Whenever I travel, the camera bag that comes on board the plane with me is the ThinkTank Airport International. Looks so much like regular luggage, that it ticks off cabbies in NYC who assume I’m going to the airport when I’m only going to the Javits Center. Kinda like that.

Now, the gear, including the laptop, goes into that case, and I know it’s protected, with me, and fits easy into the overhead. When I get to my destination, usually when it’s a city, I switch out the gear from the roller to a discreet Oakley backpack, that has been packed, empty, into my luggage, which has some perfect pockets and is nicely padded. Also, it doesn’t scream “CAMERA BAG!”. Main roller stays in the room.

So far so good. As different gear shifts in and out of the bag, depending on the shooting, the bag leaves a little to be desired, but works.

The folks at ThinkTank must have been doing some similar stuff, because they came up with the Shape Shifter. Exactly what I’ve been doing, in a much better designed bag. Still discreet, but holds your gear much better. We met with Kurt Rogers, staff photographer at the San Francisco Chronicle, and one of the owner/designers at ThinkTank Photo, who gave us a preview of the bag.
Check this:

Also in the video, you’ll see their newest addition to their Urban Disguise Line, the “35” Fits a DSLR, pro or regular, plus a laptop. Great for walking around in…well…disguise.
As they say, you can get these bags in any color, as long as it’s black.