Shimoda Explore 40 Review

December 24, 2019

The search for the perfect camera bag is, it seems, never ending and many of us switch from one brand to another in the quest to satisfy our individual needs. However, that is precisely the nub of the issue because the first point to consider when selecting a bag is what specifically do you want it for. Be clear on this and don’t be tempted to compromise and you’re half way there.

As a Travel & Landscape photographer I typically select from two types of bags, shoulder bags and backpacks. The shoulder bag is perfect when I want to take limited gear and have it easily accessible. However, for more considered landscape shooting, especially when walking distances, a backpack is the only way to go. But even that choice is not straightforward because a gentle stroll from the car on a decent day is one thing but a longer walk into the hills, or when conditions are changeable or less than perfect, requires a different approach. For landscapers, there are some excellent backpacks that are extremely good at carrying camera gear, however when wanting to include essential extras such as waterproofs, warm jacket, food and drink many of these bags are found wanting.

What was I looking for?

My quest therefore was to find a quality bag that would hit all the functional buttons, carry my camera gear but also have enough space for those vital extras. Although many bags will claim to have space for non-photographic items, in truth that space is usually very limited.

So this was my criteria :

· Carry the gear (photo & non-photo)

· Comfortable to carry long distances over varied terrain.

· Quality materials and construction

· Weatherproof

· Easy access

· Ability to carry my tripod

· Ability to carry a 13” macbook

Who are Shimoda?

After much research my attention was grabbed by the Explore bag from a company called Shimoda Designs, distributed in the UK by the MAC Group who also sell the Benro range of products.

Shimoda Designs is an adventure camera bag company founded by Ian Millar, a lifelong explorer, snowboarder and product designer known for developing some of the most innovative camera bags in the world - Ian was previously chief designer for Fstop bags. Shimoda is a fairly new venture which draws on Ian’s experiences and utilizes the most advanced materials and technologies available to satisfy the needs of outdoor adventure photographers.

The Shimoda Explore Range

The Explore range comprises three sizes of pack, 30, 40 and 60 litre, which are designed to carry photography gear in a modular camera unit system but critically also have sufficient additional space to carry those essential non photographic items. So, there is a modular, customisable bag to suit your needs whether that be for a one, two or several day adventure. All three sizes of pack are available in two colours, Blue Nights and Sea Pine, a green colour.

I contacted the MAC Group asking if I could test and review the bag. I went down to meet with the team and they agreed to my request. I have not received any money for this review, my comments are my own and have not been influenced by the company in any way.

I chose to test the 40 litre Explore as it was only marginally bigger than the 30 litre and I wanted to ensure it would hold enough of my “other gear” and therefore be different to other bags I have owned.

How did I find it?

I have used this bag for around six weeks in the Lake District, Peak District and closer to home. It’s been subjected to pouring rain, high winds and freezing conditions all of which it has taken in its stride, performing superbly.

The first thing that struck me was the quality and robust feel of the bag. The nylon shell is resin coated making it extremely weather resistant and easy to wipe clean. The heavy duty YKK zips are waterproof with rather nice leather zip pulls which move freely and can be operated one handed with gloves. In addition to the straps there are two grab handles positioned at the top and side of the bag for easy handling especially when using overhead lockers or luggage shelves.

The Shimoda Explore bags are designed to open from the back (and the side when using certain camera units), aiding security and keeping your back clean. However, this design is different to most others as the flap unzips to the side (like a book) rather than being “hinged” at the bottom. The inside of this flap also features a pouch to store your laptop, a 13” in the case of the 40 litre. The bag is a modular design with camera equipment stored in units of varying sizes (purchased separately) according to your needs. This is a very good system and I particularly liked the fact that the Shimoda units offer very good protection without being over padded and bulky. Each unit comes in a zipped nylon cover which can be carried separately. I chose the Medium Mirrorless Unit which was perfect for my Fujifilm equipment but you can choose larger units or combine a Medium with a smaller unit for example to add a drone. I really like this flexibility and of course the less camera space you need means more space for other items such as jackets, waterproofs, food etc.

The bag itself has 3 main compartments and one side pouch – more of that in a moment. The main section is where the camera unit is placed, the space above used for other personal items. At the front, there is a large pouch that runs the length of the bag and is great for waterproofs which are kept away from the main compartment containing camera gear. The inclusion of drain holes at the base of the pocket is an example of the thought that has gone into the design. This pouch also contains a elasticated sleeve for separating items or for placing a water bladder – there is also a routing system through the bag for a hose. On the top of the bag is a smaller lid pouch which is lined with soft fabric, ideal for anything you need to protect or grab quickly such as glasses or goggles, a head torch, hat, gloves, snacks etc and within this pouch there are two small zipped pockets great for keeping keys, business cards or credit cards safe.

The sides of the bag are designed for two purposes. One side features a zip opening which allows easy access when using the small camera units. The other side has a zipped pocket which opens to reveal a large pouch into which your tripod is placed, head down, and then secured with side straps. This is a neat way of carrying your tripod and the pouch is large enough to take the biggest pro ball heads. Of course, if you wish this pouch can be used for other purposes too and the pouch pocket is removable when it can then be attached to the shoulder strap to hold the camera and lens so it’s immediately available when required. I never did this but I guess it’s a useful option to have.

Once we’ve filled our bag one of the most important considerations is comfort when carrying a fairly heavy load. I can honestly say that this bag is the most comfortable I have ever used. Although the wide, shaped, straps are not too thickly padded they are very comfortable and the bag can be tailored to individual’s torso with an adjustable harness with four height options. This adjustable harness with its bear hug-like fit makes sure the pack’s weight doesn’t put pressure on your shoulders and is instead distributed to your hips and front torso. Additionally, the rear panel lets air flow between your back and the pack to reduce discomfort from sweating. The shoulder and waist straps feature little pockets and stuff pouches for holding essentials such as a small phone, snacks etc. I should also point out that Shimoda offer specific straps tailored to fit the female form providing even more comfort.

Although the bag is weather resistant Shimoda also offer a waterproof rain cover for ultimate protection. The cover is also well designed with holes to fit the waist strap through securing it and ensuring a perfect fit to keep the rain out.

Although the camera units effectively store your main camera gear there are lots of bits of equipment that we carry that need storing efficiently. Shimoda offer a range of pouches in different sizes to do just this. Again, they are excellent quality and the clam shell design with see through window and internal zipped pockets work really well.

All sweetness & light?

Whilst overall I am really impressed with the bag there are a few little niggles or changes I would like to see.

Although the Shimoda Explore 40L complies with most airline carry on size regulations the pack is 57cm tall which means that it is 2cm taller than the Ryanair carry on limit. Now, whilst I’m sure in most cases you would get away with this you need to bear in mind that you may encounter an overzealous attendant and be asked to check this into the hold. I guess the good news is that in these circumstances you can simply remove your camera ICU and carry that onto the plane without leaving your expensive gear to the whims of the baggage handlers! Of course, you could buy the 30L pack but that means that you wouldn’t have as much space for non-photographic items, I guess it’s a choice.

The concept of the bag is easy access even whilst wearing and though this can be achieved using the small camera units allowing side access, it’s not easy to open the back panel by releasing the shoulder straps, spinning around on your waist and unzipping which is very useful when on the beach. Since the flap opens to the left rather than at the bottom this means that the zip needs to run right round the base of the pack which it simply didn’t do whilst wearing it, my clothing got in the way. Other packs I have used, that were “hinged” at the bottom, were much better for this.

For my use, rather than have the side access option I would have much preferred to have had an elasticated external pouch here to hold a water bottle. You could use the pouch on the other side of the bag although that presumes you’re not already using that to carry your tripod plus the pouch is not really designed for this due to its size.

Yes, that pouch is pretty big! I understand that it has probably been designed to carry the largest tripods but I’m using a 3 series Gitzo Systematic with an Arca Swiss PO Head, not the smallest combination, but the pouch is really too big for this set up. I guess it’s a difficult call and it’s obviously better to be too big than too small.

I like the idea of having little pockets and pouches on the shoulder and waist straps though in practice these are pretty small and will not accommodate the latest larger size mobile phones. My iPhone XR just about fits into the elasticated pouch on one of the front straps. So, nice idea Shimoda but I’m not sure how practical they really are.

My Gear

Ultimately my gear will flex from trip to trip, I guess that’s not a problem when you buy into a modular design system. However, in most situations I would carry the following, most of which fits easily into the Medium Mirrorless Unit:

· Fuji XT3 body

· XF10-24 f4

· XF16-55 f2.8

· XF50-140 f2.8

· 1.4x TC

· Filters

· Batteries

· SD Cards

· Cleaning cloth, lens wipes

· Head Torch

· Cable release

· Multi Tool

As for non-photographic items I would typically carry a jacket or spare top, perhaps waterproofs, hat, gloves, small first aid kit, emergency blanket, food, snacks and some water. All of this fits into the Explore 40.

The Price

Good things are never cheap but there’s a difference between expensive and value for money and the Shimoda scores highly here and is not out of line with its competitive set.

The current prices for the combination I have are as follows:

· Explore 40 bag £250

· Medium Mirrorless Unit £80

· Rain Cover £8

· Medium Pouch £30

Note: Core Units must be purchased separately OR in one of the Explore Kits.

Verdict

Overall, this is a superb bag. When I look back at my specific needs the Shimoda Explore fits most of them perfectly. The quality and construction is excellent, the bag is supremely comfortable and critically it carries both my camera gear in a flexible way, with easy access, plus my non-photographic items. It will cope with most weather conditions really well and is designed as a true adventure pack. For a pack this size its weight of 1.3kg is also pretty impressive. True, it’s not the cheapest bag out there but you get what you pay for and if you want a top-quality bag that performs superbly and will last for years, you need look no further. It was a joy to use and is Highly Recommended.

Dimensions (external)

Width 29cm

Height 57cm

Depth 26cm

Weight 1.3kg

Price & Availability

Prices as above, All Shimoda products come with a 5-year warranty. Here is a link to the Shimoda website for more information.

In the UK Dale Photographic, in Leeds, stock the range of Shimoda products and offer excellent advice should you require it.

Wotancraft Trooper : Where Style Meets Function!

November 24, 2019

A camera bag is a camera bag isn’t it? It’s there to do a job, simple! Well the reality is that things actually aren’t quite that simple. Believe me I’ve had more bags than hot dinners over the years and I guess I’m no different to many other photographers, that’s evident by the number of manufacturers and the amount of models that are churned out every year. But when I came across the Wotancraft Trooper I was intrigued, here’s what I found.

Who is Wotancraft?

So who is Wotancraft and what exactly is the Trooper? Wotancraft are a Taiwanese company founded in 2009 who set about manufacturing a range of camera bags along vintage military aesthetics inspired by the ethos of the Swiss Army knife. Incidentally Wotan was the Chinese God of War and the company’s principles were to use the best quality materials and reliable craftsmanship in the production of their handmade bags. Wotancraft have since developed their range to include shoulder bags, backpacks, slings and pouches and the Trooper is a one of their Shoulder bags.

A bit about me

Before I get into the detail let me give you a little background. In my work as a photographer my bag needs are different according to the genre I’m shooting. When working on Landscapes I will use a backpack because not only does the bag need to hold my camera gear but I also need to carry varying amounts of other personal and safety gear, often walking over long distances. Taking photographs is a little more considered and most often includes the use of a tripod so the whole process is deliberately quite slow. However, when shooting travel and social documentary I will be using less gear, probably lighter and with less reliance on using a tripod. Here I need quick and easy access to my gear whilst keeping it as safe as possible. In these situations, I prefer to use a shoulder bag. I shoot with the Fujifilm X Series cameras and lenses, typically with a range of zoom lenses but I do sometimes use primes which are ideal for stealthy street shooting.

What do I need from a camera (shoulder) bag?

When looking at the criteria that I set for my bags it splits into two, what I must have and what I would like.

The first requirement is that the bag must be able to hold the camera(s) and lenses plus all the range of accessories that I need on my shoots. As this can change according to the job I need a bag that can offer flexible layout options including the ability to accommodate a laptop and it must be easy to access the contents. The bag needs to protect my equipment, and whilst I admit to taking care of my gear, I hate bags that are over-padded and as a result are bulky and heavy. It must be comfortable to carry as, although I’m using the relatively small Fujifilm equipment, a body and three lenses are still not feather light when walking around a city for a day. In particular, the strap needs to be wide and have a well designed pad for shoulder protection. The material needs to be quality, preferably water resistant and it really helps if the bag doesn’t look like a camera bag avoiding the risk of attracting “undesirables” who might want a share of my gear! Although it’s a camera bag wouldn’t it be great if it could have a bit of style, perhaps useable for other things and be a bit of a head turner or conversation starter. Oh, don’t let’s forget, it needs to offer value for money, notice I didn’t say cheap – good things don’t come cheap but if I could achieve all of the above there is a price that’s worth paying.

Me and the Trooper

I have to admit I hadn’t heard of Wotancaft until recently but then I found a few mentions on Social Media and, intrigued, I dug a little deeper and researched the company and the products. I was impressed with what I saw. The Trooper looked like a bag that matched my needs, so I reached out to them and asked if they could provide a bag for me to test and review.

The Disclaimer!

Wotancraft have provided the bag for review, they haven’t paid me anything nor have they influenced my thoughts and comments.

So How did I find it?

They say first impressions count and when I took the bag out of its protective cotton dust sleeve I wasn’t disappointed. What struck me first was that the material wasn’t as shiny or as distinctly camouflage effect as I had seen in the photographs. The olive green fabric, with tan leather trim, didn’t feel like waxed cotton nor did it feel like nylon but it felt robust and lightweight. Indeed, the whole bag was lighter than other similar sized bags I have owned. In fact the bag is actually made from a 500D Cordura based fabric that is water resistant, tough, abrasion resistant and lightweight. The leather trim, vegetable tanned cowhide leather, on the straps and on the base of the bag was quality too and the whole design was very stylish and upmarket.

The shoulder pad provided was wide and well padded with latex, good enough to offer protection when carrying for a period of time. There is an elasticated expandable pocket to the front and a smaller pocket within that, ideal for carrying a wallet or phone. These pockets are hidden when the top flap is down in its normal position. At the side of the bag there are two concealed zip pockets that would easily accommodate a small lens or small water bottle, very useful. On the top of the bag there is a grab handle, again appropriately padded, and there is a zipped pocket for documents or passport, my ipad fits in there nicely too. The bag also features a luggage handle slot to place over the handle of your suitcase. The leather straps on the front flap aren’t there just for style, you could carry a thin jacket or small tripod here if you wished and though the leather was fairly shiny and new I’m sure it would soon bed in and adopt that worn, characterful look. The zinc alloy and brass strap clasps and loops together with bronze, rustproofed, YKK zippers seemed very robust and heavy duty, I would have no concerns over its ability to hold my gear safely. Overall I was very impressed with the external look and feel of the Trooper.

Let’s take a look now at the inside and this brings me to another big positive, its sheer versatility. Although you may be buying this bag with the intention of using it to hold your camera gear it can also be used as a briefcase for the office or as a general day bag to hold a variety of things according to your needs. However, I wanted it as a camera bag so the next surprise came when I opened the bag as I was presented with a range of dividers and “interior modules” designed to hold gear and offer a flexible way of laying out the bag. These holders have a special type of short hook Velcro which sticks to the inside of the bag so you can arrange them as you wish and you can change that layout if your needs change. I know some photographers have a bag into which they dump their cameras and lenses which rapidly take on a few scrapes and scratches, an appealing look to some. If you’re one of those then the ability to do just that but still have some pouches or holders to securely hold batteries, SD cards and other accessories fixed to the side of the bag would be a real benefit. For me, I’m looking at protecting my gear with the range of dividers that were provided. I found these to be very good not only in terms of their ability to protect the equipment without being too padded but also their flexibility to be able to fold the tops over creating two tiers, or a shelf onto which more gear could be placed. In terms of protection the bag is lined with a wonderfully soft medical grade micro fibre which feels really good. I found this Medium sized bag to be deceptively spacious, it was bigger than it looked from the outside and certainly had the ability to hold more gear than I needed it to.

I mentioned earlier that I also would find it useful to be able to carry a laptop, well the Medium bag can accommodate a 13” macbook and a large divider is provided that sits within the bag along the length of it and the lens dividers then fix between that and the other side of the bag with this very effective Velcro type material.

The bag itself was fairly deep and would easily accommodate a 70-200 f2.8 lens vertically. The top flap of the bag features a “sea shell” design, a round opening that closes neatly without folds or creases. Two sets of magnets in the fabric to the left and right hand side of the bag ensure that the top flap is held in place without the need to use the leather straps, a great security measure which works really well - it would be difficult not to notice someone trying to access your bag. The contents of the bag are also protected from the elements by the design of the bag folding over in the corners so there can be no ingress of rain or snow.

Click on the images for full size and scroll through

What does it hold?

This is the gear I put in the bag, though it would hold more.

Fujifilm XT3

XF10-24

XF18-55 or XF16-55

XF55-200 (it could take the XF50-140)

Batteries

SD Cards

Cleaning Cloths and brushes

Filters

Phone & iPad Mini

Please note for non Fujifilm users, a full frame DSLR and three lenses would fit easily into this bag.

My Wishlist

Although the Trooper is a very, very good bag there were some niggles or things that I would like to see, though this is of course unique to me and my style of shooting. The “sea shell” design which sees the bag folds inwards at the top is good for keeping the elements out but I did find it a little restricting in terms of accessing my gear. On the whole though I think the feature is good.

Whilst one of the main benefits of the bag is its versatility my needs are for a layout to be used for camera gear and to have the option of carrying a laptop. Although this can be achieved by fitting the large divider I found that switching between the two layouts with the Velcro sticking to whatever bits of the bag it could, like a limpet to a rock, was a little frustrating. It’s not a bag that I would want to be changing the layout every five minutes. I would have preferred a bigger zipped pocket on the outside at the back of the bag to take my laptop.

The bag is deep and easily accommodated my XT3 body and three zoom lenses, in fact there was some room to spare either side of the body – I used the folded dividers either side with the body and lens down resting on the dividers. I guess it’s better to have some spare space but it did seem a bit of a waste. I probably just need to spend a bit more time re-configuring the bag.

The gusseted, zipped side pockets were a nice touch and could hold a small lens, cable release, tools etc but it will only hold a small, 300ml, water bottle. It would have been nice if a more standard 500ml bottle fit or one of them was an expandable mesh pouch.

Value for Money

The Trooper Medium sells for $249 or c£200 which means it’s certainly not the cheapest bag though it’s not out of line with other similar style handmade bags. But the versatility, quality and design features, mean that this bag definitely represents good value for money and how do you put a price on one of the most stylish bags you can buy?!

In Summary

The Wotancraft Trooper is an excellent bag. It’s versatile, functional, tough, really well made and very stylish. When I assess its performance against the criteria I’m looking for and against similar competitor bags it scores very highly. The quality of the material and craftsmanship stands out, the bag can be configured for different purposes and, as a camera bag, it easily holds the gear I want it to. The various little design features only really become evident as you use the bag but they are innovative and very useful. There are only a few things that I would change and whilst the price might be a barrier for some, for those who are prepared to invest this sort of money for a bag you certainly get value for money and you’ll look the part too!

I have no hesitation in recommending this bag.

Specifications (Medium size)

 Dimensions (W x D x H)

 Interior: 33.5 x 12 x 25 cm

 Exterior: 38 x 15 x 26 cm

 Front pocket: 14 x 17 cm

 Front slot: 14 x 18 cm

 Back pocket: 31 x 20 cm

 Left & Right side pocket access: 18 cm

 weight ± 1.30 kg

Material

 Vegetable tanned cowhide leather

 W.A.L waxed canvas (Cordura © 500D based)

 Medical grade micro-fiber lining

 Zinc alloy & brass hardware, with vintage finish

 Bronze YKK Zippers with rustproof coating

 High-density EVA foam padding (for bag & dividers)

 Latex foam padding (for shoulder pad)

Package includes

 Main bag x1

 Laptop/iPad divider x1

 Dividers, large x2

 Dividers, small x2

 Detachable shoulder strap x1

 Detachable shoulder pad x1

 Cotton dust-proof bag x1

Price & Availability

The Trooper is available in a range of sizes XL, L, M, S , XS (mine was the M size)

The Medium bag retails at $249 and is available directly from Wotancraft

Shipping is Free and there is a 7 day Return & Refund policy – see website for more details.

Alternatively, in EU, the bag is available from Vintage 217 at a cost of €242.95 including P&P. They offer a 14 day return policy.

Other Retail partners around the world are detailed on their website.

Capture Autumn Splendour with your Fujifilm camera

October 20, 2019

After a few summer months of long, warm days and harsh sun, we are longing for misty mornings, low-raking light, and sunrise and sunset at sensible times of day! For many photographers – especially landscapers – autumn is simply the best time of year. Our woods and fells are transformed into a riot of rich, warm colour and with the addition of a tumbling stream or lake, you have a recipe for magic. Here are some tips and tricks on how to use your FUJIFILM cameras and lenses to make the most of this captivating season in your photography.

Click the image to take you to my blog on the Fujifilm X Photographers website

Fujifilm XF16-80mm f4

September 2, 2019

I was delighted to be asked by Fujifilm UK to test this lens pre production. Here is the video shot in the summer in the Cotswolds, UK.

My review is in the post below.

NEW Fujifilm XF16-80mm : Have lens will Travel!

July 18, 2019

I was honoured to be asked by Fujifilm to recently test a pre production version of this lens. In truth I’m not sure whether it was because of my credentials as a Travel Photographer or simply the fact that I have been pestering them to introduce such a lens for the past few years! Anyhow, here is my review and some images shot with the lens on a beautiful summers day in the Cotswolds.

There is no subject guaranteed to prompt more discussion than the question of “what’s in my bag” and perhaps none more so than in the world of travel photography.

With weight being a critical factor it means that our lens selection comes under rigorous scrutiny. If only there was a small, lightweight, all round Fujinon lens capable of capturing the majority of shots. Well now there is, enter the new XF16-80 f4.

As a travel photographer I had waited impatiently for this lens and was delighted to be asked to put this lens through its paces.

This super versatile lens covers an excellent focal range from 24mm to 120mm in 35mm format equivalent. Whether you are shooting stills or video this range has you covered. Great for shooting landscapes, architecture, street, portraiture and more.

My first impressions were very positive, impressed by the small size and light weight (440g) of this lens, reassuringly well built and, with its metal body, feeling typically robust. It sits on the XT3 perfectly.

Comparing the size to other XF lenses the 16-80 fits in between the XF18-55 and XF16-55 and features a 72mm filter thread. If you use the smaller filter systems they fit very well with this lens though I found there was some vignetting when using the front mounted polarising filter (on my 2 slot holder) between 16-21mm.

A constant f4 aperture means that whatever focal length you choose the lens will let in lots of light up to its widest aperture of f4. The aperture ring features 1/3 stop clicked increments and the focusing ring rotated very smoothly.

Hugely impressive 6 stops of Optical Image Stabilisation means that you can hand hold at lower shutter speeds without needing to resort to a tripod, great for shooting indoors, at twilight or for those many places where tripods are banned.

The closest focusing distance is only 35cm across the entire zoom range, perfect for achieving those dreamy backgrounds.

You needn’t worry about “rain stopping play” either as the comprehensive weather sealing means you’ll not miss a shot when you’re caught in a shower. When combined with the XT3 you have the perfect kit for outdoor shooting.

Of course all the benefits of such a lens mean nothing if the Image Quality doesn’t stack up. However you needn’t worry as I found the quality to be similar to the excellent XF18-55. On my pre production model, the images were impressively sharp between f5.6 and 16 at most focal lengths. Performance at 80mm was good especially at f5.6 and f8. There was some slight darkening in the corners at 16mm but nothing that concerned me and is easily removed in post processing, though I normally add some slight dark vignette anyway! At f4 the bokeh was smooth and very pleasing especially when zoomed to 80mm where it compared closely to my XF16-55 at 55mm and f2.8. The lens also displayed impressive distortion control when shooting architecture at wider focal lengths due to its Aspherical design. The Super EBC coating designed to significantly reduce flare and ghosting worked well even when shooting directly into the sun.

I was initially surprised and disappointed that there was no switch on the lens to activate and deactivate the OIS thinking I would constantly have to dive into the menus, or reassign a button, however Fujifilm beat me to it. This lens knows when it’s on a tripod and automatically switches off the OIS, how neat is that?!

My only slight gripe is that the lens is not internal focusing meaning that as you zoom from wide to telephoto the barrel extends but this is certainly not a deal breaker and it’s probably a measure of how good the lens is for me to nitpick this point.

Of course the XF16-80 isn’t your only choice for a travel lens. Options would be the superb XF18-55, the XF18-135 which for me both fall short with their more limited wider focal length or the stunning XF16-55 f2.8 which is larger, heavier and offers no image stabilisation.

So what’s my verdict? This lens ticks all the boxes for a great, versatile, travel lens delivering quality images. It certainly means that decision of which lenses to pack is suddenly made a whole lot easier.