Lowepro ProTactic BP 450 AW III

I never thought I’d be as enamored with camera bags as I am now, but after writing about quite a few of them in the past… here we are again. Previously, I had the opportunity to check out the Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW III and drive it daily, and I was fairly impressed with it. It’s truly one of my top recommendations for anyone looking for a versatile modular camera bag, with almost endless customization options.

However, if the aforementioned 350 version is too small for you, don’t worry, because it has a bigger brother – the Lowepro ProTactic BP 450 AW III. Although I mentioned at the time that most people wouldn’t need anything larger than a 350 — and the same still holds true for me personally and my typical set of gear — some of you might benefit from more storage space. You may actually be able to fill this to the brim!

In stark contrast to the more portable gear I’ve tested the 350 with, for the ProTactic BP 450 AW III, I considered carrying something larger and more bulky. It will therefore be home to a rather bulky Canon R5 Mk 1, which is accompanied by a 24-70mm RF lens. They both struggle with small bags. Fortunately, the massive body of the R5 Mk 1 had no problem fitting inside the Lowepro ProTactic BP 450 AW III.

Do you need more space?

Plus, with more storage space in and around it, the 450 gives you more space to accommodate additional accessories and equipment alongside. In other words, while the smaller 350 version will suffice for most hobbyists and casual photographers, all full-time professionals should probably consider the 450 instead. Ultimately, it’s better to have that extra height, than to be sorry!

Maybe you’ll find that too With the new Lowepro ProTactic BP 450 AW IIIyou may be able to get away with storing all your gear in just one bag. This is instead of having to carry an extra bag with you, so it comes in handy. Personally, the 450 seems too big for me (the 350, on the other hand, seems just right!).

Speaking of which, my favorite feature of the Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW III returns with this larger 450 model…modular splitters! If you’ve already read my review of the 350, it’s exactly the same concept here with the dividers, plus the wealth of organizational options and customization it offers you. But this time, the Lowepro ProTactic BP 450 AW III gives you a lot more space to work with!

An endless level of customization

As with the 350, the larger 450 version here carries the idea of ​​including multiple different shapes and sizes of spacers, as well as different colours. I’ve found that there are an almost infinite number of ways you can customize the main compartment and place dividers, even accommodating oddly shaped items you put in the bag. For better protection, dividers are generously padded.

I also appreciate how simple and easy it is to move the dividers, allowing you to swap and move them quickly and easily. For professionals, this should be a fairly valuable feature, since you’re probably constantly switching your loadout and equipment. Whether you’re bringing one big camera, two small cameras, some big lenses, or a day’s worth of spare batteries, you’ll find a way to fit it.

Speaking of accessing your equipment and items, just like storing them, it is very simple; Like the Lowepro ProTactic BP 450 AW III It gives you more than one way to do this. For example, you can simply unzip the entire front of the bag, to have unrestricted access to that essential compartment. Alternatively, you can also open the top flap, or access the main compartment through two zippered pockets on the side.

Enough pockets for all your gear

Oh, and if you’re struggling for more space, in addition to the main compartment, the Lowepro ProTactic BP 450 AW III includes a bunch of smaller zippered pockets elsewhere. These should be fine for smaller items like memory cards, batteries, tapes, and other random bits, which can get lost easily or move around a lot. Moreover, if you need to carry your laptop or tablet with you, you can place it here as well.

Just to give you an idea of ​​how much larger the 450 is compared to the ProTactic BP 350 AW III… although the latter may fit laptops up to 14 inches, such as a 13-inch MacBook, the 450 here will fit easily 16-inch MacBook (or other similarly sized laptops). Aside from that, there are also stretchy fabric pieces on the outside, allowing you to hang other accessories (like a tripod), and a large pocket on the side for your water bottle.

As a reward, Lowepro includes extra items in the bag. Inside a small hard shell case, you get a very nifty rain cover for the bag, as well as the unexpected inclusion… a tool belt with some extra pockets you can put your lenses (or other things) in. As far as standard camera bags go, for around £279.95, the new Lowepro ProTactic BP 450 AW III, as a larger and more compact option, is an absolutely fantastic option worth checking out!