Nomatic Peter McKinnon Camera Sling 8L Review

Born from the successful Nomatic x McKinnon Camera Pack 35L released a couple of years ago, the additional McKinnon Camera Sling 8L features the same DNA but in a much, much smaller package.

It goes without saying, the camera sling market is flooded. But when a sling bag is essentially just a giant pocket with a strap attached to it, how can you do something different to stand out?

Well, that’s where Peter McKinnon has stepped in along with the team at Nomatic.

The TL;DR version of this article is: The McKinnon Camera Sling is absolutely fantastic.  

At this point in time, I feel it’s potentially the closest thing to perfection that a camera sling bag can be.

Nomatic Peter McKinnon Camera Sling Specs

 

Capacity: 8L
External Dimensions: 19 x 33.65 x 12.7 cm (7.5″ x 13.25″ x 5″)
Interior Dimensions: 18.4 x 25.4 x 10.8 cm (7.25″ x 10″ x 4.25″)
Weight: 0.72kg (1.58lbs)
Strap Circumference: 116.84 to 158.75 cm (46″ to 62.5″)
Includes: 1x Stabiliser Strap and 2x Dividers

• Quick one-handed closure system
• Internal organization pockets
• 3-way carry (sling/cross body/shoulder)
• Dedicated memory card and battery pockets
• Fits inside the McKinnon Camera Pack 35L
• Durable materials and water-resistant build
• Padded shoulder strap
• Luggage pass-through
• Included stabilizer strap
• Molle strap system (gear straps sold separately)
• EVA foam formed back panel
• Lifetime warranty

Build & Appearance

The McKinnon Camera Sling 8L is undeniably part of the greater Nomatic X McKinnon series of products.

It features the same beautiful, sleek, black, modern and utilitarian design language as the larger 25L and 35L Camera Backpacks.

(See my review of the 25L McKinnon travel backpack.)

Built from the same outer tarpaulin and utilising waterproof Zoom Zippers, it’s designed to withstand the elements and accompany you on whatever adventure you set out on.

A major point of difference to set it apart from other slings on the market is the way in which it opens.

To start with, the Camera Sling is designed to sit firmly against your body and retain an upright orientation. Following that, the lid opens up the body of the sling completely, giving unrestricted access to your gear.

For owners (aspiring or current) of the Camera Pack 35L, while the Sling 8L does fit within it, I must admit it’s a pretty tight fit. You have to squish it down a bit as the shoulder strap gets in the way.

It would be helpful if the strap could be removed for stowing! But that’s not a major problem – it just may take a bit of extra effort if the Sling is jam-packed full.

Exterior Features

Being a sling, there’s not a long list of external features to describe. It’s a small bag and they’re generally kept simple for that reason.

What you will find though are Molle straps along the front and base for external carry, a luggage pass-through on the back, and a tough grab handle on the top.

However, what you won’t find are any external zipper pockets or bottle pouches on the outside. Nor will you find any external gear straps included in the purchase. Those are an optional extra!

The signature external feature, however, is the lid and the way in which it opens. This may sound odd when thinking of it as a feature, but it really is a great point of difference to most other slings on the market.

For one thing, once unzipped it remains open without you needing to hold it out of the way.

Secondly, it’s easily opened and closed with one hand (no need to put that camera down!) and can be latched closed with an elastic pull tag (for quicker access on the go – no zippers required!).

The way it remains open without assistance is actually a game-changer.

No need to hold the bag open with one hand while accessing your items with the other.

This may not sound like much, but it makes a big difference when changing lenses or shifting things around on the move.

Interior Features

Slings are simple by nature. They’re generally just big enough to carry your camera with a lens or two and a few accessories.

Where they differ though (other than capacity) is how they hold the gear.

The McKinnon Camera Sling features a rectangle bucket shape on the inside to hold your camera in place, and your smaller accessories can be organised into dedicated pockets contained within the lid area.

You’ll find two wide filter/accessory pouches, along with three dedicated battery pockets and three memory card pockets. Within the lid is a decent size zipper pocket for other loose items.

I found the interior to be a generous deep size that actually (albeit very snugly) fit my Canon 5D Mark III. I put this down to the strategic boxy shape of the McKinnon Camera Sling.

• Best iPhone camera accessories

Storage Capacity

As to be expected with a sling of this size, it’s suitable for a single system set-up. You probably won’t fit a drone and mirrorless camera together.

Although, a Mini 3 Pro and a point-and-shoot might fit?

Coming in at a healthy 8L, which I feel is not too large and not too small, you can easily fit a mirrorless camera with a couple of varying size lenses, along with small accessories. Missing from the below, sunglasses!

Presently I use the McKinnon Camera Sling 8L with:

• a Sony a7 III with Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8
• 3 spare batteries
• 3 spare memory cards
• Hand sanitiser (these trying times)
• SanDisk Extreme PRO Portable SSD
• USB battery charger with charger cable
• Sunglasses
• Various other small bits and pieces…

It also has the capacity to carry a foldable drone set of gear. I can’t say for certain whether a Mavic Pro, Mavic Air, or other foldable drones will fit with the larger controllers they now come with. But the DJI Mini 3 Pro fits really well!

I’ve even dropped in some other bits and pieces to see what can fit. I didn’t utilise the small zipper pocket either, so you can still fit more items in the McKinnon Camera Sling.

Above I’ve included:

• DJI Mini 3 Pro
• DJI RC Controller
• 2 spare batteries within the charging hub
• 30w wall plug
• Spare propellers
• Hand sanitiser (these trying times)
• SanDisk Extreme PRO Portable SSD
• USB battery charger with charger cable
• Sunglasses
• Various other small bits and pieces…

Ease of Use/Comfort

The foam shoulder strap is very comfortable and can be adjusted to wear cross shoulder, sling, or messenger style. That said, it’s not removable, just adjustable in length.

The McKinnon Camera Sling also comes bundled with a cross-body stabilising strap.

Peter McKinnon set out to create a sling bag that can be opened and used one-handed, so the zippers are easy to find and run around the body smoothly. Unlike most other brands, the lid then pops open and stays open without needing to be held.

By also adding some space between the lid and the gear compartment, you can load it up without impeding on your main gear.

It also stays relatively flat and stable against your body which is helpful for not spilling items when accessing your gear! Not having to hold the lid open is very, very helpful too.

Alternatives to McKinnon Sling

If you’re one to shop around a bit, perhaps take a look at the Peak Design Everyday Sling ranges. They’re probably the closest I can think of within the price range of the McKinnon Camera Sling 8L.

Drawbacks (in my opinion) of the Peak Design Slings would be to do with the shape and access point. I’ve always felt that Peak Design products are designed incredibly well, but they can be on the tighter side when it comes to access due to the slimmer profile.

But when compared to how easily and wide the McKinnon Sling opens up, and stays open… It’s just so easy.

If you’re after something rather utilitarian and at a lower price point you could consider the Moment Rugged Camera Sling. They’re very boxy so access is wide and clear, but they don’t feel as premium as the other brands.

Within the Rugged and Everyday Slings, your smaller items (memory cards, batteries, keys, etc) are housed within a zipper pouch inside the lid. Whereas on the McKinnon there are dedicated pockets for them along with an extra zipper pocket for other bits and pieces.

Some may prefer the full zipper pocket for added security if the bag were to tip over, but I’ve grown quite an affinity to how the McKinnon Camera Sling opens up and gear is stored within it.

Value for Money

Nomatic products are built extremely well and with high-end durable materials. The partnership with Peter McKinnon has been truly successful and resulted in such awesome products. But they do come with a price tag attached.

Bearing in mind though, before you go and say, “It’s expensive!”, the McKinnon Camera Sling 8L fits a similar “cost per storage litre” as the Peak Design Everyday Sling range, and they’re very popular. All for good reason too!

The value stems from the bag being built to last, featuring a considered and strategic design for ease of use and comfort, while also being capable and durable. It feels great, functions extremely well, and as an added bonus – it’s relatively slender and lightweight!

Nomatic offer a lifetime warranty on their products to cover defects in materials and workmanship. They also offer optional 2 and 3-year extended coverage plans which cover you for accidental damage through adventurous or casual usage.

Peter McKinnon Camera Sling 8L Review | Conclusion

I usually have this thing about Sling bags missing bottle pockets. I know it probably seems like something ridiculous to complain about, but they do come in handy for carrying extra things, especially water!

But everything else about the McKinnon Camera Sling 8L is fantastic and I am happy to adapt when it comes to my emotional support water bottle.

It’s a brilliant sling to pair with my mirrorless set-up. It’s light, stable, secure, and fits just the right amount of gear. Any smaller and it wouldn’t carry enough – but any larger and it’d feel too bulky.

Another hit for the Nomatic X McKinnon partnership!