DSLR and mirrorless camera kits have a habit of growing. Once you get beyond, say, a camera with a kit standard zoom lens, an additional telephoto zoom and a flashgun, regular shoulder bags often run out of room. You can find yourself leaving parts of your kit at home, with the almost inevitable frustration that you don’t have just the thing you need when a great photo op presents itself. One solution is a bigger shoulder bag, but it’s generally less than ideal. Carrying the whole weight of a bag on one shoulder soon becomes uncomfortable, and the strap can have a nasty habit of sliding down your arm.
The contenders
1 Tenba DNA 16 DSLR Backpack £159/$229
2 Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW II £179/$189
3 Manfrotto PRO Light Multiloader Backpack M £184/$196
4 Toxic Valkyrie (Medium) £199/$239
5 Vanguard Alta Sky 51D £210/$211
6 Vanguard VEO Active 53 £249/$299
7 Gomatic McKinnon Camera Backpack 25L £290/$300
8 Lowepro Whistler Backpack 350 AW II £299/$314
Photo backpacks give much more room for expansion, while helping to spread the load. Both shoulders share the burden, and weight is also distributed to your upper and lower back. It provides a much more comfortable and secure carrying experience. Many backpacks add versatility by including additional pockets for personal items, a separate compartment for a laptop or tablet (or both), and attaching a tripod. Some go further still, splitting the main compartment into two separate sections. You’ve then got a dedicated space for travel essentials, albeit with less room dedicated to your camera kit. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best-buys…
Tenba
DNA 16 DSLR Backpack
£159/$229
Modest in size and price, the Tenba is well suited to a wide range of applications
Available in blue and black, this Tenba split photo/daypack but it can go either way. The lower zippered compartment has a pull-out action to reveal enough space and dividers for a camera with an attached lens plus three to six additional lenses, depending on size. What’s more, the photo insert is easily removable, as is the main divider between the lower and upper sections. You can therefore use it as a regular backpack, or stow a camera complete with a really long lens attached.
What’s more, the top section has a rolltop, so you can extend its height quickly and easily if and when you need more space. There’s also a separate front compartment with a neat organizer section, plus a 16-inch
