Photography News Issue 48

Photography News | Issue 48 | photographynews.co.uk

First tests

ManfrottoProLight3N1-26 £159.95 &3N1-36 £179.95

Specs

Price 3N1-26 £159.95 3N1-36 £179.95 Collection Pro Light Material Nylon, RipStop, synthethic fabric 3N1-26 Dimensions (internal, hxlxw) 42x23x16cm Dimensions (external, hxlxw) 46x26x26cm Weight 1380g 3N1-36 Dimensions (internal, hxlxw) 46.5x31x17cm Dimensions (external, hxlxw) 49x35x28cm Weight 2000g Contact Manfrotto.co.uk

Manfrotto’s Pro Light collection features a good number of bags of different styles, designs and sizes to suit all sorts of imagemakers. So, for toting around a CSC or DSLR with one lens there is the Access H-17PL holster, which sells for £54.95, and at the other extreme there are roller cases for full-blown still/video/ lighting/drone outfits. In between there is quite a number of shoulder bags and backpacks. The 3N1-26 and 3N1-36 are backpacks selling at £159.95 and £179.95 respectively, designed for the CSC/DSLRphotographerwhoprefers to have with them a good supporting systemof lenses and accessories.

release. There is a waist loop, too, but this I preferred tucked out of the way so didn’t use it. The top compartment is large enough for a Nikon D810 with a 24-120mm zoom. The base of this compartment can be taken out if you want to take a long telephoto. The lower section can be accessed fromthe left or the right souse the side to suit your preferred internal layout. Both securing sideflaps have an extra clip and feature two zips, which gives you flexibility in terms of how you prefer to use them. The bag’s bottom half can house a DSLR with a lens and two, three or even four extra lenses depending on what they are. So it’s no problem if you prefer to stash your camera in the lower compartment and keep the top for your waterproofs and food. With access from the top and from both sides, you have the choice to set the bag up to your preferences but there is another option, too. Thewhole backflapcanbeunzippedtoaccess the whole compartment. Four zips means whether you are right- or left-handed or prefer to zip in an anti-clockwise or clockwise direction, you can choose. It also means you can unzip the top half to access content and at the same time, unzip the bottom to do the same and have the middle secured. Four zips does seemoverkill, but it’s flexible. A large carry handle and various slim pockets, zipped and non-zipped, loops, tripod straps and a slot for a tablet or small laptop finish off the bag’s carrying potential, which is considerable for its stature. For a city daytrip I took two Fujifilm X-bodies and six lenses, filters and batteries and the 3N1-26workedwell. If your outfit is larger then the 3N1- 36 is the one for you. It is very much a more grown-up, significantly broader backpackwith a greater load capacity,

The Pro Light bag series is made from strong, reinforced, lightweight materials so you get plenty of protection with minimal weight. The bags are tailored to withstand frequent use but still make carrying serious loads comfortable. The 3N1-26 (above left) is the slimmer of the two bags and can be used as a one-strap sling bag or a

backpack, depending on the load as well as the situation. I loaded a Fujifilm X-T2 outfit and tried both options and found I preferred the backpack option purely on the premise it wasmore comfortable. Configuring the straps takes no timeat all and thereare even twoslide- over covers to shield the large clips, to avoid any accidental (or intentional)

Verdict

These Pro Light bags are good- quality products designed to give a high level of protection to your kit while maintaining a high level of practical usability and comfort. There is a price for that level of protection – both bags seemon the weighty side even when unladen. Both bags look great – unless you prefer a low-key look, in which case the red trim is on the ostentatious side. In terms of handling, I felt the bags were rather too fussy with perhaps toomuch webbing, clips and bits of Velcro. That of course is a personal view. What is undeniable is that the bags work well, are versatile – offering different ways of using them – and have plenty of carrying capacity. Attractively priced, too. Pros Spacious, lots of pockets, good protection levels Cons Slightly fussy to use, conspicuous, no sternum strap on the 3N1-36

but its core design characteristics are the same. I loaded two Nikon full- frame bodies, six lenses and a set of Lee filters. It weighed just over 10kg onmy scales. I should own up and say that lugging such a weight around is not something I have done for some time for the simple reason I want to enjoy myphotography.But the3N1-36 made light work of this hefty load. While the single, across-the-chest strap is an option, it’s not really practical as a sling bag unless you have the physique for it. It works well as a back pack, though, although a sternum strapwould have been nice. WC

Images As well as offering options to open the bags from top, bottom and both sides, the entire back flap can be unzipped to access all your gear in one go. You can even choose whether to zip clockwise or anti-clockwise.