As a part-time, semi-pro photographer, I’m always on the lookout for a better camera bag. I mean, really—is it too much to ask for a normal-looking, comfortable shoulder-type bag, large enough for all my gear with room to spare? With most camera bags, you either resemble a Ninja Turtle with a giant shell on your back or look like George Jetson wearing a rocket pack. They also make it painfully obvious you’re lugging around a very expensive DSLR.
I’ve owned some of those bags and it seems like every month or so, I’m hunting for a new bag because I’ve picked up another lens or another camera gadget that I must have. I’m sure everyone reading this can relate.
Well, I have good news for you. The bag we’ve been looking for is here: the Urban Disguise 50 V2.0 by Think Tank.
Depending on the assignment, I usually alternate between five different types of bags, ranging in size from small to large. I replaced all of those bags with the Urban Disguise 50 V2.0.
At first glance, you can see the craftsmanship put into this bag. Its Ballistic nylon fabric shell feels indestructible. The overall size of the bag is only about as large as a briefcase (Exterior Dimensions: 15” L x 11” H x 6” D or 38 x 28 x 15 cm), offering a sleek, upscale appearance. Its modest weight (3.3-4.0 lbs. or 1.5-1.8 kg) and large padded shoulder strap makes it very comfortable to carry for hours in a day. The Urban Disguise 50 V2.0 also features a real leather-wrapped handle for comfort when hand-carrying.
I recently had a senior portrait assignment outdoors in a pretty remote area, and needless to say, I didn’t want to set my bag on the ground anywhere and possibly invite an eight-legged hitchhiker to come home with me. With the Urban Disguise 50 V2.0, I was able to shoot very comfortably the entire time without ever having to put the bag down.
As much thought went into the bag’s interior as its exterior. Despite its compact appearance, it provides a surprising amount of storage space (Interior Dimension: 14.4” W x 10.5” H x 4.25” D* or 36.5 x 27 x 10.5 cm). Still not enough room for all your equipment? Then use the innovative new Expansion Zipper to give yourself an extra 2.25” (5.57 cm) of additional depth in the main compartment, enough room to accommodate a pro-size DSLR with a lens attached. You may not believe it, but I can carry all this gear very comfortably in the Urban Disguise 50 V2.0:
The compartments and placement of the zippers are very well-designed. The Urban Disguise 50 V2.0 comes with several Velcro dividers you can use to insure all of your gear is properly compartmentalized and protected. It even has two stretchy flexible pockets on the outside, including a front organizer pocket for easy access to essentials. On the go, I usually jam my water bottle on one side of the stretchy pocket and a handful of fresh AA batteries on the other.
The laptop compartment (14.4″ W x 10.25″ H x 1.5″ D or 36.5 x 26 x 4 cm) towards the back of the bag is heavily padded and fits my Macbook perfectly. The front expandable pocket can be spilt into two compartments and is large enough to fit two pro DSLR bodies.
The Urban Disguise 50 V2.0 also boasts a rain cover bag, which conveniently folds into a small pouch that is stitched into the inside of the bag for quick access. The cover is very easy to pull over when weather conditions become an issue during a shoot. I haven’t had to use it yet, but it gives me peace of mind to know the protection is there when I need it.
As an added bonus, the Urban Disguise 50 V2.0 included a red Pee Wee Pixel Pocket Rocket that can carry your SD cards, CF cards and business cards. The Pocket Rocket conveniently clips on to the outside front pocket for easy access.
You can tell the Urban Disguise 50 V2.0 was placed in a Think Tank prior to its release. Designed by like-minded photographers, it’s a great overall bag for both the weekend warrior photographer and the serious pro. I highly recommend it to cure your craving for the ideal bag.
Jay Bartlett
www.Jaybartlettphoto.com
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