Case Logic TBC-306 SLR Camera Holster (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this when I had my Canon Digital Rebel XT about a month ago. Before I bought this, I had another case from another brand, which was getting old. So I looked into Case Logic because I've bought a lot of their products before and I know that its always quality stuff. This case was no exception. When I got it, it looked a lot smaller than I had expected (in a good way). It was definitely smaller than my previous case. I was worried at first that It would not fit my camera and kit lens (18-55mm) like my previous case. But to my surprise, it fit even better! It managed to store my camera with the kit lens on, the battery charger, body cap, data cable, memory card box and the case strap which I had not yet attached to the case. All of this fit very comfortably, and there is still room for a little more stuff. The little zipper compartment on the front flap of the case is still empty. Though to be honest, I don't see much fitting in there anyway. A memory card or two at the most. Maybe something flat. The only downside is that it does not fit my camera manual. It is a bit too big for the case. But I'm sure not everyone usually walks around with their manuals! I have a slight case of OCD, and I just like having everything to do with my camera in one place, you know?
Three days ago, I upgraded my DSLR to the Canon 20D. This camera also still fits in the case with the kit lens on. With this camera though, the fit is a lot more snug since the camera is a lot bigger than the XT. But it still fits, and closes as well as when I had the XT in there. So I am totally satisfied with it! Even if I upgrade to a bigger case, it will definitely be from Case Logic. The build quality is excellent. Soft and padded in the important areas, and slightly more stiff on the flap area. It has a very nice color scheme too. Highly recommended!
EDIT 1:
I've had this case for almost a year now, and I've cycled through DSLRs like nobodies business. So apart from the XT and the 20D I mentioned above, I've since used this case for a 30D and now a 40D (soon a 60D). All of them have fit ever so perfectly with no space for it to move around. I've taken this case with me to the beach, road trips, the Niagara Falls and other random places! So its safe to say that this case has been tested, and guess what. It looks BRAND new even today. This case is SUPERB.
EDIT 2:
So I bought my 60D! This camera fits even better than the 60D with the 18-55 IS lens on it! It's probably because of the fact that the 60D is a tad smaller. It is also a tad lighter, which makes it much nicer to carry with this case. Still an excellent case thats going strong!

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Lowepro Classified 250 AW Shoulder Bag (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)First of all, this bag is pretty darn big. I plan on using it as a day bag for trips, but only because I'm the type of guy that travels with several lenses. It holds my Canon 7D body with five lenses, including the huge 70-200 2.8 IS. I'm also able to squeeze in an extra body in there if I need it. Of course, this will make the bag weigh a TON, but that's why you bought a big bag, right? I haven't even tried to stuff my laptop in there, for fear my shoulder will fall off.
The saving grace of the bag weight is the handle on top. It's such a nice feature that more bags should adopt. It's really nice to be able to grab the top of the bag by the handle when I need to shift positions for any reason (like getting in and out of seats or cars). It also helps for when I just want to pick the bag up off the floor and quickly move it somewhere. An A+ feature that more bags should have.
The other huge feature of this bag is the easy access top zipper. To many bags require me to open the whole flap to one side just to get at my equipment. The easy access top zipper makes lens swapping a breeze.
The only gripe (the reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5) I will give is the shoulder strap padding. I wish it was the type of pad that I could slide back and forth. Instead, the padding is in a fixed position. For a guy like me who is constantly shifting bags around to make them more comfortable, this is kind of annoying. That being said, the strap is perfectly usable, and I do use it.
All in all it's by far the most versatile bag I've found. I didn't even get to mention the fact that you can buy additional add-on accessories that will clip onto the sides of the bag (for stuff like filter and bottle holders). I actually plan on rigging one of the side-loops as a tripod holder (the only feature missing from this bag).
So, the bottom line--if your shoulder can handle it, you won't regret it.

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Clik Elite CE302GR Large SLR Chest Pack (Gray) Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased the pack to take carry by Canon 7D while downhill skiing. At first I was surprised at how big the pack was. It seemed to stick out in front quite far. Having said that the size disappears with actual use. The camera stays nicely affixed to my chest while skiing. It does not bounce around or move from side to side - even while skiing some very extreme terrain in order to get into position for a shot. It is very easy and quick to get the camera in and out. I did fall once with the camera on. The camera pack stayed in place and there was no damage to the camera. Having a camera on my chest seems to be the safest spot for it.
Update:
Just got a 70-200 f2.8 lens. It will not fit in this pack. A 17-55 f2.8 does fit.

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Lowepro Classified 160 AW Shoulder Bag for DSLR and 1-2 Lenses (Sepia) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a perfect bag for carrying:
- 1 DSLR camera with 70-200mm f/2.8 (i.e. big) zoom lens attached (mine is Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 which is comparable in size and weight with Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8)
- 1-2 additional lenses and/or flash (I put 17-80mm and 50mm f/1.8 lenses and the SB-400 flash
- a couple memory cards and extra battery
It's pretty sturdy and tight (with the stabilizing strap), but that's good because the camera and lens won't move much inside the bag.
Here are the pros and cons:
Pros:
1. Can fit SLR attached with the big 70-200mm f/2.8 lens (or equivalent)
2. Enough room for extra lenses and flash
3. Topload feature for easy access
4. Sturdy and good padding to protect the expensive equipment inside
5. Slim profile and more discreet design (vs some other pro camera bag)
6. Stabilizing strap to minimize movement
7. Lots of compartment for memory cards, batteries, lens cap, etc
8. Less than 3 lbs, and compact size
9. All weather cover is nice to have (and essential for professional)
10. Expandable (i.e. you can manage the divider/padding to create different size of space)
Cons:
1. Only take 1 full size SLR (I tried 2 D40s + 18-55mm and it works)
2. A bit pricey (for my amateur standard)
3. Close to 3 lbs (depend on how you see it)
4. Not a backpack model (if you prefer carrying backpack type bag when photographing)
5. Can't put your regular 15 inch laptop in this bag (however you can squeeze in the 8.9 inch netbook). If you want to add your regular notebook, you will need to get the Lowepro Classified 250 AW series
6. Might be a bit too much bag/space for a quick short trip where you don't need to bring your 70-200mm f/2.8 lens (use the Lowepro Topload Zoom series bag instead)
7. Not as easy (as I thought it would be) to pull out the camera in and out of the bag but it's reasonable (maybe it's because of the design and position of the zipper and the fact the bag is still stiff since it is new. I'm expecting it will get better as the bag will get softer/break-in with use)
In conclusion, this is a very good (and very stylish) bag if you want to carry a camera attached with the 70-200mm f/2.8 lens (or smaller lens), with 1-2 extra lens (smaller lenses than the 70-200mm f/2.8) and/or flash.

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Nikon Capture NX Software for Windows and Mac Review

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(More customer reviews)I was one of the first to download the full-featured Nikon NX software on a trial basis in July 2006. I was immediately hooked. This is a very innovative software program that most photographers who shoot in NIKON RAW format will want.
For those not familiar with RAW format, essentially a RAW format photo file enables the photographer to make post-shot changes to a photo to a much greater extent than is possible when shooting conventional JPEG file shots. So, for example, if one wishes to adjust the exposure on a RAW photo, you can do so and the effect is essentially the same, within the range of a couple of F/stops, as though you had shot the picture that way in the first place (there are exceptions to this beyond the scope of this review). The same is true for many other settings, such as Color Mode (SRGB versus Adobe, for example), White Balance, Sharpening, etc. You can modify some of these to some extent on JPEGs, but when you do there is always a loss of data--while there is no such loss when modifying RAW files. The bottom line is that if you botch a setting shooting RAW files you are much more likely to be able to salvage the photo if you shot RAW, as compared to if you shot JPEG. If you are shooting a wedding or some other critical event where failure is not an option, only a VERY competent expert would not opt to shoot RAW, in my opinion at least.
Capture NX enables the photographer to make very significant enhancements or adjustments to RAW, or to some extent JPEG or TIFF images. The centerpiece of the program is what Nikon calls "Control Points." The program enables one to place control points at various locations on a photograph, and thereby control or modify the color of selected portions of the image. What is even more amazing is that the program also enables the user to make very fine selective adjustments to other effects, such as sharpening or D-lighting, such that only selective parts of an image will be sharpened, for example.
Other programs have offered the ability to do what Nikon Capture NX can do, but in my opinion I have seen no other program that is so intuitive, and so easy for the photographer to learn. Many photographers, especially non-pros like me, want to spend more time taking photographs and less time behind the computer in the "digital darkroom" modifying them. Capture NX is designed for precisely that--it really is very intuitive and easy to learn.
I found the NX user interface to be better than that of Capture 4.4, which NX replaces. Others have differed on this point, but I very quickly became comfortable with the more orderly layout on Capture NX.
There are a few areas in which version 1.0 can stand some improvements in future upgrades. Certain menu options stubbornly return to default settings rather than remain at the user's last (and usually preferred) setting. Despite the good user interface, there are a few areas that will stand some tweaks in future upgrades. In short, NX V1.0 has a few rough edges as first-release versions of software usually do. Nonetheless, in most respects this is a polished product that certainly is ready for "prime time," in my opinion at least.
Like Capture 4.4 before it, Nikon NX want a LOT of memory. A fast CPU and at least 1 GB of RAM is recommended.
Overall, this is a remarkable product that I highly recommend to any photographer who shoots in Nikon's RAW format.

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Kata KT D-3N1-30 Sling/Backpack (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I needed a backpack bag that would hold my Nikon D300 with the Nikkor 70-200 f2.8 VR zoom attached. My vetted choices came down to either the Lowepro Slingshot 300 or the new Kata 3N1-30. Both are very large bags, and while there were others worthy of consideration, these two were at the top of my budget range.
The Lowepro is a nice bag (my brother owns one and loves it), however, I gave the nod to the Kata for a couple of reasons. I like the yellow interior - very easy to find small parts even in low light. I like the flexibility of converting it from a sling to backpack. Finally, I personally like the styling better than the Lowepro (which is functional but homely). The Kata, in my opinion, doesn't scream "camera bag" quite as much as the Lowepro.
The Kata is generally well designed and exceptional quality. The interior dividers are configurable to the user's specific needs, access is flexible providing for easy swing around "quick draw" as well as through the traditional rear flap. Initial configuration was a little cumbersome due to the restricted ability to fully open the rear flap. This limits easy access to the uppermost compartments, but once I figured out how to fit everything inside it was fine. There is ample room in this bag for a large SLR with lenses and attachments. My D300 with both MB-D10 and the 70-200 attached fit snugly in the horizontal position. However, finding an additional spot for my 17-55 f2.8 was a little more challenging. (Note these are both relatively large lenses with even larger hoods). I still have room for my flash and another small lens or accessory, but that's about it for the main compartment in my case. There is an additional compartment in the top for other stuff (flash cards, batteries, charger, lunch, etc). The extra straps for converting to a full backpack tuck neatly out of sight. The pack is very comfortable to carry, even with a heavy load.
Pros: Overall design is good (with exceptions noted below) and the quality of construction is excellent . Very manageable and comfortable to use. Very spacious and flexible for varying needs.
Cons: I would really like for it to have some means of attaching a tripod or monopod (something the Lowepro omits as well). For a pack of this size, that seems to me to be a reasonable expectation. Also note there is no compartment for a laptop - not important to me, but perhaps for others. My biggest gripe is the inability to just lay the thing out fully open on its back (note the product photo - that's as far as that rear flap opens). It makes configuring the compartment dividers very awkward.
Acknowledging those limitations and the fact that no camera bag is perfect, the 3N1-30 or one of the two smaller versions should impress you. You'll be hard pressed to find a better pack in this price range.
Bottom line: I'm happy with my decision to purchase this pack over the Lowepro and highly recommend it. I'm only giving it 4 stars for the omission of a tripod/monopod attachment and the awkward main compartment access. Despite those caveats, this is an excellent, albeit not perfect, large camera backpack. I may end up getting something smaller for occasions where I won't be using the large zoom - perhaps the 3N1-10, W-94, or one of the DR series packs. Definitely Kata, though.

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Why choose between a backpack and a sling when you simply can pick up one of the new Kata 3N1 bags and get the best features of each type of bag? These unique bags provide ultimate freedom designed with three carrying options in one bag: right-handed sling, left-handed sling and backpack. Quick access to a camera has never been faster with a sling that offers a quick release and one-handed bag opening for camera access. Left-handed photographers can celebrate as they discover the first photo bag that can be configured as a left-handed sling. When not in a situation that requires quick camera access, convert the 3N1 into an ergonomic and comfortable backpack. All these product features come in a package that includes the unique combination of protection, light weight and style that has become Kata's calling card. In sling position, the bag easily swings around from back to front providing quick draw access to your main camera & accessories via a quick release clip with single pull opening of the camera compartment door. In standard backpack position and "X" position (both straps crisscrossed over the user's chest) you can comfortably carry your equipment for long distance walking when needed. The included balancing hip strap helps take the load of your heavy equipment off your shoulders. The 3N1-30 is designed to fit a D/SLR with a long range zoom lens attached and 5-6 extra lenses with accessories.

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Lowepro Outback 100 Camera Beltpack (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)It is the most comfortable holster bag I have so far. I also owned Off Trail 1 & 2 and a LowePro TLZ Mini. I would have given it a 5 stars rating if the Outback's Side pockets (lens case) are interchangable with the older lens cases. The slip pockets for the lens case are smaller than in the Off Trails bags. And the lens case that came with the Outback 100 is too short for a flash. And there is only two tiny pockets for memory cards, there is no pockets for your polarizers, batteries and other little things you want to bring along.
To solve the problem, I hang one of the old lens case (for my flash) over the belt secured only by the velcro, and one of the case for my 17-35 lens (this barely fits) and the other lens case for my accessories. The camera compartment also has a little extra space. The whole set up weigh about 10lbs and I could walk around pretty well. If you like holster bags and don't need a lot of gear, you should check this one out.

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