Living Overland's Photography Equipment Reviews

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Review of Mountainsmith Parallax
by Beau Johnston



Specification:
Internal Dimensions: 17.25'' x 10'' x 14.25''
External Dimensions: 18'' x 11'' x 15''
Weight: 5 lbs. 6 oz.
Volume: 1952 cu. in.
Material: 100% recycled PET
Price: $189.95 MSRP



Our Thoughts:
Traveling with camera gear can really be a hassle, especially when your gear includes more than just a camera and lens. We love our mix of travel, adventure, and food photography but it comes at the expense of several unique pieces of equipment. On our trip to New Zealand we had our Nikon D90 body, spare battery, 4 lenses, SB-600 speedlight, eight AA batteries, memory card holder, and tripod all inside of or strapped onto the camera bag I cobbled together from an old Kelty lumbar pack. Needless to say, it didn't leave much room for anything else and it wasn't very organized. We were constantly moving things around to gain access to the items we wanted. We needed a better solution as our lenses have been getting better and our gear list keeps expanding.



Enter in the Parallax Pro Daypack by Mountainsmith. Their website says it is a 'daypack designed to hold a true pro-sumer's kit worth of photo/video/audio gear'*, and this pack really is designed with the pro-sumer in mind. When we first un-boxed the Parallax, we immediately noticed the large size of this pack. We were able to take everything out of our lumbar pack, place it in the Parallax, and still have gobs of room left over. The main compartment opens from the back, a feature we really like, and can be done so without completely taking off the bag.





For the rest of our review on Mountainsmith's Parallax, visit our blot at www.LivingOverland.com or click here.

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Review: BlackRapid DR-1
by Johnathan Aulabaugh



Specifications:

• Length: 160cm
• Width: 9.5cm at widest
• Topside Material: Ballistic Nylon
• Underside Material: 1.4 cm thick Foam Pad with Knitted Mesh
• Hand/machine washable, air dry.
• Price: $129.95

My Thoughts:
I often find myself using 2 cameras to speed up process between switching from telephoto to wide or normal focal length lenses. I wanted a camera strap durable with enough room for a larger person and I think the DR-1 fills these gaps very well. Also the strap can be separated and used as a single camera strap, although for someone my size might prefer to have the extension (sold separately). Comfort also plays a role with a straps performance and the DR-1 does not leave us needing any more with its foam padding soft poly mesh underside. The DR-1 is adjustable in the sling as well as a little in the back width. There are also some handy accessories like the Joey 3 to hold batteries or memory cards.



Learn why Johnathan depends on this two-camera strap when he is in the field by reading the rest of Johnathan's review on our website, www.LivingOverland.com, or by clicking here.

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Review: Sun-Sniper Back-Pack Strap
by Beau Johnston



Specifications:

• Material: Nylon
• Reinforcement: Steel Cable
• Attachment Method: Gun Metal Gray Carabiners
• Price: $64.74

Our Thoughts:
I love throwing a backpack over my shoulder and spending a day exploring a new city or hiking the back country. I also love carrying my camera on a sling-style strap for easy access while walking. The problem is sling-style straps aren't always compatible with the shoulder straps of backpacks. I was constantly readjusting the sling, either wearing it over or under the backpack's shoulder straps. No matter the configuration, I was never comfortable and found myself tossing my camera back in the backpack.


Photo Courtesy of Sun-Sniper.com

I finally said, 'Enough' after becoming frustrated with the setup while photographing wild horses and began searching for an alternative. It was at that time I discovered the Sun-Sniper Back-Pack Strap. The design, which utilizes two carabiners attached their patented steel cable reinforced strap to virtually any backpack, was so simple I had to give it a shot.

Learn why the Sun-Sniper Back-Pack Strap has become my go-to camera strap when hiking with a backpack by reading the rest of my review on our webiste, www.LivingOverland.com, or by clicking here.