In the Field With The Shimoda Designs Action v2 50L

[@jaredboazphoto]

Great review Jeff! I love my V1 Action X50 quite a bit. I also see you moved over to the DJI mic, love that thing too. Game changer for video stuff. Great work man!

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

Thanks! I like the Shimoda bags, seems to be built great and well thought out! Yep - My Hollyland mic charging case died - I think the mics are fine, but no real way to charge them, so move to the DJI setup. Really happy with them so far (and actually pack up smaller than my old solution). Might pickup the new DJI Action 4 cam if it goes on sale a the holidays. My GoPro does terrible in the cold and I know the DJI Action 1 cam way outperformed the GoPro during my trip the Rockies this past January.

[@jaredboazphoto]

@@JeffreyTadlockPhotography haha I was just looking at the osmo action 4 too lol. Same boat.

[@robertdoyle8972]

I have this bag on its way now in black and i got the large dslr insert with it because I have a 200-600mm lens and the 70-200mm 2.8 ii

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

That's awesome! It is a great bag, always happy with my Shimoda bags. And yeah, with a 200-600, the large dslr insert will be good choice! Enjoy the bag!

[@robertdoyle8972]

@@JeffreyTadlockPhotography it will be my first Shimoda bag but I’m hoping that it will fit with my Sony A7R V with the battery grip on from what I’ve seen it should work with that

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

I like the extra height of the DSLR cores even though I shoot mirrorless. I can fit my 24-120 in the unit in a vertical position instead of needing to lay it down.

[@mtbboy1993]

I'm sold on this backpack. I'm skeptic about the breathability, but it seems to have all of the features I want. Which ball head is this? Is it good? 4:31 I guess one could go for the black version instead. But the yellow version is to be seen.

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

I really like the Shimoda camera bags, they've been all across the US with me and see a lot of use. It makes an attempt at breathability with the channels in the piece against your back, I don't find it too bad, but I am sure that can vary depending on person. And yeah, I had to go influencer yellow! ;) As for the ball head, it is an Innorel N44. It is actually a great ball head and super affordable. I fellow photographer friend recommended it to me once, and it has performed great! I did a vide on it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZyqnnVjZ6mofrM Thanks for watching!

[@johnrobertsonphotography]

Good in the field review Jeffrey. I noticed you needed to adjust it on your back while walking. As you know, I'm not a fan of the bags....though I agree they are high quality. I will stick with my Osprey, now if I can get them to sponsor me!

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

I am a habitual backpack adjuster - no matter the bag! :D I’m a big fan of the Shimoda stuff - you know that! I will say, all my hiking is more day hike length and not overnighters or longer backpacking trips.

[@peterkumble4093]

Thanks for this review. I just bought the Action V2 40L with the medium ICU that came as part of a starter unit offer. I like the size of the bag, and was hesitant for the 50 just because of its size. I don't haul video, etc. BUT, the medium ICU will not fit my D800 with the 70-200 2.8 attached, which was a big frustration. I can buy a large ICU or return the bag (unused right now) and get the 50L with the large ICU. In your opinion, with the 40L and a large ICU, how much compromise am I making to the top storage space? Would the 50 and L be about the same as the 40 and M ICU for expansion space?

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

If I was buying again, I think I would have gone with a 40L - seems near the perfect size, a little more room than the 35L explore I have, but not quite as bulky as the 50L. So I think good choice on the 40L! As for the core unit size, I can only say how things fit with the 35L explore v2 bag and the 50L action. My initial setup was the 35L and a medium core and small core that I put in the 35L (which works out to be very similar size to a large core unit). That does affect the flex space at the top of the bag. When I put the small unit in (at the top of the medium), I usually put my drone and audio gear up there, sometimes my filters in their pouch - all things I normally would have just tossed in the flex space (the drone would get a small soft shell case if not going in a core unit). So - I really carry the same gear in either configuration, it’s just a more rigid organization system when I use the small and medium core in 35L. (I think I showed this setup in my 6 month review of the Shimoda 35L - I think). For the 50L, I did also get the large core for similar reasons to you considering it - wanting to carry my 100-400 attached to my z7ii. It’s a big core unit and does consume some of that flex space. But the larger core unit lets me organize more things in the core unit and many of the things that go in that flex space just find a home in the core unit - which can be nice. Not sure that helps, happy to answer more questions if I can provide more clarity somewhere. With all that said, I am still a big fan of the bags, I think that 40L is a great choice.

[@peterkumble4093]

Thanks Jeff. I will go back to the shop and really stand the 40 next to the 50 to see how much larger or small one looks next to the other. I don't use a drone so I don't need that additional space but the ability to put the camera away with the bigger lens on it and not to have to swap lens is pushing me to the larger setup.

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

The large core is super handy to keep the camera and larger lens attached while moving from place to place. I think what you’ll end up doing is using part of the large core for things you bring along that would normally have just been tossed in the flex space, but now it is easier to put them in unused spaces in the large core. For example, when I have the larger core in, my battery pouch, little tool kit, maybe rocket blower, all find a home in the core unit instead of being tossed up in the flex space. Good luck - I’d be curious to hear which path you choose!

[@peterkumble4093]

Thanks Jeff. I returned the black Action V2 40 with the medium ICU for a yellow 50 with the large ICU. It fits everything nicely. Yes, it does feel larger than I wanted and the large ICU makes the top and sizes a bit more ridgid - which is a good thing - but I may also get the medium ICU for when I know that I don't need to take a large zoom or tele lens. Sometimes the iphone's simplicity and size makes me ask myself why I need all of the big shit. @@JeffreyTadlockPhotography

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

Glad you found a combination that worked! It is super handy to be able to put a camera body and large lens attached in the ICU. I do use the medium ICU a lot, especially with some of the travel I’ve been doing that has involved flying. And yeah - for some trips it is almost like - maybe I should just leave the camera gear at home and enjoy the freedom of just an iPhone! Good luck with the new setup!

[@davidgray6622]

Thank you for great reviews of both the Explore 35 V2 & the Action 50 V2. I am trying to decide betwee the two myself. It's intersting, at least on paper, the size difference is about 1 inch in height and just a hair wider for the A50. (The A40 sits between and they are all about the same size.) Obviously the roll top adds around 7L but they seem pretty close in over all size otherwise. One other difference is in the strap and back padding material. The E35 has mesh where the A50 does not. The claim is more rugged build on the A50. Just curious... does that seem to be the case? and did you notice any difference in comfort in terms of the coolness of the mesh on the E35 vs the A50? Thank you again for excellent reviews. Very well covered.

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

Glad the review was helpful! The size difference isn't huge, the x50 feels bigger by a bit and when I have them sitting next to each other the X50 does look like the bigger bag. As far as build quality between the two bags go, both seem pretty rugged to me - my 35L sees more use in the Southwest (since I fly there) and it has held up to the rocks and dirt of the desert environment just fine. I don't notice a big difference between the back panels - mesh vs. not. Now that I've had both bags for awhile, I find myself using the Explore 35L v2 when I am going to be flying, I know it fits in the overhead bin and is still able to hold all my stuff. The x50 v2 seems to catch more attention (the yellow doesn't help when I'm trying to not look like I'm carrying a big bag onto the plane!). I love the x50 for my regional spots or when I run workshops as it lets me take some extra food and snacks for folks - the roll top is super nice flex space. *If* I could only own one Shimoda Designs bag and was picking today, I think I'd get the Action x40 v2. It seems near the perfect size, flexibility of the rolltop and I feel like I could fly with it and still have plenty of room on workshops. Hope that helps!

[@davidgray6622]

That helps a ton. Funny thing is the 40 is the one at the top of my short list. Thank you again. Those little details of daily use are very helpful. I'm sure I wouldn't go wrong with any of them, but your first hand use definitely tips the scales. Thanks!

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

Glad it helped! I think the 40L is probably near-the-perfect size.

[@KaushalKathwadia]

Can you use it as a carry on on flights?

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

I think it is a little big to use as a carry-on for flights at 50L myself (I have only flown the US, no International flights - but I suspect they are more strict on bag size). I do have an online acquaintance who has flown with a 50L Action v1 many times, but has been asked to check it once. I was just talking today to a person that has this same bag, but a 40L size. He flew in the US with it as carry-on, no issues. I would be more comfortable with a 40L version of this bag for flying. Currently, if I know I am flying, I use my Explore v2 35L, which I’ve flown with many times as carry-on with no issues. Hope that helps!

[@KaushalKathwadia]

@@JeffreyTadlockPhotography Thank you so much for the response!

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

@@KaushalKathwadia No problem! Hopefully it helps with your decision!