If I am out shooting and I DON'T have the pack on my back, I feel like something's missing. LOL. It has just become normal and quite comfortable to have on.
Mindshift 36L backpack
- Thread starter sh1209
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If I am out shooting and I DON'T have the pack on my back, I feel like something's missing. LOL. It has just become normal and quite comfortable to have on.
Darrellhar
Well-known member
I have the 36L (and the 26L) and love them both. I don't have a 600mm f/4 so can't comment on that but I can say that this bag is really built great. I like the fact that it is a rear loading bag as well. Really helps when working around not so dry environments. I have taken it on board several flights and didn't run into any issues. It just looks like a regular bag. I would put it on before boarding plane and never got asked to weigh it. Fits a ton of both camera gear and other gear. I have to be honest that I'm a Think Tank junkie. I just fell in love with their bag design but after getting these two size I haven't felt the need to buy another bag since. Zero issues with it after around 5 years. Again I'm a fan of their bags so keep that in mind but they really do think of photographers needs.
Chiguy
Member
I have the Mindshift 18L love it very durable they make good equipment mine holds my D500 and Tamron 150-600 zoom and has room for other lens I own plus a tripod or monopod attachment
Not A Speck Of Cereal
Well-known member
I have the Backlight 36L, which I use when I need more than one or two lenses, some basic extras like some food and water, but not much else. I use a smaller Lowepro for simpler, shorter hikes. I've had this for years and it's still going strong.
I more recently picked the Firstlight 46L, which not only takes more than enough gear, but has room for a lot of other extras, even enough storage for layers as you start taking them off through the day. But I still use the 36L more because as I get older, I don't want to take that much gear on a long hike.
Note the Backlight design to swing the pack around to the front without taking it off: I NEVER do that, so I wish my 36L was a Firstlight rather than the Backlight. But having that cord there isn't really a deal breaker.
LowePro ProTactic 450AW: I too had many issues with this pack. I lived with it, since I already had it, but I was glad to retire it when the main zipper failed. And of course, having a main zipper fail on you makes you want to stop buying that brand.
The Mindshift zippers to top rate.
Chris
I more recently picked the Firstlight 46L, which not only takes more than enough gear, but has room for a lot of other extras, even enough storage for layers as you start taking them off through the day. But I still use the 36L more because as I get older, I don't want to take that much gear on a long hike.
Note the Backlight design to swing the pack around to the front without taking it off: I NEVER do that, so I wish my 36L was a Firstlight rather than the Backlight. But having that cord there isn't really a deal breaker.
LowePro ProTactic 450AW: I too had many issues with this pack. I lived with it, since I already had it, but I was glad to retire it when the main zipper failed. And of course, having a main zipper fail on you makes you want to stop buying that brand.
The Mindshift zippers to top rate.
Chris
arbitrage
Well-known member
If you aren’t sold on the Backlight then have a look at the Mr. JanGear Boris IV. I haven’t owned it myself but know a few who swear by it to carry longer glass attached to a body. I’m not sure if it will fit an A1/600GM with hood in shooting position but it might. Especially if you get a short hood.
I’ll tag @Mitesh as he has your same setup and the BorisIV.
Link: https://mrjangear.com/shop/boris-iv/
I’ll tag @Mitesh as he has your same setup and the BorisIV.
Link: https://mrjangear.com/shop/boris-iv/
I have the 450 and find it very uncomfortable
That looks really nice
When I'm traveling in a vehicle, I put my 600mm in a Kinesis lens bag I bought used years ago. They still make them! I can put the z9+600mm + 1.4 in the bag with hood reversed. Well padded. When I get to my destination I just pull the set up out of the bag and off I go!
Sounds like a good setup
I have looked at the Boris IV many times. I'm not a fan of the Gura Gear 30L because of the opening on the front instead of the back. My hesitation on the Boris IV is that it's 2cm wider than the American Airlines measurements for carry on (38 instead of 36cm). I'm probably worried about that for no reason.
That caught me too - no one in the reviews I watched mentioned that. The top space is not really practical enough and I have had batteries fall out. It's not big enough for my batteries, card case etc to fit anyway - so all that stuff has to float around in the front pockets. Don't like that. Otherwise I am enjoying my bag (been 8 months I think)
I have ordered a think tank small belt bag that I’m going to attach to the waist strap for small items but it hasn’t arrived yet.
DKBirds
New member
Does anyone have experience with the Mindshift Backlight 45L? Would this bag carry a Z9 with Z 600 f4 TC attached, other lenses ( Z400 f4.5, 70-200) and a Zf? Or is this overkill and the 36L would be adequate?
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Sh1209, I have the ThinkTank Backlite 18L. I keep my Nikon Z9 and D5 cameras, Nikon 500mmPF, Nikon 14-24 (or one of my other lenses), 2-extra batteries, Nikon TC-14eIII, and Nikon FTZ II in the main section. My Nikon 800mm rides on my tripod atop my shoulder. I can‘t imagine carrying a 36L or 45L backpack. I’ve always figured that the larger the pack, the more I’ll put in it, and the heavier it becomes. As far as quality, I carry my 18L several a week for the last three years and there is absolutely no wear. Love it! Good luck!
Been there, done that! Think Tank Backlight, Lowe Pro 450 and THEN Gura Gear Kiboko (3 sizes).
Highly recommended on Steve Perry’s Back Country Gallery Forum. It is great and within airline guidelines. 30 L has my D500 with mounted 70-200 2.8, Z8 with mounted 500PF, plus room for 80-400 and 16-80, plus batteries, memory cards, filters, lens collars and more!
If one has a concern about laying it on wet/muddy ground, there is a cover that can be accessed, put on ground and nothing gets wet/dirty!
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I have the 30L, not the 36L, but I do like it. I don't own a monster 600 f4 but I am soon to receive a Z 180-600. I previously owned a Sony 200-600 which is almost identical in size, so I know the new lens will fit.
I think all the big name camera bag manufacturers (Think Tank and Mindshift, Lowepro, Tamrac, etc) produce quality products, so it's just a matter of finding one that fits your gear well. Someone on this site recently posted they ordered a custom camera backpack: https://bcgforums.com/threads/custom-photo-backpack-ordered.31149/
I think all the big name camera bag manufacturers (Think Tank and Mindshift, Lowepro, Tamrac, etc) produce quality products, so it's just a matter of finding one that fits your gear well. Someone on this site recently posted they ordered a custom camera backpack: https://bcgforums.com/threads/custom-photo-backpack-ordered.31149/
I have the smaller 26L version of the 36L. The build material is excellent, zippers are working fine with no problems. I wish the pocket on top had a little more room.
I agree with you about the top pocket.
nmerc_photos
Well-known member
This thread has me intrigued. I owned the Mindshift 26L back when I just had my first small Fuji setup.. as I migrated to bigger body and lenses I kept switching. Never had a complaint about the 26L other than size. Comfort and durability seemed top notch.
I currently have a Mr Jan Gear Boris IV which fits 2x Z9, 400mm f2.8 tc, 800mm f6.3, 1.4x and 2x TC with ease. however it is large and I've never flown with it. I just use it if I'm traveling by SUV. also with all that gear, it is quite heavy so I don't hike with it. I usually bring another backpack to use with either the 400mm or the 800mm once I get to the destination.
I've recently flown to Iceland twice and did not bring telephotos, but I did pay attention to their carry on specs.
Carry On - maximum size including handles/wheels - 21.6" x 15.7" x 7.8" - maximum weight 22lbs (10kg)
This would exclude the Mindshift 36L which says it is 22.4" x 12.5" x 9.1". Instead I currently have a Shimoda 35L which will fit 2x Z9, the 400 f2.8 tc, and 70-200 and measures 21.2" x 11.6" x 7.8" - perfect size for Icelandair.
Some others have alluded to flying with the Mindshift 36L and saying it is fine. I guess it all depends on how strict the airline is. I enjoy the shimoda bags because they have ICU (internal core unit) which are essentially a bag in themself, so if you were ever flying and told it was too big - you could just pull the ICU, keep it with you, and put the bag in storage. That being said, my 400 2.8 does not fit with a body attached, and there's no way it would fit without the hood reversed... and certainly no way to fit a 400 + 180-600, as Bruce has done with the mindshift 36l.
food for thought. I love these bag discussions. have many pictures saved of different setups
I currently have a Mr Jan Gear Boris IV which fits 2x Z9, 400mm f2.8 tc, 800mm f6.3, 1.4x and 2x TC with ease. however it is large and I've never flown with it. I just use it if I'm traveling by SUV. also with all that gear, it is quite heavy so I don't hike with it. I usually bring another backpack to use with either the 400mm or the 800mm once I get to the destination.
I've recently flown to Iceland twice and did not bring telephotos, but I did pay attention to their carry on specs.
Carry On - maximum size including handles/wheels - 21.6" x 15.7" x 7.8" - maximum weight 22lbs (10kg)
This would exclude the Mindshift 36L which says it is 22.4" x 12.5" x 9.1". Instead I currently have a Shimoda 35L which will fit 2x Z9, the 400 f2.8 tc, and 70-200 and measures 21.2" x 11.6" x 7.8" - perfect size for Icelandair.
Some others have alluded to flying with the Mindshift 36L and saying it is fine. I guess it all depends on how strict the airline is. I enjoy the shimoda bags because they have ICU (internal core unit) which are essentially a bag in themself, so if you were ever flying and told it was too big - you could just pull the ICU, keep it with you, and put the bag in storage. That being said, my 400 2.8 does not fit with a body attached, and there's no way it would fit without the hood reversed... and certainly no way to fit a 400 + 180-600, as Bruce has done with the mindshift 36l.
food for thought. I love these bag discussions. have many pictures saved of different setups
Thanks for all the help
Douglas L
Member
Just curious if you are able to fit the Sony 600mm GM attached to an A1 (possibly with a 1.4X TC too) in the Mindshift 36L? I measured the A1(from the eyecup) +600GM+1.4TC with the Zemlin hood in reverse position, it's about 21" tall. The specs from Think Tank is 21.1 x 12.6 x 7.1", so it may be bit tight. I want to put the A1+600 GM+1.4X TC on one side and A1+200-600mm on the other side. My current bag for this two setups is the Gitzo Adventure 45L, it's a bit too bulky for me.
Thanks,
Dawatm
Member
You will have to use the center to achieve the full length so doubtful you could get both setups attached in the bag.
No it will barely fit with the hood reversed and removing the top inner padding. No way it would fit with the TC