I'll start off by pointing out that one reason that I looked at this bag in the first place is that a good friend has been using one for years to lug his 600mm f/4L IS around on airplanes. He recommended highly, but it turns out it has been discontinued by Tenba, replaced by one of their Shootout backpacks. Then I ran across this.
The price was just too good, and I ordered one. Hence this review.
(note photos are snapshots and not intended to be at all artistic)
I've now had a chance to play with the Tenba now for a few days, so I have some input for you. I think that it will take more time to get a better picture of all of the pros and cons, but I can at least give you some of the highlights.
First of all, I really like the features of this backpack. There is a zip-off cover that will cover the shoulder straps and waist-belt when traveling. This cover stows neatly on the bottom of the pack with the built in rain cover. I wish they had included a handle on the side of the pack in addition to the top of the pack, but that could probably be added by a decent shoe repair shop. The zippers all have nice rain flaps over them that should suffice for short periods in mild rain. The rain cover will be awesome for more severe weather or extended periods.
Tenba Strap cover in pace over backpack's straps
Tenba Rain Cover in place over backpack
The waist and shoulder harness are integral to the unit and not at all optional. I don't know what B&H was referring to in this regard. They both seem quite nice and very comfortable. The waist belt is plenty wide and everything adjusts nicely. The part of the pack that rests against your back is nicely padded and has a good mesh that should wick perspiration away nicely. The "frame" that they refer to on the site is just a stiff poly-material piece that is along the back of the pack - in between the padding for your back and the inside of the pack.
Tenba Straps showing mesh wicking material
The pack is certainly large enough to accommodate the 500 easily, along with a number of other lenses, but it is here that I am most disappointed by the pack. First of all, the two large, adjustable center dividers that run the length of the pack are fairly thick. This is good padding, but chews up quite a bit of space. There are tons of smaller dividers for compartmentalizing the pack to suit your inventory. However, with the 500 in the middle, there isn't much room to put things along the sides, especially at the bottom of the pack. Here is where I am still experimenting. Right now I have taken out on of the long dividers and just use the single on to section off one side of the pack where I put my 500. This divider runs at an angle to snug against the 500. It also allows for the most available room in the rest of the pack. However, since the remainder of the pack is not non-rectangular in shape, you only get marginal use of the other dividers. The way I have things currently set up, I can get my 70-200 f/2.8L IS, my 400 f/5.6L, my Sigma 15-30, and my Tamron 28-75 all in the case, along with two 1.4x converters and a rocket blower, and my 20D with 50mm lens attached.
I do not have room for my 100mm Macro, though I can probably strap a lens case to the outside of the pack fairly easily. Note that I ended up using some dividers from my Pelican case to use instead of the 2nd long divider that came with the Tenba. The Tenba smaller dividers all have only the loop velcro, so they need some fuzzy velcro to attach to. I may yet come up with some non-Euclidean method of packing my gear better
Inside of the pack with my gear. NOTE: I was using the 20D with the 50mm to take this photo, so that's why it's not in the pack.
Presently I have put the 550EX and my extension tubes in the smaller, upper pocket of the backpack. There is no padding here, however. Like I said, I haven't played with this as much yet as I would have liked.
Back of the pack, showing the pouches
Anyhow, this leaves the bottom, (and larger) of the two external pouches for everything else - filters, flash cards, better beamer, lens cloths, charger, double-bubble level, cable release, etc. There is plenty of room, but limited organization. The flap has a zippered plastic pouch for the really small stuff, and there are a few pockets, but all in all the pouch section of my Lowepro Mini-Trekker is better organized.
View of lower Tenba pouch opened up.
About the tripod holder... I like the way they have set this up. Of course, it's marginal for use with a Gitzo C1325 and Wimberly head, but then almost anything would be. The holder is a separate piece that clips onto the back in 4 places with adjustable straps. It has the cross-laced cords that you can see in the photos on B&H's website, but that's the outside of the piece, and the tripod goes on the inside. The tripod is held in place with a pouch for the base of the legs and 2 sets of velcro straps to hold the legs against the inside of the tripod holder. The cross-laced cords look like a good thing for holding a jacket or sweatshirt or whatever. (I may end up strapping the tripod/Wimberly to the side of the pack in the future). I don't have any photos of the tripod holder at present, though I might add some to the thread later on if people are all that interested.
I am able to get everything in this pack that I had in my Lowepro Mini Trekker, PLUS the 500mm f/4L IS lens. that's pretty good in my book. In addition, there is still a lot of room in the top outer pouch.
All in all, I think the case is definitely worth the $129 price tag. It should fit into the overhead section of a plane with no problem.
I hope this helps.
= Ed =
