TAMRAC LENS CASES + HASSELBLAD 50C II + BATTERIES IN CASE #MX5341
TAMRAC LENS CASES
LENS CASES:Â MX5341, MX5347, MX5375, MX5378, MX5380, more.
I am pretty set regarding backpacks and gear, and Tamrac makes the best lens cases for my needs.
Over the years, I have learned what works when lugging gear into the landscape. Many bigger and stronger photographers can pack a large backpack and go with it, but not me, as I am a petite female and require a smaller bag.
The Think Tank Retrospective 15 (20-liter) backpack is large enough to carry just what I need and small enough to prevent overpacking. What I need the Retrospective to take is one system.
An example is my Hasselblad three-lens system, which comprises a camera body, a film or digital back, a viewfinder, and various accessories.
Even though the Retrospective 15 has rear access, I prefer to go through the top of the pack to retrieve what I want, and this is where the Tamrac lens cases outdo those of other manufacturers.
HASSELBLAD KIT IN SHIMODA URBAN EXPLORE 20L + TAMRAC LENS CASES
HOW I PACK A BAG
In the photo above, you’re looking at my Hasselblad four-lens kit.
The Tamrac lens case holding my CFi 180 fits snugly in the top compartment of the pack. Below that, the 60mm and 100mm lenses sit on the shelf above the 501CM, which is mounted with the CFE 80, film magazine, and viewfinder. The accessory bag rides in the zippered front pocket.
The pack isn’t too heavy, wears comfortably, and never feels unwieldy.
Regardless of which backpack I use, the first thing I do is remove the manufacturer’s internal dividers. I bag them, seal the bag, and label where they came from. If I ever decide to sell the backpack, the dividers go back in—new and untouched—for the next owner.
I prefer an empty pack, or—like the Shimoda—a simple box-style insert that I can load with gear already protected in its own cases. Something as basic as a handle, like the one on top of the Tamrac lens cases, makes a surprisingly big difference. When I reach into a backpack, I want to grab a handle and lift the case straight out.
I’ve been surprised by how many lens case manufacturers overlook this small but important detail.
TAMRAC MX5431 | DIY DIGITAL BACK CASE
NOT JUST FOR LENSES
Lens cases are not just for lenses. I use lens cases to protect my Fujifilm X-Pro3 and XE2 camera bodies, my ALPA SK 35/5.6 lens, mounted on a square box, which goes into a Tamrac case, and my Linhof Multi-Format Viewfinder.
When I needed a case to fit my Hasselblad digital back and extra batteries for road trips, I considered what Tamrac lens cases had to offer. After I made the modifications (DIY INSTRUCTIONS), I found that the Tamrac MX5431 lens case supports my Hasselblad digital back and batteries very well when it is inserted into my Retrospective pack.
I use an ALPA rear lens cover to fit three batteries into the bottom of the case.
Then I took two Think Tank bag dividers, placed foam board between them, and sewed them together to make a sturdy divider between the digital back and the batteries. It fits securely in the MX5431 and is easily accessible from the backpack via the top handle.
Tamrac offers a generous selection of cases that help me stow my gear how I want.