Looking for a good quality gear bag that can hold a little bit of everything? Then this bag might be for you!
I stopped by to see my friends at Outdoor Photo Gear the other day and they had just received a shipment of these bags in. While I wasn't really in the market for a new bag, I couldn't help but notice the size of this thing and how well made it is (its a Kata --duh). Its billed as a medium sized bag, but this thing looks like it will hold everything but the kitchen sink! So I had to check it out.
Its the Kata KT-OMB-75 One Man Band Bag and I believe it would store everything a one man band could possibly throw in it. Its surrounded by pockets all the way around and on top. The front pocket zips open to reveal a large, flat storage area with smaller, utility style pockets for everything from notebooks, to pens, chords and all sorts of smaller knick-knacks. It also has a flat pocket on each side and another voluminous one on top. On the outside top of the bag, there are straps that can be used to strap on a tripod or light stands.
The inside of the bag has a bay for storing your laptop and two removable, zippered pouches. There's also another strap inside to secure bigger items from moving around in the bag and has another two interior mesh pouches. It also comes with a bean bag to rest your camera on while shooting! On top of all that, the inside of the bag itself is spacious enough to hold several cameras, lenses, another tripod or could be used as a light bag to hold multiple monoblocs and pack-and-head type systems including small battery packs!
This bag is made really well with two straps on the side for easy lifting. It has an inter-locking rugged handle for carrying and a shoulder strap that looks like something that came from the space shuttle with aluminum buckles, that also has a quick release latch on it. The bag itself is made of reinforced Nycore grid fabric which basically means its going to outlive you!
Also, this bag isn't only for photographers. This would make an awesome accessory for videographers, DJs or anyone else looking to have a quality way of storing and carrying their valuable equipment.
The really, really awesome thing about this bag? Outdoor Photo Gear is running a special right now where you can get this monster for only $99.95!!! That is a steal, but if you're interested, at this price I bet they go quickly and the sale is only good while they have stock, so once they're gone, that's it! Like I said earlier, I wasn't even looking for a bag, but at this price and considering the quality of the bag, I had to have one. As a matter of fact, I took their demo!!
The SpiderPro Single Camera System is a great way to have your camera at your finger tips without the fuss of a strap. I like the quick release and the locking system that they have used to make this holster. This sturdy well made system uses a pin to connect to your camera (I recommend that you tighten it down with a wrench to make sure it is secure). It fits comfortably on my hip and lets me be "hands free". I like that I don’t have a strap over my shoulder. When carrying my 500mm lens on a tripod, having the holster for my second body is much more comfortable then having it strapped to my neck.
The company also offers a smaller Black Widow Holster for carrying your smaller lenses, and a dual holster for carrying two cameras at the same time. Visit Spider Camera Holster’s website to see a quick video clip and to learn more about these great holsters.
The SpiderPro Single Camera System is the one I chose because it handles my Canon 100-400mm lens safely and easily.
As a nature photographer, having quick easy access to your camera makes a world of difference. Outdoor Photo Gear has the SpiderPro and the Black Widow available. I just love this holster and I have added it to my gear list so I thought that I would pass on the info.
The Universal kit comes with 20 tabbed filters and a band to attach the gels to any sized speedlight. The kit includes various dramatic colors for effect, and a set of color correction gels to match your light with just about any available light from tungsten to florescent. A really cool feature of these gels is that each one comes printed with the actual color and the number of stops of light each gel uses. This can be really handy when determining how much light to use. These gels also attach very easily to any speedlight with the included band.
The Rogue Grid kit is designed to be used with the new Rogue Grid and these fit easily in to the Rogue Grid holder. This kit comes with the same tabbed 20 filters as the Universal kit and each gel is also marked with the color and number of stops of light each gel uses (I love this feature). If you already have the Rogue Grid then this is a must have addition, and if you don't have the grid, go out and pick one up, its priced right and easy to use!
Both kits come with their own carrying pouches which if you've used gels at all, you know how cumbersome it can be to keep these organized and stored for quick use. Also, both kits have tabbed dividers inside that tell you what gels it contains and information about each gel ...again this is an awesome feature! ...did I say that already?
I use gels all the time in my photography and you can never have too many. The new Rogue Gel Kits make it easy to have a broad selection of colored gels, organized and ready to use at a moment's notice. I included a short video below that shows you how to attach both sets of gels to your flashes.
I've finally decided on a cart! I was on the hunt to replace my homemade cart, and Outdoor Photo Gear sent me the two different Eckla Gear Carts to evaluate. I've decided on the Eckla Beach Rolly. I thought I would give you a rundown on each cart.
There are two different styles of Gear Carts by Eckla that are available: the Multi Rolly and the Beach Rolly. These carts are both light weight and fold easily to fit in the car. Both are durable multi-function carts with all-terrain tires. The tires are very versatile and can go anywhere you need them to go--whether it’s over rough terrain or sandy beaches. These carts carry your gear instead of you humping it on your shoulders or back! The no slip grips on the handles are fantastic and as soon as I saw them I knew I would like them. The handle is tall enough so that when you are rolling the cart, you don’t hit the back of your ankles – which was one of the problems I was having with my homemade cart.
The Multi Rolly comes fully loaded with gear pouches, hooks, no slip grip handles and even a fold-down shooting seat.
Here are some of the features: German engineering and construction 10″H x 3″W (25 x 8 cm) knobby all-terrain tires Rust proof heavy duty aluminum frame Cargo hooks attached to frame Pockets hold tripod feet securely Separate fold-down seat allows you to sit & shoot without unpacking
And the all-important specs: 110 lbs (50 kg) hauling capacity 264 lbs (120 kg) seating capacity Payload space 20W x 14D” (50 x 35 cm) Payload back height 21.5″ (55 cm) Seat size 18W x 16D” (45 x 40 cm) Weight 15.4 lbs (7 kg) Folds flat 27.5 x 26.8 x 6″ (70 x 68 x 15 cm) PRICE: $299.95
Below is the Beach Rolly Gear Cart which has a simpler design and is the one I decided to go with, as I like the side covers. This model also comes with the no-slip grips and the all-terrain tires that I like so much.
Here are the Beach Rolly Features: German engineering and construction 10″H x 3″W (25 x 8 cm) knobby all-terrain tires Rust proof heavy duty aluminum frame Double-walled nylon bucket hopper/seat construction Converts from hauling mode to seat
Beach Rolly Specifications: 176 lbs (80 kg) hauling capacity 264 lbs (115 kg) seating capacity Payload area floor 18 x 14″ (46 x 35.5 cm) Payload back height 24″ (61 cm) and 41″ (104 cm) high with windscreen Weight 10 lbs (4.5 kg) Folds flat 28 x 26 x 3.5″ (71 x 66 x 9 cm) PRICE:$199.95
I added a Multi-Holding Bar so I could strap in my tripods and other gear. It's available for both carts.
There are other accessories too, such as a cargo net (definitely recommended), a bottle holder and a fold out bar to add space to the bottom payload area.
Here is an image of my gear cart shown with my two tripods, my 500mm lens, 1 camera body (I was shooting this image w/ the other ). My 100mm Macro lens and assorted gear. I still have room for my cooler and some additional lenses. The black plastic cart is from Staples and cost $6.99. I use the straps that come with the optional Multi-holding bar to secure my tripods. I place my other gear including my 500mm lens in the cart. The black netting is elastic and secures easily to the cart with the hooks that come with it. I can also pull the netting up over my gear if I overload the cart.
I'm thrilled that I was able to replace my homemade cart. These Eckla carts are fantastic. Once you use one, you'll realize how easy it makes it to haul your gear around. I'm sure you'll see lots of them on the beaches when you shoot!
Chances are, if you're a photographer, you probably have dozens of AA batteries lying around. These days it seems like everything photography related uses them (if you're lucky), from speedlights, to radio triggers, to light meters etc etc. I know I have at least around three dozen batteries, all of which are rechargeable, and it can be a chore to keep them all organized and together.
I have tried every method and product imaginable for storing and keeping my batteries organized but have now found a product I truly love! Chris at Outdoor Photo Gear tipped me off to the PowerPax Battery Caddies. These little guys are a breeze to use and take up little to no space. What I really love about them is that I can keep groups of four batteries together, in a small and compact, secure device.
These caddies are made of a hard, durable plastic and aren't much bigger than a set of four AA batteries in your hand. The batteries simply pop in through the bottom of the case and snap into place, ensuring a snug fit. They won't fall out, due to the design of the case, however you can easily pop the batteries out with one hand, which if you shoot weddings or other venues where you need to reload batteries quickly, this feature can save valuable time. When on an assignment, I always carry at least two sets of AA batteries in my pockets and up until now, I felt like I had aliens growing out of my legs due to the size of the battery case. But with these new caddies, you don't even notice them in your pockets.
Another thing I really like about this system, is that you can get these cases that will hold various quantities and types. I personally prefer the 4-packs because most of the devices I use, either hold four AA's or two such as my radio triggers. The 4-packs are handy to me because one important thing with batteries is to not mix and match them. In other words, when you get a quantity of rechargeable batteries, you always want to keep them in the original group, otherwise you can have problems keeping them charged. Some chargers will not charge batteries evenly when you have batteries of various charge levels in the charger. So, when I get a set of four batteries, I mark them with a sharpie so that I know which set goes together. The new PowerPax cases now enable me to keep those same four batteries together in a much easier system.
A couple of other cool tidbits about the PowerPax caddies is that they come in multiple colors, which can help you even more in organizing your batteries. You can even get them in a glow-in-the-dark color! ...which should come in handy for all you night flashers ;)
This product has been on the market for some time and apparently, pilots, the military and other similar groups have been using these with great success. Now I can see these really taking off in the photography world.
To show how easy these are to use, I included a short video showing how to load and unload the batteries. (please excuse my poor video skills) Again I have to say I REALLY love this product and am planning on getting one of these for every set of batteries I have.
I was skeptical about this one – I have to admit it. I already have a camera strap that I really like. It has great padding and little pockets where I can keep a couple of extra memory cards – so why do I need the Black Rapid RS4? But I’m game. I said I’d try it out, and write up a review if I liked it. If not, I’d just send it back. Well – I was wrong… this thing is great!
First off, it has a pocket. So what? My old one has two pockets. Well – the pockets on my other strap are just the right size for my memory cards. Which is great – if that’s the only thing you plan to put in there. They’re too small to fit anything else. The Black Rapid has one slightly larger pocket with a small zipper – it’ll fit a couple of memory cards– or you can do what I did. I usually use a tripod – so my camera has a quick-release bracket screwed into the bottom. Rather than risk losing the bracket, I put it in the pocket – along with its easy-to-lose screw, and my allen wrench. When I want to switch back to my tripod mount, I know exactly where those small parts are. No fishing around in the bottom of my camera bag trying to find them. That may not seem like a big deal, but if you are primarily a tripod-shooter, it means a lot. The pocket was just large enough to fit a spare memory card in there too. Nice!
The other thing that was pretty important to me was the ease with which I could attach or remove the Black Rapid. When I’m shooting wide-angle landscapes I almost always use a tripod – and I nearly always use it for close-up and detail work as well. But the Black Rapid strap screws into the tripod mount on the bottom of the camera. It is meant specifically for those who hand-hold their cameras. Since the tripod quick-release needs to be securely screwed into the base of my camera, I’m not likely to remove it unless there’s a darn good reason to do so. I guess I just found my reason.
It took me less than 10 seconds to remove my bracket, and attach the Black Rapid strap firmly to my camera. The swiveling clip makes it easy to screw in, and a rubber gasket provides a strong grip while also protecting the base of the camera. It’s secure enough that I felt completely comfortable letting go of the camera to let it hang at my waist.
Now, the idea here is to be able to carry the camera comfortably while leaving your hands free – and to be able to grab the camera at a moment’s notice and pull it up to shooting position. At first, I thought the shoulder pad would slip off my shoulder and I’d end up fiddling with it all the time. That didn’t happen. In fact, the shoulder pad stayed right where I put it. If it did slip, it would take nothing beyond a quick tug to set it right again – but the little clip slides so smoothly that I didn’t have any problems at all.
The strap is also easy to adjust. A couple of locking clips keep the camera from sliding beyond the range you’re comfortable with, and the strap adjusts to fit any body type. The shoulder pad is comfortable, and its position helps balance the weight of a heavy lens.
I didn’t think I’d be interested in keeping the Black Rapid – but I’ll be using it regularly… whenever I’m not using a tripod. It’s perfect for photographing the kids playing soccer, for shooting a wedding, for detail photography when you are using a flash, for bird and wildlife photography with a long lens, or for shooting in-studio. I’m looking forward to having both hands free when I need them!
You can find all the cool Black Rapid products in the OPG store here.
Varina Patel, with her husband Jay, are professional nature photographers and are frequent contributors at Naturephotographers.net. To see more of Varina’s fabulous work, visit her website at photographybyvarina.com.
Editor’s note: Welcome Maxis Gamez to the blog! Hailing from Sarasota Florida, Maxis is an active bird photographer and workshop leader. Maxis loves great gear, and will be providing us reviews of equipment that he uses in the field. You can learn more about Maxis, view his images and scout his workshops at his website GVisions.org.
It’s no secret. Many nature photographers are curious about the new heavy duty, yet affordable 8X CT tripod series from Induro. During this review, I’ll talk about the largest tripod Induro has ever offered and how it performs in the real world. If you have seen my images or have participated in my workshops, you’ll know that I’m not a casual shooter. I photograph in mud, saltwater, beach sand and everything else you can think of and my tripod comes along with me. Therefore, I need a tripod that meets my needs and can withstand my style of shooting!
The new 8X CT-Series of Induro tripods are the strongest, most stable tripods ever offered. A wide stance cross-braced magnesium alloy spider, ultra-light 8X layer Carbon Fiber legs, oversized center column lock and enhanced leg angle locks, contribute with up to 35% greater stability, rigidity and higher load capacity. The new 8X CT-Series also includes interchangeable rubber feet and stainless steel spikes, a tool kit and deluxe carrying bag and strap.
Let’s look at the new features:
Features:
Wide Stance Cross-braced Magnesium Alloy Spider: This feature alone provides an excellent core system stability and support. While I’m not a big fan of the tripod base, I must say that I adapted to the new magnesium alloy spider style base with ease. After all, if the tripod is more stable with the new magnesium alloy design, I’m happy!
Extra Long Grooved Center Column: The extended and extra long center column allows camera positioning without unwanted column rotation. The column is designed NOT to rotate for that extra stability.
Full Width Leg Locks: This feature allows maximum support at any angle. I welcome the new and rapid locking mechanism as I don’t like to spend a lot of time changing my tripod configurations in the field. Pop the lock open, move the tripod leg to the desired position (3 available), snap it back in place and you are done!
Dust and Moisture Resistant Ergonomic Rubber Grip Leg Locks: Because of my style of shooting, dust and moisture are constantly present. Induro did an excellent job making sure critical tripod parts are well protected from the elements. However, this does not mean your Induro tripod will be dust or dirt free. I strongly recommend rinsing off your tripod legs with freshwater every time saltwater is present.
Interchangeable Rubber Feet and Stainless Steel Spikes in Carbon Fiber mount: There are times when the “stock” rubber feet will not do the job depending on the environment the tripod is being used in. The folks from Induro thought about the little details and that makes a difference. You can easily change the stock rubber feet with a set of steel spikes in the field.
Spring Loaded Weight Hook: Another one of those little details that makes a difference. The additional weight mounting hook allows extra stability under windy conditions. This feature I very much looking forward to using as I hang my Canon Battery Pack from that hook. The built-in spring mechanism makes sure whatever you hang from that hook, stays hooked!
Oversized Center Column Lock: I’ve never been a big fan of center columns and there is no exception here. The main reason is because I’m normally at very low angles. However, Induro also thought about those circumstances and created a short center column for the tripod. The much smaller center column can also be purchased directly from outdoor Photo Gear for a reasonably low price.
Induro claims that the center column lock adds vibration reduction and structural support to your camera and/or ball-head. Because they have done such great job designing the tripod, I’m confident that is the case.
Non-Rotating Carbon Fiber Leg Sections: Yet another feature that will help you set up your tripod at a much faster pace. As a bird photographer, I often look for the best possible perspective, therefore this 1/2 turn locking and unlocking mechanism means a lot to me. Tripod manufacturers are using this feature more and more. However, I’ve used other tripod brands where this non-rotating feature is not as effective as they advertise.
Reversible Locking Center Column: The reversible center column feature is probably useful to those that photograph macro, allowing extra flexibility during low angle shooting situations. This feature I will probably not use very much, but it’s good to have it available.
Adjustable Leg Angles with Lock: The adjustable leg angle locks help accommodate uneven surfaces and awkward shooting situations. In my opinion, a tripod is not a tripod without this feature.
Integral Bubble Level: During my workshops and seminars, I often remind participants to keep an eye on the horizon line and to also make sure your tripod is level at all times. This feature allows adjustments to prevent uneven pans and tripod head movements using Gimbal style heads.
Easy Fold: Induro has even thought of this! To accommodate the traveling photographer, the CT414 folds to approximately to 25.8 inches allowing you to easily carry the tripod inside your check-in bag.
Specifications:
Material
Carbon Fiber
Maximum Load
55 lb (25 kg)
Max Height w/Column Extended
77.6 in (1970 mm)
Max Height w/Column Retracted
66.9 in (1700 mm)
Min Height w/Column Retracted
23.1 in (587 mm)
Min Height w/Short Column
7.4 in (189 mm)
Max Height
in mm)
Height
in mm)
Width Including Handles
in mm)
Length
in mm)
Folded Length
25.8 in (655 mm)
Number of Leg Sections
4
Leg Lock Type
Moisture and dust-resistant locking grips
Independent Leg Spread
Yes, with three position stops
Center Column
Grooved-Rapid
Bubble Level
Included
Spiked Feet
Removable - Included
Head Mount Thread Size
1/4″-20 & 3/8″-16
Weight
6.3 lbs (2.9 kg)
Included Items:
Includes
Deluxe carry case, strap, toolkit
Warranty
2 years (+3 Online = 5 total)
As you can see, the Induro CT414 is FULL of useful yet reliable features that will enhance your shooting experience. Let’s see how the tripod performed in the field!
Field Performance:
Tripod Height:
At 6’ tall, I used to have problems with my old FEISOL CT3472LV tripod because the tripod only extends to a maximum height of 59.01 inches (under 6’). The way I used to deal with this was by narrowing all 3 legs allowing an extra 2 or 3 inches but sacrificing stability.
With the Induro CT414 maximum height of 77.6 inches without extending the center column, I no longer have to sacrifice stability for few extra inches; therefore I’m always comfortable under all circumstances. I’m confident this tripod can easily accommodate taller photographers as well.
Tripod Weight:
I find the Induro CT414 carbon fiber tripod weight well balanced. The tripod weighs only 6.3 lbs. Not necessarily “light” but you don’t want a tripod that is extremely light-weight, as you can sacrifice stability and performance in the field. Completely loaded this tripod can be easily handled.
By the way, if you have a hard time carrying your photography gear in the field, the folks from Outdoor Photo Gear now carry the Eckla Gear Carts designed for photographers. You can learn all about the carts by following this link.
Tripod Weight Support:
The Induro CT414 offers a massive maximum weight load of 55 pounds. Supporting my Canon 800mm f/5.6 L IS lens attached to the Canon 7D or 5D MKII with a grip each, 580EXII flash, brackets and battery pack feels secure and solid. While the 800mm lens only weights 9.8lbs, this set up is no match to even consider limiting the capabilities of the tripod.
Things got a lot easier for the CT414 when I mounted my Canon 500mm f/4.5 L lens using the 7D and 5D MKII. I’m pretty sure the tripod will impress folks using heavier set ups including the Nikon 600mm f/4 and the Canon 600mm f/4 as well.
Tripod Stability:
With the new wide stance cross-braced magnesium alloy spider, this tripod is ROCK SOLID and very stable. The magnesium base feels strong and most importantly, it never rotates unlike other tripods I used in the past. Another important aspect of this magnesium base is the light weight factor. Because we need a strong base, doesn’t mean it has to be heavy. I also find the spider like leg holder lower design critical for more stability.
The tripod legs never let me down under any circumstance even under heavy and uneven terrain or while photographing from the water. As a bird photographer, I often find myself in mud, saltwater and uneven terrains. The tripod legs feel firm and without any unwanted movement.
Tripod Salt Water Performance:
Living in S.W. Florida, saltwater has become part of my normal shooting environment. This tripod offers a very unique seal I find extremely brilliant, which it doesn’t allow water to penetrate the tripod legs. If you really want to expedite your bird photography, you must learn the true power of approaching birds from the water. I have no problems getting this tripod wet at any time!
Rinsing the tripod with freshwater after a long day shooting in saltwater is a good idea. This will also help you keep the tripod clean and will last for many years to come.
Conclusion:
I feel Induro really made an extra effort and stepped-up to the plate. Coming from using FEISOL tripods, the CT414 was an eye-opener. The rock solid feel to it, the little details, the incredible maximum load capability and durability, the Induro CT414 will impress you all the way.
Induro also made sure to keep this tripod 8X series affordable. Prices have unfortunately has gotten out of hand by other manufacturers. Not everyone can afford the current high prices of Gitzo tripods!
Overall, this tripod will serve you well for many years to come. I feel very lucky the folks from Outdoor Photo Gear allowed me to try this tripod and compare it with other brands.
If you have any other question about the tripod, feel free to contact me directly by visiting my website contact page.
Stay tuned, more reviews coming up!
Thanks!
You can learn more about Maxis, view his images and scout his workshops at his website GVisions.org.
This is a short video to show you how I used my Neos Adventurer All Season Overshoes from Outdoor Photo Gear to keep feet warm and dry while in Antarctica and the Falkland Islands recently. It’s not an incredibly difficult subject but it took me a few times to get my head around the process and be able to get this footwear on quickly and out to the Zodiacs waiting to take us ashore.
You can also view the embedded video on your iPad, thanks to Vimeo!
Don’t forget to hit the full-screen button in the video window to view the video full-screen.
Note that there is an iPod/iPhone version of this video in iTunes, which is good for portability, but if you’re watching on a computer, the video above is better.
Hi there, I'm Martin Bailey, and today I'm going to show you how I kept my legs and my feet dry when I was down in Antarctica last month.
What we're going to look at, basically, obviously you need some footwear. These are Baffin Boots. They're good down to like minus 70 degrees Celsius. These are my winter weather, insulated boots, that I use anywhere it is going to be cold.
But when you are going to be jumping in and out of zodiacs, or I'm doing beach landings, you want something to keep the saltwater off of these and also to give you a little bit more height.
These are basically what I bought. They're Neos Overshoes. These are the Adventurer All Weather Overshoes. I bought these from Outdoor Photo Gear. I'll put a link in the show notes and in the video.
Basically, these are what we're going to put over the boots. Nice and big so that you can do that. And then to stop water to get in even over the top of these, but you don't want to be really wearing waders down there. We've got just normal rainproof trousers. I'm going to show how to put these on. It's not difficult, but it's just something that obviously it took me a little bit of time, to get used to the rhythm of things. So I'm going to show you that today.
So, boots on first, what you see is, you need to pull the rainproof trousers on, under the bottom part there, and obviously, I would usually be wearing thicker trousers than this, if it's really cold weather, but this is not important for this review.
So we'll do the boots up nice and tight. Then we get the Neos Adventurer All Season Overshoes. Now these boots are big. To get an overshoe that will go over the top of these, I needed the XXL size I think they were. You can see that it takes a little bit of rummaging around. But then once you've got yourself in there, that's it. You've got the boot on there, and you just tuck this around. I generally then go over and make sure that the Velcro is all in contact. Then here's your adjustable strap. Pull that across nice and tight.
There you've got your overshoe on the top. That can stop water to this height. It's difficult to see this with everything being black, but then if you pull the rainproof trousers down to there, you can literally take water even higher than the top of the overshoe. Literally, I took a wave a few times well over the knee and my feet were dry as a bone and toasty for the whole time.
Let's stick the other one on for good measure. Just to show you that again. You can see my embarrassingly white legs, which my wife says they actually glow in the dark. Obviously, they don't, but they are very white. Tighten them up. Once again, grab the Neos overshoes. I put a link to Outdoor Photo Gear to actually pick up these boots or to select another range. Basically, there you go, bring this around and get it tight. Make sure that the Velcro strip is tight. Of course the water can get in through here, because the tunnel comes right the way up to the top. It doesn't have to be perfect. The Velcro itself is not the waterproof element here. Once again, pull the rain trousers down, over the top, and we have one waterproof legged Martin.
So that's that, really not a difficult subject, but something that it took me a little bit of sorting getting used to the process. So I thought I'd share that with you today.
Also, the Neos range are excellent. I do recommend that you use that. The Neos range are great quality, really good build, and they are very light. With this combination on, I walked quite a ways on the Falkland Islands. It wasn't like a trek in the Himalayas, but even with the overshoes on, I was able to trek for a good couple of miles one day in the Falklands. You can just leave them on. You can take them off if you want to. Their main purpose is to, like I say, keep you dry, when you're getting in and out of the Zodiacs, which are like the large river boat with an outboard motor. They keep you dry if you got a lot of swell when you're on the gangplank. Also when you get off the Zodiacs, a lot of the time, you actually end up having to wade in the sea for a few paces before you get onto the dry land.
So basically, once you're there though, you can take them off. Generally, there is a little base there that we make, and you walk around and photograph and then come back. Now, the good thing about leaving them on though is, if you are down somewhere else away from the base, and you feel like it's a good shot where you need to be a little bit out into the sea maybe, just walk out there. It's not a big deal, if you got your boots on.
So thanks for joining me today. Remember that if you go over to the blog, blog.martinbaileyphotography.com, I'll put a bunch of links into the show notes for you there, one over to RPG and Outdoor Photo Gear, because they are great bunch and they support the show in various ways. I like to support them as well. Please go over there and take a look at what they have to offer. If you need some overshoes, Neos is the way to go.
In this video, Juan takes you through the cool features of the Think Tank Retrospective line, and compares the Retrospective 10, 20 and 30. Think Tank has just released the Retrospective 5 with the same features in a size smaller than the 10.
Hi, I’m Juan Pons from the Digital Photo Experience. I’m here to do a couple of product reviews for you guys, in conjunction with my friends at Outdoor Photo Gear. The first thing I want to talk to you guys about is this new line of Think Tank Photo bags. If you follow me at all, you know that Think Tank Photo bags are my favorite bags. They recently came out with this line of Retrospective bags.
There are three different sizes and in two different colors. They come in this pine stone color, which actually is turning out to be very, very popular. One of the cool things about this bag is that they have kind of a retro look to them. Following the normal Think Tank philosophy, these bags are made to be inconspicuous, meaning that you don’t look like you’re carrying very expensive photo gear around with you.
As with all other Think Tank Photo bags, these come with a full compliment of dividers and a lot of pockets and organizers inside to carry all of your gear. But what’s really cool about these bags, that I really like, is the fact that you can actually turn the bags into kind of a silent mode. So if you are at an event or wedding or you are a photojournalist and you can’t be opening and closing your bag and causing this big ripping effect of the Velcro opening and closing like you can see here, you can actually turn those Velcros off, if you will, and make the camera bags completely silent. That applies not just to the exterior flap but also to the pockets inside. The way that works is that they do have a flap here with another Velcro section, a loop section of the Velcro, that covers the hook part of the Velcro itself. So you can make these bags nice and quiet. Again, this applies to all three sizes of the bags and the two different colors.
The Retrospective line of bags are shoulder bags primarily, but they have two ways of carrying them. First they come with the shoulder strap, which is nice, wide, comfortable, and really beefy strap. I like that a lot. But they also come with a handle, so you can pick up the bags very easily. As with all other Think Tank Photo bags, they also come with a rain cover, so you can cover the bag if you find yourself in a torrential downpour.
So the three bags are the 10, the 20, and the 30. The 10 obviously being the smallest, but it still can hold two to four lenses, and it can also hold a pro body with a smallish, medium-sized lens attached to it, like my favorite 24-105. In addition to that, it has a pocket in the front, which can carry another body.
The 20 is the tallest of the three, and it can hold a pro body with a 70- 200mm lens inserted vertically into the bag itself. And it can still hold two to three lenses next to that. As with the 10, it has a pocket in the front where it can hold another body, even a pro body as well.
The 30 is the widest of the three, and approximately the same height as the 10. It can hold your lenses, four to five lenses inside, and it can even hold the 70-200 attached to the camera, but the difference is that the camera needs to be sitting lengthwise. It has two pockets in the front, so it can carry an additional two bodies, or if the inside is full of lenses you can put two bodies in the front as well.
Out of the three bags, the 20 has got to be my favorite. A lot of it has to do with the fact that it can hold a 70-200mm lens attached to your camera while still carrying a lot of other equipment inside very comfortably. I do like the pine stone finish of the bag. You can get them all in either black or this pine stone, but this pine stone finish is very stylish and also makes the bag look more retro.
If you have more questions, be sure to go to the Outdoor Photo Gear website at OutdoorPhotoGear.com.
). My 100mm Macro lens and assorted gear. I still have room for my cooler and some additional lenses. The black plastic cart is from Staples and cost $6.99. I use the straps that come with the optional Multi-holding bar to secure my tripods. I place my other gear including my 500mm lens in the cart. The black netting is elastic and secures easily to the cart with the hooks that come with it. I can also pull the netting up over my gear if I overload the cart.
in the video window to view the video full-screen.
