Over the long
4th of July weekend I traveled to Sedona, Arizona for a quick visit
and a photo shoot of the Sedona red rocks.
On this trip I had to decide which of my four cameras to take. Being that I need the capability to shoot scenic
images at great distances, I chose my Lumix GH3 with a Lumix G Vario 100-300
lens. For close-up work I chose my Lumix Gx1 with the Lumix Vario 14-45
lens. Because I also have a JVC HD movie
camera and GoPro Black 3+, it took a while for me to decide whether or not to
take them along. What governed my
decision was the baggage restrictions placed
on all travelers by the airlines. I
decided to leave my JVC HD movie camera and GoPro Black 3 at home.
Now that I made the decision on what camera gear to
take, what camera bag would I use? Before the trip I did not have a backpack
camera bag that I wanted to take. All my
camera lenses and camera bodies were stored in a medium Pelican Storm Case,
this case was way too heavy for me use as a carry on and I did not want to
check it as luggage.
A week before I was planning to leave, Kristin
Robinson, PR Manager for Pitch Public Relations, contacted me about writing
about the new Tenba Shootout Action Pack 14L – Black GoPro camera bag. I immediately emailed her back and said if you
can get me one before I fly out, I will test it out for you. The bag arrived in
two days and my problem was solved.
Because this
bag is designed specifically for GoPro type cameras, I had to think how I would
use the all the different compartments and sleeves. All the outside side pockets worked great to
carry my water bottles, cell phones and IPad Mini. The four inside clear plastic pockets that
were designed for the GoPro accessories would be the challenge to pack because
my Lumix cameras and lens were much larger than the GoPro 4 camera and
accessories. After thinking it through,
I decided on a course of action. My GH3
body was placed in one pocket. The GX1 in another pocket along with the Lumix
Vario 14-45 lens. In the padded pocket which can hold four (4) GoPro style
cameras I was able to place the Lumix Vario 100-300 lens. In the fourth pocket
I was able to bring along my JVC HD camera which I never used on the trip. This was not a good choice. I did not have to strap my mono-pod to the bag
because it was packed in my suitcase.
All in all the Tenba Shootout Action Pack 14L – Black
GoPro camera bag packed with my Panasonic 4/3 cameras and lens did the
trick.
During the Delta flights to and from Arizona, the Tenba
Shootout Action Pack 14L – Black GoPro camera bag fit perfectly in the overhead
compartment. Throughout the trip I was
able to carry the Shootout Action Pack easily.
When I got to Arizona my son, who is in the U.S. Army, tried
out the Shootout Action Pack. He said that he liked how the pack the fit and was
easy to carry. He is modeling the bag in
the photos.
For the average person, the bag does everything it was
designed to do and then some. But because
if you are a really big person like me, the shoulder straps could have been a
little bit longer and the waist strap at it maximum length do not fit my Santa
sized belly. Also when I wore the bag
the strap that connected the two shoulder straps in the front was not usable
because of my chest size. This was
because the shoulder straps were probably designed for human factors 50%
percentile average sized person. My son was able to connect the front strap
with ease. All in all without the waist
and front straps not fastened, I was able to comfortably carry the bag while
traveling to and from Arizona and while hiking the red rocks of Sedona.
All that being
said, the Shootout 14L Action Pack with your camera gear, like most backpack
camera bags do not have room for your jacket, lunch or other hiking gear. You might do better with a larger size bag
from the Shootout Collection where you can remove some of the divider inserts
to give you room for other stuff. If I
had it to do all over again, the Shootout Backpack 32L just might have been a
better choice. But if you plan to do a
photo shoot where you bring along GoPro gear and a DSLR camera and a few lenses
the Shootout 14L Action Pack just might do the trick. There is also another
solution to the backpack space dilemma. Tenba has a solution. They make an entire line of padded camera bag
inserts. All you have to do is select
the right sized insert or inserts and use your standard backpack to carry you
camera gear and all your other hiking or mountaineering gear and equipment. Problem solved.
You can carry up to 4 GoPro cameras or similar
sized action cameras, plus all you GoPro camera accessories. The bag has
self-sealing zippers and a rain cover. One of the bags strongest features is
with the waist strap fastened; you can turn the bag around while wearing it to change
lenses or other camera gear. To review all the other great features and
watch a video, you can click HERE for their website. This backpack is really
multi-functional. It can carry both
GoPro and other camera gear that can save you money because you do not need to
purchase two specialty bags, one for the GoPro and one for DSLR cameras and
gear. All you need to do is to purchase
one of Tenba’s tool boxes that will fit in the Shootout 14L Action Pack for your DSLR cameras and lens.
When selecting a new or your first camera
backpack, give the Shootout 14L Action
Pack or any of the other Tenba camera backpacks and tool boxes a hard
look.
Until next time, be safe in the sun and have a
great day in the great outdoors.
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