Lowepro Primus AW Backpack
List Price: $279
Quick camera access is key for the Primus AW backpack from Lowepro.

by Alan Davis www.alandavisphoto.net
As an active mountain biker, hiker and photographer I have always been on the lookout for a photo backpack that carries well and allows for quick camera access to help capture fleeting photographic moments. The Primus AW immediately caught my eye with its unique side-access pouch. A U-shaped side zipper gives fast access to a complete SLR without removing the pack or even one shoulder strap.

The primary feature in this pack is its lower storage area that has both side and a lumbar access. By unzipping a U-shaped zipper on the right side of the pack via the extra-long zipper tab I can access a compartment big enough to fit my Canon EOS 5D with a 70-200 f/2.8 L lens without removing the pack (It’s not big enough for my 1D body however). I can also use the U-shaped lumbar zipper, but I have to remove the pack to do so. This option gives additional access to my camera and lens, a few small accessory pouches for batteries or filters plus I can reach another padded pocket just big enough for my 24-70 f/2.8 L (an optional divider is provided for use with a combination of smaller lenses or flash).
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Manfrotto Introduces NeXt Generation Carbon Fiber Tripods
Evolution of Award-Winning X-Series Continues With New 190CXPRO3, 190CXPRO4 and 190CX3

Ramsey, NJ (March 3, 2008) – With the launch of its X-Series tripods in 2007, Manfrotto set a new standard in the professional photographic supports industry. Not only did the new X-Series boast a stylish design and industry leading performance, it represented a new facet in engineering. The Manfrotto Q90°center column system received critical acclaim and single handedly set the product offering apart from anything else in the market. Indicative of Manfrotto’s dedication to product improvement, the company is proud to announce the next chapter in the evolution of the X-Series with the introduction of a new line of carbon fiber tripods. Designed to supply shooters with an array of features geared specifically towards enhancing the imaging experience, the new carbon fiber family, dubbed “CX,” marks another milestone for Manfrotto and ushers in a new era for Manfrotto carbon fiber supports.

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If you look at the $700 Epson P-5000 image tank and think to yourself “That’s what a low-end laptop costs with a larger HD and big screen! Why would I want that?!” then this review isn’t for you. But if you look at your laptop before every shoot and dread having to deal with it, then read on.

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