Category Archives: Gear Review
LowePro Flipside Sport 15L Pack Review
For the last few weeks, we have been lucky to have had use of Lowepro’s latest pack for adventure sport and travel photographers. It is a joy to get to use new product before it hits the market, test it, and release little teasers via social media. A couple of things I have learned: LowePro is really listening to design input from photographers, like us, that they support and work with. And, photographers love camera bags. After I drop hints about new bags I see the effects in the form of countless social media comments and private messages sent my way pleading for more info.
Now a new one is out in the form of a rear panel entry, super compact, minimalist design active camera pack. What sets the Flipside 15L apart is its small size yet capability to carry a full size pro body, like the Canon 1d Mark IV.
At this very moment we are traveling in Peru and trekking in the Andes. The Flipside has gone on day trips around villages and been packed inside larger bags to be used as a summit pack and for camera gear storage. For overall travel, it is the perfect carry on office pack.
As discussed in the previous post, we carry very little camera gear on these sorts of trips so the fully functional, 100% usable space of the Flipside’s 15L is appreciated.
For use in the field, inside my pack is a pro body with 17-40 attached, 70-200 f4, 15mm 2.8, film cards, spare battery, and room for a little clothing. In the side pocket I keep a water bottle and instead of a tripod in the built in sleeve, I have been carrying a jacket for the conditions we’re in. The built in rain cover has come in handy in what is proving a very rainy April in the Andes.
One thing I have learned is that if I throw all this in, zip the panel closed and head out, I am going to soon have some settling in the pack and something will soon be poking me in the back. This is easily remedied by simply laying the extra piece of clothing over the top of all the camera gear to keep things in place.
For most of my needs the Flipside 15L is the perfect pack as I usually need to carry a full size pro body. The Flipside is my choice over the Photosport series unless I am on a trip where I can carry a smaller body like the 5d, or I need the slightly larger capacity of the Photosport pack. Also, it is a joy to work out of with the easy access and absolute simplicity. It carries well, is low profile, and has no unnecessary features.
LowePro is meeting the needs of outdoor and travel photographers perfectly with the Flipside 15L and Photosport packs. Finally, active users have choices that are both real camera bags and real packs.
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Travel Photography Gear List
The necessary technology for us to shoot new images and manage a stock business for three weeks.
“What gear do you use?”
In all likelihood, we are the world’s worst photographer to ask about gear, it’s just not our thing. Nevertheless, the question always pops up. Our experience is that Canon’s high end camera bodies work very well, so we buy them as needed. Ditto for lenses. We never use filters, rarely a tripod, and went years without even owning a flash. We do love Lightroom, Apple products, and sharing images, and the experiences making them, via social media. It is our belief that keeping your thinking and systems at their most basic in terms of what is necessary to get your work done is fundamental to doing your best work, and enjoying the process. We put technology to work so we are free to do what is most important – to be out making new images, and living life.
All that said, we have made an investment in time looking at what technology and products work best and feel really good about what we use. Today, we’re getting ready to travel to Peru for three weeks shooting trekking in the Andes. While there, we need to make both new images and manage our Stock Photo Site with daily orders. So, what might be a better question of us is, “What gear do you take on these trips?”. As you can see from my camera and office pack, it’s not much, and that is the beauty.
Canon 1d Mark IV & spare battery
Canon L Series Lenses : 17-40 f4 | 70-200 f4 | 15mm f2.8
96GB of film cards
Canon S95 camera
iPad & iPhone
Sealine waterproof cases for both devices
Additional backup battery for iPhone & iPad, iPad USB camera connector, Petzl eLight headlamp
Charging devices
2x 160GB Hyperdrive Image Tanks for film card backup
All but the charging devices are in my Lowepro… Whoa, wait just a second, this is a top secret new Lowepro pack we’re testing (and loving). More later on this.
Remember, we’re two photographers, Janine carries an identical set up but with a Canon 5d and only one lens, a Canon 24-105 f4, and we split the Hyperdrive Image Tanks. Depending on the destination and work involved, the only additions would be Tilt Shift lenses or a 100mm Macro. For commercial shoots we add in a 300mm f2.8 and 70-200 f2.8. But for traveling and making the bulk of our images, the ones we enjoy most – it all stays simple and lightweight.
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“That’s been one of my mantras – focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.” – Steve Jobs , 1998.
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LowePro Photo Sport 200 for Mountain Sport Photographer Athletes
Both Janine and myself are professional mountain sport photographers. We are also very dedicated, serious athletes in many of the sports we photograph. As such, we regularly combine what we do for sport with what we do for work. With all of this centering around mountains, photography, performance, reliability and results – we need the best gear.
Quick, easy access to a protected camera and long lens in a dedicated compartment
In the last 12 years of our career, we have made it a specialty to photograph real trips; ski tours, climbing, trekking, and especially trail running. For much of this, we have been both the photographers and subjects. We’ve run across Iceland, around Patagonia, through the Dolomites, around Mont Blanc and done countless day trips throughout the Alps, Sierra Nevada and Rockies. All with camera on hand. For years I dreamed of a pack that would allow me to run/hike/bike comfortably while having a camera safely protected, easily accessible, yet in a real backpack… for an athlete.
Finally, a few months ago, Lowepro contacted us to help test a new pack that they had been developing; the Photo Sport 200. Designed specifically for active mountain sport photographers or for anyone needing a superlight pack to carry camera gear. With all of our experience, they wanted to know what we thought.
We think it is perfect.
The key with this pack is that it is a go to bag for when you want to go shoot in the mountains, and getting to where you need to go is involved. It isn’t going to be your standard pack for mountain biking or running, it isn’t meant to be. It is simply the ideal system for being a working photographer in the mountains.
We’ve used it hiking, trail running and mountain biking and can honestly say it functions perfectly for what it was designed for.
Lowpro Photo Sport features and how we use them
We carry the lighter, more compact Canon 5d when we do these longer, more difficult trips. On the body we keep the 17-40 f4.0 and below it fits the Canon 70-200 f4.0. Both fit snugly in the padded internal case. There is a drawstring closure to cinch the entire system tight inside the pack to prevent shaking, and the camera bag is low enough to keep the weight balanced on the body – brilliant.
The pack has another, external sleeve specifically for a hydration system. The design is well thought out in case it leaks, the water will not get to the camera system. There is also a built in rain cover.
The rest of the pack is pretty much just a backpack, super light, a couple of pockets, all with enough room still inside for clothes food or more camera gear. The suspension & padding system allows for the pack to be worn comfortably for long periods. It carries up to about 15kg very well. External straps allow you to attach a tripod.
I tried out the Lowepro Photo Sport 200 while mountain biking in to scout a location
So as bloggers writing a gear review, aren’t we required to now admit that we were given free gear and that this fact might influence words of praise…? Yep, the pack was a freebie. And yep, if you run into me in the mountains while I am working you’ll see a bright orange Lowepro Photo Sport 200 on my back. Because… I really like it.
Want to get your own? Lowepro says June. For more information – visit Lowepro
To see what we have done as running photographers, visit our Running Portfolio
Follow what we do, as we do it in the mountains – via our Twitter feed @patitucciphoto
PatitucciPhoto Partners with LowePro Camera Bags
Dan Patitucci using LowePro's Top Loader Pro 75 in Chamonix, France
LowePro Camera Bags
Back in December, we posted a story about our fall 2010 Vietnam & Cambodia Photos. One comment that came in asked what camera bags we use while in the field.
To this I responded with an honest, “None”, explaining that at some point we stopped using camera bags and started carrying our gear in whatever was convenient, or in whatever pack we were using for the activity.
It turns out that the folks at LowePro were tuned in to our Blog. Back in the early 2000′s we were actually doing some product testing for them and got to know one another. Suddenly, I had an email from the marketing team and it came in the form of a challenge.
They had seen my comment and offered to provide me with a bag or system of my choice. I was to use it, really use it – and if I liked the benefits I would do a write up. And if I didn’t like it…. this post wouldn’t be here.
My choice was the Top Loader Pro 75 and a 70-200 f2.8 lens tube. My reasoning was that I would be able to have the bag easily accessible and in front of me, as I used to do years ago. If the camera is easy to get to – you shoot more – period.
Now, a month after getting the bag – I am sold… and here is my post as proof. We are happy to report that not only are we rewarding LowePro with a purely positive review – we are also involved again as both product testers and providing design input based on our experience shooting mountain sports in a wide range of conditions and scenarios, as both photographers and athletes.
In the coming 6 weeks, we have a virtually nonstop photoshoot schedule. We’ll be shooting mountain biking in Tuscany, ice climbing & skiing in Norway, ski mountaineering in Chamonix, sport climbing above the Mediterranean in Sicily and then right back to Chamonix for alpine climbing and spring ski touring.
Photos and stories will be posted here from all the projects, or follow us on Twitter for live updates and random fun at @patitucciphoto. And for Mountain Sport fans, follow us on Facebook:DolomiteSport
Questions? Comments? Send them our way.
Also posted in Photo Business
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iPhone Apps for the Mountain Sport Athlete & Outdoor Photographer
Ok, I am just going to do it, digress from all things I would normally discuss and delve into technology chatter. The iPhone. It is a big enough part of our lives and business that it deserves mention along with a sharing of our top 10 favorite applications.
Yep, I am one of those people who worships their iPhone. And why not? It allows me the freedom to be in the mountains every day of the year while efficiently running my business. I always love seeing people roll their eyes while I am working (and occasionally obsessing) on my phone while on a mountain run or ski tour. But for us, the mountains are our workplace, and we’d have it no other way.
In no special order:
1. Google Mobile App
Read the news, access Gmail, use Maps and Earth, go straight to Google Reader and of course just plain old Google. Voice Searching is possible as well for both your address book and the web. A perfect App if you have integrated Google’s many free services into your tech life. If you are a road rider in a new area, use Maps to see what options you have for exploring. For Europe, it is almost mandatory with all the countless offshoot roads that can turn into the best road you have ever ridden. Must Have.
2. Easy Task
A great Task Management tool. Keep a detailed To Do List synced on all your devices; laptop, desktop, iPhone. I can be on the bike or shooting, think of things needing to be done, type them in and they go straight to all the lists on all our computers. Janine gets a little annoyed at this one as her to do list grows while I am away.
3. Tweetie
My favorite Twitter App – love Twitter. Enough said.
Follow PatitucciPhoto : http://twitter.com/patitucciphoto
Follow DolomiteSport : http://twitter.com/dolomitesport
4. Dialer
Voice search and call anyone in your contacts, perfect for on the bike or driving.
5. WordPress
Blog and post photos from your iPhone. A perfect App, seemingly bug free. I enjoy a good trailside or summit blog. Did I just say that?
6. GPS Motion X
I use the GPS to record photoshoot locations. A great way to have a reminder of where you saw something you want to come back to or just to be a reminder to do some research on Google Earth.
7. Camera Bag
Fantastic app for making some artsy photo adjustments.
8. Photogene
Adjust a photo’s brightness, crop, saturate, etc… You can take photos from the app as well to eliminate switching from one app to another. Shoot a fun pic, adjust, crop, off to Twitter it goes.
9. FTP on the Go
Okay, this is a lifesaver. Few have the need for this kind of app, but if you do, it works very well. I can access and deliver images from our hi-res server. Wonderful. On an alpine route? Get an order? No problem. Love.
10. Skype
Who doesn’t love Skype? For us, living in Europe, Skype has eliminated phone bills and kept us reachable in Europe with an American phone number. I can have a text conversation while in mountain locations with someone on the other side of the planet, it costs nothing and works perfectly. And now, get on a wireless network and make Int’l calls at the low Skype rates. A Must Have.
And finally, well it is number 11 but in a league of its own:
Ski Touring
An App specific for the Sud Tirol, the Dolomites, and the Silvretta Region of Austria. Instant access to mountain weather, avalanche info, ski tour options, gear reviews and a soon to be integrated website for additional resources.
For the future version and website, PatitucciPhoto’s DolomiteSport will be a content provider through photos and information. This App is available at the iTunes Store by clicking on Ski Touring App.
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