Print This Page
Customers most agreed on the following attributes:
Overall I like the pack. It holds, protects, and makes transport easy of all I need it to. I have had two occassions when one of the main compartment zippers separated. The second time it opened far enough to spill some equipment. Luckily, other than dents and scraps, nothing was rendered inoperable, but I now secure the pack with a strap to prevent this happening again. This slows access to equipment. Weak zippers is a serious design flaw in what would otherwise be the ideal equipment backpack. I would defintely recommend this backpack but caution the user to not rely on the zippers provided. I almost lost a video camera.
I purchased this bag with high hopes only to be dashed on my second excursion with it. The backpack straps have ripped away from the main unit. After using the top handle instead, the internal stiffener has started to push through the top of the bag. In addition, several seams are starting to show signs of unraveling. This bag is a nightmare after only a couple of uses.
from Waltham, Mass. on 9/29/2007
Everything about this backpack was what I wanted and needed. The size was right and price was unbelievable. I was very happy with this pack until coming home from a wedding and one of the shoulder straps ripped out of the bottom causing everthing to crash to the floor. I would suggest checking the strength of the stitching before loading $5000 worth of equipment into it. I guess the saying "You get what you pay for" would apply here. [...]
from Ojai, CA on 9/27/2007
Does what I want as simply as possible: I can easily carry my computer and camera gear while traveling.
from Seattle on 9/26/2007
easily accomodates 2 bodies,2 zooms(including a 100-400 canon),speedlight,image bank(epson p2000),a point and shoot(panasonic LX2),and other odds and ends. My 15.4" laptop fits well and the outside zip compartment holds cords, manuals, cf cards, batteries, recharging units, etc. I do wish it had a better a way to attach a tripod but overall it is a fine day bag for travel and light hiking.
from Coatesville, PA on 9/26/2007
I have used this camera backpack in the field several times now and it is comfortable to wear, holds all my gear including a widescreen laptop, 100-400mm lens, another lens, and two camera bodies. It appears well made, but I have noticed some loose threads so I am now questioning just how well made it is. All the pieces of the pack are still together but some of these threads are very long. They had to come from somewhere.
from Seattle, WA on 9/26/2007
I enjoyed this. I considered the Tamrac, and Lowepro, but short of dropping [$] or more didn't have any mainstay options. This is a great value, and feels well balanced on my back when I'm lugging a D200 with grip, D70s, 4 batteries, and accessories.
I purchased the backpack in April 2007 and used the backpack while traveling to Singapore, Australia and Alaska. The adjustable pockets are good for large lens, small DVD cameras, DSLRs, filters, cables and flash units. With a full load of camera gear, the backpack can place a heavy load on your shoulders.My laptop computer fit snug in the back of the pack and was well protected. In Australia, Qantas airline required me to weight the backpack and declared it overweight for its size. I had to remove the laptop to fall within the right weight limit.During my September trip to Alaska the top part of the left shoulder strap connected to the pack began shredding apart leaving only the nylon webbing to hold the strap. [...]. I will look for a better quality camera backpack when I replace this one.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
This bag will hold all the stuff you need. If you don't have enough room in this bag, you should not use a backpack!
[1 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
This pack seems to be well built, with lots of storage. My complaint is that it will NOT hold my new HP notebook with a 17" screen. The top 1.5 inches sticks out of the back, making it impossible to close. I wasted my money.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from PUERTO RICO on 5/20/2007
In the bag I can put all my equipment for investigations with out any problem!!!
IS PERFECT!
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
Love this bag. Holds my Sony H5 Digital, my Oly OM-1n with a couple lenses, extra batteries, charger and other miscellaneous stuff. Also holds my Gateway 15.4 laptop with room to spare. Just what I was looking for. Perfect for carrying a bunch of stuff on a plane.
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from Maine on 3/29/2007
The bag is big and it holds all my equipment. It is not something you would wqant to carry all day, but it greta for keeping all my stuff together and safe.
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from Westchester , New York on 3/26/2007
We bought two for a Yellowstone trip. You can pack two digital bodies 5D's w 100-400 and a mediium 24-70 lens plus lots of other stuff. Did not take laptops but it would have fit. This bag will fit under the seat of the regional 44 passenger jets. It is easy to find "stuff" in it and really an exceptional value [...].Had aproblem with a shoulder strap pulling out on one bag and somebad stiching on the interior pockets on the other. [...]Overall a must have if you get on on airplanes with a lot of gear.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Houston - Galveston Texas on 3/26/2007
I like gadgets and a camera case for my gadgets that functions is great. I started a conversion from film to digital and need a computer to do many things like look at the pictures that may need a redo (3in screens don't cut it). HP Pavillion dv4000 fits inside and doesn't squeeze the camera stuff lenses, notes, cables, battery chargers, and the other gadgets. Love the backpack for the airport. Haven't figured out how to lock stuff up if I need to leave it for a while in a room. Could do the metal mesh I guess but I just carry it with me. Wondered if we thought of a wheel version. Its concealable looking like a lot of the back packs at work. I don't like leaving it in the truck. It rains a lot in Houston and the little concealed flap is nice and will see how it holds up. All these hidden extras are nice additions and don't add weight. Mesh to put cable and batteries and extra cards and even on the outside to hold tickets and what not. I really wasn't expecting it to be what I got. It's a whole lot more.
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from Mooresville, IN on 3/26/2007
I expect to use this as my regular air travel transport for photo equipment and laptop - much better value for the money than most photo backpacks.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Rainbow City, Alabama on 3/26/2007
Joe Farace has a winner with this case. It holds all my Nikon Lens including 80-200 f/2.8 plus 3 others, SB800 Flash and accessories. It even has a rain cover! If you have lots of stuff this case is without a doubt the one to buy. I don't have a laptop but it will hold it also. Robert J. Moore
[2 of 3 customers found this review helpful]
I would have been very satisfied if my 17" gateway laptop fit as was stated in the add.
I now have to go through the hassel of retuning
it. Still trying to understand how a 15.25 actual
size could be sold as a 17" bag. The man who designed it must not understand that it is always better to err on the side of caution.
That he should have designed the bag to hold the lagest 17" made.
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from Utica, NY on 2/19/2007
I wanted to carry-on a little more photo gear than usual, plus a laptop, on a flight from New York to D.C.. I don't usually have a need for a photo backpack and don't usually carry my laptop with me on photo shoots. The Joe Farace Reporter Backpack was exactly what I needed. It's well made, offers excellent protection for my equipment, fits under airline seats and in overhead compartents, and is sold at a reasonable price. When not carrying a laptop in the case, my folding photo reflectors fit nicely in the laptop space. When not using the backpack, I use it to store photo gear.
[3 of 3 customers found this review helpful]
from Fort Worth, TX on 2/12/2007
I searched for a backpack style case that would meet all my needs without success until I found this one. I wanted one that would hold all my cameras. I have my Mini-DVD Camcorder, my small 5 mp camera, my large 8 mg camera and all the lenses, flashes, lights, cords, and all the other extra equipment that goes with them. I fell in love with the fact that this looks like a standard packpack and doesn't advertise the fact that it has expensive equipment inside it. I also like the back strap that holds the shoulder harness straps in place for neatness as well as for running it through the scanner at the airport. Thanks for such a great product that is very well made. I absolutely love it!!
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from Pottstown, PA on 2/12/2007
Would be perfect if it only had a waist belt. Holds too much to be comfortable with only the shoulder straps.
[3 of 3 customers found this review helpful]
from Huntsville,Ar. on 2/5/2007
I can carry my camera, equipment and laptop safely to my next photo session. It opens up easy so I can find what photo equipment that I am looking for. It gives you confidence that everything will work because of the well padded compartments that protect your equipment.
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from Billings Montana on 2/5/2007
This was quite a surprise.It has every thing I could want in a backpack.
[3 of 3 customers found this review helpful]
I think the earlier critique of the size for the computer is accurate, but my laptop is 15 inch and it fits wonderfully. The bag is large! It has to be to carry all that stuff, so I don't feel that is a fair complaint about the bag. I carry this thing virtually every day and I am very comfortable with it. It holds my 1Ds, a 28mm fixed lens and a 28-80mm zoom, a flash unit with a bracket and handle as well as memory cards, tripod adapters, 15 inch laptop computer and all my misc. office supplies beautifully. It is well contructed and the zippers open and close flawlessly, it even has a rain fly built into a special compartment on the bottom. I wish I had bought it years ago, but the BEST feature this bag has going for it is the fact that it looks like an ordinary carry on suitcase. It has none of the logos or insignia on it or the tell tale looks that tell would be thieves there is several thousands of dollars of stuff in here. If you're looking for a big bag to carry a lot of gear and a lap top in, then buy this one!
[16 of 17 customers found this review helpful]
This pack has two capabilities, carry camera gear and carry up to a 17" laptop. Camera gear side is excellent. My Canon 5D with 100-400mm and 24-105mm lenses fit perfectly, along with flash, many filters and other misc. There is plenty of room for my iPod and more. From this side I give the pack 5 stars, despite my 3 star rating.
The problem for me, though, is the laptop compartment. It is advertised to hold a 17" laptop. This pack WILL NOT hold a 17" Apple PowerBook. There is not enough height in the compartment because of the amount of radius to the outside corners. Also, the 15.6" height spec given is really closer to 15.25". A 15" or smaller Apple laptop would be fine and maybe other 17" laptops are physically smaller and would fit, but if you have a 17" PowerBook, steer clear.
[...] If I do, I'll have to have three buckle straps added to the back that I can fasten to top of the pack allowing me to put my laptop in, in it's sleeve, and put it in the compartment without zipping it closed. Because the weight of the contents bear on the shoulder straps through the laptop compartment closure system, you can't just leave the compartment unzipped.
For reference, all my gear mentioned above along with my laptop weighed in at 28.5 pounds. This amount of weight takes some getting used to slinging up and onto your shoulders. Once up, it was fine. The pack sat well on my back, although a long distance walk would be tiring, and carrying it by it's handle with this much weight is very tiring. You'll find yourself switching back and forth between arms. Without the laptop and a few other misc. items, backpacking it or carrying it would be much easier. It has it's limits.
I really like the non-descript look of it. I read somewhere a comment about this pack not screaming "Steal Me" and that is one of it's great virtures. With nearly 10 grand worth of equipment in it, having it call undue attention is not a good thing!
Without this issue of the laptop fitting, I would give it 5 stars.