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bowlesbe

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Hi There,

I was just wondering if anyone had considered the think tank rotation 360 and if anyone wanted to offer opinions (www.rotation360.com). I've researched the hell out of it, read all the forums, seen a few peoples opinions.

It seems to be the best thing for a photo backpack for day trips, cause it permits you to have access to your lenses quickly but gives comfort for all day hikking, while at the same time allow you to bring other personal belongings if you need to..

Anyone have any opinions on this bag? It expensive (280 dollars) and small, but apparently top notch quality and well designed so owners say its worth it.

Thanks
 
It looks a lot like the Lowepro Orion AW, which I've got.

Although the Orion can rotate also (like a beltpack) I don't think its quite practical to do so... I always take it off to open the lower compartment....

martin

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http://www.martinbroeze.nl
 
I bought it about a year ago. I've used it few times but it is too bulky and heavy for daily use. For the bulk, it doesn't hold much gear. However, it is most comfortable and has best quality of my 10 or so backpacks. If you don't need to haul lot of gear, it is worth the premium Thinktank asks. It is very well made, period.
--
See profile for my current setup.
 
Jason Kim said:
Jason Kim wrote:
I bought it about a year ago. I've used it few times but it is too
bulky and heavy for daily use. For the bulk, it doesn't hold much
gear.
Click to expand...
How do you feel about this bag after another year?

Did you get to use it more?
Jason Kim said:
Jason Kim wrote:
However, it is most comfortable and has best quality of my 10
or so backpacks. If you don't need to haul lot of gear, it is worth
the premium Thinktank asks. It is very well made, period.
Click to expand...
Which backpack would you say is the best in terms of capacity, padding, and comfort?
 
kenneth_manila said:
Which backpack would you say is the best in terms of capacity,
padding, and comfort?
Click to expand...
I know you asked Jason but asa ThinkTank fan I'll chime in. Their new ShapeShifter backpack is excellence in a bag.

I went on a trip to south america recently. In this pack I was able to put:

1x 50D+grip
1x 70-200/2.8L
1x 100-400/4.5-5.6L
1x 24-70/2.8L
1x Macbook Pro plus power adapter
1x 2.5" external travel drive
Several batteries, a digital wallet filled with CF cards and CF card reader.
Travel documents

And to top it off- my entire Pro Speed Belt system was in there, too, including the belt itself, a Double Wide, a Skin Chimp, a RU Thirsty, and a Lens Changer 35.

All of that, in this bag, which was my airplane carry-on. It was stuffed, but everything fit and the bag was snug. The ribbed padding on the back and the big pad at the bottom (that fits into the small of your back) made this load feel like nothing. The bag itself is extremely well fitted and manufactured, and not a seam stretched, zipper jammed, or panel ripped.

dale
 
I don't use it anymore.

These are the bags that I currently use.

1. TT Glass Taxi + Pro Belt (it is design to be integrated in to Glass Taxi as a waist belt) - my main backpack - when I have to walk more than an hour, this is the bag I use. I have 5D, 24-70, 100-400, Gitzo 1550T tripod, 5561T monopod all inside the bag. I can mount tripod and monopod outside on both side and make room for 3 more lenses inside but it will get little too heavy for my taste. Once I get out of the car, I take out 5D, 24-70 and 100-400 and attach to the Pro Belt. Either tripod or monopod gets attached to the belt as well. The bag becomes very light after taking out most of content. Now I don't have to take off the bag to change lenses. It is best solution I've found so far.

2. Lowepro Flipside 300 - overseas vacation purposes (it opens from the backside)

carries bit more than Glass Taxi but not not as easy to change lenses. I don't care for tripod mount location.

3. TT Airport Antidote - my latest addition for transport (replaces TT Airport Security)

Can carry almost all I have but it gets real heavy(over 30lbs), I am replacing Airport Security bag with Antidote because I had difficult getting on as a carry-on luggage because of the roller. They made me check the bag. I don't ever want to do that again.

4. TT ChangeUp - still my all time favorite and most used (not a backpack) it fits into Antidote's laptop compartment. I carry 5d, 16-35, 70-200/2.8 IS, 24-70, 580(if needed) and a water bottle for short walking (less than an hour) or everyday use.
kenneth_manila said:
K e n n e t h said:
Jason Kim wrote:
I bought it about a year ago. I've used it few times but it is too
bulky and heavy for daily use. For the bulk, it doesn't hold much
gear.
Click to expand...
How do you feel about this bag after another year?

Did you get to use it more?
K e n n e t h said:
Jason Kim wrote:
However, it is most comfortable and has best quality of my 10
or so backpacks. If you don't need to haul lot of gear, it is worth
the premium Thinktank asks. It is very well made, period.
Click to expand...
Which backpack would you say is the best in terms of capacity,
padding, and comfort?
Click to expand...
--
See profile for my current setup.
 
Jason Kim said:
4. TT ChangeUp - still my all time favorite and most used (not a
backpack) it fits into Antidote's laptop compartment. I carry 5d,
16-35, 70-200/2.8 IS, 24-70, 580(if needed) and a water bottle for
short walking (less than an hour) or everyday use.
Click to expand...
Jason,

Do you actually get all that inside the ChangeUp (well, not the water bottle)? Or is this assuming the camera and active lens is out being used, with the inactive 2 lenses and flash in the bag?

I have a ChangeUp and am trying to arrange it for best utilization, but I have not been able to find a way to fit the 5D, 17-40, 24-70, and 70-200 (f/4 or 2.8) plus flash inside for walking around. I have heard others say it is possible too, so I probably need to "think outside the box/bag" and explore alternate arrangements within the bag.

Thanks,
-howard
 
Hi Jason,
Jason Kim said:
I don't use it anymore.
Click to expand...
Can you share why?

Too heavy? Bad weight distribution?

I'm looking for a comfortable backpack I can use for hiking...for hours.
Jason Kim said:
1. TT Glass Taxi + Pro Belt (it is design to be integrated in to
Glass Taxi as a waist belt) - my main backpack - when I have to walk
more than an hour, this is the bag I use. I have 5D, 24-70, 100-400,
Gitzo 1550T tripod, 5561T monopod all inside the bag. I can mount
tripod and monopod outside on both side and make room for 3 more
lenses inside but it will get little too heavy for my taste. Once I
get out of the car, I take out 5D, 24-70 and 100-400 and attach to
the Pro Belt. Either tripod or monopod gets attached to the belt as
well. The bag becomes very light after taking out most of content.
Now I don't have to take off the bag to change lenses. It is best
solution I've found so far.
Click to expand...
If I understand your post, you attach everything to your belt?

What do you keep in the backpack?
Jason Kim said:
2. Lowepro Flipside 300 - overseas vacation purposes (it opens from
the backside)
carries bit more than Glass Taxi but not not as easy to change
lenses. I don't care for tripod mount location.
Click to expand...
Have you tried other Lowepro backpacks?

How do they compare with Think Tank backpacks?
 
Here's my ChangeUp pics
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=7822948&postcount=13
hfg said:
Jason Kim said:
4. TT ChangeUp - still my all time favorite and most used (not a
backpack) it fits into Antidote's laptop compartment. I carry 5d,
16-35, 70-200/2.8 IS, 24-70, 580(if needed) and a water bottle for
short walking (less than an hour) or everyday use.
Click to expand...
Jason,
Do you actually get all that inside the ChangeUp (well, not the water
bottle)? Or is this assuming the camera and active lens is out being
used, with the inactive 2 lenses and flash in the bag?

I have a ChangeUp and am trying to arrange it for best utilization,
but I have not been able to find a way to fit the 5D, 17-40, 24-70,
and 70-200 (f/4 or 2.8) plus flash inside for walking around. I have
heard others say it is possible too, so I probably need to "think
outside the box/bag" and explore alternate arrangements within the
bag.

Thanks,
-howard
Click to expand...
--
See profile for my current setup.
 
I find Rotation carries too little for the size and weight. Shoulder pad is not as comfortable as Lowepro's.

My Glass Taxi setup pics
Usual setup
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=7895493&postcount=2204

Another setup with Camelbak Unbottle:



I had several Lowepro bags past 20 some years. Trekker series are big backpacks that are most comfortable but they are huge. I like Photo Trekker the best so far but it is huge and heavy. Nature Trekker is one size smaller (I don't have this one, yet) and airline carry on size (I'm not sure but website says so).

Flipside 300 is more comfortable than any Think Tank bags I have. I'd take a look at newer Flipside 400 which is supposed to carry bit more and has external pockets that is useful unlike 300. Might be better for hiking long distance since you should be able to carry other necessary items.

Good luck on your bag search.
kenneth_manila said:
K e n n e t h said:
I don't use it anymore.
Click to expand...
Can you share why?

Too heavy? Bad weight distribution?

I'm looking for a comfortable backpack I can use for hiking...for hours.
K e n n e t h said:
1. TT Glass Taxi + Pro Belt (it is design to be integrated in to
Glass Taxi as a waist belt) - my main backpack - when I have to walk
more than an hour, this is the bag I use. I have 5D, 24-70, 100-400,
Gitzo 1550T tripod, 5561T monopod all inside the bag. I can mount
tripod and monopod outside on both side and make room for 3 more
lenses inside but it will get little too heavy for my taste. Once I
get out of the car, I take out 5D, 24-70 and 100-400 and attach to
the Pro Belt. Either tripod or monopod gets attached to the belt as
well. The bag becomes very light after taking out most of content.
Now I don't have to take off the bag to change lenses. It is best
solution I've found so far.
Click to expand...
If I understand your post, you attach everything to your belt?

What do you keep in the backpack?
K e n n e t h said:
2. Lowepro Flipside 300 - overseas vacation purposes (it opens from
the backside)
carries bit more than Glass Taxi but not not as easy to change
lenses. I don't care for tripod mount location.
Click to expand...
Have you tried other Lowepro backpacks?

How do they compare with Think Tank backpacks?
Click to expand...
--
See profile for my current setup.
 
hmm.. I didn't know they require a password. I will attach them here.

16-35 II on left, 70-200/2.8 IS on right



5D + 24-70 in the middle





580Ex on the right



TT Skin Chimp Cage



--
See profile for my current setup.
 
Jason Kim said:
Jason Kim wrote:
I find Rotation carries too little for the size and weight. Shoulder
pad is not as comfortable as Lowepro's.
Click to expand...
Thanks for sharing your feedback.
Jason Kim said:
I had several Lowepro bags past 20 some years. Trekker series are big
backpacks that are most comfortable but they are huge. I like Photo
Trekker the best so far but it is huge and heavy. Nature Trekker is
one size smaller (I don't have this one, yet) and airline carry on
size (I'm not sure but website says so).

Flipside 300 is more comfortable than any Think Tank bags I have. I'd
take a look at newer Flipside 400 which is supposed to carry bit more
and has external pockets that is useful unlike 300. Might be better
for hiking long distance since you should be able to carry other
necessary items.
Click to expand...
Which is more comfortable between the Lowepro bags: Flipside or or Photo/Nature Trekker?
 
After re-reading your original post, I think what you are looking for is that you want to access your gear without taking off the backpack, you want to carry other non-camera related stuff like jackets, snacks and lunch. And you prefer to be comfortable backpack.

Then, take a look at Lowepro Primus unless you have pro series or gripped camera. It has 2 compartments like Rover series. Like Flipside, you don't have to take off the backpack to access lenses. Plenty of room for other stuff as well. I carry Camelbak hydration bladder on outside flap. Very comfortable in the class of Trekker series.






kenneth_manila said:
K e n n e t h said:
Jason Kim wrote:
I find Rotation carries too little for the size and weight. Shoulder
pad is not as comfortable as Lowepro's.
Click to expand...
Thanks for sharing your feedback.
K e n n e t h said:
I had several Lowepro bags past 20 some years. Trekker series are big
backpacks that are most comfortable but they are huge. I like Photo
Trekker the best so far but it is huge and heavy. Nature Trekker is
one size smaller (I don't have this one, yet) and airline carry on
size (I'm not sure but website says so).

Flipside 300 is more comfortable than any Think Tank bags I have. I'd
take a look at newer Flipside 400 which is supposed to carry bit more
and has external pockets that is useful unlike 300. Might be better
for hiking long distance since you should be able to carry other
necessary items.
Click to expand...
Which is more comfortable between the Lowepro bags: Flipside or or
Photo/Nature Trekker?
Click to expand...
--
See profile for my current setup.
 
for taking the time to answer my questions.

It's hard to decide on the comfort of a camera bag when I have to order them online...
 
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