In this article, I will review F-stop Ajna 37L Durdamond, which is a light 37-liter camera backpack designed for outdoor photography. My evaluation is based on six months of use under various types of harsh conditions. I bought the review unit themselves, and this review is not associated with F-stop gear.
Design and features
F-stop Ajna is available in three colors: Magma, anthresite and saru-oriented orange, black and green. Given the use of wildlife photography, I liked Saru Green. The dimensions of the bag are 57x32x24 cm (22x16x9 inch), which is slightly smaller than the manufacturer, which probably measured it with full pocket. These dimensions are within the range of most major airlines.
The weight is 1610 grams (3.55 pounds), not counting the internal camera unit or ICU. Medium -sloping ICU weighs 540 grams, while Pro XL ICU weighs 930 grams (1.2 and 2.1 pounds respectively). It is commendable for a photographic backpack, most of which are more heavier than this-or, optionally, well, well-taken to carry heavy loads comfortable.
The AJNA 37L is manufactured with a strong cloth, called Durdiyamond, which after several outings I took with the bag has proved to be very durable. It shows no signs of wearing and performs great performance in snow and rain, although according to the manufacturer, it is not completely waterproofing. A rain cover, available to buy in a bundle, can be stored in a dedicated bottom pocket. The bottom of the backpack is made with a very thick and coated material to prevent any problem with placing any problem on a wet ground.
For Bakls, they continue to build strong construction of the rest of the bag. They are made of aluminum and both are light and extremely durable, which are making me very well. However, the waist belt bucksua requires practice to operate efficiently, as it cannot be undone when it is stem, the lease must be loose through the first side buckle. During a minor inconvenience, some users may see it as a defect. The buckle is also a little noise, something to pay attention to the shy animals.
Back support for this type of backpack performs administerously. I still prefer hiking hiking and mountaineering backpacks dedicated to extended excursions, but Ajna’s back is the best I have faced in a photography backpack so far. The shoulder straps and waistband, while not heavy padded, are well shaped and wide, effectively distributes weight. If you are used for traditional photography backpacks, it will look like a massive upgradation, although if you are used for high-ending hiking, it will feel like a downgrade.
The shoulder straps are equipped with two metal rings, which are ideal for attaching a blacket backpack camera strap, which facilitates carrying heavy lenses during photography sessions.
The tripod can be taken either on the edge or back. I like the side option, using a water bottle or thermos as a counterweight on the opposite side. Regarding hydration, Ajna can adjust a water bladder into an internal pocket – not a solution that I personally use, however, looking at the camera equipment in the bag.
On each side, there are two separate sets of pockets, in an external canvas and closing by a zip.
Additionally, trekking poles or ice axes can be secured using elastic hooks on the back (as well as a trippai if you prefer to be on the back).
The bag is designed to place 16 OP laptops in the elastic pocket of the main compartment. Although I have not used it for this purpose, I can confirm that MacBook Air fits comfortably, even with ICU Pro XL.
My experience
I have used this backpack with a load up to 13–14 kg (about 30 pounds) without experiencing any issue. This included Nikon Z9, 100–400 mm, 600 mm f/4 tc, telescope, tripod, stool, camouflage mesh, water, food and a softshell). What is important to me is that it can adjust the backpack Pro XL, which is one of the largest internal camera units of F-stop. The Pro XL can do the camera bodies with large lenses such as Z9 and 600/4 (verify the model; I used it with Nikon 600 mm F/4VR TC and it still gets fit, even if it does not fit on a tight side, even on a tight side, due to the huge hood.
You can see in the two images given below how it fits all:
In this configuration, the ICU is almost in the entire main compartment. However, four external pockets are available (one on top, one on two sides, and a large on the back – a down jacket or a wool can be easily fit). It is also possible to attach any accessory equipped with a moli fastening system in the waist belt (eg, binocular holder or lens tube).
He said, if you plan to use this configuration and still want more additional space, I would advise the big “Tilopa” backpack instead, which is 50 liters of volume. However, this backpack is slightly larger to carry-on with most airlines, so it is a question of tradeoffs.
The 37L anja increases significantly when using the location slope medium ICU available in the backpack, which is 20 cm (8 in) small and leaves more than 10 liters of free in the main compartment. ICU slope medium is ideal for large camera bodies and lenses such as 70–200 mm f/2.8 or 100–400 mm f/4.5-5.6 mounted, plus 2-3 additional lenses. (I used it with Z9, 100–400 mm, 24–120 mm f/4, and 14–24 mm f/2.8). It also keeps compact telephoto lenses such as 500 mm F/5.6 PF or 600 mm F/6.3 PF.
I should note that F-stop creates 7 different ICUs for people requiring specific dimensions, so make sure that the ICU you purchased is the right size for your kit. Essentially, by changing the ICU, this backpack acts as many different bags, catering for different requirements. This makes wildlife suitable for photographers, which need to travel on a large scale or aircraft with long telephoto lenses, as well as landscape photographers who want to carry a wide set of lenses and accessories with sufficient personal effects for a daily outing.
Professionals
- Excellent quality and design
- Casual with heavy loads
- Compact outer dimensions relative to the available space (to include 600 mm F/4 TC including the ability to hold Pro XL ICU … but it’s a stretch, and the general way to work is with small ICU)
- Many external attachments are available (for example to transport a tent or a sleeping bag)
- Moduicality, capable of adjusting any requirement with various ICU options
- Part of a system, allows ICU to share with other backpacks
- Open on the rear design to protect from mud and water
Shortcoming
- Expensive (prices start from $ 350, in which goods and ICUs are added)
- Not as comfortable as a climber backpack for loud hiking
- Slight side
conclusion
I bought this backpack based on the advice of a friend, despite my doubts after using the bookie backpack in the past. (Although it was well built, comfort was not enough for long trips.) This new model by F-stop improves comfort with much better back support, shoulder straps and waist belts, as well as enhances clothes and pockets. It is designed for photographers that require quick access to gear during a mountain travel or travel, and either fits a small wildlife photography kit with minimal individual items or a small landscape setup with sufficient individual accessories. This is perfect for courageous photographers looking for a compact and functional backpack.
The initial price of $ 350, with ICUs and accessories added, is appropriate given high quality and flexibility of use; However, it is definitely high, which means that it remains a purchase to carefully consider. Thanks for using the affiliate link of photography life when purchasing your camera equipment.
I hope you enjoyed this review of F-stop Ajna. If you have any question or response, please do not hesitate to leave them down in the comment section.
