Because of back issues, I wanted an option to carry what I needed with a waist pack system. I wanted something big enough to carry a few extras (like water, snacks) if going on a short hike, while encouraging me NOT to take everything I own. I also wanted it to fit into a larger back pack for longer excursions.
This bag is versatile, it can be carried as a shoulder bag or a waist pack. It uses the slip lock components and has two removable lens cases on the sides. I also purchased a water bottle holder with mine, which is great. So if you just need your body with a lens and a few other bits, you can take the main bag without the side cases. The bag and components are very well constructed.
I primarily use this bag as a waist pack. It suits that purpose quite well. You can access all your gear without having to remove it from your body, either by reaching back or sliding it around front. It's pretty comfortable to wear that way, but it seems to be not particularly well balanced with a full load. It's not bad, but...at least on my body...it sure could use a compression strap a bit higher up than the ones that are there. The belt is wide and stable, but the top of the bag tends to bounce a bit when full. This is not a huge problem, but for me it makes it a bit less comfortable than it could be. Perhaps it would not do this on everyone...I am thinking worse for women because the width of us at the bottom of the bag (hip) can be pretty different then the width at the top (lower waist). I am going to work with it a bit for a solution here, just to make it more comfortable for me.
As for what can fit...I can take my D80 with 18-200 attached, and my 12-24, easily in the main bag. Also can take lens hoods, filters, and all the fiddly bits. Depending on how I pack it, I may or may not use the attached cases. If I take full water, I will balance with a lens on the other side. If I am taking my 50mm prime, I need to use a lens case as it is too tight to get those three lenses in the main bag for easy in and out of camera. I think it could be done, but I would have to be way to careful LOL.
I don't think this is the case if you are carrying anything wider than 77mm in the lens department...my 12-24 is 77mm and it fits comfortably, but I would not want to fiddle with getting anything wider in there. The D80 body is again a comfortable fit, but I am not even sure how the D200 or equivalent size would be. I like a bit of space around my stuff.
There are straps on the bottom of the bag for attaching a tripod. They are a bit fiddly but secure.
Recomment this bag for:
-short excursions with a few lenses
-folks without a lot of equipment
-folks who want to avoid having something on their back when possible
-also GREAT on a bike ride and your back gets way less sweaty than a back pack bag LOL!
If you plan to carry it in your back pack on longer excursions, check opening on your pack for fit...as long as you can get it in there, it is great for that too!
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