Mashable recently reported that Incase and photographer Ari Marcopoulos had teamed up to design a camera bag. The limited edition bag was designed to provide photographers with a stylish and practical way to tote their equipment.
Mashable was able to get its hands on one of these bags — read on for the rundown.
Functionality
A single large zipper across the bag makes it quick and easy for photographers to reach for their equipment when they need it. Three of the main compartments inside the bag can be used to hold a DSLR camera and its lenses. An additional zippered pocket inside the bag, which also contains a lined compartment designed for holding an iPad, is useful for holding on to documents, memory cards and other slim items you don’t want falling out of your grasp. Smaller pockets to the side could be handy for similar purposes. Meanwhile, a magnetic flap on the outside of the bag provides easy access to a small compartment that could hold a point-and-shoot camera.
The bag could also be useful for the photography-obsessed traveler — great for holding some basic DSLR equipment, along with other essentials, like a wallet, phone and more.
So how does it feel to carry the bag? I decided to take it with me, traveling back and forth between New York City and New Jersey, and so far I can say it passed the test. The bag actually fares well against the hustle and bustle of a rush hour train commute. It doesn’t take up an excessive amount of space, but while sitting between other passengers on tiny seats, it was a bit of a tight fit with the bag on my lap.
The wide strap is definitely helpful as far as staying comfortable, but I didn’t have the bag on my back or slung across my shoulder messenger bag-style for more than an hour at a time. Photographers who are on their feet for hours at a time and prone to back or shoulder issues may still want to look into a traditional-style camera backpack for better support.
The Look
There are a ton of camera bags on the market, but most are geared for utility without being particularly fashionable. It’s clear that the Ari Marcopoulos bag is trying to achieve both those objectives. Its canvas exterior and seatbelt-like straps make it a relatively sturdy and weatherproof bag, and the clean, simple design also makes it the sort of bag you could potentially take out while socializing after work. The lack of multiple pockets or clips and buttons may make it less of an “obvious” camera bag too (in case someone’s looking to snatch your multimedia equipment). A subtle blocked detailing on the back of the bag gives it a fun, contemporary touch.
That being said, this bag still has a bit of bulk — necessary for holding on to your equipment. So if you’re looking for a bag as sleek as an everyday messenger bag, this probably won’t fit what you’re looking for. But it’s almost there.
The Cost
The bag, which is posted for pre-order on Incase’s website (though it currently appears to be sold out), is priced at $199.95. And this is its one negative factor. But on one hand, it does come with a limited edition book of Marcopoulos’s unpublished photographs (titled Now Is Forever). And on the other hand, the design is not the type you see on most camera bags. But competitors like Lowepro and Crumpler definitely make a few similar-sized bags and some even larger ones that are closer to $100. This bag is definitely useful, but it’s not the best for those on a budget — and it’s probably only best for photographers who use their equipment regularly.
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