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Aug,04


 
 

Review: ThinkTank Airport Airstream

Review of the ThinkTank Airport Airstream rolling camera bag


*For information about Think Tank’s huge Modular Set and Skin Set sale as well as information about the contest associated with this review, please see the very bottom of this post.

Think Tank is in the business of saving my back.  Over the last three years my gear that I carry with me in the field has only increased and the chronic lower back pain I have has also only increased to the point where I needed an alternative to my ThinkTank Streetwalker HardDrive (here). Post back pain, I had been looking for a good roller camera bag- one that was small enough to satiate the non-standardized and often nonsensical requirements for carry on luggage that many of the local airliners here in Asia have.  I finally landed on the Think Tank Airport Airstream The Airport Airstream has turned out to be quite the bag for me.  This is a bag that I have taken on business trips and one that I have carried out to the nomad grasslands of Western China all the same.

ABOUT THE BAG
STRAIGHT FROM THINKTANK

The perfect small roller for traveling with a selected amount of gear; meets international carry-on size limits.

Top Features:

  • INTERNATIONAL carry on size.
  • TSA combination locks.
  • Front cable & lock secures laptops.
  • Back cable & lock secures to fixed object.

Gear Profile:

  • Holds up to a 400mm lens

Photographer Profile:

  • All photographers, from pros to serious enthusiasts.

Technical Specifications:

  • ID: 13” W x 6.5-7.5” D x 15.5” H (33 x 16.5 x 39.5 cm)
    ED: 14” W x 8” D x 17.5” H (36 x 20.5 x 44.5 cm)
  • 9 – 10.5 lbs (4.1 – 4.8 kg)
  • Lifetime Warranty

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Aug,02


 
 

Review: 3 Legged Thing Brian X1

Review of 3 Legged Thing's new X1 Brian carbon-fibre travel tripod


Before using the 3LT Brian X1, I used to think their were two kinds of photographers in the world:  those who absolutely loved tripods and then those who simply thought that they were a necessary evil and lugged one along anyways.  For year’s I fell into the second camp of people who thought tripods were “a necessary evil”, heavy, cumbersome, heavy, often annoying, heavy, heavy.  I’d never really been a “Tripod Guy.”  You know, the “Tripod Guy”, the offshoot of the “Camera Bag Guy” who collects tripods as prizes and has trouble deciding which one to use.  I’ve used a fair amount of tripods but never fell in love with any of them. I always hated carrying a tripod and when I needed to make a decision between taking one and not taking one, I’d almost always choose not to carry one with me.   Then came the Brian X1.  After using the 3 Legged Thing Brian X1 for the last three months I’ve had quite a change of heart and the Brian X1 makes the decision to carry a tripod with me a very easy one.  I’ve been converted and now don’t even think twice about taking it along.

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Feb,23


 
 

ThinkTank StreetWalker HardDrive

Review of ThinkTank Photo's StreetWalker Hard Drive camera bag.


NOTE AUG. 2011 – This bag is still one of my go-to-bag for any travel.  Any time I travel overseas I take this bag with me.  I love it like I would my own child. I thought it would be good to note that lately I’ve actually ben stripping all the side walls out and using it to carry speedlites, stands, and modifiers.  I can fit 3 light stands (one on the outside), 1 tripod, three speed lites, 3 umbrellas, and a heck of a lot of cords into this bag and still have a ton of room left over.  While travelling between The States and China I still use it like I would as described in this review.  One note is that I’ve added the ThinkTank Airport Airstream to my lineup to carry much heavier stuff on any assignment, thus using the Streetwalker HardDrive as for more peripherals while not travelling internationally.  To be quite honest, I’m not sure I’m ever going to replace the Streetwalker HardDrive – it’s still an amazing bag.

Two years ago I was in Atlanta shooting with my good buddy Stephen Hunton.  At the time I was was using… well, I have no clue what bag I was using because using the ThinkTank Streetwalker HardDrive has wiped my memory of all all previous backpack style camera bags.  As far as I know I might as well have been using a burlap sack to carry my gear around.  Stephen showed me the bag and how it worked – after seeing him use it in the field for two days I decided I needed to give it a try.  Fast forward two years…

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Nov,09


 
 

Review: Black Rapid Straps

Review of BlackRapid's RS-7 and RS DR-1


NOTE AUG. 2011 - Two years later and I’m not sure where I’d be without these straps.  I’ve been able to try out a few of Black Rapids newer straps – they are amazing.  However, I keep coming back to the RS-7 and the RS DR-1.  Does that mean that the newer straps such as the RS-Sport 2 and the RS DR-2 Slim Double Strap are useless? No way.  They are great straps as well.  But here’s the thing, my straps have become so commonplace and so integrated into my shooting style and life that I don’t ever see myself replacing these Black Rapid straps.  They are amazing and have become like ‘family’ to me.  I’d be lost without them and I’ll probably die wearing them


In Mid 2009 I picked up a Black Rapids RS-7 strap assuming that my life would stay the same.  At the time I wasn’t really aware a camera strap could drastically effect the ease of shooting.  This year about 3 months ago I was able to pick up and try out Black Rapids RS DR-1 double strap system and was equally surprised.  All of Black Rapids straps are designed for ease of use… as they say, “Black Rapids R-strap will change the way you look at camera straps forever.  Built for speed, it’s patent pending design allows the camera to hang upside down from its tripod socket and slide up the strap to shooting position in a split second.  One try, and you’ll never go back!” I’m all about making things easier.  I was eager to run both straps through the ringer and see what came out.  So here we go.

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