SHIMODA DESIGNS

Intro

Many camera bags are designed around small mirrorless kits, but carrying medium-format systems like the Hasselblad 907x, Hasselblad 501cm, ALPA technical cameras, or even a 4×5 field camera requires a bit more thought. This page shows how I use several Shimoda bags and backpacks to carry those systems comfortably while traveling and photographing in the field.

In 2025 I began exploring the Shimoda Designs system of camera bags and backpacks. I had already been using a few of their accessory cases for a couple of years, but what finally caught my attention were their backpacks designed specifically for women photographers.

Top Loader Large

Before getting to the women’s backpack I chose, the opening image above shows the Shimoda Top Loader (Large) and what it carries. Besides using it in the landscape, it’s also perfect when I’m wandering small towns with my handheld 907x kit. It carries the 907x mounted on a Kirk small bracket with a SmallRig grip, along with the 28P, 45P, and 75P lenses, three batteries, a Peak strap, and a Hoodman loupe. The camera grip is broken down when stored in the bag.

Top Loader Medium

Shown above is the Shimoda Top Loader (Medium) and what it can carry for me. There are times when I want to photograph with my Hasselblad 501cm film kit but prefer not to carry more than two or three lenses. This is where the Medium Top Loader works well.

Without using the bottom extension, I can comfortably carry the 501cm body with the waist-level finder, the PME5 metered prism, and two lenses. Typically that might be the 80mm on the camera with the 180mm alongside it, or the 100mm on the camera with the 60mm in the bag. In practice, it’s an easy way to carry a normal-to-short telephoto combination with one additional lens.

If I want to carry more than two lenses, the bottom extension can be unzipped to create additional space for another lens or two.

Shimoda Explore 25 Women’s V2

Being a petite photographer, I’m always on the lookout for a backpack that actually fits. I have long legs and a short torso, which means most backpacks designed around the average male build end up sitting somewhere between my shoulders and my kidneys. And let’s just say many backpack straps seem designed with absolutely no thought given to women.

Shimoda offers a women’s line with shoulder straps shaped for the female form, which immediately caught my attention.

In 2025 I picked up the Shimoda Explore 25 Women’s V2 to see what all the fuss was about. Ladies, I can recommend it. The straps adjust well, and the pack finally fits my torso properly. I keep the harness set to the small “S” position so the pack rests comfortably on my hips. Once dialed in, it carries my ALPA kit beautifully when I’m hiking the marshes and wetlands I love photographing.

When exploring the landscape I usually carry a simple two-lens kit: a wide angle and a normal-to-short telephoto. In the image above you can see my ALPA STC kit with the SK 35 and 72 Digitar lenses along with the Hasselblad CFV II 50c digital back.

The lenses are stored in a Stone Photo Gear lens case, which fits snugly inside the Shimoda insert. I prefer SPG lens cases over lens wraps—they’ve proven durable over the years and adapt easily to whatever backpack I’m using.

The digital back and its three batteries are stored in a case I customized for my digital backs a few years ago (link to that article). The case fits neatly into the top pouch of the Explore 25.

The Explore 25 carries everything I need and still leaves room for small personal items like keys, a phone, or a wallet.

Overall, the size, fit, and weight work very well for me, and I can comfortably recommend the Explore 25 Women’s V2 for female photographers looking for a properly fitting field backpack.

Shimoda Urban Explorer 20L

The second Shimoda backpack I added was the Urban Explorer 20L, which I mainly use when exploring with my scooter. It comfortably holds my Hasselblad 501cm four lens film kit or a favorite 4×5/6×12 film kit—the Cambo Wide 580 and its accessories.

When I head out into the 35+ mile national wildlife refuge, the Urban Explorer rides in the center basket of the scooter, while the large Shimoda Top Loader sits in the rear basket carrying my 907x 50c three-lens kit. Yes… it starts to resemble a small traveling camera shop, but it works.

Overall, moving to Shimoda bags and backpacks has been a very good fit for how I travel and photograph these days.