Gadget Bag: Photo Backpacks

Tamrac Adventure 10 5550

This time of year, just about every outdoor photographer is enjoying the late-summer weather and some quality time with nature and a camera. And why not? The days are long, the temperatures are warm, and there’s plenty to see and photograph. When you want to be out shooting for a long time, chances are you want more than just a camera body and a couple of lenses with you, and when you’re going to load up, a backpack is the best tool for hauling your camera gear, as well as a spare jacket and a granola bar or two. Photo backpacks offer protection, load capacity and redistribution of weight so that you can carry more gear a longer distance with less fatigue.

If you frequently carry a notebook computer with your photo gear (who doesn’t these days?), photo backpacks are a great choice because you can consolidate all of your equipment in one easy-to-carry bag. Backpacks are ideal for bicycle excursions, too, and they’re available in more sizes, configurations and material options than ever before.

Think Tank Photo Shape Shifter

Tenba Shootout

When selecting a backpack, start from the inside out. Think about what you plan to carry. Need extra space for rain gear and a survival kit? A pouch for your MP3 player or GPS? How many cameras and how many lenses? Computer? Once you’ve established the load you need to stow, consider your alternatives from the standpoint of comfort, accessibility and appearance. Make sure that the bag you select will fit you snugly but comfortably, otherwise you’ll feel as if you’re hauling a tree stump on your shoulders. And if getting to your gear as quickly as possible is more important than anything else, be prepared to investigate some of the hybrid shoulder-sling-type backpacks, as well.

From Think Tank Photo comes the Shape Shifter, the first backpack designed to expand and contract to fit D-SLR equipment. By flattening down to a three-inch thickness, the backpack can be collapsed and still carry up to a 17-inch laptop and accessories, but in a much smaller profile. Photographers who already use Think Tank’s belt system can integrate the Shape Shifter and support the weight of the backpack with the belt. Estimated Street Price: $249.

The Tenba Shootout backpack collection offers models in various sizes and shapes, so you’re assured to find the right one to meet your exact needs. The popular Shootout Daypack will fit a pair of D-SLRs, five to seven lenses (up to 70-200mm ƒ/2.8), plus the accessories, clothing and food you’ll need for an extended excursion. The Daypack is similar in size to the Small backpack, but instead of including a removable interior, tripod carrier and computer sleeve, Tenba provides its exclusive PackOUT pocket, which uniquely expands to provide approximately 240 cubic inches of additional storage space. This compartment will accommodate lightweight, non-breakable items like rain gear, MREs, boonie cap and the like. Estimated Street Price: $199.

National Geographic W5070

The Tamrac Adventure 10 Photo/Laptop Backpack (Model 5550) was designed for the modern SLR photographer, with room for a pro digital SLR with an eight-inch lens attached, additional lenses, flash unit, accessories and a 17-inch laptop computer—everything you’d need for outdoor photography. The lower compartment is completely foam-padded to protect your photo gear, while the large upper compartment has room for items like lunch or a light jacket. The laptop compartment also is padded. Double-zipper pulls provide quick access to gear, while a weather flap provides protection from the elements. Tamrac’s patented Memory & Battery Management System identifies unused cards and batteries with red flags. The comfortable foam-padded backpack harness with sternum strap is contoured to distribute the weight across the shoulders, while a padded waist belt also helps distribute weight comfortably. The pack comes in red/black or gray/black, measures 14×10.5×25 inches and weighs 5.25 pounds. Estimated Street Price: $189.

Naneu Pro UrbanGear U220

Available in small, medium and large sizes, the National Geographic Walkabout Rucksacks are as distinctive as they are functional. Made of gray cotton canvas with leather trim, a water-resistant nylon interior and brushed aluminum rings and rivets, these are as handsome and comfortable as your favorite pair of jeans. The NG W5070 (Medium) will handle one D-SLR, lenses, flash and most 15-inch laptops. The padded lower compartment offers excellent protection for your camera gear, while the upper personal storage compartment holds other items like food, clothes or your e-book reader. Estimated Street Price: $180.

Mary Farace Daypack

Best known for its military-style bags and backpacks, Naneu Pro has introduced a full line of photo bags called UrbanGear. The full-sized UrbanGear U220 is a convertible backpack/rolling camera bag that will hold a pro Canon EOS-1D-type D-SLR with a 300mm ƒ/2.8 lens, plus six more lenses, flash and a second camera body. The laptop compartment includes a padded sleeve that will fit most 17-inch computers. There’s a dedicated audio compartment with a poke-through grommet for your headphone cable, a water-bottle pouch and a tripod sling. Smaller members of the UrbanGear series offer similar features and the same high quality but less capacity. All offer contemporary styling and rugged protection. Estimated Street Price: $249.

Lowepro DryZone 200

Despite its low price, the Mary Farace Daypack Backpack (sold by Adorama) can hold a compact digital SLR with four lenses, including a 50-200mm zoom, plus accessories like a flash unit and battery charger. The 14x12x6-inch unit meets airline carry-on regulations, and nine repositionable dividers allow you to customize the live area to suit your gear. There are pockets for items like memory cards, manuals and sunscreen. The backpack is made of Softex nylon with lots of padding and has ergonomic straps for comfortable
carrying. Estimated Street Price: $49.

The first totally waterproof, soft-sided camera backpack, the Lowepro DryZone 200 will float even when fully loaded with gear. The roomy backpack will hold a large 35mm or pro digital SLR, four to five lenses (up to a 300mm ƒ/2.8 with hood reversed), flash and accessories; a medium-format system; a small field camera system; or a pro video system. An inner drypod with patented waterproof TIZIP zipper provides 100% watertight protection, while the heavy-duty padded camera compartment is fully customizable. Other features include an outer shell with technical backpack harness, ergonomic lumbar support, fully adjustable CollarCut shoulder straps, a tuck-away tripod holder, self-draining mesh pockets and more. The unit measures 14.6×11.4×19.1 inches and weighs 6.94 pounds.
Estimated Street Price: $364.

Kata GDC R-104

Domke F-3

The Kata GDC Rucksack series offers stylish protection and easy portability for one or two SLRs and up to five additional lenses. The main compartment of the GDC R-104 model will hold a pro D-SLR with battery grip and 300mm lens and can be conveniently customized by repositioning the padded dividers. The multipurpose compartment in the back will protect a 17-inch notebook computer or personal items. Two removable side pockets provide additional storage for accessories or a water bottle, and the included tripod holder attaches to either the back of the bag or one of the sides. The well-designed shoulder harness includes a unique cushioning and shock-absorbing system and a removable waist belt that provides weight distribution and ventilation. The R-104 is compatible with Kata’s EPH system that allows connection of additional pouches and storage bags. Estimated Street Price: $274.

The Domke F-3 Backpack is made of long-lasting, flexible cotton canvas with special foam padding in the bottom to protect your equipment from impact. The inside is divided into two sections for lenses (or accessories) and two sections for pro camera bodies. There also are zippered mesh pockets for filters or caps and a zippered front pocket. Plus, there are three additional exterior pockets for accessories of various sizes. The backpack harness has thick foam padding and a sternum strap. Domke bags are made in the USA and are well known for their legendary durability. Estimated Street Price: $169.

Tamrac Adventure 10 5550

This time of year, just about every outdoor photographer is enjoying the late-summer weather and some quality time with nature and a camera. And why not? The days are long, the temperatures are warm, and there’s plenty to see and photograph. When you want to be out shooting for a long time, chances are you want more than just a camera body and a couple of lenses with you, and when you’re going to load up, a backpack is the best tool for hauling your camera gear, as well as a spare jacket and a granola bar or two. Photo backpacks offer protection, load capacity and redistribution of weight so that you can carry more gear a longer distance with less fatigue.

If you frequently carry a notebook computer with your photo gear (who doesn’t these days?), photo backpacks are a great choice because you can consolidate all of your equipment in one easy-to-carry bag. Backpacks are ideal for bicycle excursions, too, and they’re available in more sizes, configurations and material options than ever before.

Think Tank Photo Shape Shifter

Tenba Shootout

When selecting a backpack, start from the inside out. Think about what you plan to carry. Need extra space for rain gear and a survival kit? A pouch for your MP3 player or GPS? How many cameras and how many lenses? Computer? Once you’ve established the load you need to stow, consider your alternatives from the standpoint of comfort, accessibility and appearance. Make sure that the bag you select will fit you snugly but comfortably, otherwise you’ll feel as if you’re hauling a tree stump on your shoulders. And if getting to your gear as quickly as possible is more important than anything else, be prepared to investigate some of the hybrid shoulder-sling-type backpacks, as well.

From Think Tank Photo comes the Shape Shifter, the first backpack designed to expand and contract to fit D-SLR equipment. By flattening down to a three-inch thickness, the backpack can be collapsed and still carry up to a 17-inch laptop and accessories, but in a much smaller profile. Photographers who already use Think Tank’s belt system can integrate the Shape Shifter and support the weight of the backpack with the belt. Estimated Street Price: $249.

The Tenba Shootout backpack collection offers models in various sizes and shapes, so you’re assured to find the right one to meet your exact needs. The popular Shootout Daypack will fit a pair of D-SLRs, five to seven lenses (up to 70-200mm ƒ/2.8), plus the accessories, clothing and food you’ll need for an extended excursion. The Daypack is similar in size to the Small backpack, but instead of including a removable interior, tripod carrier and computer sleeve, Tenba provides its exclusive PackOUT pocket, which uniquely expands to provide approximately 240 cubic inches of additional storage space. This compartment will accommodate lightweight, non-breakable items like rain gear, MREs, boonie cap and the like. Estimated Street Price: $199.

National Geographic W5070

The Tamrac Adventure 10 Photo/Laptop Backpack (Model 5550) was designed for the modern SLR photographer, with room for a pro digital SLR with an eight-inch lens attached, additional lenses, flash unit, accessories and a 17-inch laptop computer—everything you’d need for outdoor photography. The lower compartment is completely foam-padded to protect your photo gear, while the large upper compartment has room for items like lunch or a light jacket. The laptop compartment also is padded. Double-zipper pulls provide quick access to gear, while a weather flap provides protection from the elements. Tamrac’s patented Memory & Battery Management System identifies unused cards and batteries with red flags. The comfortable foam-padded backpack harness with sternum strap is contoured to distribute the weight across the shoulders, while a padded waist belt also helps distribute weight comfortably. The pack comes in red/black or gray/black, measures 14×10.5×25 inches and weighs 5.25 pounds. Estimated Street Price: $189.

Naneu Pro UrbanGear U220

Available in small, medium and large sizes, the National Geographic Walkabout Rucksacks are as distinctive as they are functional. Made of gray cotton canvas with leather trim, a water-resistant nylon interior and brushed aluminum rings and rivets, these are as handsome and comfortable as your favorite pair of jeans. The NG W5070 (Medium) will handle one D-SLR, lenses, flash and most 15-inch laptops. The padded lower compartment offers excellent protection for your camera gear, while the upper personal storage compartment holds other items like food, clothes or your e-book reader. Estimated Street Price: $180.

Mary Farace Daypack

Best known for its military-style bags and backpacks, Naneu Pro has introduced a full line of photo bags called UrbanGear. The full-sized UrbanGear U220 is a convertible backpack/rolling camera bag that will hold a pro Canon EOS-1D-type D-SLR with a 300mm ƒ/2.8 lens, plus six more lenses, flash and a second camera body. The laptop compartment includes a padded sleeve that will fit most 17-inch computers. There’s a dedicated audio compartment with a poke-through grommet for your headphone cable, a water-bottle pouch and a tripod sling. Smaller members of the UrbanGear series offer similar features and the same high quality but less capacity. All offer contemporary styling and rugged protection. Estimated Street Price: $249.

Lowepro DryZone 200

Despite its low price, the Mary Farace Daypack Backpack (sold by Adorama) can hold a compact digital SLR with four lenses, including a 50-200mm zoom, plus accessories like a flash unit and battery charger. The 14x12x6-inch unit meets airline carry-on regulations, and nine repositionable dividers allow you to customize the live area to suit your gear. There are pockets for items like memory cards, manuals and sunscreen. The backpack is made of Softex nylon with lots of padding and has ergonomic straps for comfortable
carrying. Estimated Street Price: $49.

The first totally waterproof, soft-sided camera backpack, the Lowepro DryZone 200 will float even when fully loaded with gear. The roomy backpack will hold a large 35mm or pro digital SLR, four to five lenses (up to a 300mm ƒ/2.8 with hood reversed), flash and accessories; a medium-format system; a small field camera system; or a pro video system. An inner drypod with patented waterproof TIZIP zipper provides 100% watertight protection, while the heavy-duty padded camera compartment is fully customizable. Other features include an outer shell with technical backpack harness, ergonomic lumbar support, fully adjustable CollarCut shoulder straps, a tuck-away tripod holder, self-draining mesh pockets and more. The unit measures 14.6×11.4×19.1 inches and weighs 6.94 pounds.
Estimated Street Price: $364.

Kata GDC R-104

Domke F-3

The Kata GDC Rucksack series offers stylish protection and easy portability for one or two SLRs and up to five additional lenses. The main compartment of the GDC R-104 model will hold a pro D-SLR with battery grip and 300mm lens and can be conveniently customized by repositioning the padded dividers. The multipurpose compartment in the back will protect a 17-inch notebook computer or personal items. Two removable side pockets provide additional storage for accessories or a water bottle, and the included tripod holder attaches to either the back of the bag or one of the sides. The well-designed shoulder harness includes a unique cushioning and shock-absorbing system and a removable waist belt that provides weight distribution and ventilation. The R-104 is compatible with Kata’s EPH system that allows connection of additional pouches and storage bags. Estimated Street Price: $274.

The Domke F-3 Backpack is made of long-lasting, flexible cotton canvas with special foam padding in the bottom to protect your equipment from impact. The inside is divided into two sections for lenses (or accessories) and two sections for pro camera bodies. There also are zippered mesh pockets for filters or caps and a zippered front pocket. Plus, there are three additional exterior pockets for accessories of various sizes. The backpack harness has thick foam padding and a sternum strap. Domke bags are made in the USA and are well known for their legendary durability. Estimated Street Price: $169.