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  • - Do you like my set up?

  • I think it's not bad.

  • Obviously it's the same back drop but

  • I'm still kinda toying with this idea.

  • See, I wanted to get a standing desk

  • and I certainly do not have the funds for that

  • at the moment.

  • So, this is actually my kitchen island bench

  • which has wheels, my partner made it and I love it

  • and I think it's beautiful.

  • It's at a good height and I think this will be suitable

  • right now, until I can afford a standing desk,

  • and then I can be all fancy like the fancy YouTubers.

  • I'm just not there yet.

  • So, you all know I have a bag problem,

  • which actually isn't really a problem to start with,

  • 'cause you always have a bag for every situation.

  • Well today, I'm actually gonna fix one gap

  • that I do have in my collection,

  • and that is the messenger bag.

  • I've decided to do a review on the Tenba DNA 13.

  • Yes, you've seen me review messenger bags

  • like the Messenger 13 from the Peak Design,

  • but I decided to go down a little bit of a different route

  • because I didn't quite have the funds to get

  • a Peak Design bag considering how expensive they are.

  • And I kinda wanted to see what more

  • budget friendly options were out there,

  • and that's where the Tenba DNA 13 came in.

  • But here's what I was looking for in my research,

  • and hopefully maybe you were

  • also thinking of the same thing and this might help you.

  • I'm getting into more photography these days

  • and I was looking for more ease of access

  • so that I don't have to keep opening the bag completely

  • to get one thing out.

  • I just want to be able to quickly be able to

  • get in to the main compartment of the bag

  • and take out what I need

  • without revealing everything else to the world.

  • I also wanted it to at least be able to

  • hold my Bronica GS1,

  • which is quite a beefy camera, it's very wide,

  • and it's not often you find compartments

  • that will fit it correctly.

  • Often times they're just bulge outwards and it isn't

  • quite a suitable fit.

  • I wanted to find something that was wide enough to hold it

  • and heavy duty enough to hold it

  • but also hold other things in there as well.

  • I also wanted it to have pockets galore,

  • I wanted things to be really easy to find

  • so that I wasn't fumbling around too much

  • when it comes to getting out the smallest little item

  • like a battery or a card.

  • I also wanted a sleeve for my iPad

  • because I not only wanted to use the bag

  • to take out on photo shoots or film shoots,

  • I also really wanted to use it as an everyday messenger bag

  • so I can convert it and put an iPad in the back

  • and take it to a meeting,

  • or just take it out anywhere really.

  • I also wanted something that wasn't too big

  • or overkill for my boney shoulders and my slight frame,

  • but I also wanted it to be big enough to be able to carry

  • everything that I needed and the necessities for a day.

  • So, I did all that research beforehand

  • and I landed on the Tenba DNA 13.

  • I did go in blind though,

  • I haven't actually seen the bag in real life,

  • I've only seen reviews on YouTube, and I've seen

  • that it has a lot of different sizes in the range

  • so, I knew that there were options there,

  • if I did like the style of the bag

  • I could get a different size.

  • However, it is really difficult to know if something is

  • suitable for you if you haven't actually seen it in person.

  • And that's where these reviews kinda come in handy,

  • and I know they come in handy for you all

  • because you get to see the item.

  • I know it's not in person so it is a little bit subjective

  • and a bit hard to tell still but it is a step forward.

  • So, hopefully this video helps you.

  • So, I bought it just in time to take on a shoot

  • with some friends in the Dandenong Ranges

  • (camera clicking)

  • and I thought that that would be a perfect opportunity

  • to run it through it's paces considering the terrain type

  • that we were going to be wandering through,

  • it was gonna be quite wet that day as well so,

  • it's perfect conditions to check the durability

  • and the usability of something that is supposedly

  • really durable and highly functional.

  • So, let's start off with the features of the Tenba DNA 13.

  • It goes for 159.95 USD retail price,

  • you can actually find it cheaper at a number of places.

  • It also comes in a variety of colors including

  • graphite, cobalt blue, which is this one here.

  • There's also a copper color

  • and there's a special edition black.

  • There's also a selection of sizes in the range as well.

  • So, you've got the Tenba DNA 8

  • which is the smallest of the lot,

  • and then you've got the 11, the 13, and the 15.

  • The Tenba DNA 13 will hold a mirror less camera

  • and four to five standard size lenses

  • or a DSLR and two to three standard size lenses.

  • Using that sort of terminology though

  • in the specs of the bag,

  • I don't think that really helps, as a consumer,

  • as to whether that bag is gonna work for me.

  • It does a little bit, kinda gives you a little bit

  • of a guideline, but then again,

  • everybody's camera is different,

  • and it's all gonna fit differently in different bags,

  • so it's not a standard to go by.

  • If that makes any sense.

  • On top of that it can also hold accessories

  • like a flash or a microphone, a 13 inch laptop.

  • Surprise.

  • And an iPad.

  • The weight of the bag without gear is 1.3 kilos.

  • The exterior of the bag is made out of a

  • 600 denier helix material which is water resistant.

  • I wouldn't have it in a torrential downpour

  • but it is rather water resistant.

  • It also has these nifty little flaps

  • on the inside of the bag also attached to the lid of the bag

  • which kind of protect it a little bit more from the weather.

  • Sort of an attempt at avoiding water dripping into the bag.

  • For anytime when the back is being used in heavy rain

  • you do have a rain protector in the bag as well.

  • A little bit of a bummer here is

  • it's not actually connected to the bag in any way

  • so it is a completely separate item that you'll have to

  • strap to the side or put in another pocket

  • and it will just end up taking space in the bag.

  • What I would have liked to see with this

  • is maybe a pocket on the bag itself

  • where it can flip out of.

  • Much like on the Lowepro bags

  • which usually come out of the bottom

  • and you can flip them up and around the top

  • to protect your bag from any rain.

  • You can also turn this inside out

  • and it can become a sun reflector to reflect any heat.

  • I managed to find a carabiner clip that I had at home

  • and I was able to hook it onto

  • the inside of the bag quite easily.

  • So, it is out of the way for me

  • and that was my solution to the problem but again,

  • it would have been nice to not have it taking up space.

  • It's also got a heavy duty base as well,

  • so it is scratch, tear and water resistant.

  • There's heavy duty straps and clips,

  • and there's also a luggage strap at the back which means

  • you can just put it on top of your rolling suitcase.

  • They also have clips on the front of the bag

  • called Fidlock Clips.

  • They're magnetic, they're really sturdy,

  • and all it is is a simple push to the side to undo it,

  • and then when you're putting it back on,

  • it's a magnetic clip,

  • so it's just gonna slide back on very easily.

  • However, it is really hard to undo any other way but that,

  • which makes it rather safe.

  • A quick access zipper.

  • This bag has a quick access zipper on the top

  • which means you can very easily reach into the bag,

  • find what you need, without having to open up the straps,

  • undo the Velcro, open the bag to the world

  • so that everybody can see what's inside your bag,

  • and then fumble around for a while.

  • So, having that quick access zipper makes things

  • a lot more streamlined and very, very simple on set.

  • If you're somebody who is constantly changing cameras

  • or constantly changing filters

  • that is a really good feature to have.

  • One of the coolest features, I reckon,

  • is the quiet Velcro, it's not silent

  • but it is very, very quiet.

  • (Velcro ripping)

  • Need I say more?

  • Well actually I do have to say more.

  • The interior of the bag,

  • it's made of a soft tricot material

  • and it has those regular Velcro dividers

  • that you usually see in bags of this type.

  • The interior compartment of the bag,

  • the part that actually makes it a camera bag,

  • is also completely removable

  • so you can just turn it into an every day bag.

  • There's also heaps of pockets

  • for almost every need you can think of.

  • There was, however, one thing

  • that I feel was missing from the bag

  • and that would be a clear or a mesh pocket

  • that your could put batteries or cards into

  • and you can see what's inside very quickly.

  • I mean, it is a really minor thing

  • but I feel like cards and batteries

  • are something that I want to keep on top of,

  • be able to access easily,

  • and be able to see immediately in the bag.

  • Now, I was able to fit almost everything I needed

  • in the bag and I will show you on screen now

  • what I was able to fit in the bag on the day.

  • And I could have put more in there but the reality is

  • it would have just been way too heavy for me

  • and I feel like this is a good size to weight ratio

  • for my body type and for my usage.

  • It can fit a lot but it's not overkill.

  • And that's the think with messenger bags,

  • it can very quickly become overkill

  • depending on how much you put in the bag.

  • Because of the design of the bag

  • and the way that it fits on anybody's body

  • it can be a fine line between

  • having a really nice, comfortable bag

  • and having a really bad experience.

  • So, when I was carrying this around all day,

  • yes it was heavy and yes it did get uncomfortable,

  • but because I was doing photography

  • I was able to take the bag off, sit it at my feet,

  • take the photos, put it back on.

  • I mean, if it was lighter

  • I could have just kept it on my back the whole time

  • but the reality was that I was carrying enough

  • to make it uncomfortable throughout the day.

  • And with a female figure things can get in the way,

  • especially when you're using a messenger

  • or a sling style bag that has a strap over the front,

  • it can be rather uncomfortable.

  • Now, I am not the largest chested woman in the world,

  • but as far as comfort goes with this bag

  • I found it more comfortable than some of the other bags

  • and the cheaper brands that I have tried out in the past.

  • In short, the padding is supportive and I do love

  • the non-slip feature on the shoulder pad.

  • All in all the Tenba DNA 13 messenger bag

  • meets my expectations and more

  • and I'm really impressed with it,

  • I'm really impressed with the quality

  • and I can't wait to use it more in the future.

  • It's what I expect from a messenger sling bag.

  • It's super durable for any condition,

  • it's a great price, and it's just worth it.

  • So, do I recommend it? Yes.

  • Do I think it's right for everybody? No.

  • I would definitely recommend, like with anything,

  • going to find the item first,

  • having a play around with it in a store

  • or whether you borrow it from a friend,

  • and then seeing if it's suitable for you.

  • Because watching these reviews online, yes it does help,

  • but they're not perfect.

  • Everybody has their own unique situation,

  • or ideal bag, or ideal camera, or ideal lens.

  • It's worth going out and trying it for yourself if possible.

  • And if you do have to rely on these sort of videos,

  • I hope I was able to bring you

  • some valuable information on this.

  • I was just lucky that after doing the research,

  • having a look at some videos,

  • and then thinking that this was the one,

  • that when I got it delivered it actually was the one.

  • That was just a fluke.

  • And it's so rare that that sort of thing happens.

  • That might be the case with you too, but it might not.

  • But I do hope that this review kinda helped you

  • in your decision making.

  • Whether you're gonna get the Tenba DNA 13

  • or you're gonna get a completely different bag,

  • that's completely up to you.

  • So, thank you very much for watching,

  • I hope you enjoyed the video.

  • If you did enjoy the video please remember to give it

  • a big, fat thumbs up.

  • And if you would like to see more of my face

  • and learn a little bit more about filmmaking in the process

  • remember to subscribe, and I'll see you next Sunday.

  • Well, actually no.

  • My schedule has changed.

  • I don't know if you've noticed this but I am now posting

  • on Australia's Monday mornings and for all of you in the US

  • it'll be on your Sunday evenings.

  • I think that works better.

  • Let me know if you're happy with that schedule change.

  • I think it kinda works a little bit better for people,

  • especially in the US,

  • because I was posting on your Saturday evenings

  • and you guys should just go out

  • and enjoy your Saturday evenings.

  • Unless you're like me and you just sit on the couch

  • with a cup of tea, but anyway, I'll see you later.

  • (upbeat music)

- Do you like my set up?

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