Review: Lowepro
Commercial AW Camera Bag |
January, 2009
Lowepro
Commercial AW Camera Bag
www.lowepro.com
- $320.99
Review by Steve
Douglas
When
it comes to taking care of your photo and video gear one absolutely
must consider how to properly protect and store everything in
your kit. This is especially so when you are on the move from
home to the shoot or are in traveling mode in the field. This
applies not only to your camera and camcorder, but also to the
various lens, diopters, cables, and accessories that accompany
you on any shoot. Finding a camera bag large enough to accommodate
all of this is one thing, having that bag provide you with ample
equipment organization and protection is another. In the Lowepro
Commercial AW DV Camera Bag you will find that there is more
than ample room for both multiple camera bodies and/or a couple
of camcorders in the Sony Z1 size range, as well as several lenses
and accessories. It is also unquestionable that this is one bag
that should do an excellent job of protecting everything stored
in it from colliding with each other or nicking this and that.
The Lowepro Commercial
AW DV bag is larger than it looks in this photo,
but make no mistake about that, this is a bag with enough storage
room for most everyone.
There is no doubt about the professional look and feel of this
bag. The Lowepro comes with a pro-quality shoulder strap that
will provide comfort during long hours of carrying around town,
or to where ever your shoot may be. The outer fabric is a water-resistant
1200d ballistic nylon with an exterior size of 19.1W X 12.6D
X 11H in and interior dimensions of 16.9W X 9.1D X 9.1H in. Empty,
the Lowepro bag weighs in at 6.28 lbs. With a heavy modular design,
there are many dividers that flip over enabling you to stow your
lenses either vertically or horizontally. Any of these dividers
can be removed or replaced to fit your organizational needs.
It's deeper than
it looks, each of the horizontal dividers shown here hide a deeper
layer. The dividers can be removed for full vertical depth.
The floor of the Lowepro bag is a thick, fully padded mat offering
as much protection from the bottom as it does throughout the
rest of the bag. The interior dividers are made of a quality
foam with a nylon covering. In addition, there are multiple zippered
pockets for storing business cards, cables, batteries and adaptors.
The two large outside side pockets are completely detachable
and the outside, tripod holder straps are strong enough to weather
many a hike. There is also a Belt & Buckle carrying strap should
you want to wear it a la fanny pack. Fully loaded, I am not quite
sure how comfortable a bag this size would be on my hips but
that is the only feature I failed to test prior to taking the
Lowepro out in the field. All the outside zippers overlap to
prevent dust and moisture from getting into the bag or clogging
the zippers.
Finally, a well-hidden rain cover is
a welcome part of the package.
Surprisingly enough,
as rain covers can sometimes be clumsy accessories,
I had no problems refolding the rain cover and placing it neatly
back in the bag
without creating an unsightly bulge. The rain cover is well designed
with Velcro openings for the carrying strap.
The high quality of the Lowepro Commercial AW DV Bag is undeniable.
It is a bag that should last you considerably longer than your
cameras will. The Lowepro could be a quality holiday present
that will surely be appreciated by anyone. In fact, you can buy
it for your loved one and borrow it from them.
Steve Douglas is a certified Apple Pro for Final
Cut Pro 6 and underwater videographer. A winner of the 1999 Pacific
Coast Underwater Film Competition, 2003 IVIE competition, 2004
Los Angeles Underwater Photographic competition, and the prestigious
2005 International Beneath the Sea Film Competition, where he
also won the Stan Waterman Award for Excellence in Underwater
Videography and 'Diver of the Year', Steve was a safety diver
on the feature film "The Deep Blue Sea", contributed
footage to the Seaworld Park's Atlantis production, and productions
for National Geographic and the History channels. Steve is also
feature writer for Asian Diver Magazine and is one of the founding
organizers of the San Diego UnderSea Film Exhibition. He is available
for both private and group seminars for Final Cut Pro and leads
both underwater filming expeditions and African safaris with
upcoming excursions to Kenya in Aug.09, the Red Sea and Egypt
for Nov.2009, Truk Lagoon and Yap in Micronesia for July, 2010.
Feel free to contact him if you are interested in joining Steve
on any of these exciting trips. www.worldfilmsandtravel.com
copyright © Steve
Douglas 2009
This article first appeared on www.kenstone.net
and is reprinted here with permission.
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