Photography News Issue 62

Photography News | Issue 62 | photographynews.co.uk

First tests

MindShift FirstLight 30L backpack £260

Specs

Price

£260

Comes with Reinforced dividers, seam-sealed rain cover, tripod straps Volume 30L Tripod Yes, straps supplied Materials Exterior: All exterior fabric has a durable water-repellent coating for superior water resistance; the underside of the fabric has a polyurethane coating. It also has the highest quality abrasion- resistant YKK RC-Fuse zips, 420D velocity nylon, 420D high-density nylon, 1680D ballistic nylon, 210D nylon, 320G DuraStretch mesh, nylon webbing, 350G airmesh, nylon webbing, 3-ply bonded nylon thread. Interior: 210D silver-toned nylon lining, mesh pockets, high-density closed-cell foam, PE board reinforcement, 3-ply bonded nylon thread. Laptop pocket Yes, front pocket 15in max Internal dimensions (wxhxd) 28.5x46x18cm External dimensions (wxhxd) 30.5x48.3x22cm Unladen weight 2.4kg Contact snapperstuff.com

Camera backpacks have always been popular and the demand has probably grown thanks to airline hand baggage regulations and the way we travellers like to get as much as possible into the cabin. The FirstLight 30L conforms to current guidelines and is roomy enough for a fast aperture 300mm or 400mm lens fixed to a deep-bodied pro DSLR, plus quite a bit more. This backpack has the potential to be ideal for the wildlife shooter on their travels but of course you don’t need to be a jet-setter to enjoy its charms. With its 30L storage capacity, solid build that includes YKK zips, high density nylon and a very useful set of features, this is a backpack that will appeal to most outdoor shooters with decent-sized camera outfits. Let’s start with its capacity. The main compartment is lined to receive hook and loop fastenings so offers great potential in configuring it to suit your needs with the generous supply of dividers. It is deep enough for a DSLR with power grip which also means many lenses can be stored upright. The main compartment wall is rigid which helps with gear protection too. Landscapers can

store their 100mm filter system in an upright position too. There seems to be two schools of thought when it comes to divider design. Some brands go for thick padded dividers while others including MindShift go for thinner versions. I’m a fan of the thinner style which still offers high protection levels and makes maximum use of the storage space. The underside of the lid has three zip-sealed mesh pockets for cards, batteries and lens cloths. Each zip can be parked in a garage so contents will not slip out and there should be no issue with zips rubbing against your kit. The mesh is quite dense but you can still make out the contents. Moving out of the main compartment, there’s a front laptop pocket suitable for a 15in laptop (ideally in a sheath), a hydration pocket and zipped pocket on the top for travel essentials. It’s also worth mentioning that the top carry handle is foam padded which is a seriously useful benefit when the bag is not on your back. A tripod can be attached to the bag and you have two options. On the side

Above The FirstLight 30L isn’t cheap, but it is made from sturdy, high- quality materials and does exactly what you need it to do without any fussy features getting in the way.

Verdict

The FirstLight 30L at £260 is a highly priced backpack but it is rich in practical features, really well made and performs impressively. There’s ample room for a comprehensive camera outfit including a long telephoto prime and it is comfortable to carry. But what I really like is that it just gets on with the job in hand without any fuss, unlike some backpacks that have features that do nothing more than complicate what is essentially the simple job of holding your kit securely as you travel from A to B. For the outdoor photographer on the move the FirstLight 30L is a leading product and comes highly recommended. Pros Comfortable when fully loaded, spacious, unfussy styling and handling, padded top grab handles, long lens compatible, torso height adjustable Cons Price, visibility of contents in lid mesh pockets could be better

a travel tripod can have its legs in the elasticated pouch with the pod held in place by a strap. A full size tripod can be stowed to the bag’s back with the feet or head sitting in a pull out pocket and straps holding it in place. A final pocket is on the bag’s front and that is big enough for a thin jacket. Fully laden ready for a trip, my kit – comprising a 13in laptop, portable hard drive, two bodies, five lenses, flashgun and filters – in the FirstLight 30L weighed about 13kg. It was heavy, and not what I’d tote around for a day’s shoot, but okay for navigating through an airport terminal. The bag is impressively comfortable to carry andyou can tailor it to your physical needs in a way that is not possible with most backpacks. The top of the bag where the shoulder straps attach can be height adjusted to suit your shape and to place the bag so that your hips take the load. You just separate the hook and loop fastening where the yoke and the straps meet

away from the bag and then you can adjust the height by up to 4in so you can get the bag and your body shape in tune. It is worth saying that the word ‘max’ does show so you knownot to go any further and risk the bag and the straps parting company. The nature of hook and loop fastening doesmean it’s harsh on your hands as you separate the bag and the yoke straps but you only do it a couple of times as you find the bag’s sweet spot. The shoulder straps are well padded and the sternum strap’s position is easily adjustable and simply clips together for ease of use. The sternum strap clip even has a built-in whistle. The surface that rests against your back is well padded too which helps with comfort too. In the time I had the bag nothing broke (zip pulls often go quickly) and while I didn’t have any trips abroad, I managed a couple of landscape shoots with the FirstLight and I really enjoyed using it. WC