f-stop Fitzroy Camera & Lens Backpack Review

Look. Listen. This is probably the most excited I’ve ever been about a bag in my entire life. I have been dying to rave about it to a relevant audience because quite frankly, my boyfriend is sick of hearing me say the words, “Man, I just feel like I’ve really peaked on my travel bag game,” every time we’re at the airport.

And trust me: you need to know about the world’s greatest travel camera bag: the f-stop Fitzroy Roll-Top Sling Camera Pack

After traveling to six countries in 2018, I realized that one of the most important things to me day to day was the comfort and accessibility of my walk-around camera and lens backpack.

After much chafing, sweating, and back and shoulder pain, I came to the conclusion that it was the one piece of gear that was holding me back more than any other.

I set off to comb the Internet to find the perfect bag to solve all my problems. With each review, I continued to echo my own thoughts: too big big, too small, not cute enough, too annoying to get equipment out of, but…

When I stumbled on the f-stop Fitzroy, I felt like Goldilocks hitting the porridge jackpot. With its side openings, sling style carry system, and padded main compartment, this bag makes for the perfect walk-around and personal carry-on bag for the minimalist photographer.

Color options include navy, beige, and (my personal favorite) a vibrant, obnoxious traffic cone orange aka Nasturtium, so you’ll never get lost in the crowd!

If you’re on the hunt for something compact that brings both simplicity and convenience to the table, you will definitely want to read on about this 11 liter globetrotter’s dream bag.

f-stop Fitzroy Sling Camera Pack Review | Stats

Style: Roll-top camera sling backpack

Height: 40cm (15.7″)

Width: 23cm (9.1″)

Depth: 12cm (4.7″)

Volume: 11l

Weight: 0.55kg (1.2 lbs)

What I love about the f-stop Fitzroy

#1 | Side Access

To be completely honest, they had me at “side openings”.

I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have neglected to capture a moment just because I wasn’t in the mood to remove the bag from my shoulders, dig for my camera, take the picture, and put it back in the bag.

Being able to quickly unsnap the clip, slide the Fitzroy in front of me, and access my camera has been life-altering to say the least.

#2 | Sling Style Carry System

Don’t knock it ’til you try it! This was a feature I was initially put off by, but it turns out it’s exactly what I needed.

I love that you wear the f-stop Fitzroy Roll-Top Sling Camera Pack as a kind of sling on one shoulder, or cross body style.

Gone are the days of removing your backpack, setting it down and digging your belongings out.

Simply slide to the side, and you’re in! Even on a hot and humid afternoon hike, I found the sling style carry system to fit comfortably.

It also features a handy stabilizer strap to help prevent the bag sliding around when you’re moving.

[Editor: the Fitzroy is one of the lightest camera bags I’ve ever handled, at only 0.55kg (1.2 lbs) – this means you can really maximise your carry-on luggage allowance.]

#3 | Removable, Padded Main Compartment with Dividers

The next greatest feature of the f-stop Fitzroy is its padded main compartment. Not only does it keep your gear safe and stabilized, but it keeps it in its own section of the bag.

It can also be completely removed, meaning you can use the bag to store bulkier items in the space normally taken up by the dividers.

Bonus feature: the padded compartment makes for a surprisingly killer makeshift travel tripod. The padding creates a somewhat sturdy surface for resting your camera on top. This makes the bag fit to use as a makeshift tripod when in a pickle.

The bag itself can mold to awkward surfaces (e.g. rocks), and the camera can rest nicely on top. I find myself using the bag as a tripod for a quick picture often.

#4 | Roll Top

If the padded compartment wasn’t exciting enough, there’s a whole other compartment accessible via a roll top.

This is where I generally house things I want to carry with me, but need infrequent access to. For example: my drone, or more often than not a stuffed puffy jacket.

#5 | Discreet passport pocket

If you travel in foreign countries often, you know pickpockets can be a concern when it comes to wearing your bag on your back.

The Fitzroy’s passport pocket doubles as a wallet to perfectly fit your passport, driver’s license, and any other necessary cards safely against your back with easy access.

#6 | Laptop sleeve with key clip

The “laptop” sleeve is situated on the front of the Fitzroy and fits a 12″ tablet, also making it an ideal location to store your phone.

Inside the sleeve is also a built in key clip, which happens to be one of my favorite features of the bag. It is perfect for keeping your personal or AirBNB key safely attached to your bag.

Once it’s time to use it, you can easily unclip it with the push of a button.

Cons to be Aware of

1. The f-stop Fitzroy has a semi limiting size and fit. If you’re a petite person, it may fit a bit loosely. For reference, I’m 5’2″ and about 110lbs, and even if at its tightest it’s still a bit loose (but comfortable).

Similarly, if you’re a larger more big-boned person, it may not fit at all.

2. The sling style system is certainly not for everyone. Fortunately the bag isn’t meant to carry a lot of gear, and weight and subsequent shoulder and back pain probably isn’t something you need to worry about.

It does fit at a slight angle, which not everyone will find aesthetically pleasing.

If you’re more of a backpack person, consider looking at its slightly larger fraternal twin the f-stop Dalston.

3. It’s tiny, and I mean really tiny. I can pack my Canon 5D Mk IV with the 35mm lens on it, and one other thing, be it a lens, a drone, or a jacket.

It is definitely not a replacement for your primary camera bag. On the flip-side, it’s incredibly light at only 0.55kg (1.2 lbs).

F-Stop Fitzroy Review | Conclusion

The f-stop Fitzroy is the perfect personal carry-on bag! It holds all your walk around necessities, and still somehow manages to fit beneath your airplane seat. They didn’t even make me store it when I travelled via seaplane!

Anything you can do to make your travel photography experience easier and more comfortable for you is integral to moment keeping on the go.

Whether you’re hopping from airport to airport or spending the day walking around a foreign city on a blisteringly hot day, the The Fitzroy checks all the boxes as the ideal travel bag.

As someone who absolutely refuses to sacrifice the quality of a DSLR, even for the sake of comfort and practicality, I cannot recommend the The f-stop Fitzroy enough.