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As a Charter Member of the Bag of the Month Club, I am always excited when something new and really good comes along! \u00a0First let me share a little camera bag history with you, not the history of camera bags in general, but “my” history with them! \u00a0As a photojournalist I used the same bag virtually every other newspaper photographer used in the 70’s, a Domke bag<\/strong><\/span>. 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. \u00a0I got involved in nature\/outdoor photography and the backpack of choice at the time was the Lowepro <\/strong>All Weather Trekker series<\/span><\/span>. \u00a0In 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.!!!! \u00a0Not doing this anymore.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The next bag company that really made it’s mark on the pro market was the Think Tank<\/strong><\/span>. \u00a0I still think they are one of premier companies out there making well designed tough camera bags that just simply work. \u00a0 Then I found out about Guru Gear bags<\/span><\/strong> through jack Graham my teaching partner. \u00a0I knew Greg Schern from when he owned and ran Moab Paper Company. \u00a0I knew he had an eye for quality products. \u00a0When he sold that company he formed Guru Gear and they joined the ranks of the very best bags you could buy. \u00a0Well designed, top quality materials, and real form and function factors made them one of my very favorites. \u00a0I still own several.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Fast forward to today, \u00a0Greg and Guru Gear bought Tamrac<\/strong><\/span>. \u00a0Now Tamrac has for many years been very good mid-level camera bag company. \u00a0Let 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). \u00a0Now except for the last category, some decent bags can be had in the middle two groups. \u00a0In the Top category, they’re really terrific, and it’s a short list,, and that’s why they reside there! \u00a0….and that is exactly where Tamrac<\/strong><\/span> finds itself now!!!!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So that bring me to today’s review of the new Tamrac Anvil 15 backpack<\/strong><\/span>. \u00a0Greg has folded his magic with Guru Gear into this new line and it sits squarely in the top category. \u00a0I am using the new backpack for my upcoming fall trips to Nova Scotia, Northern Ohio, the Great Smokies and Zion National Park! \u00a0I expect I will love it too.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Why would I put it in such a high category?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n First: \u00a0build Quality.<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0This 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. \u00a0Top 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. \u00a0Great organizing pockets on the \u00a0back cover and a handy and spacious laptop or iPad sleeve in the lid. \u00a0It 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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Second: \u00a0Thoughtful interior design<\/strong><\/span>. \u00a0The customizable main compartment is perfectly proportioned for both full size DSLR systems and smaller Mirroless systems like mine. \u00a0Illustrated in the top image is my first packing of the bag for up coming trips. The bag will comfortably hold two X-T1 bodies<\/strong><\/span>, 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)<\/strong><\/span>. \u00a0I will also hold two chargers and 12 batteries<\/strong><\/span>!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Below, the top lid holds;<\/strong> \u00a0an 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!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Screen-Shot-2015-09-23-at-9.31.46-AM-580x434.png\" "\\"Screen")
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