Really Right Stuff BH-40 LR II - Wow!

I've used, and been very happy with my Kirk BH-3 ballhead since it's initial release. It's seen action with various camera systems, from 35mm SLR, to medium format, to DSLR, to 4x5 field camera. And it has traveled the world and many a backcountry site with me. It is one of the best photo-related investments I've ever made. So why would I part with it??

About a month ago I was IM'ing with a photographer friend and he pointed me to the Really Right Stuff website. He was looking at upgrading his ballhead with the RRS LR II quick release. It's cool. A patented lever clamp that adds even more speed to the quick release system. The quick release also has a small spirit level - convenient. I started poking around the RRS website and found the BH-40 ballhead. Again, it's cool - sleek finish, stylish knobs, low profile (a full 1 inch shorter than my BH-3), and even lighter weight. I searched around the internet for some reviews, pinged some fellow photographers that have been using the BH-40 and everyone raved about it. It turns out that since I was perfectly, perhaps ignorantly, happy with my older BH-3, I had just not paid any attention to ballhead discussions when they came up on the internet. I placed an order with RRS and 4 days later the BH-40 arrived.

Wow. Initial quality, fit and finish is amazing. This is really a superior product. The BH-40 is an upgrade to the BH-3 in every way. Well only time will prove out longevity and reliability... The ball action is very smooth and it locks securely with a nice lever knob. The tension knob is numbered, making it simple to return to a particular tension level. After a short time I found 2 different settings that worked well for me in different situations and the numbers make it ridiculously simple to switch back and forth. No more guessing. And the lever clamp was everything I'd hoped it would be. I've been using the BH-40 for a couple weeks with my Canon 30D and I couldn't be more pleased. It is a perfect match to my trusty Gitzo G1228. And with the Gitzo short column, the combination weighs only 4.5 lbs.

If you're in the market for a medium weight ballhead, the RRS BH-40 certainly warrants your consideration.

Lowepro Primus

As you can tell by the lack of activity here, I've been quite busy - mostly with a new day-job. But I recently responded to an all too common question about photo backpacks in a discussion forum and I thought I'd elaborate here on some of my experiences with photo backpacks.

I do a lot of hiking and backpacking. As much as time allows. I love it. And I love photographing the backcountry. I've been doing so for many years and I've tried (and been frustrated with) many, many photo backpacks. I've also tried modifying hiking backpacks for my photo gear. This didn't always work well either. But Lowepro finally answered some of my wishes with their new Primus model. I got a pre-production model early in the summer of 2007 and after 100+ trail miles I'm still quite happy with the pack - something I've never been able to say before.

What I like about the Lowepro Primus:

• Carries a nice compliment of gear. Mine is a Canon EOS 30D w/ 24-105mm L attached, Tokina 12-24mm, Canon 24mm TS-E, and Canon 70-200mm f/4 L. Plus a Gitzo G1228 tripod.
  
• Easy "on-the-trail" camera access. The side access zipper is a little awkward at first, but after just a little practice, it works great! Hand-held trail shots are now quick and the camera is stored safely inside the pack.
• The pack itself is light. My complaint with the photo trekker series was always the weight. The pack alone weighed 8+ lbs. - ridiculous. The Primus is under 5 lbs. and it is comfortable all day. We're talking 10 hours, 15 miles, 4000 ft. vertical, all day...
• Extra storage for extra gear - food, water, clothes, survival gear. Space is spare but adequate for a day's hike.
• The exterior pocket/flap is great for storing a water bladder and rain gear.
  
• Easy tripod storage on the back of the pack with the designed tripod holder, or on the side utilizing the water bottle holder.
• Access to gear from the suspension side of the pack. This alleviates setting the suspension down in dirt, mud and/or snow to get to gear and then putting gunky straps and waistbelt back on your body to hit the trail. You can also access gear by unshouldering the straps, loosening the waistbelt, but leaving it buckled, and swiveling the pack around to your front. This sounds a bit weird, and I was skeptical when looking at the promos demonstrating this, but it actually works quite well.

So there you have it. If you're looking for a day-hiking photo backpack, this just may work for you too. :-)