Tish
22nd of June 2007 (Fri), 23:20
I'll be posting another message with the details on the seminar I attended this week, but I'm prepping for a wedding for tomorrow & still kinda digesting this week's mega experience. (There's a part 1 post on my blog if you're interested.)So I'll concentrate on the shootsac review for now. :)
I was fortunate to spend part of this week in training with Jessica Claire, and was able to experience the shootsac first hand. Let me say up front it's fabulous! As stated in the literature, it is NOT intended for storage, and it will not allow you to carry a body with an attached lens--but the amount you can carry in it is really amazing. I hauled it all over Seattle for three straight days, carrying two - three lenses at a time, plus a 550 EX, an ST-E2, batteries for everything, and all the usual purse essentials, with no trouble at all.
The 70-200 2.8 IS is a tight fit, and if you leave the hood on in it's useful position, the end of the lens will definitely stick out of the bag--which would be fine for weddings when you need quick access. With the hood on backwards, the cover can still protect the lens. The 17-55 IS fits in snugly with the hood on correctly--neither lens will fall out as they are definitely well fitted. Smaller lenses fall more deeply into the pockets and are also in no danger of falling out--at various points during the weekend, I had my 85 1.8 or Tokina 12-24 in there, plus another photog's TS-65 or 24 mm. No issues fitting any of the lenses in, though the TS was a bit trickier to pull back out. And I was all over the place, climbing on things, falling off things (literally, the bruises are huge), diving under things--everything stayed very securely in place. The back pockets, closest to your body, have snaps to keep them closed and are the safest place for CF cards, wallets, etc.
The removeable covers are not only attractive, they're useful. They're backed with a lens cleaning cloth material, and pulled off, can be used as a "seat cover" for brides nervous about their dresses. It's a good size for this as it can easily be hidden beneath most dresses.
As a portrait shoot bag or a "touristing" bag, I know I'll get a lot of use out of it, and I love the fact that it simply isn't an obvious photo bag. The wedding test will be tomorrow--I'm used to shooting with two bodies slung on me at once, but as I'm seconding and not primary, I'm going to try using just one. If you're already a one body shooter, you may just fall in love with this bag.
One caveat, soon to be corrected. The shootsac ships without a shoulder pad, and fully loaded with larger lenses, it needs one. I was repeatedly reassured that one is coming, and will ship to current owners as soon as available. I pulled the one off my lowepro for now and it does make a big difference.
Oh, and for you guys who think it's too girly: That's John Michael Cooper of altF ( http://www.altf.com ) --he of the flaming bride fame--with his. They come with the basic black cover standard, but even the guys were picking up some of the others.
I was fortunate to spend part of this week in training with Jessica Claire, and was able to experience the shootsac first hand. Let me say up front it's fabulous! As stated in the literature, it is NOT intended for storage, and it will not allow you to carry a body with an attached lens--but the amount you can carry in it is really amazing. I hauled it all over Seattle for three straight days, carrying two - three lenses at a time, plus a 550 EX, an ST-E2, batteries for everything, and all the usual purse essentials, with no trouble at all.
The 70-200 2.8 IS is a tight fit, and if you leave the hood on in it's useful position, the end of the lens will definitely stick out of the bag--which would be fine for weddings when you need quick access. With the hood on backwards, the cover can still protect the lens. The 17-55 IS fits in snugly with the hood on correctly--neither lens will fall out as they are definitely well fitted. Smaller lenses fall more deeply into the pockets and are also in no danger of falling out--at various points during the weekend, I had my 85 1.8 or Tokina 12-24 in there, plus another photog's TS-65 or 24 mm. No issues fitting any of the lenses in, though the TS was a bit trickier to pull back out. And I was all over the place, climbing on things, falling off things (literally, the bruises are huge), diving under things--everything stayed very securely in place. The back pockets, closest to your body, have snaps to keep them closed and are the safest place for CF cards, wallets, etc.
The removeable covers are not only attractive, they're useful. They're backed with a lens cleaning cloth material, and pulled off, can be used as a "seat cover" for brides nervous about their dresses. It's a good size for this as it can easily be hidden beneath most dresses.
As a portrait shoot bag or a "touristing" bag, I know I'll get a lot of use out of it, and I love the fact that it simply isn't an obvious photo bag. The wedding test will be tomorrow--I'm used to shooting with two bodies slung on me at once, but as I'm seconding and not primary, I'm going to try using just one. If you're already a one body shooter, you may just fall in love with this bag.
One caveat, soon to be corrected. The shootsac ships without a shoulder pad, and fully loaded with larger lenses, it needs one. I was repeatedly reassured that one is coming, and will ship to current owners as soon as available. I pulled the one off my lowepro for now and it does make a big difference.
Oh, and for you guys who think it's too girly: That's John Michael Cooper of altF ( http://www.altf.com ) --he of the flaming bride fame--with his. They come with the basic black cover standard, but even the guys were picking up some of the others.