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Many digital camera backpacks overwhelm my small body, with straps that dig into my pores and skin and ergonomic pads that don’t sit the place they need to. Constituted of an organization that makes digital camera luggage for girls, the Jo Totes Bellbrook is a smaller backpack. Designed with waxed canvas and leather-based accents, it charmingly seems like its main function is vogue. However, with a lot of other ways to stash gear, the Bellbrook is extra than simply handsome.
Whereas it’s not good for bigger techniques, I loved carrying a digital camera physique and two lenses with the Bellbrook. With gear on the underside (or high), it has a variety of room for private objects and a laptop computer within the again. I spent a number of weeks with the Bellbrook to see if it’s greater than only a fairly bag.
Too Lengthy, Didn’t Learn
The Jo Totes Bellbrook backpack is a good trying, waxed canvas bag. It’s best for crop sensors and smaller mirrorless cameras and 1-2 further lenses. With out a big opening and with thinner straps, it’s not your best option for bigger cameras or heavy masses. However, it’s an excellent possibility for APS-C mirrorless shooters with just some lenses.
Jo Totes Bellbrook Backpack Professionals and Cons
Professionals
Fashionable canvas exteriorMultiple methods to rearrange gearAmbidextrous fast entry doorNicely padded again Delicate straps don’t dig or chafeComfortable sufficient for smaller kits
Cons
Troublesome to get full body cameras out and in of the facet doorBottom part has restricted entry and organizationStraps would wish extra padding to hold tremendous heavy gear
Gear Used
I attempted the Jo Totes Bellbrook with a number of completely different setups, together with the Canon EOS R6 and 14-35mm f4 L lens, the Sony a6600 with the Tamron 18-300mm f3.5-6.3 lens, and the Fujifilm X-T4 with the 16-80mm package lens and 90mm f2.
Improvements
Jo Totes is an organization that makes digital camera luggage geared in direction of girls. The Bellbrook is made for smaller torsos. It additionally has fast entry doorways on either side so you’ll be able to entry the digital camera with both hand. Digital camera luggage for girls normally appear like purses — the Bellbrook blends fashion with the consolation of carrying gear on two straps as an alternative of 1.
Jo Totes Bellbrook Backpack Tech Specs
Jo Totes lists the next options for the Bellbrook backpack:
Waterproof waxed canvas and high-quality leather-based trimInterior material: grey brushed nylonIncludes insert (roughly 10.75″x 4.25″ x 6″) with two adjustable padsSeven padded dividers in two sizesLaptop sleeve can accommodate as much as a 15 inch pc or notebookBackpack base is paddedLarge, zippered pocket in frontOrganization pockets in rear compartmentAdjustable, padded shoulder strapsPadded again for snug wearTurn lock closure in satin brass colorSize: 15.75” x 12” x 6.25”
Ergonomics
The Jo Totes Bellbrook might be divided into two major compartments. One sits on the backside with two facet entry doorways. The second compartment is accessible from the highest zipper. With the bag arrange this manner, the underside can retailer gear and the highest private objects. Or, a detachable insert can stash further lenses and flashes within the high compartment as properly. The middle divider can be eliminated, creating one massive space for gear or private objects.
Moreover that major compartment, the Bellbrook has a laptop computer compartment on the again. I’ve mentioned this earlier than with different bag evaluations and I’ll say it once more — I don’t just like the laptop computer sitting proper in opposition to the again. This makes the again panel stiff and it not curves along with your again. However, the again of the bag is well-padded. It wasn’t uncomfortable to hold my iPad within the again however, with my 15-inch MacBook, it might begin to really feel uncomfortable to put on for longer durations. The laptop computer compartment additionally has three inside pockets in addition to a pencil pocket and an ID sleeve.
A 3rd, roomy pocket sits on the entrance exterior of the bag. A flap closure covers each the laptop computer compartment and high entry zipper and closes with a twist clasp.
The gear is carried on two skinny canvas straps. The straps are delicate and don’t dig or chafe my pores and skin just like the athletic-style nylon straps. However, they’re not closely padded. The bag is snug with a physique and 1-2 lenses within the backside compartment. I might readily use this bag with digital camera gear within the backside and private objects within the high. If the highest compartment can also be loaded with digital camera gear, nevertheless, it’s not as snug for longer stretches. For that, you’d need thicker padding on the straps.
Construct High quality
Made with waxed canvas, the Bellbrook has an ideal really feel. The fabric is thick and durable. Like leather-based, the canvas is designed to get higher with age. The canvas is already beginning to get a textured look to it as the fabric begins to be worn in. These crinkle marks add character to the bag. However, it’s value noting that if you would like one clean good shade, a canvas bag isn’t the precise selection.
The zippers pull clean and the brass accent seems nice with the olive inexperienced shade. I just like the entrance flap closure as properly — it’s sturdier than velcro, simpler than a snap, and in addition seems nice. The detachable insert for the highest portion of the bag doesn’t really feel as sturdy. It’s not horrible, nevertheless it’s not fairly the texture of the outside.
The waxed canvas is designed to repel water. However with out waterproof zippers, it’s one thing you’re not going to wish to put on in a downpour.
Ease of Use
Many backpacks with fast entry facet doorways have only one. The Bellbrook has one on all sides. You possibly can swing the bag round to both facet, unzip, and seize your gear. This ambidextrous benefit additionally permits you to entry a lens that in any other case could be buried with out transferring the bag’s central divider.
With the central divider in, the underside is mainly a protracted tube with openings at every finish. You possibly can pack the physique with a lens connected, a divider, and one other lens. One facet will supply entry to the digital camera, the opposite to the lens. However, if the connected lens isn’t very lengthy, you’ll wish to set up two dividers in order that there’s not sufficient room for gear to maneuver round. And that’s what I did for these pictures. In any other case, the 90mm f2 had an excessive amount of wiggle room for my consolation. Theoretically, you would put one other lens between the 2, however you wouldn’t be capable to entry it simply. You’d should take away the small divider or the one which’s splitting the principle compartment.
This setup additionally is probably not cosy round each lens. You possibly can transfer the central divider, however, in fact, it nonetheless must be massive sufficient for the digital camera. I wouldn’t use the underside portion of this bag for a pancake lens: it might have a variety of room to bounce round.
The facet entry doorways work nice for crop sensor cameras. Bigger full-frame our bodies are troublesome to take away from the facet door. I might match the Canon EOS R6 inside, nevertheless it wasn’t as fast to tug the digital camera out. The opening is cosy even on my X-T4.
I most likely would have gone from like to like if the Bellbrook had supplied a zipper with full entry. A gap on the again panel, just like the Wandrd PRVKE or Lowepro Flipside, or perhaps a full opening to that backside compartment would improve the bag’s versatility. You possibly can tuck a 3rd lens between the physique and further lens that means. I wish to each rapidly pull a digital camera out and sit my bag down and see all of the gear without delay. I can do the primary with the Bellbrook, however not the second.
I did, nevertheless, like stashing different objects within the high. I might simply pack a lunch, a e-book, a sweatshirt — any variety of issues within the high. The highest can even carry digital camera gear as properly. That’s handy and versatile, however watch out to not make this bag too heavy. It’s nice for carrying extra gear, however I wouldn’t pack each crevice stuffed with heavy digital camera gear and a laptop computer repeatedly.
General, the Bellbrook is a pleasure to make use of. However, photographers can have the most effective expertise with crop sensors or smaller our bodies. It’s additionally a bag that’s greatest not overloaded. And there’s no massive opening to see all of the gear without delay.
Conclusions
Likes
It seems nice.There are a number of methods to rearrange gear with the flexibility to make use of the highest or backside.There’s a fast entry facet door on either side, so you’ll be able to set it up to make use of both hand.The again of the bag has good padding and mesh.Lastly, there’s a bag with straps that don’t chafe my pores and skin!It’s snug for carrying a physique and two lenses.
Dislikes
I actually want the underside part had a full zip as an alternative of simply facet doorways to entry all of your gear without delay.Whereas there are a number of methods to make use of the highest, the underside has restricted configurations that aren’t going to snugly maintain each lens.This bag gained’t correctly match bigger full body cameras or pancake lenses very properly.
Few backpacks are designed to suit petite frames — and fewer nonetheless look nice whereas doing it. The Jo Totes Bellbrook is a classy, versatile digital camera bag for smaller kits, and crop sensors or smaller mirrorless cameras specifically. The canvas seems and feels nice, with straps that don’t dig. The leather-based accents and brass clasp present consideration to element. The inside has a number of other ways to be configured and many group choices.
However, whereas the bag is nice for smaller digital camera techniques, I wouldn’t suggest it for bigger full-frame cameras, cameras with built-in battery grips, tiny pancake lenses, or carrying greater than three lenses. (That third lens would additionally have to go on the highest.) The facet entry door is cosy on full-frame cameras and the straps aren’t padded sufficient to overload the bag with heavy gear. If stashed on the underside, pancake lenses are going to have a variety of room to maneuver round. I additionally want there have been a 3rd, bigger opening to the gear compartment, to see the whole lot abruptly.
For packing a number of lenses and a few private objects, the Jo Totes Bellbrook will get the job finished in fashion. It’s an excellent possibility for some, however isn’t an excellent match for cumbersome our bodies or tiny pancake lenses. I’m giving this bag 4 out of 5 stars. Need one? Try Amazon for the itemizing.
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