PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
Gearing Up
Transporting Your Equipment From Here to
There
by Michael Sheridan
For the traveling photographer, the bags and cases you use to
carry your equipment is almost as important as the equipment
itself. Lenses and cameras are sensitive and expensive, so
selecting the right carrying case is a necessity if you want your
precious cargo to survive the flight from New York to
Mozambique.
When looking for a camera bag, many professional photographers seek
luggage that is not only easy to carry and will protect their
camera, they also want something that will accommodate their laptop
computers.
"Carrying a digital camera isn't a whole lot different then
carrying a conventional camera and equipment," said Brandon Kirk,
market development manager for Tamrac. "The only wrinkle is that
since many professionals are moving toward digital, they want to
carry laptops with them." While digital cameras generally fit
easily in bags designed around conventional film systems, some
companies have designed cases to help the cutting-edge digital
photographer with products that will service both the camera and
other peripherals. Pockets once designed with film rolls in mind
have been made thinner and wider to safely and comfortably support
CDs and PC cards.
Still, whether a photographer captures images in 1s and 0s or on
celluloid, all must contend with regulations placed upon the
traveling photographer by airlines. These restrictions range from
how many carry-on bags they can bring to how much the checked-in
luggage weighs. Several camera bag manufacturers, such as Lightware
Inc., have turned their focus on creating lighter, easier-to-carry
cases. With a lighter bag, equipment is easier to lug around and
less of a hassle with airlines. Some airlines have also recently
changed the sizes allowed for carry-on luggage, causing several
manufacturers to readjust bag sizes accordingly. Versa-Flex will be
unveiling a new line of bags this fall, including a stronger,
lighter, and more durable wheel-bag, according to the company's
president, Larry Nolan.
Lastly, while it may make you look cool and hip to have a flashy,
expensive bag, you may want to avoid one. Thieves are at the gates,
literally, and a cool looking bag filled with thousands of dollars
worth of film equipment is ripe for the taking. Keep it low key.
Help throw off the scent of a big catch for the bag man looking to
claim your property.
Camera Bags
This smallest of the satchels produced by Domke www.domkebags.com, a Tiffen company, has gained
a large following among photographers who don't want to call
attention to their expensive equipment. It can hold two or three
cameras, as well as one or two extra lenses and other
accessories.
Hakuba's Blackrock Pro Series
www.hakubausa.com, come in two sizes (medium and
small) and two colors (traditional black and desert green).
Constructed of tough polycanvas and genuine leather, heavily padded
and board-reinforced for maximum protection, and equipped with
padded nonslip shoulder straps, the Blackrock series is designed to
be rugged and functional.
Lightware BackPack
A versatile way to haul your gear into the outback or just over to
your airplane gate, the Lightware BackPack www.lightwareinc.com has been upgraded with more
pockets to help the traveling photographer take all he needs on a
shoot. It comes with a comfortable harness system, which includes a
padded waistbelt, chest strap, and padded lumbar support, as well
as adjustable shoulder straps. The harness system can also be
hidden away by a special flap. Simply zipper it up and turn the
backpack into a briefcase.
Lowepro's Stealth AW
Specifically designed for the digital photojournalist, the Stealth
AW by LowePro www.lowepro.com is amazingly compact and
well-organized. Small enough to fit into overhead airplane
compartments, it is still roomy enough for the essentials of a news
photographer's frantic schedule. It can hold a laptop as big as an
Apple G3, a professional digital camera, computer accessories and
extra lenses, as well as a change of clothes in the personal
effects compartment and toiletries in the water-resistant
pocket.
Pelican Products #1650
Case
www.pelican.com is watertight, airtight,
dustproof, and crushproof. Equipped with rubber wheels and a
retractable extension handle, the extra deep case can be customized
with two tiers of modular padded dividers or pick-and-pluck foam
for total equipment protection. Features include multiple fold down
carrying handles, an atmospheric pressure purge valve, integral
wheels, and a personalized nameplate, all of which makes this a
valuable case for the professional on the
move.
Porter Case's Photocase
Porter Case's www.portercase.com new Porter Photocase was made
with the professional photographer in mind. Designed with
customizable panel dividers and convoluted foam inserts, it boasts
a hard exterior consisting of space-age materials to keep your
equipment safe from the elements—and aggressive baggage
handlers.
Tamrac's Photo Messenger Series
The new Photo Messenger bags from Tamrac www.tamrac.com
combine the body-hugging comfort of a messenger bag with a unique,
patent-pending, double-entry system for instant access to photo
equipment. The bags range in size from compact bags (Photo
Messenger 2) that can carry a camera, three lenses, a flash, and
some accessories, to the largest model (Photo Messenger 8), capable
of handling two cameras, several lenses, and a laptop computer.
Tenba's P684 Pro Traveler
The 684 by Tenba www.tenba.com has the maximum dimensions that
will fit under an airplane seat—eight inches high and up to
13 inches wide when the rear pocket is expanded. The rear pocket
closes with buckles. To save space, there is no padded top filter
pocket, but there is a standard film pocket. The main compartment
features two camera caddies, two mid-dividers, two side dividers,
and four tall side dividers. The bag also comes with two side
pockets and a front zipper pocket.
Tutto's Litecruiser & Camcruiser
Tutto's www.tutto.com Litecruiser and Camcruiser feature
sturdy frames and padding that can be rearranged or removed
entirely. The Camcruiser, capable of safely holding several lenses,
a camera, film, and other small accessories, opens from the side
and features four wheels, making it easier to carry from one end of
the airport to the other. The Litecruiser is also a four wheeler,
and opens from the top, allowing easy loading and unloading of
small lights and cables.
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