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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
10-01-2018, 08:03 AM
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Well, I went to Photokina last Saturday and I visited the Peak Design people. I met up with one of their permanent staff who walked me through the whole Travel range.
I must admit I was impressed with the system. The main bag is really well made, with excellent access and it looks nice and carries well. It *is* big and relatively heavy though, and that's without any inserts loaded. I love the way the bag can expand and the way the straps can be tucked away (better than in my Manfrotto/Kata 3N1 35 PL). The camera cubes are excellent and the new dividers really shine (best ever)! The packing inserts are really well made as well and very light weight. And of course, as usual, Peak Design selected some great materials to make the bags out of.
I cannot see myself buy into the entire system just yet, since my current travel needs do not really require a system this large that would allow for both camera gear and all other stuff in the same bag. I *never* check in my camera gear when flying, and I carry too much other stuff for a bag containing all to remain within carry-on limitations. Also, regardless of the excellent build of the camera cubes, I do not see myself take out and use any of the three camera cubes as a separate bag. These *could* probably be used as excellent shoulder bags, but that's not my thing (I regularly hike on relatively difficult terrain)... OTOH, I don't think they come with their own straps (could be wrong), and I'm also not sure Peak Design's otherwise excellent camera straps would be sufficient to carry a heavily loaded medium or large cube (the small one would probably be OK)...
*However*, upon returning home, I did pre-order the Tech Pouch immediately! This can be inserted into any bag of course, and as such it will be going with me on every trip. It is so practical for all the small stuff and cables and... that I tend to carry around. And... come to think of it, it could even nicely fit the GR III that I hope to own in the near future (love at first sight that!).
And... I will be keeping an eye on all future additions to the line that might bring it more within my personal needs. I do like what they are doing here!
Wim
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
09-13-2018, 11:19 PM
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On a side note: I am intrigued by the Tech Pouch that's part of the system... Might get that to insert in the top compartment of my current biggest bag (Manfrotto 3N1 35 PL) to deal with the clutter of cables and various accessories.
Wim
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
09-13-2018, 05:28 AM
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I cannot really say why I don't like bags with removable inserts (which doesn't include removable dividers!).
Part of it is bulk. I find most implementations add a lot of bulk to enable large enough inserts that can be used independently. For the purpose of a smaller bag for short outings, I generally put a second compact bag in my main luggage. That adds bulk too, but at least I'm not carrying it when walking with the backpack on longer outings. The small bag will contain all my non essential accessories (cables and so), that will alternate between bags depending on which I take out. Not exactly the same approach, nor the same use case, I know...
Another element is shape. The total shape needs to complement inserts that add up to the total internal volume without too much space wasted, i.e. very square and rectangular, which results in less elegant overall shape. I think that's even more important to me as I find most modular systems are not particularly good looking. I realize that many people wouldn't care about that one bit...
But it's more than that. But as I wrote, I'm ready to be surprised and I'm looking forward to getting my hands on one of these!
BTW, I'm a huge fan of Peak Design's Everyday Backpack!! I actually wrote an extensive review on the 20L version, that was published on this very site. More than one year down the road I still use the backpack on a daily basis, and I love it. It's still as good as new, despite my treatment of it. No other backpack ever looked like that after even a few months use in my hands... :o
Wim
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Forum: Pentax Camera and Field Accessories
09-13-2018, 03:34 AM
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I love their stuff, but somehow I cannot warm to this new line. Probably because I don't like bags with inserts? Anyway, I'm going to Photokina and will certainly check out this new bag there. Perhaps I'll change my mind. I hope I will! :-D
Wim
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