Think Tank's new Sling-O-Matic camera bag has a rather clever design which lets you switch it between your shoulders instantly. This sets it apart from a regular, one-sided sling-bag which will crunch your left shoulder to a knot of pain while leaving the other side happily load-free. A sling-bag has one big advantage over a backpack: you can swing it around in front of you and, provided the maker put the opening in the right place, you have instant access to your camera.
The Sling-O-Matic has its strap mounted on rails. Take the bag off, slide the strap to the other side and the load is now on the opposite shoulder. The bag comes in three sizes, depending on how much gear you need to pack in, and the largest will hold an SLR with a big 70-200mmm ƒ2.8 lens in its ready-section along with 3-5 more lenses. You can also slip a tripod into straps on the sides, and there is even an external section for a water bottle.
Finally, there is an optional chest-strap. This is billed as a stabilizer, but what it really does is make this a great bag for cyclists: the chest strap will stop the Sling-O-Matic from swinging around as you ride, just like the strap on a messenger bag.
The Sling-O-Matic runs from $130 up to $180, depending on size, and will be available "soon".
Sling-O-Matic product page [Think Tank. Thanks, Brian!]
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