If you’re not tempted by the latest offerings at Photokina by Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Panasonic, Hasselblad, or Samsung, then you’re probably not a gear head. And fortunately for us at Lowepro, that was not the situation in our booth today.

Tim Grimmer demos the Photo Hatchback during a video recorded interview.

Photographers from all over the world stopped by to see which bags best protected their gear. We fitted big DSLRs with grips, mirrorless compacts, and just about everything in between. The feeling was, if you have a new camera, we have just the right bag for you.

Here are a few of my recommendations:

Overnight Outdoor Adventure – I’d go with the new Rover Pro 45L AW. It’s our best offering for pro camera and overnight backpacking gear. And it is so comfortable.

Favorite Multi-Use Backpack – Have you tried the Photo Hatchback 22L? It features a dedicated sleeve for an iPad, removable camera box, mid-compartment floor that folds down and opens up the entire interior, and two side mesh pockets. Great for cameras, and terrific without.

The Perfect “It Doesn’t Look Like a Camera Bag” Bag – The new Pasport Sling II holds your medium-sized DSLR or mirrorless compact… and lots of other stuff too. I even got my jacket in there today. If you want to be comfortable and “off the photo radar” while on the go, take a look at the Passport Sling II

Checking out the removable camera boxes in the Rover Pro.

Speaking of the Passport Sling II, I discovered today that it holds all sorts of stuff, including a packed lunch, clean diapers, and a box of business cards. Like I said, if you’re in Cologne, Germany this week, bring your stuff. We’ll find a bag for you.

Derrick Story is the Photography Evangelist for Lowepro.

Michael Clark with Rover Pro 45L AW. © Marc Romanelli

Internationally published outdoor photographer Michael Clark works in all kinds of extremes. He carries his valuable gear on countless assignments and ‘tortures’ it in some of the roughest conditions one can imagine. He took our Toploader Pro AW to Patagonia some time back and braved frigid conditions, rocky terrain and wild weather in order to get his amazing shots.

We are thrilled that he not only influenced the design, but tested our newest outdoor pack – the Rover Pro 45L AW – during the past few weeks.

The first mountain-style photo pack in our collection, the Rover Pro AW was built for all kinds of terrain and all kinds of outdoor shooting scenarios. Michael took his pack for a rock climbing trip in the canyons near Santa Fe, New Mexico to put it through its paces. You’ll want to read his blog for his first-hand impressions of the trampoline-style suspension system, modular camera cases, adjustable shoulder straps and other premium, wilderness-friendly features. And we know all of you gear heads will love the shots of what Michael fits in his pack. Check it out!

To learn more about Michael Clark’s most recent work and upcoming workshops, visit his web site.

Lots of us remember how it feels to break into a new career or pursue a passion (or both!). Photographer Cassady Kissam shares his experience in this full profile. The trials. The challenges. The surprises. The “happy accidents”. They’re all highlighted here in a candid piece we hope you enjoy reading.

Hey, if you have a similar experience, please share it on our Facebook page or leave a comment here.

As always, we love to hear from you.

If you go off specs alone, the Lowepro Magnum 650 AW measures 19.3W X 14.2D X 13.2H in. (49 X 36 X 33.5 cm). But those are just numbers. How about the fact that you can fit 3 Event Messenger 150s or 2 Pro Messenger 180 AWs inside and close the lid?

Now, that’s storage space.

Magnum 650 (top) can hold 3 Event Messengers (middle)
or 2 Pro Messengers (bottom).

Let’s open the top flap and see what we see. Notice that lens inside? That’s a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 standing on end. Looks like there’s some room left over.

You can lay your 15.4″ widescreen laptop across the top. The Magnum even includes a computer case to protect it. Then add 1-2 Pro DSLRS (with the 70-200 F2.8 attached if that’s more convenient), plus 8-10 lenses… and still have room for plenty of accessories.

The Magnums are designed to stack on a rolling cart. So if you have *lots* of gear, you can easily move as many bags as you need from point A to point B.

So how big is the Magnum 650 AW? Big.

Derrick Story is the Photography Evangelist for Lowepro.

As I look at Lowepro’s latest outdoor backpacks, I notice there are some distinctive features among them. The Flipside Sport emphasizes camera gear. If you need the most capacity for photography, it’s a great choice. The Photo Hatchback is a fun travel bag for those who are going to end up on the trail. Plus it has a dedicated iPad sleeve. And for the pure day hike experience, I like the Photo Sport 200 AW.

It accommodates both a water bottle and a hydration bladder. The rucksack design allows me to pack my personal gear in a variety of configurations. The bottom buckle straps are perfect for transporting my roll-up ground pad, and the expandable front pocket is where I keep an extra jacket for when the weather turns (not to mention the All Weather cover in the bottom that protects the entire pack). There are four zippered pockets: one inside the backpack, another on top, and two on the waist band. So small items don’t get lost.

And then there’s the cinch-up camera box. I typically carry my DSLR with a standard lens there, then stash a long zoom inside the bag. On the trail, I’ll sometimes move the long zoom to the side mesh pocket for quick access. That way I can switch lenses easily.

So, when I’m off for a day-long hike, the Photo Sport 200 AW is my first choice. It accommodates all of my hiking gear, plus protects my DSLR in any weather condition.

As summer draws to a close and photography students return to campus, they can balance their artistic pursuits with the demands of daily life with a comfortable, stylish, everyday bag. Lowepro offers a variety of carrying solutions, starting with our overall recommendation for 2012: the Photo Hatchback 16L AW.

The Top Choice

How does the photographer/student protect their camera gear while transporting those personal items needed for a busy day on the go?

For many, the Photo Hatchback AW ($99 to $119 US) may be the perfect answer. It comes in two sizes and features a padded camera box with storm-flap closure and grab handles that offer customizable storage for a complete camera kit. And when not shooting, remove the camera box to convert the bag into a fully functional daypack with plenty of storage space. So as your day changes, so can your backpack. Protect you photo gear when heading out for a shoot, or use the entire capacity for personal items.

Backside camera access allows the photographer to quickly retrieve the camera without having to remove the backpack. The dedicated iPad pocket protects a tablet computer, plus leaves room for periodicals and papers. Dual mesh side pockets are designed for water bottles and other personal items.

The Photo Hatchback comes in two sizes: 16L and 22L. Both include an All Weather AW Cover™ that protects bag and gear for times when the climate is less than perfect.

Street-smart styling, versatility, and excellent value all come together in our top pick for the fall season.

Specialty Bags Tailored to Your Individual Photography Style

No two photographers pack the exact same gear. That’s why we design specialty bags designed to your individual approach.

Camera and Laptop

The DSLR Video Fastpack 250 AW ($149)combines dedicated camera storage, secure laptop compartment, and lots of room for personal items.

Pack your gear in the dedicated camera compartment. When it’s time to shoot, grab your gear from the fast-access, side-entry pocket. A separate laptop pocket keeps your workstation within reach. And a Hideaway Tripod Mount™ secures a tripod or DSLR video rig to the side of the pack. Additional features include: a built-in All Weather AW Cover™ to protect gear from moisture; hidden ID pocket; stretch-mesh side pocket; grab handle; and stow-away waistbelt to minimize extra bulk when traveling.

Classic Photo Bag

The Pro Messenger 180 AW’s ($209) durable, yet soft exterior is reminiscent of classic canvas, but it’s actually a modern performance fabric. It’s built to fit pro-sized camera gear in configurations you’ve told us work best. And it has an innovative flap that effortlessly folds in half to quiet your moves and quicken your pace.

Interior dividers are padded and adjustable to fit a variety of pro-sized gear in a number of configurations. A Dual-Purpose Pocket transforms from handy storage space to travel-friendly trolley sleeve with a fast unzipping.
Additional street-friendly features include: a built-in All Weather AW Cover™ to protect gear from moisture and dust; an expandable, zippered front pocket; a detachable, grab handle for an extra carrying option; plus a thickly padded shoulder strap for long-wearing comfort.

Camera and Personal Items

The award winning Passport Sling ($74) is designed for today’s photo enthusiasts who want to carry an equal amount of camera and personal gear as they explore the world with their DSLRs. Its unique and comfortable shape is unlike a traditional sling bag—it truly conforms to the body and easily moves with the wearer.

On the exterior, two slash pockets and a water bottle pocket provide quick access to books and other goodies. Inside, the sling is equipped to protect your DSLR and a few accessories as well as offer plenty of space for personal items. Unzip the front of the Passport Sling to reveal an expansion compartment that adds approximately 30% more space—enough to accommodate items like a light jacket or lunch. A fully padded camera box (with built-in memory card pocket) protects a DSLR. Remove it and collapse the box when you want to pack the sling in a larger bag for travel.

Compact System Camera and iPad

The Urban Photo Sling 150 ($84) provides 3 wearing options: front, back and side for versatility, comfort and added security. This stylish bag features 2 loading options: top and full panel for maximum organization of camera gear and a tablet.

The modern, streamlined design makes it easy to grab gear and capture images. You can load and unload from the top for easy access or with the front panel fully open for maximum organization. A variety of carrying options allow you to customize the bag to your working style.

For Your Compact System Camera

The Event Messenger 100 ($59) features a Dual-Mode Flap design and Grab-and-Go access. It’s streamlined, lightweight and easy to carry. Get full access to your gear via the wide main compartment. It includes a padded and adjustable divider system to organize your kit in multiple ways. Use the Dual-Mode Flap to go from maximum security mode to quiet working mode by unfolding or folding the hook/loop fasteners.

This modern messenger bag looks stylishly discreet, and is perfect home for your Compact System Camera with an extra lens or two and a handful of accessories.

The Dashpoint 30 ($24) is a multi-functional, outdoor-inspired pouch offers a lightweight, yet rugged carrying solution for a wide variety of electronic devices. It features removable/adjustable shoulder strap with rotating snaphooks and offers comfortable fit with increased mobility.

Its durable EVA padding provides protective, impact-resistant construction and the built-in memory card pocket supplies a convenient place to stash spare memory—right inside top lid.

Derrick Story is the Photography Evangelist for Lowepro.

Our thanks go out to Jesse Kalisher for presenting The Photographers’ View: Composition & Design. We’ll give you a short recap here, but we invite you to watch the entire webinar at your convenience.  This video along with previous webinars may be viewed when you visit our Ask the Pro page.

Jesse covered a lot of territory – from reading the light to seeing your shots in black & white to looking behind you, and the power of details to tell a story. His black & white images demonstrate the power and beauty of this genre. Like this image Jesse shot in Egypt with its focus on scale and perspective.

Jesse often works with the Pro Trekker 300 AW backpack (it’s a real hardworking, outdoor-inspired design) and fills it with this gear:

Nikon D3x
17-24mm f/2.8 Nikkor lens
24-70mm f/2.8 Nikkor lens
70 – 200 2.8 Nikkor lens
105mm macro Nikkor lens
SB-900 Nikon flash
Spare batteries
Lexar pro compact flash cards

Jesse Kalisher was a successful advertising executive who had an epiphany, walked away from his career and began traveling and taking pictures. Today his imagery may be found in places as diverse as the world’s luxury hotels and in the permanent collections of museums like the Louvre and the Smithsonian. Visit his web site to see more of his work.