Tenba Cooper 13 Slim review

Tenba Cooper 13 Slim at a glance:

Shoulder bag for CSC or small DSLR
Holds a camera and three or four lenses
Rear pocket for 13in laptop
External dimensions 37x27x14cm, weight 1.2kg
Price: £165
Website: www.tenba.com/uk

As mirrorless compact system cameras gain popularity, accessory manufacturers are paying increasing attention to catering for them. Tenba’s Cooper 13 Slim is a case in point: it’s a slender messenger bag specifically designed for carrying smaller cameras and lenses. It’s closely related to the thicker Cooper 13, which is designed for DSLRs.

A stylish bag made of grey canvas and leather, the Cooper 13 Slim is more capacious than it might appear. Indeed, it’s deep enough to hold a large telephoto lens such as the Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 or Panasonic 100-400mm f/4-6.3. I was able to fit my Olympus OM-D E-M5 II with a 12-40mm f/2.8 and two or three more lenses, with the number of dividers provided to organise my kit. The padded camera insert is removable, so you can use the bag as a briefcase.

Numerous pockets at the front allow organisation of batteries, memory cards and so on, while a separate pocket at the back holds a 13in laptop. The lid is held down by special ‘silent’ Velcro that’s much quieter to open than the conventional variety. Alternatively, you can access the bag from a zip along the top; a secondary zipped cover below provides additional security. A weatherproof cover is also included.

Tenba Cooper 13 Slim – key features

Expanding end pockets

Undoing a zip opens these pockets for larger items such as water bottles.

Leather base

This provides protection when the bag is placed on the ground.

Trolley strap

This allows the bag to be slipped over the handle of a rolling suitcase.

Shoulder pad

Well-padded and grippy, the shoulder pad provides comfort when the bag is carried.

Tenba Cooper 13 Slim – our verdict

The Tenba Cooper Slim 13 is a really well-made bag that’s as practical as it is good looking. It swallows a surprising amount of kit and has lots of space for additional odds and ends. It’s expensive, but there are a few better bags on the market for CSC users.

SCORE: 5 out of 5

You may also consider:

Billingham Hadley Pro

Price: £170

Website: www.billingham.co.uk

This classic English camera satchel is similarly sized to the Cooper Slim 13, with a removable insert. There’s no laptop pocket, but a 13in Ultrabook can be slipped inside.

LowePro Streetline SH 180

Price: £132

Website: www.lowepro.co.uk

A casually styled bag designed to carry a 13in laptop and personal items alongside your camera, this bag uses collapsible ‘flexpockets’ to protect your kit.