Check out Andy Bigg's new bag. Pretty impressive. Quite a thread over on Naturescapes.
Mike
http://www.guragear.com/
New Bag for wildlife photographers out
Check out Andy Bigg's new bag. Pretty impressive. Quite a thread over on Naturescapes.
Mike
http://www.guragear.com/
Apart from the different zip configuration, this seems remarkably similar to Thing Tank bags. I am left wondering who would take a 500mm and 600mm on Safari, let alone pick them up in one bag.
The Gura Gear Kiboko bag has very little that is similar to a Think Tank bag. Let me be specific:Originally Posted by Ken Watkins
At 9.5x14x20 inches and only 4 pounds, it is a largest / lightest combination.
The backpack harness system can completely hide away when not in use.
The two sided design allows one to have multiple cameras attached to lenses when you are out in the field. All other camera bags on the market assume that you are going to put your largest lens in the middle, and all other gear has to fit around. You end up typically only being able to have one camera attached to a lens.
The Kiboko is made from high end Dimension Polyant VX-21 material, which weighs 1/3 of the weight of typical camera bag material. The benefit is a lighter bag without giving up any abrasion resistence or durability.
Zipper pulls have been designed for use with those wearing hand gloves in cold weather.
The backpack harness system is actually comfortable.
As far as who would take a 500mm and 600mm lens on safari, this is just an illustration of how much gear can go inside of the bag. A typical use of the bag will be a large prime lens, 2 or 3 zooms, 2 or 3 camera bodies, teleconverters and a portable storage device. And it all fits easily inside the bag.
I hope this helps.
Andy
I love my Think Tank but I'm certainly interested in your new bag. Question: If I can't get my bag to fit on a small plane and I have to gate check it.....is there enough padding to feel that it will be secure. I never worried about my Pelican case but.......it was too heavy and moved to the Think Tank. I'm not keen on gate checking it but with enough padding inside I'll do it. I carry a 1DMkIIN, 500mmL, and a couple other lenses.
Great question, Lana. Our bag is not designed to be gate checked. Our bag is designed to get under weight restrictions so you will not have to gate check your bag. Your situation with using small planes is a unique situation, and we are working to address that situation with a separate product.
Andy
Thanks.....I can see the benefit of the weight restrictions. I'll look forward to your future solutions. And.....someday when I can retire again...for good....I'll look to the present bag for those weight restrictions on one of your African tours:)
It may not be like the think tank but it is very simular to Moose Peterson's bags
http://www.moosepeterson.com/gear/index.html#MP1
His mp-1 i found could fit in any overhead i have traveled on even the little Delta 50 seat connector flights
Andy,
This looks good. I extensively use bags. Most of those are Lowepro. Your bag looks like it can fit a lot of stuff and would satisfy my requirements. Any plans for a long lens bag that can take a 400 f2.8 IS with hood attached and a body attached. I am looking for one which can be used during the Safari. All the best for your venture.
Cheers,
Sabyasachi
Excellent question, and something I will consider!
Does it have wheels to be rolled about the airport in connecting flight?
Our first product, the Kiboko bag, is a combination backpack and carry-on bag without wheels. Most or all of the wheeled bags on the market are not good field bags, and thus we started off creating an excellent field bag that is lightweight and appropriate for travel.
Thanks you for your prompt response, Andy, it makes sense!
I just can't imagine backpacking a 500 and a 600, maybe I'm a wimp :eek:
It looks like an excellent field back, good luck with it!
John,
You are right it does look more like a Moose Peterson Bag.
I use a Think Tank Airport Accelerator which is much smaller, as light and you can get lots in it.(2 Bodies 500mm lens other lenses etc.)
This bag just fits into most overhead bins for internal flights in Africa, including those of Air Botswana, I do not see how this much larger bag will do this.
Funny you should mention internal Africa flights, Ken. The Kiboko has been on Air Namibia, Air Botswana, South African Airways Airlink and others without any hitches. It isn't designed for regional jets like those we have in North America, but that will be a different product that will come out in 2009.
Andy given that it is 2.5inches deeper, you must have a better ability than me in stuffing large objects into small places. Well done.
Andy
I'm off to Botswana next Sept for 3 weeks, and will be taking 2xD300's, with 200-400 & 70-200 +17-55, will your new bag accommodate this gear? Any idea on dimensions and setup? The Kiboko is just a little too large for my gear, IMHO.
Cheers
Marc
Marc, your equipment is a perfect fit for the Kiboko bag, even if there is some additional space leftover. Why? Because out on safari you can take out some of the dividers and shoot out of the bag. So a D300 + 200-400mm on one side, a D300 + 70-200mm on the other, plus your 17-55mm and any other accessories ready to go. If you have a smaller / shorter bag you lose the ablility to have a long lens mounted to a camera. Imagine being about to take a quick shot, put the camera/lens combo back in the back until the next scene.
I've had mine for several days now and it's a very well crafted, high quality bag. The harness is easy to set up, very comfortable and can be stored again easily. A terrific design.
Andy, is there room in this bag or in a future bag for a laptop?
OK Andy, you (and other reviews) have convinced me. I have just weighed my Lowepro Vertex 300 bag and there is a 3lb difference between it and the Kiboko. I've just purchased it @ NatureScapes.;)
The Vertex is now up for sale.
Cheers
Marc
At this time we recommend carrying a laptop separately, as we traded the laptop functionality for the hideaway harness sytem, exterior dimensions and overall weight.
We are always evaluating what people want, and we will never rule out features and functionality that people are asking for. The answer usually changes when we say what you have to give up to get a laptop compartment, though. It is a tough balance.
I do 100% of my photo travel by air, which includes an increasing number of regional jets.
Quick thoughts....
First, never an A seat or on the left side of the plane. Many small planes have NO overhead storage on the left side and the A seat under seat storage is limited because of the curvature of the body.
Second, I use an Alps Mountaineering Trekker which can fit under the seat or in the overhead on a CRJ, Embraer or Saab 340. In the Trekker I typically carry two camera bodies with grips in Domke wraps, 500mm f/4L, 100-400L (or 70-200 f/2.8L), 24-105L (Domke wrap), 16-35L (Domke wrap), 100mm f/2.8 macro, 1.4x, 2x, 12mm and 25mm extension tubes, 500D, Sekonic light meter (maybe someday Chas will teach me how to use it), Compact Flash card case, extra Moose and circular polarizer filters, extra cable releases, blower bulb, extra mini Maxtor hard drive and other stuff I can't remember at the moment.
Hey Andy,
Any thoughts on a future bag that could hold a Canon 600 F/4 with hood and body attached?
Obviously this would not be a carry on bag, and would need to go in the hold inside a pelican case or suitcase.
The reason for my question is as follows:
I currently use a Think Tank Airport International as my carry-on case, I check my small items and lens hoods inside a pelican case inside a custom made bag.
Once at my destination I swap contents into my big bag.
This bag can accommodate my 500 f/4 hood and body attached as well as my 300 f/2.8 hood and body attached, with side room for my 70-200 etc etc.
As I primarily work in Africa in open vehicles I found it best to have the equipment ready, but covered in a bag.
I recently purchased a 600 f/4 and obviously it's to long for my current bag :(
I'm pretty proud of my current custom bag, as it was the brainchild of many years of working in Africa - but the manufacturer changed owners and no longer do small custom jobs ...
Simon,
Thanks for the ideas on what you need and how you work. Yes, it is difficult to accommodate a camera that is attached to a 600mm f/4 with lens hood attached and make it legal for a carryon, but I have a few ideas up my sleeve!
I have used Andy's Kiboko bag and it holds more than my Airport Acceleration. In fact, it can accomodate the 300mm/2.8 with the 2X TC attached and the hood in shooting position, my TT Acceleration cannot. Also, the harness is much more comfortable and the ability to open one side of the bag and leave the other 1/2 closed is marveloous for obvious reasons. I have no trouble on international or intra-Africa flights either.
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