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f-stop Tilopa 50L DuraDiamond: Two-minute evaluate
There are sometimes two varieties of out of doors backpacks for photographers: people who observe a conventional images backpack design and people which are based mostly on mountain climbing backpacks and have a modular ICU (inside digital camera unit) design the place you may customise the digital camera storage inside the bag. The f-stop Tilopa 50L DuraDiamond is a high-end modular bag that matches into the latter camp and is designed particularly for out of doors photographers like me, for whom it is one of many best camera bags out there.
The f-stop Tilopa 50L DuraDiamond has been out there for a number of years and is a more moderen, harder model of the unique Tilopa. It is a big bag with a 50-liter capability, and this may be paired with massive ICUs for carrying principally digital camera gear alongside different gadgets within the further compartments, or with a smaller ICU for much less picture gear and plenty of out of doors equipment together with tenting gear for a one- or two-night wild tenting journey.
This cavernous bag is constructed to an extremely excessive customary and it is versatile too – in addition to providing compatibility with f-stop ICUs, there are many pockets and compartments to retailer your necessities, together with area for a three-liter hydration bladder and as much as a 16-inch laptop computer. The bag additionally options an inside body like conventional mountain climbing backpacks alongside being manufactured from powerful waterproof materials.
I have been an outdoor photographer for extra years than I can rely, exploring powerful terrains in inclement climate, and the f-stop Tilopa 50L DuraDiamond has been a dependable and versatile backpack all through. It may cost a little loads, however for me its first rate worth given the years of service.
f-stop Tilopa 50L DuraDiamond: worth and availability
- A number of equipment choices
- Accessible in three colours
- Accessible direct and from third events
The f-stop Tilopa 50L DuraDiamond has been out there for years immediately from the f-stop web site, Amazon and different on-line retailers. Pricing on the f-stop web site is in US {Dollars} and Euros, with the bag coming in three colours: Anthracite Black, Cypress Inexperienced and Magma Pink. You should purchase the pack/bag solely, which is good in case you already personal f-stop ICUs, or in three bundles which embrace Necessities, Elite and Grasp. You may, alternatively, purchase the pack/bag solely and buy the specified ICU individually.
The pack Solely prices $399.99 / €399.99, whereas the Necessities bundle prices $499.99 / €499.99 and in addition features a Professional Massive ICU, Gatekeeper Straps and Massive Rain Cowl. Step up from Necessities to the Elite bundle ($579.99 / €579.99) and you will additionally get a Shallow Small ICU, whereas the Grasp bundle prices $769.99 / €769.99 and additional provides a Slope Medium ICU, Massive Accent Pouch and Packing Cell Package.
Mindshift Backlight 26L: specs
|
Capability |
50L |
|
Weight |
4.2lbs / 1.9kg (empty with no ICU) |
|
Laptop computer sleeve |
Sure, as much as 16-inch fashions |
f-stop Tilopa 50L DuraDiamond: design
- Extraordinarily snug
- Constructed for the outside
- Modular design
The f-stop Tilopa 50L DuraDiamond is a modular backpack so you may change the ICUs relying in your images wants. There are additionally a lot of further equipment out there together with packing cells, straps and accent pouches, so you may construct the right bag system for you and your out of doors photographic adventures.
This can be a massive backpack – not the most important f-stop possibility out there, however at 50 liters the Tilopa has an enormous quantity of space for storing on supply. Simply to offer you an thought of its dimensions, the bag is 62.3 x 34.8 x 24.4cm / 24.5 x 13.7 x 11.1in with an empty weight of 4.2lb / 1.9kg.
That vacant weight is as heavy as some conventional out of doors backpacks which are half the capability of the Tilopa with mounted digital camera compartments, however clearly will increase relying on what ICUs you are utilizing; they don’t weigh a lot, however the Professional Massive I have a tendency to make use of weighs 1.71 lbs / 0.76 kgs.
When you think about the burden on this context, the Tilopa is light-weight given the capability of the bag. The general capability is clearly mounted, however you may prolong the quantity of further area for private/out of doors gadgets by utilizing smaller ICUs. There are additionally pockets within the lid of the bag and on the perimeters with one capable of accommodate a three-liter hydration bladder, full with a guarded gap for the tube to keep up water resistance.
There’s additionally a big entrance pocket on the bag with additional compartments within the flap; that is fairly massive and might maintain a variety of things together with a jacket. There is a slot to accommodate a 16-inch laptop computer within the padded rear-entry again panel in addition to two bigger pockets and 4 reminiscence card slots that safe magnetically.
On the entrance of the bag, there are attachments for 2 strolling poles or ice axes in addition to the power to hold a tripod on the entrance or sides of the bag. There are additionally pockets and netted straps on the waist belt and shoulder straps, whereas there are many loops for attaching straps to hold gadgets reminiscent of a tent exterior of the bag.
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The construct high quality of the bag is superb and the proprietary DuraDiamond materials is each extraordinarily powerful and in addition water resistant. More durable Hypalon materials is used as reinforcement in a number of areas the place further energy is required and the massive and comfortable-to-use zippers function weatherproofing to maintain moisture out.
On the within, the Tilopa options an aluminum body like conventional mountain climbing backpacks so as to add rigidity and luxury. This, I’ve to say helps to make the Tilopa extremely snug to put on.
For the needs of this check, I paired the Tilopa with the Professional Massive ICU which supplied sufficient storage for my customary equipment; two full-frame camera our bodies with 70-200mm f/4 and 16-35mm f/2.8 lenses connected, a 3rd lens, sq. filters, shutter remotes and lens cleansing equipment. It might be reconfigured to hold extra if lenses weren’t connected to the digital camera our bodies, however this can be a setup that works completely for me.
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The one unfavourable with the Tilopa is that it doesn’t have a pouch/pocket that may carry a water bottle, just like the aspect pouches on the smaller 37-liter f-stop Ajna. It is not the top of the world as a result of you may put a bottle in the primary entrance pocket, and one of many aspect pockets is designed for use with a hydration bladder. You can even buy the Mano Water Bottle Pouch individually and it will carry a 17 fl oz / 500ml bottle.
One in every of my favorite options of the bag, alongside the flexibility of the ICUs and its consolation in use, is you could entry gear with out totally eradicating the bag and placing it down on the bottom. That is ideally suited when capturing in water or muddy areas. To do that, you merely take away the shoulder straps and rotate the Tilopa to your entrance with the waistbelt in use. This lets you entry your equipment by way of the rear panel – excellent for out of doors images.
Ought to I purchase the f-stop Tilopa 50L DuraDiamond?
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
How I examined the f-stop Tilopa 50L DuraDiamond
- Long run evaluate based mostly on a number of years hands-on use
- All options examined
- Utilized in out of doors areas, together with mountains and coast
I’ve owned the f-stop Tilopa for a number of years and use it both after I’m on a wild tenting images journey or after I want to hold extra equipment alongside out of doors gear. The Tilopa has been examined over an prolonged interval the place all of its strengths and weaknesses have been uncovered, and it has been utilized in all climate situations within the hills, mountains and on the coast. Whereas the Tilopa would operate completely in city environments, I sometimes use lower-capacity backpacks within the metropolis.
First reviewed March 2025