Benro Chameleon 101

I had introduced Benro before on their Travel Angel tripod. Benro started producing professional tripod under its own brand back in 2002. In the past 8 years, it has established a solid market with a wide range of tripods and heads. Only until recently in 2009, Benro steps into the camera bag market ranging from backpacks, shoulder bags, slingbags and rolling cases. First, you will notice that a lot of their designs are counterpart to  Lowepro, Kata, Crumpler.

I had a chance to check out the Benro Chameleon 101. The Chameleon series comes in three different sizes C100, C101 and C102. The largest can fit a DSLR with 70-200mm f/2.8 lens attached. A tripod can also be attached on the front.

Size comparison to Think Tank Street Walker Pro

In term of size, the Benro Chameleon 101 is less bulky which is much more suitable for travel or casual walkabout. It doesn’t feel like you are carrying a box on your back. However, the material used is much softer yet still adequate and the straps are a bit too thin as well. The Think Tank street walker pro is certainly more solidly build of the two.

The Benro Chameleon is a unique three carrying options in one while changing from backpack to right sling then to left sling by using its quick release buckles. So it is a backpack and sling bag in one. It also features side access similar to the Lowepro fastpack and slingshot.

What can you fit in the Benro Chameleon 101 ?

The bag is divided in to two compartments, the top and bottom. The top compartment is large enough fit quite a few things, filters, batteries, a 70-200mm f/2.8 or two even.

The main compartment can easily fit a 24-70mm f/2.8 attached, SB-900 flash, 14-24mm f/2.8. 50mm f/1.4. It also comes with a raincoat.

I would say Benro Chameleon is more suitable for those who are looking for a small-ish backpack that doesn’t look oversize but still want to carry quite a bit of gear. While it is nicely designed and well made, it is certainly not as strong as the Think Tank street walker pro.

Other camera bag blog entries:

Benro Chameleon 101

Think Tank Street Walker Pro

Think Tank Street Walker

Think Tank Modular Set

Crumpler Whickey and Cox

Lowepro Flipside 400 AW

Lowepro Flipside 200

Lowepro Flipside 300

Lowepro Inverse 200 AW

Lowepro Stealth Reporter D200 AW

Lowepro Fastpack 350

Lowepro Fastpack 200

Lowepro Slingshot 200 AW

Lowepro EX180