Naneu Adventure K4L Photo/Computer Bag [REVIEW]

If you’re like me, you’re always on the lookout for the perfect camera bag.  One bag that fits all of your vital gear and, often, a laptop so you can stay mobile for weeks on end.  I have a couple of bags which work well for one task or another, but I have yet to find that perfect camera/computer travel bag.  In that quest I occasionally raid camera stores seeking, looking, hunting for that bag.

And also occasionally I get sent a bag for review.  Such is the case with the Naneu Adventure K4L camera/computer bag in this review (MSRP $229 US).  Naneu was nice enough to ask if I’d like to review a demo model (and send it back).  I took a look at their line of bags and while the hefty K5 overnight backing bag caught my eye, it was on the K4L that I settled.  My reasoning was that I already had a Lowe Pro bag that I enjoy similar to most of their other sizes, so I wanted to see if this slightly larger bag, with its handy flip out camera compartment, would do the job for me as a photography, computer and overnight bag.

The Camera Compartment

Let’s start at the heart and soul of this bag, the camera compartment.  First, the compartment is well padded and like most camera bags, comes with an assortment of removable Velcro dividers to arrange gear.  Some are half height with a fold over top, making them ideal for storing smaller lenses on top of each other (with padding in between).  The storage compartment is deep enough, at 7.75″/20cm, to hold a full size DSLR with battery grip included (A Canon 5D is pictured here) but taller lenses may have a problem.  For instance, in this image there is a Canon 28-300mm L lens, about the same height as the more standard 70-200mm L.  When used with this bag, the lens is taller than the compartment area, forcing it to push up on the floor of the compartment above.  This isn’t too much of an issue as the floor of the compartment above is fully padded, but it can make opening the compartment a bit trickier.

I found I was able to easily carry the camera and lens pictured here along with two strobes and still have room for filters.  While the compartment was not large enough for me to fit the camera with lens connected (unless I removed all of the padding) it worked for most trips.  I also would have liked to see hinged dividers be used in areas so a DSLR and attached lens, say a 50mm, could be stowed, ready for shooting.  I did like the flip out idea for this section which leaves the bag flat on the ground while accessing the camera gear.

Behind this main compartment is a nice hidden zippered pouch.  Just big enough to fit some papers or for finished flash memory, it is not readily obvious to a thief with little time inside the bag.
(more…)