Photographers love talking about gear. Sometimes more than about photographs.

We talk a great deal about camera bags, for instance. It’s such a big thing for photographers that quite a few have designed and presently market their own range, frustrated that nothing on the market from the mainstream manufacturers suits their needs.

I started shooting weddings with a backpack designed for camera gear. It wasn’t ideal. For as start, a backpack doesn’t go well with a suit or a dinner jacket. Nor does it give easy access to gear, as you have to take it off and put it down to open it.

Then I moved to a more conventional, shoulder-slung camera bag. It looked smarter than a backpack and provided easy access to gear. Problem was, it was a bit of a monster – the kind of bag that needs planning permission to bring it with you.  You can imagine it restricted my movement and make me very conspicuous, and a bit of a hazard at drinks receptions. When I started moving in a more documentary direction, the bag became a hindrance. I’d ditch the bag somewhere and stuff a spare lens in a jacket pocket – an awful solution.

Finding a replacement wasn’t easy, or cheap. Eventually, I heard about the Shootsac – a small bag specifically designed for photographers on the go who need freedom of movement and fast access to gear. In essence, the Shootsac is made of an elasticated material and comprises six compartments intended to hold lenses. Worn diagonally across the body, it is discreet and stylish.

You can’t get them in Europe, so I had to order mine from the US. There is a huge penalty to buying outside the EU and Irish customs duties were almost half the cost of the bag. Was it worth it?

Well, I’ve photographed four weddings now since mine arrived a few weeks ago, so I’ve got a fair idea of it’s strengths and weaknesses in relation to how I work.

Start with the good news. The bag is very well designed. I work with two cameras and three prime lenses (non-zoom lenses). One camera and lens combination never separates, while I alternate the other two lenses on the second body. When it’s not in use the third lens lives in the Shootsac ready to go, along with a flashgun (increasingly redundant), memory cards and cleaning cloths. I’m mobile, flexible and discreet. Swapping lenses is quick and efficient and the redundant lens is well protected. Likewise, replacing full cards is swift – pulling empty cards from one pouch and depositing full ones in another. All of which means I’m concentrating more than ever on taking pictures, which is starting to show in my work.

You’ll gather that I like the bag a lot and that it suits the way I photograph weddings.

Downsides?

Sure.

My biggest gripe is the bag’s strap. It’s minimalist and could do with some padding. It also twists around itself too easily, which can be uncomfortable.

I’d also like to see a wider flap on it, as the current flap only covers part of the outer pockets rather than the full width of the bag.

You need to be careful of the situations in which you use the bag. It isn’t a secure bag. Not a problem at weddings. Few, if any, guests are going to be looking to roll you over. I wouldn’t wear it on a busy city street though, or outside of a controlled environment. Nor is it a bag to put down. It’s a bag to wear.

Finally, though this is nothing to do with the Shootsac but is a consequence of using the bag, when you use lens hoods on your lenses they become to bulky to go face down into the bag. Instead, you need to stow them facing up. It just makes it easier to pull them in and out. Problem is, the lens hood on my 135mm lens is a stinker. Canon make some great gear, but their lens hood engineers must be monkeys are lacking in basic design skills. Maybe they’re just not trying because their only in “Hood Design”, but for Goodness’ sakes a fundamental requirement is that the thing stays on, surely? In the case of this lens, I have to secure it in place with gaffer tape or it just falls off. A slight breeze will do it.

Marks out of five?

None for the Canon 135mm f/2.0 L lens hood.

Four for the Shootsac.

Here’s my set up for a day’s wedding shoot.

(c) Roger Overall 2009 - www.rogeroverall.com

And a closer look inside.

(c) Roger Overall 2009 - www.rogeroverall.com

http://www.jill-e.com/index.html

http://www.shootsacblog.com

Last week on the 26th I turned 26…so it was my magic birthday!  It was pretty much the best birthday ever.  All I wanted was a shootsac.  If you are a photographer, and haven’t heard of them because you have been living under a rock, you should check them out.  The amazingly talented Jessica Clairedesigned them, and the bags are just as amazing as her photographs!  That is saying something!!!  Thank you so much Alex my love for getting me this awesome bag!  And thanks to my Mother-In-Law for getting me the wicked awesome cover!  I love them so much and I can’t wait to use the bag on my family portrait session this Saturday!!!

A little close up of the cover 

This picture cracks me up!  The other night when we were at Wal Mart Paige grabbed this little Cinderella camera off the shelf.  How could we say no to that!  So this morning as I was taking pictures of my shootsac I heard Cinderella’s voice from the other room telling Paige what a great picture she took. (the camera talks, I bet you figured that out already huh?)  I though how perfect!  My little photographer in training.  She has to get a shot with the shootsac!  She is so dang cute with her crazy hair and snotty nose!  I just love my little photographer! 

A big thanks to Jessica for making a camera bag that isn’t ugly!  You rock my socks!