Daily Archives: September 23, 2015

9 years, 2 months ago 12

A New Player….. Hot digidy dog!

As a Charter Member of the Bag of the Month Club, I am always excited when something new and really good comes along! First let me share a little camera bag history with you, not the history of camera bags in general, but “my” history with them! As a photojournalist I used the same bag virtually every other newspaper photographer used in the 70’s, a Domke bag. It was not elegant, but very functional and it was with that bag that I started to help me appreciate, the value of form and function. I got involved in nature/outdoor photography and the backpack of choice at the time was the Lowepro All Weather Trekker series. In the late 70’s and 80’s I owned a number of different ones of all sizes including the Pro Trekker which was so large that filled with 3 film cameras and 14 lenses it weighed almost 70 lbs.!!!! Not doing this anymore.

The next bag company that really made it’s mark on the pro market was the Think Tank. I still think they are one of premier companies out there making well designed tough camera bags that just simply work. Then I found out about Guru Gear bags through jack Graham my teaching partner. I knew Greg Schern from when he owned and ran Moab Paper Company. I knew he had an eye for quality products. When he sold that company he formed Guru Gear and they joined the ranks of the very best bags you could buy. Well designed, top quality materials, and real form and function factors made them one of my very favorites. I still own several.

Fast forward to today, Greg and Guru Gear bought Tamrac. Now Tamrac has for many years been very good mid-level camera bag company. Let me explain that, in my opinion, and in only my opinion, camera bag companies fall in three categories, o.k. make that four; Pro Grade Top of the Line, Mid level, Inexpensive, and Cheap (not worth your time). Now except for the last category, some decent bags can be had in the middle two groups. In the Top category, they’re really terrific, and it’s a short list,, and that’s why they reside there! ….and that is exactly where Tamrac finds itself now!!!!

So that bring me to today’s review of the new Tamrac Anvil 15 backpack. Greg has folded his magic with Guru Gear into this new line and it sits squarely in the top category. I am using the new backpack for my upcoming fall trips to Nova Scotia, Northern Ohio, the Great Smokies and Zion National Park! I expect I will love it too.

Why would I put it in such a high category?

First: build Quality. This series of bags, and I have two, to test, the Anvil 11 and Anvil 15 are up to very high standard of the previous, Greg Schern designed, Guru Gear bags. Top quality materials, high tech padding (ten different kinds!), YKK zippers with great zipper pulls!, clear TPU pockets you can see through and they are tough as nails. Great organizing pockets on the back cover and a handy and spacious laptop or iPad sleeve in the lid. It comes with a high quality rain cover and nice wide waist belt that can double as waist belt system, with some of their handy lens holding pockets and pouches.

Second: Thoughtful interior design. The customizable main compartment is perfectly proportioned for both full size DSLR systems and smaller Mirroless systems like mine. Illustrated in the top image is my first packing of the bag for up coming trips. The bag will comfortably hold two X-T1 bodies, and the following lenses; 10-24, 16mm f 1.4, 16-55 f 2.8, 18-135 f 3.5-5.6, 60mm Micro with automatic extension tubes, the 90mm f 2, and the 55-200 f 3.5-4.8 (or the 50-140 f 2.8). I will also hold two chargers and 12 batteries!

Below, the top lid holds; an electronic cable release, USB thumb drives, cleaning brush and compression straps (included), allen wrenches, and lens and sensor cleaning supplies. all very clearly visible, a feature I love!

Third: Someone I trust behind and backing the product. Just I have trusted my friends at Think Tank, and continue to, I trusted Greg when I bought several Guru Gear bags, and I now am thrilled with his latest offering. This may just be the first date, but all indications are, this will be a lasting love affair!