p.1 #1 · Thoughts on Tenba V2 axis 24 L vs Thinktank backlight 26L
I never seem to have the right bag. Traveling to Kyrgyzstan in July and need to bring astro kit and lug Olympus kit for my wife. I like the zippered compartments in my ancient Lowepro minitrekker but that isn’t quite large enough for this trip. I had looked at the Axis V2 in person and it was a smidge short on places stashing step up rings etc but otherwise fine. Then noticed the Backlight which has more zippered stashing areas but less convenient to access gear I think. Appreciate any opinions.
p.1 #2 · Thoughts on Tenba V2 axis 24 L vs Thinktank backlight 26L
By less convenient, do you mean the lack of side and/or top access without having to open the back panel to get at gear? One of the selling points of the Backlight is that you leave it clipped around your waist, swing it around front, unzip the back flap and access all your gear without having to remove the bag and put it on the ground. I'm not sure if this would also be doable with the Axis. But the Axis does have top access and side access to quickly grab a camera & lens combo without opening the main flap. The Axis divider set does not appear to accommodate a lens that would require more than half the full length of the bag. If you need to carry anything that long, it might be a factor. That said, if you needed to, you may be able to create two full length dividers from the four thicker dividers provided with the bag. Such a configuration likely would reduce the usefulness of the side access hatch. The Backlight's default divider layout accommodates a single long lens down the middle. Aesthetically, IMO, the Axis is more 'tactical' looking than I prefer, while the Backlight is more conventional. Both are good brands, though, so both should be well made and reliable.
p.1 #3 · Thoughts on Tenba V2 axis 24 L vs Thinktank backlight 26L
Thank you so much for those helpful observations. Yes, the lack of side, top access was exactly what I meant as less convenient. I hadn’t thought much about the aesthetics but don’t want it too interesting looking as to increase theft risk. Tough choice.
p.1 #5 · Thoughts on Tenba V2 axis 24 L vs Thinktank backlight 26L
Go figure! I've never tried a backpack that can be swung around. I've wanted to photograph the eagle hunters and do some astrolandscape photography. We may camp in the Sary-Jaz valley for a bit. And you? Nothing worth seeing is totally off the beaten path these days.
p.1 #6 · Thoughts on Tenba V2 axis 24 L vs Thinktank backlight 26L
Michael Gordon wrote:
I never seem to have the right bag. Traveling to Kyrgyzstan in July and need to bring astro kit and lug Olympus kit for my wife. I like the zippered compartments in my ancient Lowepro minitrekker but that isn’t quite large enough for this trip. I had looked at the Axis V2 in person and it was a smidge short on places stashing step up rings etc but otherwise fine. Then noticed the Backlight which has more zippered stashing areas but less convenient to access gear I think. Appreciate any opinions.
I have a larger (36L?) version of the Mindshift Backlight pack. It is really a fine pack — solidly constructed with good padding and a decent carry, plus lots of extra compartments. You could easily stash jackets an dsimilar in some of those extra pockets, while reserving the main internal space for camera gear.
As to those “swing around” packs, although I own one (plus a smaller sling bag that sort of does the same thing), I never got to where I really liked them. The concept is that you rotate the pack around in front of yourself, release the shoulder straps,and the thing hangs more or less flat in front of you so that you can access gear.
p.1 #8 · Thoughts on Tenba V2 axis 24 L vs Thinktank backlight 26L
Michael Gordon wrote:
Thank you for commenting. The jacket stashing feature is key for this trip.
Understood. That’s always been a concern for me when carrying serious camera gear on long day hikes, especially in the backcountry where it might rain or get cold/dark before I”m done.
Do keep in mind that I have a larger version of this pack, so I can’t speak for the 26L model.
p.1 #9 · Thoughts on Tenba V2 axis 24 L vs Thinktank backlight 26L
You might want to add the Lowepro ProTactic BP 450 AW III to your radar screen. It's 28 liters, and seems to serve about the same use-case as the packs you listed.
I ordered one a few days ago (have not yet received it) for carrying my astro-nightscape gear in the American West. The key difference for me is that it is an inch or so deeper than the two packs you named. (Also true against its predecessor, the 450 AW II.)
Two of my nightscape lenses are just under 7" long, making them a bit too long for the stated internal measurements of the other packs. While I could place them horizontally in a shallower pack, vertical placement seems more economical space-wise. (Granted, packs are flexible and might stretch around slighty-too-long lenses, but I'd rather avoid that.)
While I'm not carrying another photographer's m4/3 system, I do suspect I'll get more large, fast glass, and I do carry a star tracker, wedge, and panorama hardware.
Kyrgyzstan is gorgeous and fascinating, and the people are wonderful. You'll love it.The Silk Road food is incredible; the round, flat loaves of bread, made in a tandoor oven and sold in piles heaped on blankets, is heavenly.
