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This roller case is one feature away from being perfect

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If there’s one thing about camera bags and cases, it’s that we never seem to have enough. Like the cameras they contain, they just build up and multiply over time. We justify the collection of bags and cases by saying that each has a different purpose. That they’re all used when shooting in different circumstances.

And while “the perfect camera bag” can never exist, there can be perfect examples of particular types of bags for each of those different circumstances. And when circumstances call for a roller case, the Lowepro PhotoStream SP 200 comes pretty close.[Read More…]

Lowepro finally releases a 4 wheeled carry-on roller case – The PhotoStream SP 200

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Roller cases aren’t something I use very often. They’re just not practical for most of the locations at which I shoot (rocky, rough ground around rivers, lakes, etc). But sometimes they’re absolutely the best tool for the job. Last week, for example, DIYP covered The Photography Show. And on an exhibition hall floor, a roller case is perfect for carting gear around.

Lowepro has made roller cases before, but until now they’ve all been two wheeled cases. They’ve upped the wheel count to 4, though, with the new Lowepro PhotoStream SP 200. Lowepro had a couple on display at their stand during the show, so I got to see one in person, and boy is it a nice roller case.

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The Inrigo is a “smart” completely waterproof backpack to protect your gear in any conditions

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I probably own more bags than probably any other item of photography gear. Which is saying something coming from somebody who owns 15 Nikons. None of them, though, can handle everything. I certainly wouldn’t feel comfortable taking any of them on, a kayak trip, for example. For things like that, I use individual dry bags. But they’re a hassle.

Photographer and inventor Oliver Sun, though, has combined dry bags with a camera bag to produce the Inrigo. It’s an IP78 rated (we’ll get to that) “smart” backpack for storing a ton of camera gear. Oliver previously invented the Case Air (yup, the one Tether Tools sell) and now he’s back on Kickstarter with Inrigo.

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Why it’s so important for a girl to pick that perfect camera bag

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“It’s a camera bag, for God’s sake. Just pick one already.”

Therese was losing patience. We had been standing in the “Shoot and Sparkle” booth looking at camera bags for the past 20 minutes, jostled about like riders in a packed subway car. The camera bag booths at photography trade shows are always the busiest. Women packed shoulder to shoulder. You’d think it wouldn’t it would be that way, right? That vendors selling equipment and lighting and actual photography gear would be the most popular, because on the List of Things You Need to Succeed in Photography, a camera bag comes dead last, but you’d be wrong. Very wrong. Camera bags don’t require any particular knowledge; you don’t need a class or special instructions on how to use them properly. They are just pretty and come in lots of different colors and because of this, the camera bag booths attract female photographers like a graham cracker to a flock of seagulls. Put them out and the women come running, pushing and shoving their way to the bags. You need protective gear just to be in the booth. I might have thrown an elbow myself a time or two.

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How to safely turn any bag into a camera bag with only three accessories

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Do you use several bags to pack camera gear for different occasions? Sometimes you need the gear for a professional photo shoot. On other occasions, you only need the basics because just want to have the camera around in case you run into something interesting. Different occasions require different gear, yet this gear requires different bag. In this video, Caleb Pike will give you some for turning any bag into a camera bag.

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Top tips for choosing and packing photo and video equipment when travelling out of the country

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Travelling with equipment can be difficult. You don’t want to take so much that you’re overloaded with redundant equipment. But you also don’t want to leave vital kit at home when you need it. The bags into which you pack that gear is also important. Some things (like batteries) often can’t be checked, and need to be carried in hand luggage. Picking the right bags to maximise the space and minimise a back issues is a high priority.

In this video, photographer and filmmaker Jonathan J Scott shows us how he packs to travel overseas. He discusses the questions he asks himself in order to figure out what to take and, more importantly, what to leave at home.

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15 essential things to always have in your camera bag

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Aside from gear, there’s a variety of things photographers keep in their camera bags. I suppose each of us has their favorite combination of knick-knacks we always have around. And to be honest, some of them are probably useless, while we often miss something we could actually use. In this short video, David Bergman gives you a list of 15 things to always have in your camera bag. Most of them are unrelated to gear, yet they can be more than useful in different situations.

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Make Storage Dividers From Election Signs

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So elections have you down. Don’t be sad, it is a windfall for anybody needing construction material for your camera storage options. Recently some folks came up with a more modular idea to fill your Pelican style cases. Essentially, they are correlated plastic with some foam glued to them using some bent wire to fit them all together, like a Lego set.

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Need a bit more light? This camera bag features a built in reflector

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We’ve all seen bags before that feature things like built in white balance or exposure tools. My Lowepro Slingshot, for example, while not neutral, seems pretty close to 18% grey when I open up the flap. Perfect for quickly metering while out and about. But what about a built in reflector? Well, that’s the new Flash Bag.

The Flash Bag is essentially a messenger style camera bag. When you open up the front flap, it turns into a shiny metallic silver reflector. It doesn’t seem large enough to use as a full time reflector for many shoots, and it’s probably not the most ergonomic of reflectors for regular use, either. But, it could be handy in a pinch.

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