We’ve said it before: the right tool for the right job.
If you have ever had to shoot an event like a wedding, party,business gathering, celebrities, and wanted to be compact, change lenses fast to make sure you got the shot, the BODA lens bag is a great choice.
We’ve discussed other bags in this category like the Shootsac, another lens bag for the event photographer. Differnt strokes and styles.

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Boda Lens Bag:2 sizes pictured: the Jr on the left and the full size one we discuss here.

It’s essentially a shoulder bag, that will hold your lenses, battery pack,strobe, and the accessories that help you get your job done
The other stuff you use :notebook, pens,business cards, phone, media card wallet also have special pockets.

OK, why do you need yet another bag? Because this one has been designed with a special purpose. It is not intended to carry your camera bodies. It is built for speed.
The flaps and pockets have been placed to make it an easy in and out while you are working.
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comparison next to a NIkon D3 with 24-70mm 2.8 mm with lens hood.

Discreetly black, it looks like a shoulder bag in a squared off version. You can use the included belt, but we wouldn’t unless it’s to steady the package.
The weight with the gear we loaded it with ( 14-24 2.8, 80-200 2.8,, Quantum Turbo 2×2, Nikon SB-800, 8 card media wallet is built in, moleskin notebook) was plenty of brickage for the job, and after about 3 hours, we felt it. Plus the Nikon was outfitted with a 24-70 2.8, which although carried in hand or the other shoulder, would get swapped out. We made sure there was space for that in the bag.
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built in CF card holder

In the additional carry-on tool category, was the Gary Fong light adjuster, just because we love the light quality. Looks like a plastic food container from the takeout counter, but it’s more.
And it fit on top of one of the lenses for transport.

So back to the bag…….
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The top flap can be secured with snaps to stay open as you may need the speed. We preferred to leave it loosely covered, and keep the lenses out of sight. This bag is water resistant so, if your covering an outdoor event, you should be fine with the top closed.
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The shoulder strap is extra wide, padded with neoprene and VERY comfortable. you can do a cross sling or hang off the shoulder, but when you need to swing it to full operating position it is perfectly positioned to work.
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Of course you can adjust the main cabin to fit the lenses you need, with standard velcro .

But after working with this bag, the main impression is: perfect design.
Everything is where is should be, and where we wanted it to be.

Well made, padded construction, comfortable, and enough pockets, inner pockets, side pouches to take what you need to work.
Remember: this is really built to be used assuming your camera, bracket and one lens is being carried outside the bag.
It’s called a Boda Lens Bag, after all.
It’s a worker.
They say it should fit 4 lenses, but the 2.8′s we’re using have a bit more glass than normal.
So 3 max for us, with some extra room for…..a Flip video camera, perhaps.
And priced for the worker. About $200.USD for the main bag.
You can travel to the gig with just this bag and camera, OR bring the whole kit with backup body, ect., in another main bag and break down the working kit from that.

Trust me, if you are going to be on your feet for hours, you’ll want to trim your load.

Keeping the other gear in your car or safe place within the venue is the way to do it.

Your shoulders will thank you.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008 at 3:24 pm and is filed under Photo News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.