PythonCourier
Latest
Booq Python courier bag protects your DSLR, lenses and iPad in style: Enter to win
Booq makes some amazing bags for laptops, iPads, and the like. Now the accessory manufacturer has introduced the Python courier bag ($179.95), a fine-looking bag for photographers who want to also have room to slide in an iPad. Read on for a review of the Python courier and enter for a chance to win this sweet piece of equipment. Design Booq's bags and cases have always had a sleek, modern look to them, and the Python courier is no exception. The exterior of the bag is made of a gray water-repellent 1680 denier ballistic nylon that should hold up to healthy abuse. On the top of the case is a well-padded handle, but the real attraction for photographers will be the wide shoulder strap. That strap comes with a removable pad to keep your shoulder unbruised when you're lugging a DSLR body and a couple of big lenses. %Gallery-150443% The Python courier features a flap that can be used to secure the case to the handle of a rolling suitcase. But it's "what's inside that counts" with this bag. To protect your delicate camera equipment and lenses from the rigors of travel, the Python courier has a removable padded camera compartment surrounded by two contoured dividers. Booq refers to this compartment as being "densely padded," and that's an understatement. The bag itself has good padding in the front and back walls; the camera compartment adds even more protection to the mix. If you're wondering what you can carry in terms of camera equipment, Booq says that a DSLR and 2 to 4 lenses can fit into the Python courier. Now remember, the bag also has room for an iPad -- or a laptop with dimensions up to 10" x 7.5" x .5". A quick look at the specs for the MacBook Air shows that even the 11" model isn't going to fit, so you'll have to look at another of Booq's bags if you want to carry a laptop with you. The zippered iPad pocket doesn't provide as much protection as the cameras get, but of course you're getting AppleCare+ for your new baby, aren't you? Like many of the Booq products, the Python courier has a Terralinq serial number tag affixed to it. Should you lose your bag and have registered the serial number, the Terralinq service might help you get that valuable stuff back to you. By the way, if you don't have a DSLR or have suddenly decided that all of your future photography will be done with your iPhone, iPad, and Lytro, you can pull the camera compartment out to turn the Python courier into one big messenger bag. There are a number of other little pockets here and there on the Python; I leave it to our giveaway winner to count them for us. Functionality The Booq Python courier has room to spare. As you can see from the gallery images, I was able to stuff two Canon PowerShot IS cameras (sorry, I don't own a DSLR) into the camera compartment and had plenty of room to spare on top. My iPad 2 slid into the back pocket with ease and I filled the interior pockets with all manner of electronic gadgetry. With the shoulder pad attached and the bag slung across my body as all good courier bags should be, I was impressed with how comfortable the Python courier was even when fully loaded. It's also damned good looking, nice whether you're outfitted in a three-piece tailored suit or wearing jeans and a photographer's vest. Conclusion and Giveaway Booq did good work on the design and construction of the Python courier. For digital photographers who want to protect their equipment and take along an iPad for note-taking or editing work, the bag is perfect. A quick look at several photographic equipment store websites shows that the bag price is right in line with or actually lower than a number of camera-only shoulder bags by Billingham, Arri, Crumpler, Domke, and other camera accessory manufacturers. We'd like to give this bag away to a loyal TUAW reader. To win, check out the rules and then fill in all the blanks on the entry form below. The rules are as follows: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, click fill out the form below completely and click the submit button. The entry must be made before Monday, March 12, 2012, 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing. Prize: A new Booq Python courier bag worth $179.95. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Good luck! Thank you for your entries - this giveaway is now closed. A winner will be named soon!
