F-Stop Gear Satori EXP
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After taking a look at the state of the camera backpack market in late 2011. I choose to go with a system from the (relative) newcomer, F-Stop Gear. Somewhat like the Photobackpacker system, the Satori can be customized with several sizes of Internal Camera Units (ICU's), allowing you quite a bit of flexibility when building out your pack. The Satori has an internal frame, which adds stability to the system and is available is three colors: black, foliage green, and grey mist. Some other features of the F-Stop Gear packs I really like so far are a good harness system, inside access to your gear, a laptop sleeve, and a molle attachment system for accessories. |
Clik Elite Pro
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I'll soon need a second job to support my photography bag habit, but finances aside, my latest acquisition is the Clik Elite Pro. It accompanied me on a recent week long trip out West and like most bags this size, the backpack will hold a lot of gear (enough to make me wish I had left some back home). A few notable differences when compared to LowePro and Tamrac offerings are the formed velcro dividers, the side and top pockets for putting accessories in their place, and the gray-green coloring which sets it apart from your standard black or gray models. The Click Elite Pro also incorporates a padded laptop pocket and a tripod holder that is hidden alongside one of the side pockets. The pack appears to be well made and after taking it on a few short hikes, I can say the harness system appears to be comfortable. My only wish at this point would be for some external sleeves or pockets to carry water bottles. We'll have to see how it holds up over time. Update: After two years of travel and use, my camera bag affliction resurfaced. The Clik Elite Pro swallowed a lot of gear and has held up very well, but I became less than thrilled with the harness system. I feel the shoulder straps need to be wider to make it more comfortable on long hikes. |
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
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No in-depth product review here, if you're looking for that go to Digital Photography Review. What do I like: Image quality - my previous camera was a 20D so this is a big leap; 3" LCD; build quality; expanded ISO range; excellent battery life. What don't I like:Autofocus capability still isn't on par with the Nikons, or my old Canon 1V for that matter. |