Like most photographers, I woke up one day and realized I had a closet full of camera bags. Unfortunately, none of them did exactly what I wanted them to do. I became so frustrated that I listed them all on Craigslist so I could start over. They sold rather quickly and I soon found myself in need of a new camera bag. As I was starting from scratch, it gave me an opportunity to really think about what I wanted. Three things came to mind:
1) It needed to be able to carry one camera body and two prime lenses.
2) It needed to be able to carry my iPad in a DodoCase.
3) It needed to be as small as possible.
I’m a prime shooter (don’t even own a zoom lens), and I almost always carry two lenses along with my Canon 5DMKII. My favorite setup is the 5D with a 135L and 35L. (Not much I can’t shoot with that combo!) My iPad has become my portfolio of choice, my favorite way to check email, and also serves as my navigation tool (GPS). Lastly, I wanted it to be relatively small as it would be my day-to-day bag.
As I started scouring the net for reviews, one name kept coming to the top: Think Tank Photo. They are known for having the best bags in the industry. I decided to give them a call and ask a few questions. My first impressions of the company were vary favorable. They were very helpful and polite. I was also assured that if I ordered a bag and didn’t like it, I could return it--no questions asked. Very nice! As I started considering my options, another question had to be answered: did I need to be able to go from bag to shooting quickly? Although I wanted the smallest bag possible, in the end, I decided accessibility was more important than size. I would rather have a bag that allowed me to store my equipment ready to shoot, as opposed to taking the time to assemble. In the end, it looked like the Think Tank Photo Sling-O-Matic 10 would be the perfect choice.
Think Tank Photo doesn’t list the Sling-O-Matic 10 as being compatible with an iPad, but after looking through their bag measurements on their website I could tell that it was definitely possible. I was also a bit concerned about purchasing another sling style bag. One of my previous bags was a sling bag (from another company) that I didn't really like. It was too big, and carrying it on one shoulder all day sometimes left me with a neck cramp. The Sling-O-Matic is definitely smaller than my last sling bag, but even more important--it can be worn on either shoulder. This is what is missing from every other sling bag that I’m aware of. It’s brilliant. Transfer the load whenever one shoulder becomes tired and you can make it through the day with no problems. I ordered the bag.
When the bag arrived I was immediately impressed with the build quality. It was top notch! I was able to set the Sling-O-Matic up just the way I wanted, and it works perfectly. I carry this bag almost every day and couldn’t be happier with it. I carry my Canon 5DMKII with the Canon 135L attached (lens hood in place.) I also carry the Canon 35L (lens hood in place) and the iPad (in a protective DodoCase.) The bag is quick to sling around and I can grab my camera and be shooting in a matter of moments. (Very important with four kids that are constantly in motion!) All of the above fits in the bag and there is still enough room for extra accessories.
I mentioned previously that I carry this bag “almost every day.” There are a few situations when I need a more specific bag for what I’m doing. Fortunately, Think Tank Photo has a very large selection of bags and I’ve since added the Retrospective® Lens Changer 3 and Digital Holster™ 20 V2.0 to my collection as well. I’ll review those two bags in a future post. These three bags have served me well and taken the place of more then half a dozen bags that used to clutter my closet. In fact, I’ve been so impressed with Think Tank Photo that I asked them If I could link to their page and offer my readers a special offer. Should you decided to try them out, use my promo code: AP-567 to get a free gift with your purchase.
Lastly, I’m a visual person and would rather see something then read about it. If you click on the video above you will see exactly what I put in my Sling-O-Matic and how it is setup.
Enjoy!
James Taylor Photography - simchah photography - Grants Pass - Sports - Seniors - Theatre
