Whether you are toting around a cheap point-and-shoot or a pricey digital SLR, you want to keep your camera well-protected when you travel. This is not only to avoid damage to your chosen picture-taker, but also a matter of convenience. Having a suitable camera bag can give you just the right access to extra batteries, more memory cards, and so on. It also helps when you can sling something over your shoulder rather than having to hold it in your hand all the time.
Established in January 1995 by Michael Rockwell, M-ROCK aims to provide you with a wide range of camera bags, all of which are built to be functional, user-friendly, and well-built. We take a look at two examples from the M-ROCK camera bag line today: the 511 Yellowstone and the 505 Ozark.
M-Rock Yellowstone for Digital SLRs
Starting with the larger of the two, we find the M-ROCK 511 Yellowstone. While nowhere near as huge as some of those professional photography backpacks, the Yellowstone is large enough to accommodate most digital SLR bodies with up to a four-inch lens attached. You can choose to use it for your point-and-shoot as well, but you’ll likely be left with a fair bit of wiggle room. I can see it being a good fit for certain digital camcorders though.
The version featured here rocks a red and black color scheme, despite its “Yellowstone” moniker. That said, this camera bag is also available in other colors, so you can probably find one to match your wardrobe.
At first, I was inclined to believe that access to main compartment was achieved by undoing the buckle on the front. I was wrong. Undoing the buckle on the front grants you access to the accessory pocket on the front. This is where you’d stash an extra SD card, for example.
Instead, the main compartment is accessed by unzipping the entire top portion. The well-cushioned lid opens in the reverse direction and it comes with a mesh pocket on the interior. Looking into the main camera compartment, you’ll notice heavy padding all the way around, ensuring that your prized DSLR can survive the occasional bump.
You’ll also notice the pair of padded “bridge” style dividers. These can take the weight of the SLR body off of the lens during travel.
Keeping It Clean, Dry, and Under Control
Remember that mesh pocket on the lid? Inside that mesh pocket is a little bundle on a string. If you’d like, you can unravel this bundle and use it as a simple cleaning cloth. Looking through the (brief) provided documentation, though, they recommend that you open up the small cloth and use it to cover your camera before closing the lid. This aids in the weather-resistance of the Yellowstone camera bag.
There are also an abundance of loops all around this camera bag, so you can choose to attach the included shoulder straps in a variety of fashions.
Getting Smaller with M-Rock Ozark
Maybe you don’t own a digital SLR and you just want a compact camera bag to protect your point-and-shoot. Maybe you’re considering a secondary bag that can be used to properly protect a lens or two for your DSLR. The smaller M-ROCK 505 Ozark can accommodate both of these needs. It’s big enough to store up to a four-inch lens as well on a much smaller point and shoot body.
At about half the size of the Yellowstone, the 505 Ozark comes with a very similar set of features. You get the weather-resistant material on the outside, proper padding all the way around, and a couple of handy pockets and pouches to stash some of your smaller accessories.
While the Yellowstone has a reverse opening lid, the Ozark is more conventional. You get to the main camera compartment by undoing the buckle on the front. This also gives you access to the small front pocket as well. The lid on the M-ROCK Ozark camera bag has a similar mesh pocket on the inside as the Yellowstone. Also like the Yellowstone, it has that bundle on a bungee for cleaning and weather protection purposes.
If you’re worried about the elements, you will also gain some assurance from the fact that the top lid can be zippered shut, in addition to being closed using the main buckle.
Under the Hood, Enduring the Elements
Still not satisfied with M-ROCK’s ability to protect your camera (or lens) from Mother Nature’s wrath? Located in the front pocket of both the Ozark and the Yellowstone is yet another bundle on a bungee. Unraveling this reveals a protective rain flap that can cover just about everything.
In this way, you should have no trouble bandying around in a Rainforest with your camera in this bag. How you’ll protect your camera while taking pictures, on the other hand, is up to you.
A Strapping Young Lad
You want versatility? The M-ROCK 505 Ozark camera bag has loops, bungee cords, and straps up the wazoo. Flipping around to the back, you’ll find that the belt loop can come apart and be put back together using Velcro. That’s pretty handy.
What about those two straps on the side, you may ask? Well, that’s for one of the hidden secrets that accompany the family of camera bags from M-ROCK. Check out the next page for details.
Transformers-Inspired Devastator?
In Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen we are shown the power of combining multiple robots to form the mighty Devastator (who actually isn’t so mighty, but you’ll have to see the movie to find out why). You may also be familiar with the combining of robots in other franchises, like Voltron and Power Rangers. M-ROCK is also down with the combining of powers thing.
I can’t say for sure whether the company was inspired by Transformers, but there is certainly more than meets the eye when it comes to M-ROCK camera bags. The Velcro straps on the side of the Ozark are used to attach itself to the side of the Yellowstone. If you got two Ozarks, you could flank the Yellowstone on either side. This modular design adds a great deal to the versatility of these camera bags. In effect, you can use the Yellowstone for your DSLR and then a pair of Ozarks to hold your lenses. They’re all compartmentalized and well-protected.
But that’s not the only way to combine them either. Feel free to let you imagination run wild, because with all those Velcro straps, hooks, buckles, shoulder straps, and more, the M-ROCK camera bags can be combined and used in a number of different ways.
This isn’t restricted to just the Yellowstone and Ozark either, so don’t hesitate to see what you can do with the rest of the M-ROCK line.
Please Don’t Do This With your M-Rock Bag
On the little product tag attached to the larger M-ROCK 511 Yellowstone, you see a series of images of how you can use this particular camera bag. Based on all those six D-rings and the pair of provided shoulder straps, you could sling it over your shoulder like a messenger bag or set it up as a backpack, for example. That said, please don’t do what is pictured above.
They call this a “chest pack” or “tummy-bag.” Just say no. I’d sooner use the M-ROCK camera bag as a fanny pack than I would as a chest pack. That’s just wrong. It’s also liable to get you labeled a tourist and robbed in a foreign land.
Final Thoughts and Conclusion
Having a lot of fantastic gadgets and camera equipment doesn’t do you very much good if you can’t take care of said gadgets and equipment while on the move. They have some great messenger bags, briefcases, and backpacks (like the M-Rock Zion 525) to accommodate your laptop, for example. The line of camera bags from M-ROCK seems to be quite solid, no pun intended, for handling your photographic equipment.
While the 505 Ozark and 511 Yellowstone described in this current review aren’t large enough to accommodate the most professional of users, they are perfectly suitable for the pro-sumer enthusiast or the professional who doesn’t need to lug around 100 pounds of equipment. The build quality and materials are quite good, and the overall designs are robust and user-friendly. I particularly like the versatility of being able to combine several bags together to form a custom solution.
The 505 Ozark retails for $32.00 US while the 511 Yellowstone retails for $54.00 US. Both of which come with a 30 day money back guarantee and a lifetime warranty. If you’re in the market for a compact camera bag, M-ROCK is a solid option.
Pros
- Very versatile design that allows for combining of bags
- Plenty of padding and protective material
- Nice bonuses of cleaning cloth and rain jacket
- Lots of loops and bungee cords for attachment
Cons
- Zipping the main Ozark compartment can be awkward
- May not be big enough for some users
- Will not wear as a tummy bag
Overall Rating: 8.0 / 10.0
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M-Rock Yellowstone 511 and Ozark 505 Photo Gallery
