• $184 / £149
• Holds small camera and 3-5 lenses
• Rigid metal frame
• Includes accessory and lens pouches
• Can be taken on board flights
• www.vanguardworld.co.uk

Faced with the problem of what to pack for a short trip to British Columbia, I decided to make life easier by choosing the smallest of Vanguard’s rugged VEO Active bags that are designed for hiking – the Vanguard VEO Active42M.

The Vanguard VEO Active 42M’s removable camera compartment will hold a camera and three or four lenses.

Measuring 270 × 190 × 440mm, the bag would be small enough to come with me on the plane, avoiding the dreaded words ‘the flight is full, so your bag’s going in the hold’. Another selling point was the rigid metal frame at the rear, which should offer protection from other passengers ramming their bags against mine when squeezing them into the overhead lockers.

Vanguard VEO Active 42M: key features

• Tripod: A tripod can be attached to either the side or front of the bag
• Rear access: The main compartment, which houses the padded camera holder, is accessed from the rear for security
• Daypack: The top section for personal items is expandable and can be rolled down when only partially full.
• Strap pockets: Expandable pockets on each strap can hold most smartphones, or even a lens up to the size of a drink can

The Vanguard VEO Active 42M’s top section provides space for carrying personal items.

In the end, I packed a Sony Alpha A7 IV with Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3, Sony 16-35mm f/4 and Sony 24-70mm f/4 lenses in the bag’s removable camera compartment. The 13″ laptop compartment housed my MacBook Air, whilst I used the tablet pocket for paperwork. There’s also a small zipped pocket on the rear of the bag to safely secure essentials, whilst the side has the usual pocket for a water bottle or tripod.

The Vanguard VEO Active 42M’s opening rear panel has pockets for a laptop and tablet

The bag is made of sturdy ripstop fabric, with easily visible bright yellow toggles on the zips. It looks and feels exceptionally well made and, as usual, comes with an external rain cover. Also included is a lens pouch that would accommodate my 100-400mm lens, though it did add to the bulk, so it didn’t come along for the ride.

A tripod can be strapped onto the front of the Vanguard VEO Active 42M

I did make use of the accessory pouch, which has pockets for batteries or memory cards. However, I used it to hold a few 100 x 150 filters and my H&Y filter holder; it is a practical pouch, and it fitted nicely in the top compartment. I also squeezed some charging cables and a bag of Wine Gums into the top compartment. This top compartment has a zipped pocket for keys or other smaller items you don’t want rattling around.

The Vanguard VEO Active 42M’s well-added back and shoulder straps make it comfortable to carry when full.

There are all the usual straps for holding your tripod on the side or front of the bag, along with sternum straps and waist straps that can be tucked away when not in use. Fully packed, the bag was quite heavy, but I didn’t notice the weight when on the move, thanks to the well-padded straps and back.

Vanguard VEO Active 42M: USB charge pass-through

The VEO Active range all have external USB ports that allow you to connect a USB battery inside the bag. This means you can attach a charging cable to your camera or phone and charge them outside the bag via the external USB socket, without diving around for the battery in your bag.

Vanguard has fitted the VEO Active 42M with a USB port for charging devices externally.

Vanguard VEO Active 42M: Our Verdict

Overall I found the bag to be a perfect size for a weekend photo kit for a city break and landscape shooting. However, wildlife photographers are advised to look at some of the larger sizes in the VEO Active range to accommodate bigger lenses.

Further reading
Best camera bags to buy in 2024
Best tripods to buy in 2024

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Buy now

The Heat Company Heat 2 Softshell Gloves at a glance:

• £61.20
• Fingerless glove and mitten in one
• Goatskin palm
• Thinsulate insulation
• Inside handwarmer pocket
• theheatcompany.com

Both gloves closed up. Here you can easily see the circular magnets that hold the filp tops open. Credit: Angela Nicholson

As you’d expect, the Heat 2 Softshell gloves are made from wind- and water-repellent material, with a goatskin palm, and they’re lined with soft, cosy fleece that’s very welcoming on your hands when you pull them on. They are designed for ‘transition’ seasons, and after wearing them, I’d say that translates to all but the most extreme winter days in the UK.

A pocket inside the mitten tops can also hold a hand warmer (available from The Heat Company) to add extra heat when the mercury drops. That’s a great idea because it means the heat is there for your fingers after they’ve been exposed to the elements.

The gloves with their flip-tops opened for use with a camera. Credit: Angela Nicholson

Thanks to a long, knitted cuff, the Heat 2 gloves keep your wrists warm, but I find this needs to be pulled firmly up under my coat sleeves. Otherwise, the gloves slip down over my hands. This slippage is more of an issue when the mitten caps are pulled over my fingers because they extend too far beyond my fingertips, reducing my dexterity.

Heat Company Heat 2 Softshell Gloves key features:

• Magnets:  Magnets hold back the mitten top and thumb cover
• Pull loops:  Loops between the fingers make the glove easy to pull off
• Wind and water-repellent:  The wind and water-repellant fabric protects your hands
• Three sizes:  The Heat 2 Softshell gloves are available in 3 sizes, 7, 9 and 10

A flip-back top on the glove’s thumbs means you can also get your thumbs directly onto your camera. This cap is held in place by Velcro, so you can’t just wriggle your thumbs out, you have to peel back the caps. This is fiddly with the mitten caps in place, but it only takes a second when your fingers are free.

The Heat Company Heat 2 Softshell Gloves in use. Credit: Angela Nicholson

Helpfully, there are magnets to hold the mitten and thumb caps out of the way while you use your camera. These are more effective than the magnets on Vallerret photography gloves.

Fingerless gloves can be awkward to remove, but thanks to loops between the fingers of the Heat 2 Softshell gloves, you can pull them off in a jiffy.

The Heat Company liner gloves

The Heat Company offers a range of nine liner gloves that can be worn under the Heat 2 Softshell gloves, if the conditions demand it. The Merino Liner Light tubes (£26.10) make a good choice because they don’t cover your fingers or thumbs, but have a handwarmer pocket on their back.

Loops between the fingers make the gloves easier to remove. Credit: Angela Nicholson

The Heat Company Heat 2 Softshell Gloves: Our Verdict

The Heat Company’s Heat 2 Softshell Gloves offer an excellent combination of a fingerless glove and mitten, with the internal handwarmer pocket helping to make them ideal for photographers braving cooler conditions. The gloves’ design means it’s easy to switch between protecting your full hand and freeing your fingers and thumbs to operate your camera while magnets keep the flip-top covers out of the way.

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Buy now US
Buy now UK

Kodak Ektar H35N at a glance:

• Choice of six colours: Glazed pink, Glazed orange, Glazed blue, Striped green, Striped silver, Striped black
• Half frame camera compatible with 35 mm film
• $64.99 / £52.09
• https://retopro.co/pages/kodak-h35n

Kodak Ektar H35N key features:

• Built-in Star Filter: Used to create four-beam flares on beaming spots
• Glass lens: One element of the 22mm acrylic lens is replaced by a glass lens for sharper images
• Bulb Function: For long exposure, with the help of a tripod

Camera body and design:

The Kodak Ektar H35N is compact and lightweight – making it the perfect carry everywhere camera. Photo credit: Isabella Ruffatti.

The Kodak Ektar H35N isn’t exactly Instax Pal tiny, but it’s smaller than my Google Pixel 7a and as a result has gone pretty much everywhere with me, whether inside my Uniqlo crossbody bag, jacket pocket or comfortably in hand.

It’s pretty lightweight too, weighing only 110g. The camera’s retro style is reminiscent of old Kodak Instamatics and the camera I was sent by Reto has a shiny, CD-like surface in the glazed blue option. Though it did not win me over at first, it does look stunning in the sunlight and has slowly but surely grown on me.

A red light at the back of the camera indicates when the flash is turned on. Photo credit: Isabella Ruffatti.

The physical controls on the camera are handy, with getting film in the camera and out being a fairly straightforward process. The viewfinder on the H35N is smaller than the H35’s, and the newer camera also comes with a tripod hole and the ability to do long exposure shots – but neither a cable nor tripod are provided with the camera.

The shooting experience:

The Kodak Ektar H35N is a half frame camera. But what does this mean exactly? In short, you get double the photos. You will get two exposures per frame, each taking up one half of the frame.

You will likely get your photos back in portrait mode but you can always turn your camera. Photo credit: Isabella Ruffatti.

EZ Controller

I shot three rolls of Kodak Gold 200 film for this review. A roll would normally have 36 exposures, but that went up to 72 on this half frame camera. In total, I shot 216 photos.

I almost felt a digital camera type of freedom to shoot as many photos as I wanted!

Many of my images, like this one taken during London’s Day of the Dead parade, were surprisingly sharp. The H35N may not be amazing but it is a capable little camera. Photo credit: Isabella Ruffatti.

EZ Controller

Though I did get blurry photos, many of my photos were surprisingly sharp even if they tended to blur around the edges of the frame. The Star filter is a nice addition, and while I personally didn’t use it very much, it was a fun creative feature to use on Christmas lights put up around London and in front of a mirror reflecting light back.

While the built-in flash was reliable, I found the controls located on top of the lens hard to rotate at times when using them to turn the flash on and off. I lost a few fingernails in the process, and this was annoying when I was trying to take photos in the cold.

Trying to take an aesthetic selfie with the H35N’s Star filter. Photo credit: Isabella Ruffatti.

EZ Controller

Kodak Ektar H35N Verdict:

As a beginner film photographer, I found the Kodak Ektar H35N to be a good entry-level film camera, one that has a few more tricks up its sleeve that make it a step up from disposable cameras. It’s one to consider for travel photography too, its reusability meaning you don’t have to buy a new (if cheaper) camera when you go on holiday.

While it may not be as appealing to more experienced film photographers, its half frame capabilities also mean that it is a great everyday camera for practicing your film photography on a budget, which is a definite plus any day, and especially if you’re just starting to experiment with film.

Related content:

• Top tips for how to get creative with analogue film photography
• Analogue street photography tips
• Fujifilm Instax SQ40 Review
• Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Review

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• $330 / £289
• Four access points
• Takes large cameras and lenses
• Excellent padding and protection
• Measures 36x22x52cm, weighs 2.8kg
• www.lowepro.com

The Lowepro ProTactic BP 450 AW II is a pro-level backpack, notable for its comfort, ruggedness and versatility. The bag’s outer is very well padded all round with a semi-rigid lid, a thick base and a wealth of inner foam-core modular dividers. I couldn’t detect any weak points at its corners, which is often the case with some models, and its padded 15in laptop sleeve uses a cradle-fit design, so devices are kept off the deck by a few centimetres and better protected.

The main compartment will swallow a large amount of kit. Image: Lowepro

The main 30x44cm compartment covers the full inner, making it suitable for larger lenses, while at 16cm, it’s deep enough to accommodate pro-sized, gripped bodies with ease. On one shoot I easily fitted Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6, 400mm f/4.5, 24-120mm f/4, and 14-30mm f/4 lenses, plus a Nikon Z 9 body, along with filters and a teleconverter. There’s certainly no shortage of space.

Lowepro ProTactic BP 450 AW II key features:

• Webbing: These tight fabric loops cover the face, sides and belt to add accessories and other kit.
• All-weather cover: The base of the bag has a stitched-in protective cover, so you can’t lose it.
• Turret top: A body with a long lens attached can be pulled straight from the foam shell top.
• Side access: As well as the top and rear, dual side doors give sling-style immediate access.

Access to your kit is provided from either side of the bag. Image: Lowepro

Changing things up internally was easy with all dividers secure when in place, thanks to broad Velcro attachment on both their rear and sides. For smaller kits or day hikes, it’s possible to run dividers across the top, creating a section for a coat or lunch. But while I found this stayed in place well enough to support quite heavy items, it’s not as good as having a dedicated compartment. There are additional slip pockets around the interior for small accessories.

You can also get at your camera from the top. Image: Lowepro

The two expanding outer pockets on the upper left and right aren’t padded so, while useful, they’re not for delicate items, and the belt has unpadded zip pockets, too. Elsewhere on the exterior, there’s no pre-fitted tripod holder or bottle pocket, but these come as included accessories which can be fitted to the webbing. It’s a hugely versatile system that just takes some setting up.

The bag offers four access points so there’s plenty of options for getting to your camera. Top and rear openings are joined by flaps on both sides at the bottom, for sling-style use with the bag hanging from one shoulder. All external zips are oversized, running smoothly and using large pulls that are easy to grab with gloves.

Thanks to the well-padded harness, the bag is very comfortable to carry, even when fully loaded. Image: Lowepro

In terms of comfort it’s excellent, with broad padded straps, a removable waist belt and sternum strap, while the back padding is well designed, aerated and supportive.

Lowepro ProTactic BP 450 AW II: Accessories

The ProTactic range uses exterior webbing and a range of slip-lock accessories to provide lots of carry options beyond the basic bag. A tripod shoe and bottle holder come as standard, but you can add plenty of further options including phone holders, lens bags and more.

It’s possible to fit accessories such as a lens pouch (left) or bottle holder (right). Images: Lowepro

Lowepro ProTactic BP 450 AW II: Our Verdict

This is a large, safe and comfortable bag, and as part of Lowepro’s Green Line, it uses a good amount of recycled materials and environmentally friendly dyeing techniques. With a single generously sized main compartment, it’s quite a technical model, however, and therefore best for those with a lot of kit to move about, rather than more mixed needs.

Further reading
Best camera bags to buy in 2024
Best tripods to buy in 2024

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It has a simple straightforward design with two controls alter power output and colour temperature by turning a knob. It is ideal for studio portrait photography, and lighting still life subjects, furthermore, its price at $375 / £350 puts it in the affordable category of photography lights.

Nanlite Compac 100B – At a glance

• $379 / £350
• Flat panel LED light
• Built-in diffusion
• Variable colour temperature between 3200-5600K
• Mains powered
• www.nanlite.co.uk

When most photographers think about getting a continuous light for their work, the first thing that comes to mind will probably be a single-source unit that looks like a continuous version of the studio flash heads we’ve been using for years. This made a lot of sense when the lamps used for continuous lighting were tungsten or halogen, but in these days of LED light we have many more options. We looked at the tube form-factor a while ago with the Nanlite Pavotube ll 60C which, even without its funky colour possibilities, offers a long thin source that creates a very different look.

Light panels have been a feature of the lighting scene for a decade or more, but previously they have been either expensive and big, or small, weak and unreliable. In recent times, though, the sector has developed and now plenty of manufacturers are offering slim panels that are powerful and much more financially accessible for enthusiast shooters of stills and video alike.

The idea of a light panel is that instead of having to attach a softbox to your monolight, which adds bulk and length to the set-up, they offer the effect of a softbox while being much smaller than a traditional arrangement. In this review I’m going to look at the Nanlite Compac 100B, which is part of a series of panels with slightly different features and very different sizes.

Nanlite Compac 100B – Features

The Nanlite Compac 100B measures 664x400mm and is just 85mm from front to back – so it’s a pretty slim unit. While some LED panels show off their tiny light-emitting sources, the Compac units are fitted with a permanent diffuser to cover them, so the light can only deliver soft illumination. These lights are mains-power only, so they need to be rooted in the studio or somewhere regular plug sockets exist. There’s no battery option, so they aren’t quite as portable as some other light panels.

This B version of the Compac 100 offers a variable colour temperature output with the use of warm and cool LEDs. The B in the name indicates it is a bi-colour light, but that’s a bit misleading as the colour can be varied continuously between 3200K for warm light that matches domestic tungsten bulbs, to 5600K for a cloudy-day sort of balance.

The colour temperature is controlled with a knob rather than a switch, so we are able to vary the colour of the light as much as we like between the two end points, rather than being limited to one temperature or the other. Brightness is also controlled by a knob, and we are able to reduce the 100W power right down to 0% in extremely small increments.

Nanlite says that the Compac 100B will deliver 2744 lux when set to 3200K and 2862 lux when set to 5600K.

Nanlite Compac 100B – In Use

With their plastic bodies these units are pretty lightweight, so they are easy to move around and mount on stands without much effort. The Compac 100B has a hinged mount on its base so it can be tilted forwards and backwards from the bottom. The position of this base hinge makes it easy to position the light directly over a subject on a table top, as the whole of the panel will protrude over the subject, though the light needs supporting when the hinge is undone. It’s a shame that the light can only be used upright, as there are no mounting points on the side for horizontal positioning.

The controls of the light are extremely easy to use, with just the two dials for brightness and colour temperature. The light has no screen however, and very few reference markings alongside its dials, so it’s pretty hard to know exactly what colour temperature you have dialled in and how much of the panel’s brightness you are using.

The dimmer switch has 10 positions, so we can assume each marker represents 10%, but working out exactly where the colour temperature is between 3200-5600K is not so straightforward. Each marker must represent 240K, so you’ll have to use your head. Nanlite could have easily made these dials more user-friendly with better and more accurate markings.

Nanlite Compac 100B – Quality of light

I’ve been very pleased with the output of these lights, and while they are a little short of the power we’d expect from flash, they provide enough brightness for studio portraits, still life and product work. I found that with a metre between the light and the subject I could get almost f/5.6 at 1/60sec and ISO 100. Nanlite says we should expect a little less from the tungsten setting, but the practical difference is only slight. If you are happy to shoot at ISO 200 or 400, these aperture/shutter speed combinations become more favourable and flexible.

While these are indeed soft-light panels they aren’t quite soft enough for everything. When shooting products and male portraits they were fine and deliver a very nice light, but when I wanted a softer effect I found I needed to cover them with a further diffusion sheet to take the edges off a bit more.

Photo Damien Demolder. Nanlite Compact 100D catchlight.

X-H2S · f/1 · 1/800s · 21mm · ISO400

I suppose this is no different to adding another layer of diffusion inside a softbox, and having the option makes the lights suitable for a wider range of tasks – some things suited the bare panel better. While the panel has screw fittings that are ideal for attaching an additional softbox, Nanlite sells the Compac 100 and 100B Rapid-Fold Collapsible Lantern Softbox ($63), only in the US at the time of this review.

Nanlite Compac 100B – Other Compacs are available

Nanlite Compac 200 and 100B side by side

DC-S5M2X · f/7.1 · 1/10s · 70mm · ISO100

The Nanlite Compac 100B is part of range that includes different sized panels, and units that are daylight only. During this review I also got to use the Compac 200 (£495), which is a much bigger beast measuring 818x500mm and 105mm thick. As the name suggests it is a 200W unit, and at 1m it delivers 4960 lux. Meanwhile the Compac 200B (bi-colour) gives us 4299 lux at 3200K and 4751 lux at 5600K, and costs £610. I found the Compac 200 gives an aperture of f/11 at 1 metre, using a shutter speed of 1/60sec and ISO 100.

The Compac 200 and 200B have the same basic design as the 100 models but come with a display panel that keeps us informed of the brightness level and colour temperature (in the B version). The display makes it easier to revisit previous settings as well as to accurately match settings between more than one panel. The Compac 200 unit weighs 6kg, so for its size it isn’t heavy at all.

As the Compac 200 is a good deal larger, it uses a yoke arrangement with pivot points about a third of the way up. While this makes adjusting the angle of the light easier, it also means that when the panel is parallel to a table top, your stand will be positioned a third of the way along the panel. So only two thirds of the panel area can be held over the table.

The 200 series also comes with Nanlite’s remote control system for radio and Wi-Fi connections, but you need to add the Nanlink Box to make this work. Neither light can just connect to the Nanlite App, which is a shame. The two blue +/- buttons on the rear are for choosing a radio channel for each unit to work on. The Compac 200 units have a fan to keep them cool, and while it is quiet, it is also loud enough to by picked up by a microphone nearby.

Nanlite Compac 100B – Conclusion

These are remarkably useful lights and I’ve really enjoyed testing them. Although there are quite a few things that could be improved with markings, horizontal mounting points and (for the 200 size) compatibility with the Nanlite App, these things are niggles rather than critical issues.

I’ve found these panels really good for portraiture and product work, and have been very pleased with the flexibility of the Compac 100B to create warm or cool light according to the situation. It doesn’t have built-in lightning or flashing effects, but I’ve rather enjoyed its simplicity and the ease with which it is operated.

The Nanlite Compac 100B does one thing, and it does it very well, and its slim profile makes it easy to use in small spaces. And it’s very reasonably priced for what you get.

Prices for the Nanlite Compac Range:

• Nanlite Compac 100: $269 / £260
• Nanlite Compac 100B: $379 / £350
• Nanlite Compac 200: $529 / £495
• Nanlite Compac 200B: $629 / £610

Further reading:

• Nanlite launches Forza 150B bicolour LED spotlight
• Nanlite Pavotube II 30C review
• Nanlite FS-60B review

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Their design isn’t just about comfort, though, as functionality is also a key consideration.

Buy now

Vallerret Milford gloves at a glance:

• €69.95 (approx £60.60)
• Polartec Windbloc Fleece
• Flip-Tech finger caps on the thumb, index and middle finger
• Touchscreen-compatible coated index finger & thumb tips
• Water-repellent shell glove
• Designed for ‘mild winter’
• photographygloves.com

Firstly, on each glove, two fingers and the thumb have flip-back tips which can be secured by an elastic loop. This ingenious design allows photographers to access their camera controls directly, ensuring that it’s easy to press buttons, rotate dials and generally adjust the settings in cold conditions.

Flip-back fingertips make it easy to operate your camera. Credit: Angela Nicholson

The stretchy nature of the fabric means that the finger and thumb tips are easy to pull back. If you’re just taking a quick snap, the tips will stay out the way of their own accord, but the elastic loops are useful when you’re holding your camera for a longer period.

Vallerret Milford gloves key features:

• Stashed shell glove: A small pocket on the back of the fleece glove holds the water-repellent shell
• Extra grip:A non-slip pattern inspired by Milford Sound is printed across the palms
• Snap-together: A small fastening allows the gloves to be snapped together
• Five sizes: The Milford gloves are available in 5 sizes from XS to XL.

Each glove also comes with a 10K water-repellent ripstop shell that can be slipped over the fleece glove to give additional protection from cold conditions and rain. When these shells are not in use, they can be stored in the pocket on the back of each of the fleece gloves.

For each hand, you get a fleece glove and water resistant nylon shell. Credit: Angela Nicholson

Conveniently, this keeps the gloves and shells together, but it means the back of the gloves are a little bulkier than they would be otherwise. That extra bulk can make it harder to pull sleeves down over the gloves, and consequently, the gloves can push down your hands, but it’s not a major issue.

The shell gloves don’t have flip-back finger or thumb caps, but I still find I can adjust most of the settings on a camera when wearing them, it just feels a little more cumbersome.

Vallerrett Milford fleece gloves showing grip patterns. Credit: Angela Nicholson

Vallerret has also incorporated a non-slip grip pattern across the palm of each of the fleece gloves. While this is designed to give greater purchase on a camera, I’m not sure it makes much difference, as my fingers tend to do the work.

The size chart on Vallerret’s website offers a good guide to ordering the gloves that you need. This takes the length of your hand as well as its circumference into account. I opted for a size Small, which proved to be a good fit.

Vallerret Milford photography gloves: Our Verdict

The Milford Gloves are intended for ‘mild winter’ conditions and I found them ideal during a recent cold snap with chilly winds and temperatures down to -1° or -2°C. They aren’t as stiff as Vallerret’s gloves with leather elements, which makes them more comfortable to wear. Consequently, they have become my go-to gloves for anytime outdoors and days out with my camera.

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The USB-C port supports USB 3.2 Gen 2. Credit: Angela Nicholson

Crucial X9 Pro Portable SSD at a glance:

• Available capacities: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
• £65.99-£200.99
• USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) compatible
• Max read speed: 1050MB/s
• Max write speed: 1050MB/s
• IP55 rating for dust and water resistance
• Compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, iPad, PC, and Linux4
• uk.crucial.com

Buy now

At just 38g in weight and measuring 65x50x5mm, the X9 Pro SSD is one of smaller, lighter portable SSDs available, which combined with its metal casing makes it very attractive for travel. It has a durable feel and doesn’t creak or crack when I try to bend it, plus there’s soft-touch coating on its base that gives a little grip on a desktop. A small lanyard loop built into one corner could be useful for extra security. When the drive is connected to a computer, the inside of this loop illuminates, which is a nice touch.

The lanyard loop illuminates when the drive is connected. Credit: Angela Nicholson

The drive’s robust design also means it can withstand falls from heights of up to 2 meters. In addition, it has an IP55 rating which indicates that it can survive being subjected to a low-pressure water jet from any angle, so it should take the odd splash of water or short dunk in its stride.

Crucial X9 Pro Portable SSD key features:

• Metal casing:  A robust aluminium casing keeps the SSD safe
• Drop-proof:  The Crucial X9 Pro is built to survive drops from 2m and is IP55 water/dust-resistant
• Small and light:  The drive weighs just 38g and measures approximately 65x50x5mm at its thickest point
• USB-C cable:  Crucial supplies a USB-C to USB-C cable but an optional USB-A is available

One niggle I have with the X9, and it’s not alone in this, is that the supplied USB cable is fairly short at around 17cm long (excluding the connectors).  A longer cable gives more scope to position the drive on a stable surface, whether you’re working with it connected to a laptop on your knee, or plugged into the back of a desktop computer.

The Crucial X9 Pro portable SSD is supplied with a short USB-C cable. Credit: Angela Nicholson

I connected the drive to a 2022 MacBook Air with the M2 chip via one of its two USB 4 / Thunderbolt  (40Gb/s) ports, and then used Blackmagic Disk Speed Test to measure the read and write speeds. This produced mixed results, occasionally indicating speeds of over 2900MB/s, far in excess of the figures claimed by Crucial, but more regularly showing write speeds around 655MB/s and read speeds of up to 720MB/s.

The coated base provides some grip on a desktop. Credit: Angela Nicholson

In real-world use, it takes only around 11 seconds to move 100 JPEGs and 100 raw files from the 45.7MP Nikon Z 7II (totalling 9.74GB) from the SSD to the MacBook Air, while the return journey takes between 11 and 14 seconds. Transferring the same files from the drive to a 2019 iMac takes 2 or 3 seconds under a minute via a Thunderbolt 3 port.

Image thumbnails also render quickly in Adobe Bridge and there’s a fluid 4K video editing experience with no stuttering or dropped frames.

An alternative option: Crucial X10 Pro Portable SSD

Crucial also offers the X10 Pro Portable SSD in capacities of 1TB (£109.99), 2TB (£236.98) and 4TB £326.99). It’s the same size as the X9, and only 4g heavier, but it features USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 technology that promises transfer rates up to 2,100MB/s with compatible computers. It should be a good option for videographers, but USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 connectivity isn’t yet very common.

Crucial X10 Pro portable SSD. Credit: Angela Nicholson

Crucial X9 Pro Portable SSD: Our Verdict

The Crucial X9 Pro Portable SSD isn’t just attractively small and robust, it’s also capable of fast files transfer rates, although naturally this will vary depending upon the connection and computer in use. While it can serve as a working drive for video editing, it’s ideally suited for use as short-term storage of images when away from home.

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Buy now

Tenba Axis V2 32L Backpack at a glance:

• $300 / £240 (black); $310 / £250 (multicam black)
• Large 32L capacity
• Measures 37W x 57H x 24D cm
• Padded straps and back panel
• 3 quick access points
• Multicam Black Camouflage Pattern or all-black versions available
• tenba.com

This is a large bag with loads of space for cameras, lenses and lights etc. Credit: Callum McInerney-Riley

One notable feature is the bag’s use of the military-standard MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) system. This is durable strapping securely sewn onto the bag with the intention of hanging stuff off it. You can buy lots of MOLLE pouches and bags to extend the capacity should you need too. I’d recommend getting a bottle/flask holder if you intend to use the side mount for anything else.

Tenba Axis V2 32L backpack Molle strapping. Credit: Callum McInerney-Riley

Tenba Axis V2 32L Backpack key features:

• Tracker Pouch:  A concealed pouch allows you to hide a Bluetooth tracker so you can locate the bag if lost or stolen.
• Access:  You can quickly access your camera from the top opening or side. Alternatively, open the rear to access the main compartment.
• Harness:  When carrying heavy loads, it’s a great addition to have waist and sternum straps for enhanced support.
• Water resistant:  In light rain, the water beads off the bags water-resistant material. However, there is a supplied rain cover should you need it.

A tripod can be strapped onto the front of the backpack. Credit: Callum McInerney-Riley

With a capacity to accommodate 1 or 2 mirrorless, DSLR or Cine cameras (even with grip/booster) and 7-9 regular-sized lenses, or perhaps a telephoto up to 400mm f/2.8 lens, along with a laptop up to 17 inches, this backpack is designed to cater to versatile photography needs. It’s also ideal for flashes, lighting kits and compact drones. I was carrying a Canon Cinema Camera + Sony Alpha A7 IV, five lenses, two flashes, and mics. There’s a zip up area for accessories on the back panel and a large pouch on the front too.

Fully loaded, naturally the bag is heavy, but still very manageable thanks to the double sternum strap across the front and one across the waist. A wonderful mesh padding on the shoulder straps, waist straps and the back of the rucksack helps with airflow. This mesh is featured on the back of the backpack too with some substantial padding.

The well-padded harness and back make the bag comfortable to carry. Credit: Callum McInerney-Riley

A waterproof rain cover is provided, although the material is surprisingly weather-resistant without it. The zip on the laptop compartment has waterproofing to stop water pooling on top and coming through, but none of the other zips have this.

Much of the bag’s front surface, along with the side opening, is covered in MOLLE strapping. This allows a wide range of accessories and pouches to be attached, including tripods, monopods, and light stands. This provides photographers with a versatile platform for expanding their gear-carrying capabilities.

Internal pockets can be used to carry accessories such as spare batteries. Credit: Callum McInerney-Riley

During testing, I packed this bag out to maximum capacity. I found I could pack in everything from video and photo gear, lighting kits and all the accompanying accessories. Also, the MOLLE system allows you to strap on multiple tripods or lighting stands/monopods on the front and side of the bag.

However, if you pack out the front pouch too much, it starts to press against your laptop. Likewise loading up the accessories pouch on the back panel too much will press against your back. This isn’t ideal if you intend to carry large block batteries, but not that much of a problem generally.

Tenba Axis V2 32L backpack in use. Credit: Callum McInerney-Riley

Tenba Axis V2 32L Backpack: Our Verdict

Overall, the Tenba Axis V2 32L Backpack looks seriously cool, it’s very comfortable to carry around, and it should give photographers all the flexibility they need to carry just about anything.

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Buy now

Wandrd Rogue 6L Sling at a glance:

• $139 / £139.99
• Materials: 840D Jr. Ballistic Nylon with 5PM coating and 1680D Ballistic Nylon
• External dimensions (H x W x D): 19 x 30 x 15 cm
• Internal dimensions (H x W x D): 17.5 x 27.5 x 10.5 cm
• Volume: 6 L
• Weight: 0.68 KG
• wandrd.com

Conveniently, there’s a slim security strap tucked into the bottom of the back of the bag that can pass under your arm and snap onto a clip in the padding on the main strap to keep the Sling tight against your back when you’re active.  The clip can be repositioned on the padding to suite different sized photographers.

Wandrd Rogue 6L sling security strap. Credit: Angela Nicholson

Left-handed photographers will also be pleased to learn that the whole strap and be disconnected and flipped around so the bag can be worn on either side of your body.

Wandrd Rogue 6L Sling key features:

• Carry 3-ways:  The Wandrd Rogue 6L Sling can be carried as a messenger bag, across your body as a sling or around your waist as a bumbag.
• Weather resistant:  The exterior of the Rogue Sling is made from the same weather-resistant tarpaulin as the Wandrd Prvoke backpacks
• Universal Fit System:  Wandrd’s Universal Fit System has 5 points of adjustment to keep the bag comfortable and secure when you carry it
• Grab and go:  Three grab handles make the bag easy to carry by hand
• Tripod or water bottle pocket:  A pass-through pocket is on-hand for carrying a water bottle or tripod

Wandrd Rogue 6L sling tripod holder. Credit: Angela Nicholson

The main compartment of the Rogue 6L Sling is accessed via the middle of the three water-resistant zippers that are visible when looking down on the top of the bag. This zip runs along the back and two sides of the compartment so the lid can fold back away from your body to give good access. Inside, you’ll find two dividers that attach to the bag lining via velcro and can be positioned to suit your kit.  There’s room to fit a small full-frame mirrorless camera like the Nikon Z7 II or a Sony A7-series model, plus a couple of small lenses.

Wandrd Rogue 6L sling main compartment. Credit: Angela Nicholson

At the back of the main section, there are concertina-style organisation pockets that are perfect for holding a couple of filters, four stretchy mesh pockets that can hold memory cards and a long, slim pocket for odds and ends. Meanwhile, the lid liner houses a useful zip-close pocket.

Wandrd Rogue 6L sling rear compartment. Credit: Angela Nicholson

On the front of the bag, there’s another zippered pocket with a key clip and at the back there’s a larger pocket that’s handy for carrying your wallet or something similar. However, this section also has a Laptop Dock that is compatible with Wandrd’s Laptop Case, adding to the Rogue Sling’s versatility.

Wandrd Rogue 6L sling front pocket. Credit: Angela Nicholson

On the base of the Sling, there’s a fold-away, pass-through pocket with drawstring closures. This can be used to carry a water bottle or tripod. It will fit some full-size tripods but it’s best-suited to holding a travel tripod.

Colours and sizes

Wandrd makes the Rogue Sling in three sizes. Along with the 6L version reviewed her, there are 3L ($109 / £109.99) and 9L ($159 / £159.99) versions, in an array of colours. The 3L bag has internal dimensions of 13.8 x 20 x 8.5 cm (H x W x D) while the 9L bag’s interior measures 19.5 x 33 x 12.5 cm.

Wandrd Rogue 3L and 9L slings, in all colour variations. Credit: Wandrd

Wandrd Rogue 6L Sling: Our Verdict

The Wandrd Rogue 6L Sling offers an impressive degree of organisation, with space for all those essentials that accompany any trip out of the house. I prefer to use it as a sling or messenger bag, but it makes a comfortable bum bag.

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Buy now

SanDisk Professional Pro-G40 SSD at a glance

• Available capacities: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
• $299, $449, $799 / £293, £439, £683
• Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps) and USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) compatible
• Max read speed: 3000MB/s
• Max write speed: 2500MB/s
• IP68 rating for dust and water resistance
• www.westerndigital.com

While there are smaller, lighter SSDs available, the SanDisk Professional Pro-G40 SSD measures just 111 x 58 x 12 mm and weighs less than 123g. It also has a robust aluminium core to aid heat dissipation and help it cope with falls from heights of up to 3 meters. Additionally, it can withstand crushing pressures of up to 400lbs and has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

Aesthetically, the Pro-G40 SSD scores well with a premium look and feel. A soft-touch coating along the edges and underside adds grip and feels great, but it also has a penchant for gathering lint.

The drive comes supplied with a short USB-C to USB-C cable. Credit: Angela Nicholson

Another issue is that the included Thunderbolt 3 cable is only around 15cm long (excluding the connectors). This can be problematic when using a laptop on your knee. A longer cable would allow the drive to be located on a stable surface and in view rather than on the keyboard of the laptop or on your leg and in danger of slipping off.

SanDisk Professional Pro-G40 SSD key features:

• Aluminium core:  As well as making the drive more robust, the aluminium core helps dissipate heat
• Thunderbolt 3 cable:  Western Digital supplies a Thunderbolt 3 cable, which is compatible with USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 connections but there’s no USB-A adapter supplied
• Drop-proof:  The Pro-G40 SSD is built to survive drops from 3m and crushing forces up to 400lbs
• Formatted for Mac:  While the drive is supplied ready for use on Apple computers, it can be reformatted to suit Windows machines

When paired with the provided Thunderbolt 3 cable, the Pro-G40 SSD can deliver read speeds of up to 3000MB/s and write speeds of up to 2500MB/s – according to Western Digital’s website. The packaging of my review sample, however, gives figures that are a little more conservative, 2700MB/s and 1900MB/s respectively. As we’d expect, when a standard USB-C connection is used, the rates drop to maximums of 1050MB/s (read) and 1000MB/s (write).

The drive’s main external feature is its USB-C connector. Credit: Angela Nicholson

To investigate the actual data transfer rate that I could obtain, I connected the drive to a 2022 MacBook Air with the M2 chip via a Thunderbolt 3 port and fired up Blackmagic Disk Speed Test. This indicated write speeds of up to around 2800MB/s and read speeds of around 2600MB/s, both highly respectable and faster than shown on the packaging.

These fast rates translate into speedy image downloads. For example it takes only around 5 seconds to move 9.74GB of images from the MacBook Air to the SSD. The reverse journey takes around the same time. For context, those images comprise 100 JPEGs and 100 raw files from the 45.7MP Nikon Z 7II. Image thumbnails also render almost instantly in Adobe Bridge and there’s a fluid 4K video editing experience with no stuttering or dropped frames.

Which capacity should I buy?

A portable SSD like the Pro-G40 is useful for storing images when you’re away from home, it means you can clear your memory cards and shoot more images. When deciding which capacity SSD you should go for, it’s helpful to look at the size of the files your camera produces, or the number of images you can fit on your cards. Using the 45.7MP Nikon Z 7II as an example, you can expect to fit around 11,200 uncompressed 14-bit raw files on a 1TB drive – more than enough for even the most enthusiastic photographic weekend away.

SanDisk Professional Pro-G40 SSD with USB-C cable connected. Credit: Angela Nicholson

SanDisk Professional Pro-G40 SSD: Our Verdict

In addition to serving well as a working drive for video editing and storing high-resolution images, the SanDisk Professional Pro-G40 SSD is very robust. It showed no serious ill effects after several falls onto concrete and survived 30 minutes submerged in a glass of water. This combination of performance and durability means it commands a higher price than some other drives, but it’s also backed by a 5-year warranty.

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