Fourth Camera Bag Arrives, and it’s a Beaut

I’d wanted this bag for a long time. For those who don’t know much about the ThinkTank Shapeshifter, it’s a transformable backpack that can expand/contract to suit the presence/absence of camera equipment. As you can see above, the shrunk backpack makes a very nice low profile, which is great for shooting in the field.

The Shapeshifter is my fourth camera bag. Those that came before were the Lowepro Slingshot 200, Lowepro Fastpack 350 and a no-name shoulder bag that was originally meant to hold a video camcorder. So why weren’t they all good enough?

The Slingshot and shoulder bag are good for simple photo walks where you’d only need one body and a couple of lenses, while allowing quick draw-and-shoot action. But neither carries a laptop (essential for photojournalists and traveling photographers), and they put considerable strain on one side of the shoulders.

Then came the Fastpack. It’s a great concept. Half is dedicated to compartments to store a body and lenses, and the other half offers general storage. To top it off, you can slip a laptop in the back, and it even offers quick-draw capability like the Slingshot. It’s almost perfect.. except it’s too big. If on assignment out on the streets, it sticks out like a turtle shall on your back. Jostling with people means it might be tough to maneuver through them.

So, enter the Shapeshifter. It keeps a laptop, 2 bodies, 3 lenses and enough accessories, and it shrinks once you take the equipment out. One downside (in comparison to the other bags I’ve had) is the inability to quick draw anytime you want (unless you already had the cameras out around your neck). Oh, and it also doesn’t hold as much gear as the Fastpack.

Despite that, I find the Shapeshifter’s lean feature a very important asset to have. Last Saturday I brought it with me to cover an indoor business event (those photos will appear on the website soon). Everything I needed was in the Shapeshifter. I arrived early, took out the gear and minimized the bag. With the Shapeshifter on my back, it didn’t feel like an obstruction at all. Rather than leave the bag in an unprotected area and leave any accessories inaccessible, why not have it with you at all times?

Another small hurray — the Shapeshifter doesn’t look like a camera bag, and with its streamlined version, you can use it as a very general purpose backpack that can hold a laptop.

It’s absolutely wonderful that I finally get to own and use this bag, for it doesn’t come cheap. But I look forward to many more times of good use. If I have any more new observations or discoveries, I’ll be sure to be update it here!