Showing posts with label feisol. Show all posts
Showing posts with label feisol. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Lowepro Flipside 400AW review

Me and Flipside 400AW, photo credit: Khuram Naseer

After lots of wait and searching i ended up buying Flipside 400 AW from trusted Lowepro, sells new for around 140$, paid 100$ to an ebay seller for new, arrived in a week in very nice packing.

This is largest camera backpack in Flipside product range and only one that includes AW cover. Unique thing about this series is that they open from back of backpack, and allow you to change lenses without taking entire camera bag off which works amazingly well in field. I wish all backpacks were designed like that.

What it holds for me 



  • Canon 7D+17-40L+ 83ej hood attached, 100mm Macro, Flash 580ex2, 50mm 1.8 + free room for more stuff 
  • Tripod holder holds Feisol 3401 and Cullman 30nm Ballhead less than 2kg kit. 
  • Extra T shirt, filter, wireless triggers, battery and other accessories in outer compartment 
The Real Test Short after this bag arrived i went on trip to north of Pakistan (see link) from dusty to lush green rainy areas, Jeep travels on bumpy paths but this camera bag kept my all gear secure. I attached lots of stuff to this bag on this trip. As said very comfortable to change lenses without taking camera bag off, keeps harness clean when you have to take backpack off and work on ground. Thanks to its looks, back entry and small depth helps a lot in a crowded place.

The Good 
  • Durable outer material 
  • Comfortable, breathable on back 
  • Don't look like a Camera bag 
  • Secure back entry mechanism 
  • Flipside works perfectly well, can do everything without taking it off! 
  • Sliplock attachments are provided two on bag and 6 on waist belt. 
  • Nice padding and dividers, and 3 memory card holders inside bag
  • All weather cover 
The Bad 
  • I wish tripod holder mechanism was little better, but it perfectly works if top straps are used to secure the Tripod but you lose carrying light jacket flexibility. 
  • I hope Zippers were little more durable, like the ones found in some other series of Lowepro bags. 
  • Chest strap is little flimsy but works. 
And The Ugly No Metal D rings, big setback for me, i wanted to attach my DSLR to D rings when working to keep my neck comfortable. Wish it had a cover to protect harness and buckle when tucked away. No small pouch which comes with Lowepros.

Conclusion
Overall i am very happy with this bag and my companion for travel photography around Pakistan, few nits in "The Bad" part are really not deal breaker, I wish for improvements like metal D rings in upcoming models of Flipside.
PS: In above photo i attached sleeping mattress on top of rain coat and used shoelace tied with tripod head and bag's hand carrying holder to keep it secure and minimize movements as provided straps were attached to the rain coat. I had to attach so much stuff in emergency i don't think so i am going to use camera backpack like that frequently! 

+923455400315
Islamabad, Pakistan

Friday, May 28, 2010

Whats inside my Camera Bag!

Lots of admirers ask me what kind of equipment i am using to take photographs. To be honest my gallery contains images shot with low end to high end cameras Sony point and shoot to Canon DSLR.

Following is the list of gear inside my bag (year 2010)
Canon EOS 7D 18 MP DSLR + extra battery
Canon 17-40 f4L lens
Canon 100mm 2.8 Macro Lens
Canon 580 Ex II Flash light
Wireless flash trgger and receiver set
Hoya Pro1 Polarizor 77mm
Feisol 3401 carbon fiber tripod
Cullmann 30nm Magnasite Ballhead
Lumiquest mini flash diffuser

Gear on Wish List
Lenses
Canon 70-200 f2.8 IS II
Canon 24-105 f4L IS
Camera body on wish list
5D mark II

Other stuff which i always carry with my camera gear
Rubber bands
Shopping bags large enough to put my bag into it incase of rain or dust storm
Head band to absorb sweat and keeps sweat out of camera viewfinder ( a must have and works wonders for sweaty people)

Bags: Lowepro Rezo 190AW Soulder and Crumpler 3800L Pretty boy, both require upgradation as they are my companions of old days when i had fewer and smaller stuff. Looking for camera backpack, if you know anything appropriate or looking to sponsor backpack throw me an email!

When i started photography in 2004
Sony DSC-W1 point and shoot camera which i still use.
2006
Moved to Sony DSC-H5 which i don't use anymore, it was excellent camera for macros, i covered my 1st professional assignment with this camera.
2007
Got Canon 400D DSLR with 50mm 1.8 lens and 18-55 kit lens, now Retired.