I always complain about the weight of the gear, particularly the 70-200 f/2.8 VR AF-S lens. So much so that I rarely take it out of my home.
I am ok with the lens when I use it for photography, it is certainly manageable and more often than not it is on a tripod as well on such trips.
It is a PITA to carry it, it just made the camera bag heavy. Just like most other photographers, I have tried every camera bag there is. The Lowepro mini trekker, Domke F2, Tamrac Velocity 9, various different shoulder bags, carrying the 70-200 in its own lens bag and so on. Nothing was right.
I then read about the Thinktank airport antidote in Thom Hogan’s site.
I bought it once, thought it was too big and returned it [ok, buyers remorse of buying a $$$ camera bag]. Two more trips with the 70-200 and aching back [and a 70-300 f/4.5-f/5.6 in the meantime], I caved in again and bought the Thinktank.
And I lugged the thinktank to Yosemite, for a full 2 days, it was mostly in my back as I labored my way through 1.5 – 2 feet snow walking with it for hours.
After about a day, it finally sink in that I was carrying ~15 lbs of camera gear in my back and my back wasn’t sore yet.
Just to check my sanity, I made Durgi lug the bag as well and he felt the same. We then swapped bags to his Lowepro mini trekker [similar weight] and instantly I “felt” the weight.
I had no frickin clue that a well designed bag with proper lumbar support can make the weight go away. Really didn’t realize that.
So I guess the $$$ was actually worth it. And I think the 70-200 is going to get more workouts from here on.
In addition, this backpack is the perfect international travel backpack. Most airports in Asia do not allow you carry more than one bag, not even a laptop bag. So I always have to choose between a camera backpack and a non-camera backpack. Not anymore. Fully stripped down, this bag is only 2 lbs, which helps in the 15 lbs top limit.
And the bag is configurable enough that you can set it up to take a DSLR, 2 lenses and a flash AND have space for normal carry on stuff like dresses for a couple of days and get this, the front pouch can take upto a 15″ laptop. Can’t beat that.
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