vadaar
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Okay, so here's my review:
I bought the Bandon messenger bag because I was looking to be able to carry a body, 2 lenses, and an iPad with me to and from work, around town, and on short (1-3 days) trips where I have to fly somewhere. Essentially I wanted something small enough to carry with me everywhere, while still being able to carry enough stuff to allow for versatility. Tall task, I know...
I’ve had a chance to load it up and take it out for a spin. While I’m not totally sold on the color (and the green was the color I liked the best of the 3), the bag seems perfect for my uses.
First off, it’s pretty darn small. My wife says that it’s straddling the line between a messenger bag and a man purse. Yikes. The strap is sewn all the way around the sides of the bag. This looks quite nice, but it’s a bit of a pain when the strap gets twisted. I think I’ve been spoiled by straps attached with rotating clips that are quick to un-twist.
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http://www.perryphotos.com/photos/i-9nC4gWN/0/XL/i-9nC4gWN-XL.jpg |
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The top flap of the bag has a hidden zipper that opens to reveal a small pouch within the top flap. I’m not sure what you would put in there, but something small or soft like disposable lens wipes or a lens cloth would work well, as well as something flat like a passport. Larger items will fit in there as well, but they will distort the outline of the top flap to some degree.
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http://www.perryphotos.com/photos/i-m8Js5tN/0/XL/i-m8Js5tN-XL.jpg |
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There’s a pouch that runs down the back side of the bag. It’s big enough to fit an iPad, an ultrabook, or even a letter-sized pad of paper, but you’re not going to want to put anything too thick in there or it’ll make the back side of the bag start to bulge out a little bit.
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http://www.perryphotos.com/photos/i-rb79WBk/0/XL/i-rb79WBk-XL.jpg |
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The top flap is secured with some adjustable YKK plastic buckles.
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http://www.perryphotos.com/photos/i-8Stq8tx/0/XL/i-8Stq8tx-XL.jpg |
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There are 2 Velcro-secured pouches on the front of the bag, as well as a slot sewn in between them that will accommodate a pen. F-Stop shows the pouches being large enough to hold an e-reader, but my 3rd generation Kindle was a bit too tall to fit. I think I’ll use them to hold filters, memory cards, my keys, or maybe a small pad of paper.
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http://www.perryphotos.com/photos/i-J7CmKm4/0/XL/i-J7CmKm4-XL.jpg |
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http://www.perryphotos.com/photos/i-dRDjh3K/0/XL/i-dRDjh3K-XL.jpg |
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There’s a 2nd large pouch under the top flap. It’s the same size as the one on the back, and will hold a tablet or something similarly sized.
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http://www.perryphotos.com/photos/i-m6PbQ3K/0/XL/i-m6PbQ3K-XL.jpg |
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The inside of the bag is hidden from view by a zip-top panel. I like this because it lets you run around with the top flap unclipped and folded back against your body, but with your gear still secured inside. The main compartment contains a standard issue padded insert that is Velcroed in place and can be removed if you want to use the bag for non-photographic purposes. The insert comes with two padded dividers. F-Stop advertises this bag as good for a prosumer body and two lenses, or a mounted body and one lens. I tried that, and found the main compartment to actually be too roomy - there was a lot of room for the lenses to move around in there. In fact, I was able to fit a 35L, a 70-200 f/4, and a 7D w/ 17-55 f/2.8 mounted (all with hoods reversed) in there without it feeling overly snug.
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http://www.perryphotos.com/photos/i-Q77bFzp/0/XL/i-Q77bFzp-XL.jpg |
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http://www.perryphotos.com/photos/i-7LF4Q2D/1/XL/i-7LF4Q2D-XL.jpg |
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As for the fit and finish of the bag, it definitely appears to be first rate. The leather details are tasteful, the stitching is very well done, the fabric seems nice and sturdy, and given F-Stop’s normally insane prices, I’m actually very surprised that this bag costs as little as it does ($89).
I’ve only had it for a day, but the bag seems to handle quite nicely with what I’ve put in it. The shoulder pad on the strap isn’t super thick, but unless you put bricks in the bag I think it’ll do just fine. All-in-all I’d say this is a good bag for someone who wants to carry some camera kit without looking like you’re carrying camera kit (similar to the Think Tank Retrospective line in that respect). The rest of the Millar series bags appear to be made in the same vein, and have a pretty vintage look to them. Some of them are a bit too vintage for my taste though!
All-in-all, I’d give it a 9/10. I can’t see anything I’d really change (except maybe the color options), but at the same time I’m not jumping out of my seat about it. It’s a bag after all!
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