Review: Manfrotto Manhattan 3-Way Shoulder Bag Changer 20

The Manfrotto Manhattan 3-Way Shoulder Bag Changer 20 is a bag I was wary of had predispositions about. But in the end I was pleasantly surprised and rather infatuated with just how good of a camera bag Manfrotto created. Indeed, they’ve made the only good three-in-one camera bag that I’ve ever used or tested–better than anything Peak Design or others have made. Considering the fact that I personally have never had any sort of affinity for Manfrotto camera bags, the Manfrotto Manhattan 3-Way Shoulder Bag Changer 20 has really changed my mind. The bag has the capabilities of being a tote shoulder bag, a military map case style messenger bag, and a backpack all in one. Plus, it does it in a very functional and sensical way.

In truth, it really is one of my favorite bags reviewed this year so far.

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Review: BlackForest Bags Vinson Messenger Bag

As I’ve become slightly older (at 30) and more conscious of my personal health, I’ve also mostly moved away from messenger bags. They’re not so great for your back, though some of them encourage you to carry less gear. Despite the fact that the BlackForest Vinson is designed to help you take less gear, it’s nice to know you can stuff a whole lot of camera into there. Not only that, but it’s also pretty comfortable, deceptively durable, nice looking, and they’re hand made in India.

In regards to that last statement, I didn’t think much of it until it actually came out of the box. Then I was completely shocked.

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Review: Vinta S Series Backpack Camera Bag

More and more, I’ve been leaning away from messenger bags and towards backpacks. No one has really gotten what I want perfectly, but some are close. When you consider what Vinta makes, the Vinta S series of backpacks seem very much in line with what lots of photographers would want. They’re stylish, minimal, low profile, and able to carry a fair amount of gear if you’re a mirrorless camera user. The company markets it to being used by outdoor and landscape photographers very often. But in real life use, it seems to be better for city trekkers.

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Review: Hawkesmill Jermyn Street Camera Bag (Small)

Without a doubt, some of the most luxurious camera bags on the market are made in England by Hawkesmill. Not only are the bags luxurious, but they’re also built very well overall for the most part. With the new release of the smaller versions of the company’s larger bags, there have been a few changes. For example, the Hawkesmill Jermyn Street camera bag has a few new updates like the use of a hook system to keep the bag closed.

Otherwise though, it’s business as always: a beautiful bag that’s well built.

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Review: Brevite Rolltop Camera Bag

Brevite got their start on Kickstarter a year or two back with their original backpack, which mimicked the look of that classic ‘Jansport’ school book bag. I used it regularly as my day trip bag for everything from business meetings to photoshoots; I loved its versatility and its overall build. (My one complaint was the plastic looking faux leather used.)

So when I got word that I was going to be getting a chance to checkout one of the companies new additions to their line, the Rolltop, I was excited to see what it had to offer. I have had this bag now for well over a month, and have used it for everything from day trips to local wildlife refuges to cross country air travel.

Today it is finally time to share my thoughts on the Brevite Rolltop, so lets get into it.

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Review: Peak Design Everyday Tote Camera Bag

When Peak Design announced their new updates to the Everyday Bag lineup, I was incredibly cautious. Sure, we’re a news website and we’ll report on it–but there was a major problem that I had with the Everyday Messenger bag. Then the review unit request came in and I called in the Peak Design Everyday Tote. “There’s no way they can screw up a tote bag,” I thought to myself knowing just how much work goes into their products. But indeed, very few manufacturers have made totes targeted at photographers.

Thankfully, Peak Design really did a truly fantastic job here that I think is worthy of even more praise than the Everyday Messenger bag has. The Tote goes from tote bag to backpack with ease, allows for quick access where you need it and provides the photographer with a lot of versatility. In many ways, this is a perfect bag; but it’s also not the most attractive.

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Review: WANDRD PRVKE 21 Backpack Camera Bag

When WANDRD came out with the PRVKE pack a while back, it immediately became my favorite backpack style camera bag. The WANDRD PRVKE 21 is essentially the same bag, but smaller and thinner in some respects. Designed for the traveling photographer, my PRVKE pack has served me well for more than just traveling. On shoots where I need to bring lights, modifiers, tripods, and other big items that are essential, the bag has been a godsend–far better than any messenger bag that I’ve ever used. But for when I’m not traveling, the PRVKE 21 has served me even better.

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Review: Filson Game Bag (Modified for Camera Bag Use)

A while ago, Filson teamed up with two photographers to create their own line of camera bags–but if you’ve ever spotted the Filson Game Bag, you’ll realize that it’s more than good enough for most uses that a photographer would need. Those bags are low profile, durable, American made, and designed to really not look like camera bags. Indeed, they’re much different in both construction and looks. While the Filson Game Bag was never really designed for use with photography gear, it does a great job at being a more affordable version of the Filson camera bags.

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Review: ZKin Yeti Backpack (Camera Bag)

For a while now, I’ve been on the search for the perfect camera bag; and in some ways the ZKin Yeti is a contender. It’s a beautiful camera bag with lots of space and great access for a working photographer. Considering the fact that I’m usually a messenger bag man, this bag does quite a bit to justify itself as something seriously worth looking at.

To be honest, not only does it have low-profile great looks–but it can also be a great option for traveling or shoots that require extra from you.

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Review: WANDRD PRVKE Pack Camera Backpack (31)

For the most part, the WANDRD PRVKE Pack 31 is the perfect camera bag for photographers.

I’ve had a love/hate relationship with backpacks designed for photographers: but the PRVKE Pack may be the only one that I actually like except for the Langly Alpha Pro. When the Kickstarter launched, it was very aggressively marketed to be the single backpack that the traveling photographer needs. To that end, the PRVKE pack has loads of space, dividers, expandability, features that try to turn it into a tote bag, and other features that make a whole lot of sense when used during actual travel. In fact, I’ve taken it on two press trips and many a shoot.

Editor’s Note: Updated November 2019; and we love this one so much. You can pick it up from Adorama

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Review: Cub and Co Shooter Camera Bag

Cub and Co has been around for a number of years, and while they’re not necessarily as prevalent as Tap and Dye or Holdfast Gear, part of that has to do with the fact that they’ve been slower at making products. But when a Cub and Co product comes out, you generally know that it’s very well made by hand. That’s the case with the new Cub and Co Shooter Camera bag.

You see, this isn’t’ like anything that other camera bags are–instead it’s a blend of leather, Domke, more leather, Artisan and Artist padding, more leather, and the simplicity that mostly an ONA can offer. With that said, this is in its own special category. It’s not a messenger bag, it isn’t a backpack, and it isn’t quite a sling either. Instead, it’s pretty much like a special pod that you sling around you and that makes a whole lot of sense ergonomically.

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Review: Hawkesmill Sloane Street Camera Bag

If there’s any place that photographers typically go to on the web to find out more about the latest and greatest camera bags, the two biggest sources are the Phoblographer and Steve Huff. But in true entrepreneurial spirit, I’m always thrilled when a new brand approaches the site with a new product–such is the case with the new Hawkesmill Sloane Street camera bag. The company is based in England, and is determined to grab your attention with their new wares.

Take the Hawkesmill Sloane Street for example: this high end bag is designed for the photographer that is also a serious business person and that at times needs to embrace a different aesthetic. While the likes of Tenba, Think Tank and others make some great practical bags that you may want to bring around for the very general and typical shoot, there are those moments where it would make sense for you to spruce up your look a bit more. That’s not to sit here and defend what some may call a hipster or elitist attitude; instead it’s an embrace of a major reality in the world of a professional photographer who needs to look the part of a business oriented creative at times. And most professional photographers will tell you that they shoot less and do more business.

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Review: QamaySF All In One Waxed Canvas X Grid Bag

Arguably, the Phoblographer is the first place many folks come to when they want a camera bag: and no, we don’t get them all for free. Every now and then I get bored, surf the web and look around for camera bags; and that’s how I came across the QamaySF All In One Waxed Canvas X Grid Bag. They’re not a well known brand like your Tenba, ONA, Filson, Think Tank, etc. QamaySF is a bag manufacturer here in the US. Rather than hit them up, tell them that I run a large photography blog and use the powers I’ve created over the past six years to get a free product as a review sample, I went ahead and bought one. Why? I wanted the same experience you folks get.

So what makes this bag so special? It promises a heck of a lot. Not only do you get a camera bag that can be a shoulder bag, but it can be a backpack, hold a 15 inch laptop, hold a tripod underneath, has waxed canvas, and can hold a load of gear. Plus, it looks like nothing else really out there.

At least that’s what I thought before purchasing it. Judging from their product photos and promises it seems to make, you’d think to yourself that you’re getting the ultimate camera bag in some ways. But in other ways, it’s the ultimate let down.

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Review: Able Archer Mapcase

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“It’s not really a camera bag, but it can be used as one.” is what I was told by Able Archer when the Mapcase was presented in a catalog after the company approached me. Reviews like this are problematic at times because theoretically, any bag can be used for any reason. Lots of camera bags can double as every day bags, and with some clever tinkering a normal bag can be made to hold all the camera gear you really need.

Able Archer is a new company looking to get into the bag manufacturing game and their process takes inspiration from the past. For example, the Able Archer Mapcase was designed and inspired by literal map cases that soldiers used to carry with them. Obviously, it’s been modified for today’s needs and to suit a different purpose.

One of said purposes is a camera bag–for $300.

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Review: Peak Design Everyday Messenger Bag

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When Peak Design announced their new Messenger Bag on Kickstarter, I had very mixed feelings about it. Designed in collaboration with Trey Ratcliff, the Peak Design Messenger Bag is one that’s even more beautiful in person than I believe anyone can do justice to in photos. As good as I am as a product photographer, its unique design doesn’t really provide great angles to make it look anywhere as good as it does in person. Like a good printed image, it needs to be experienced right in front of you.

The even better news is that it’s not just a fox on the outside, Peak Design has done quite a bit to push the innovation game with so many incredibly new and different features that make it stand out from the pack of other monotonous messenger bags out there. Yes, many of them really are monotonous and the idea of what a messenger bag is hasn’t changed for a while. This, and this major reason alone, was why I had such mixed feelings.

After a solid amount of playtime though, those feelings have mostly changed with the exception of my one big problem with the bag.

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Review: Tenba Cooper 13″ Slim Camera Bag

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Today, Tenba is announcing the Cooper line of bags. The company, which has been well-known and loved by photojournalists for years, has created this brand new line designed for the photojournalist on the go and that carries their gear but wants to be inconspicuous with it.

For the past couple of years, I’ve been really, really frustrated with camera bags. They do their job and for the most part many of them do it well. But the inherent problem is getting one just the right size for the tight confines of the NYC commute, making it stylish, and also balancing that aspect with being low profile enough to make someone think that I’m not carrying camera gear. I never want someone to know that I’m carrying a camera bag, but at the same time, I want an attractive and stylish camera bag–and from emails, I know many of you do, too. It’s important to me: I’m a business owner, I’m a photographer, I lead photo walks, and sometimes I just want something to hold all the stuff I’ve got but in a small package and without being too large.

For what’s been over a year now, Pete Waisnor at Tenba told me that he was working on something like this. The DNA Messenger bag line was a step in the right direction for commuters, but they weren’t really stylish. However, it nailed the mark on reliability and functionality–especially for bikers. Now if only they could make it smaller and more stylish.

During the past two months, I’ve been testing the Cooper 13″ Slim–wearing it amongst other journalists and photographer who are always checking out my gear, bringing it with me to shoots, and even toting it around at Photo Plus Expo–a Mecca for us photo nerds. And when it comes to a small messenger bag, I genuinely think that Tenba has nailed it here.

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Review: Think Tank Retrospective 30 Leather

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Think Tank’s Retrospective series of camera bags are very popular with photographers. They can carry lots of gear and are designed to take loads of abuse. For a very long time, they were my personal favorite camera bags not only because of these reasons, but also because no matter how much gear was packed into the bag, the shoulder strap provided loads and loads of excellent comfort.

As a refresh, Think Tank recently added leather versions of the camera bags. These versions are essentially the same bag but with lots more leather. For the more discerning of us, the Think Tank Retrospective 30 may be a great bag–but it comes with two concerns.

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Review: Cosyspeed Camslinger Streetomatic Camera Sling

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When the original Cosyspeed Camslinger debuted, we thought that it was very specialized. A couple of years later, we have a slight update in the form of the Cosyspeed Camslinger Streetomatic–a minutely larger but significantly sexier version designed for mirrorless camera users who want to keep their kit to a minimum.

The Streetomatic is a bag that, well, still isn’t really considered a bag but isn’t exactly the fanny pack that the previous version was. It’s a bit of a middle ground between being a sling and a satchel. In fact, I prefer to wear it like a sling and makes the most sense when it comes to commuting around Brooklyn by bike.

This bag has significant improvements over the previous version; but it’s still not perfect for the working pro.

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Review: Langly Alpha Pro Backpack Camera Bag

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“Hold up guys, I need to change my lenses.”

Rewind to 2007 when I was still in college and my photojournalism teacher and mentor taught me to never be this guy. Fast forward to 2008 during my first internship at PC Mag (then PC Magazine) and the journalists that I interned under would say the same thing. Why? Well, that guy slows everyone else down in the group.

This is one of the primary reasons why I don’t use backpacks for my photo gear, but when it comes to packing loads and loads of stuff on you in a comfortable yet low profile and fashionable way, it’s very tough to beat the Langly Alpha Pro backpack. Sure, backpacks don’t give you the quick, on the go access that a messenger or tote bag do, but it makes up for it in being able to carry lots of stuff on a daily excursion.

Made of canvas and leather, Langly camera bags join ONA, zKin, Artisan and Artist  and others amongst the lineup of beautiful camera bags designed to also be very functional as a camera bag.

So how does it do? To be honest, Langly may have everyone else beat when it comes to the adventure photographer.

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Review: Artisan and Artist COV 7500N Camera Tote Bag

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The idea of a tote bag for photographers isn’t exactly new, but it hasn’t been done quite effectively just yet.

For a while now, what I’ve wanted and personally experimented with as a photographer is a tote bag. Messenger bags have proven to be extremely effective for the photographer that needs to bring a laptop, camera, lenses and more along with them each day. But when it comes to working in a big city and being a business owner, part of being a photographer has to do with looking your part. Watch anything on Netflix or television and you’ll see more and more folks bringing around tote bags that look similar to briefcases in style.

The Artisan and Artist company announced their take on the Tote bag with the Artisan and Artist COV 7500N tote bag for photographers. With all the pockets, padding and straps that a photographer can possibly need; the company has succeeded in doing something that some messenger style and sling style camera bag manufacturers can’t do: create a camera bag that truly doesn’t look like a camera bag.

With leather accents, canvas and nylon comprising the design, this Japanese-made camera bag has some stylish looks to it and works very well for both genders. But the biggest thing that photographers want to know is how it performs for them.

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Review: Oberwerth Freiburg Mini Messenger

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Before around two weeks ago, we had no idea who Oberwerth was. But then we were introduced to their line of Freiburg camera bags. Oberwerth has hopped on the bandwagon with companies trying to cater to the mirrorless camera market. And with that said, they’ve created the Freiburg camera bag with leather, nylon, canvas, and loads of padding. In fact, this is some of the thickest padding that we’ve ever dealt with. That’s great for your camera.

But at the same time, the Oberwerth Freiburg will adorn your shoulder in the same way that a murse will.

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