Thanks Mark, I just bought one of these. I have the 9L new city explorer / scout daily and it is a tough bag but a bit heavy when loaded with gear. I'm shocked you get all your camera gear and clothes into these two bags. India is a hot and sweaty country, you must love doing laundry :P
Thanks for the detailed review! Wondering if you've ever tried attaching the Pilot Messenger bag to the bottom or front of the Pilot backpack?... (in case you need hands/shoulders free to carry something else). Thanks!
Thanks for the detailed review Mark. Would the side access pockets hold the following - A7RV attached with 24-70 2.8 GM II, Sony 16-35 f/4 pz and the 70-200mm 2.8 GM II ? I would consider 1-2 primes at the top section or some clothing depending on the trip.
If you mean inside the bag then yes. If you mean the pockets on the outside (that would normally take the water bottle or feet of the tripod) then they will take smaller lenses or the half the barrel of a telephoto zoom with the tripod foot removed. I may 'park' a lens here temporarily, while working, but will not travel with valuable items stored in these outside pockets. There is a purchase link in the Info section below this video for additional size specifications
@@AlphaCreativeSkills thank you for the quick response, really appreciate it. Yes I meant inside the bag. Would you find it comfortable carrying it during travel/transit and around town with this kind of loadout ?
Thanks for the review Mark. I also use a 7L as my daily bag and considering add this 18L for a trip to China. As my gear are rangefinder and quite compact lenses, I might only use a small section of it for cameras. I like the flexibility that it can be accessed from both sides and top and that the top and bottom sections are not permanently separated like my Lowepro. My question is that would you use this bag for full day city trips for 2 weeks - if you have two kids with you in the trip and don't know what strange things you would have to carry...
I mainly use the Pilot 7L as my camera bag but would use either this bag or my Lightening Rider 12L as my larger carry-on bag. A larger messenger bag is not as comfortable as a backpack so the decision might be influenced by how much walking you intend doing with the larger bag.
Hi Mark Thank you for the review love your knowledge and technical help with Sony over the years and now I see we have the same love for bags. 2 questions 1- does the a7r with 100-400 attached fit in one of the side access for quick access? (not across both sides) 2-Do you remove the top insert with camera and lenses and insert into the 7L pilot?
I can fit an A1 with FE 400 F2.8 GM attached vertically into this bag or an A1 with 100-400 GM attached sideways and accessed from either side. The video shows me removing the top insert and placing it into a Pilot 7L messenger bag.
Have you had a chance to look at the New City Explorer commander Travel Camera Backpack 21L? That style really appeals to me, but I don't know how practical it is.
The Strap attached to the Fidlock buckle is adjustable so you can stuff the top insert so that gear extends above the height of the insert. At some point this will eventually compromise the bag to inclement weather.
Hello Mark, thank you very much for the very interesting product review. Do you think the backpack is suitable for a Uganda trip to the rainforest? And does the Sony lens SEL200-600 fit in the backpack? Best thanks in advance. Kind regards, Adi.
Haven’t tried the 200-600 in the Pilot18 as it is designed to have a top section. You would have to remove the removable top section to lower the lens vertically with camera attached. A 100-400 will fit across the width of the lower section with the camera attached.
i put the top section a little bit lower and it fit m,y 200-600 sony lens, in the lower part is still enough room for a 7riv with 200mm . if you want the 600 attached i would remove the top section and and put some deviders in there. its comes with some devider so no need to order more. Overall is enough space there for camera gear on a trip.
I was using a pre-production model. At this time Wotancraft had decided not to wax the Black version but were in two minds about the Khaki version. Check on their website (links in info section below the video) to see what they finally decided about their Khaki version.
It seems both the side entrances and the top flap are design to potentially hold cameras or lenses. Which area is best suited for camera gear versus carrying clothes and other non-camera gear?
I think the Pilot series is primarily targeted towards photographers, but as all the top insert and dividers are removable or adjustable, that allows many options as to how to store any gear + additional expander bags can quickly be attached and detached if the bag still needs to conform to the airline carry-on dimensions.
If you need quick access to a lens or camera+lens I would store it in a side compartment or move the camera insert to a messenger bag (as I outlined in the video).
The makers of Teflon would disagree with you on this one. They argue that more durable products equals less waste and less landfill- www.teflon.com/en/industries-and-solutions/solutions/consumer-applications/textile-finishes/how-ecoelite-works/sustainability
Thanks Mark, I just bought one of these. I have the 9L new city explorer / scout daily and it is a tough bag but a bit heavy when loaded with gear. I'm shocked you get all your camera gear and clothes into these two bags. India is a hot and sweaty country, you must love doing laundry :P
Winter in Rajasthan is not very warm …and I would prefer to wash a few clothes rather than check luggage.
Forget the bag, I’m mesmerized by your Bali photos. Well done!
Here is 4-minutes of Bali photos 👍 Bali - Sony Alpha 6700
ruclips.net/video/MQ1MotXZ_0I/видео.html
@@AlphaCreativeSkillsabsolutely brilliant thank you
Thanks for the detailed review! Wondering if you've ever tried attaching the Pilot Messenger bag to the bottom or front of the Pilot backpack?... (in case you need hands/shoulders free to carry something else). Thanks!
Only when moving between locations
I was wondering the same think. Mark, how did you attach?
Thanks for the detailed review Mark.
Would the side access pockets hold the following - A7RV attached with 24-70 2.8 GM II, Sony 16-35 f/4 pz and the 70-200mm 2.8 GM II ?
I would consider 1-2 primes at the top section or some clothing depending on the trip.
If you mean inside the bag then yes. If you mean the pockets on the outside (that would normally take the water bottle or feet of the tripod) then they will take smaller lenses or the half the barrel of a telephoto zoom with the tripod foot removed. I may 'park' a lens here temporarily, while working, but will not travel with valuable items stored in these outside pockets. There is a purchase link in the Info section below this video for additional size specifications
@@AlphaCreativeSkills thank you for the quick response, really appreciate it.
Yes I meant inside the bag. Would you find it comfortable carrying it during travel/transit and around town with this kind of loadout ?
It’s very comfortable for travel but I prefer to use the Pilot messenger bags for daily shoots for ease of access.
Thanks for the review Mark. I also use a 7L as my daily bag and considering add this 18L for a trip to China. As my gear are rangefinder and quite compact lenses, I might only use a small section of it for cameras. I like the flexibility that it can be accessed from both sides and top and that the top and bottom sections are not permanently separated like my Lowepro. My question is that would you use this bag for full day city trips for 2 weeks - if you have two kids with you in the trip and don't know what strange things you would have to carry...
I mainly use the Pilot 7L as my camera bag but would use either this bag or my Lightening Rider 12L as my larger carry-on bag. A larger messenger bag is not as comfortable as a backpack so the decision might be influenced by how much walking you intend doing with the larger bag.
Hi Mark Thank you for the review love your knowledge and technical help with Sony over the years and now I see we have the same love for bags. 2 questions 1- does the a7r with 100-400 attached fit in one of the side access for quick access? (not across both sides) 2-Do you remove the top insert with camera and lenses and insert into the 7L pilot?
I can fit an A1 with FE 400 F2.8 GM attached vertically into this bag or an A1 with 100-400 GM attached sideways and accessed from either side. The video shows me removing the top insert and placing it into a Pilot 7L messenger bag.
I saw that just wanted to make sure before I purchase thank you for confirming much appreciated@@AlphaCreativeSkills
Have you had a chance to look at the New City Explorer commander Travel Camera Backpack 21L? That style really appeals to me, but I don't know how practical it is.
My choice for the 18L hinges on the fact that it must be airline carry-on size. I have not checked to see if the 21L fits the bill.
Can you expand the bag’s capacity by adjusting the top flap so that it opens wider?
The Strap attached to the Fidlock buckle is adjustable so you can stuff the top insert so that gear extends above the height of the insert. At some point this will eventually compromise the bag to inclement weather.
Hello Mark,
thank you very much for the very interesting product review. Do you think the backpack is suitable for a Uganda trip to the rainforest? And does the Sony lens SEL200-600 fit in the backpack? Best thanks in advance.
Kind regards, Adi.
Haven’t tried the 200-600 in the Pilot18 as it is designed to have a top section. You would have to remove the removable top section to lower the lens vertically with camera attached. A 100-400 will fit across the width of the lower section with the camera attached.
@@AlphaCreativeSkills Thank you very much, Mark.
Thanks for asking this question 😀
i put the top section a little bit lower and it fit m,y 200-600 sony lens, in the lower part is still enough room for a 7riv with 200mm .
if you want the 600 attached i would remove the top section and and put some deviders in there.
its comes with some devider so no need to order more.
Overall is enough space there for camera gear on a trip.
Sorry, what does unwaxed means as compared to the brown bag which is wax? Is the brown bag material different from the black?
I was using a pre-production model. At this time Wotancraft had decided not to wax the Black version but were in two minds about the Khaki version. Check on their website (links in info section below the video) to see what they finally decided about their Khaki version.
It seems both the side entrances and the top flap are design to potentially hold cameras or lenses. Which area is best suited for camera gear versus carrying clothes and other non-camera gear?
I think the Pilot series is primarily targeted towards photographers, but as all the top insert and dividers are removable or adjustable, that allows many options as to how to store any gear + additional expander bags can quickly be attached and detached if the bag still needs to conform to the airline carry-on dimensions.
If you need quick access to a lens or camera+lens I would store it in a side compartment or move the camera insert to a messenger bag (as I outlined in the video).
Did you actually transfer the insert from backpack into the 7L pilot ? @@AlphaCreativeSkills
@@simonsaysAdventureCalls did you watch the video?
Hi Mark, it’s a nice bag, I may have miss, what is the retail price ?
Click on the link in the Info section of the video to see the price in your currency
The links you provide to a web site for purchase are Chinese (I presume) which I dont speak. Do you?
Click on the Chinese symbol in the upper right-hand corner of the page and then click on the word ‘English’, written in English.
Teflon is a very non sustainable substance, unfortunately.
The makers of Teflon would disagree with you on this one. They argue that more durable products equals less waste and less landfill- www.teflon.com/en/industries-and-solutions/solutions/consumer-applications/textile-finishes/how-ecoelite-works/sustainability