K i t Z o n e
128 DIGITAL CAMERA^ JUNE 2019 http://www.digitalcameraworld.comMini Test
Manfrotto Pro Light
Reloader Switch-55
£349/$390
http://www.manfrotto.co.ukA
t first glance, this looks like a typical
roller bag. Its external 55 x 36 x 23cm
dimensions meet most airline cabin
baggage requirements, and this translates to an
equally practical 47 x 32 x 18cm interior – enough
for a decent selection of full-frame cameras and
lenses. A large, top-loading slot on the front
panel can accommodate a 17-inch laptop.
The Reloader Switch-55 is also beautifully made
and feels reassuringly rugged. Its internal skeleton
resists hard knocks and abuse, while generously
thick internal padding cossets your gear.
The standout feature of this bag is that it can
also be worn as a backpack. Discreetly stowed in
a concealed front pocket are two wide shoulder
straps. The conversion isn’t the quickest, but
the end result is surprisingly comfortable.PROS Great quality; practical size;
genuinely useful backpack conversionCONS Serious price; backpack
conversion is a little slowVerdict
Lowepro PhotoStream
RL 150
£149/$200
http://www.photoworld.comL
owepro’s entry has been designed
with cabin baggage in mind. Its exterior
56 x 38 x 19cm dimensions should fit
within even the strictest carry-on limits – and at
a featherweight 3.63kg, you’ve got plenty of gear
headroom before you hit airline weight limits.
Yet the RL 150 isn’t a fragile, paper-thin shell
of a bag. The exterior is pleasingly solid, and the
handle feels perfectly adequate. Interior padding
isn’t the thickest, though, and the internal lining
of the back panel is just a piece of plastic covered
in soft fabric. It’s likely designed this way
to increase the shallow internal depth,
but we’d prefer better gear protection.
Aside from the restrictive 16cm internal depth,
the interior is a practical size, and there’s a slot
inside the front flap for a 15-inch laptop.PROS Extremely flight-friendly; surprisingly
tough exterior; tempting price tagCONS Pared-down internal padding; shallow
depth necessitates some clever packingVerdict
Calumet RC1188
Rolling Camera Case
£169/$219
http://www.wexphotovideo.comT
his may be one of the cheaper options
here, but the RC1188 feels impressively
rugged. You get reinforced outer
corners, rigid sides and plenty of scuff protection
underneath. However, all this toughness adds up
to 6.5kg, making this the heaviest case on test, so
you’ll have to pack light to stay within the strictest
carry-on weight limits. The bag’s 25cm thickness
could also be problematic at some check-in desks.
Inside, the padding and dividers are adequate,
if not as impressive as the exterior. A 30cm
internal width is marginally narrower than some
bags on test, making it a tight squeeze to fit
fast full-frame lenses alongside each other.
Calumet claws back ground with extra features.
The entire padded interior can be lifted out, and
the front flap will expand by a whopping 19cm,
effectively doubling the capacity of the bag.PROS Feature-packed; keenly priced; well-madeCONS Weight and size make it problematic as
cabin luggage; tight inside for some lensesVerdict
Roller bags
Fed up with back-breaking backpacks or shoulder
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