The new and updated 50l Tilopa is an important part of the f-stop range and can be considered a crossroad where the models get more serious. At first sight, it might be difficult to distinguish from the Ajna as the two are virtually identical in size. So what exactly is the difference between the Tilopa and Ajna? The Tilopa is a bit like the Ajna on steroids and is designed for shooters who test their gear to the limits.
What's new with the DuraDiamond™ bags?
- Upgraded DuraDiamond™ material is proprietary to f-stop and more weather resistant, lighter weight and stronger
- BLOOM™ Foam in shoulder straps and hip belt improves comfort
- Combination T6 Aluminum and plastic hardware
- Upgraded weather-resistant zippers
- Improved organization and storage features added to pockets, lid, and back panel, including padded laptop sleeve in back panel
- Additional storage and organization in front, side, and lid pockets
- Aluminium frame for all-day comfort
- Pairs best with the Pro – Large Camera Bag Insert
Video Review of the f-stop Tilopa for Wildlife Photography by Marlon du Toit
Features:
Hypalon Padding - The first difference is more Hypalon padding on the front and bottom. Hypalon is a virtually indestructible and waterproof material and is strategically placed on the areas of the pack that will be in contact with outdoor surfaces. This gives you peace of mind to put the pack down on any surface without worrying about abrasion or damage.
Additional Mounting Points - The Tilopa features a 3rd set of straps on the front like the ones on either side. Anyone who has hiked before knows that place to mount a tripod, tent, sleeping mat, whatever it may be, is always useful.
Larger Front Pocket - The front pocket of the Ajna and Lotus does not offer a lot of space and can only be opened on one side. Those of the Tilopa and larger models are of considerable size, can zip open entirely and feature an internal mesh pocket.
Second Front Pocket - The Tilopa and larger models feature a 2nd front pocket below the main one. It is ideal for supporting the feet of a tripod mounted on the pack or for storing small items that you need quick access to.
Stronger Harness System - The Tilopa and larger models have a more robust harness system and feature better padding on the shoulder- and hip belts for the best possible weight distribution of heavy loads. These models also feature a mesh stash pocket on the hip belt, useful for storing lens cloths, memory cards etc.
Carry-On Compliance - The Tilopa is just a touch longer and deeper than the allowed carry-on size (56x36x23), but it is so close that we do not hear many stories of photographers getting into trouble in airports. It comfortably fits in the overhead lockers of domestic haul planes like the Airbus A320-300. It just fits in the overhead lockers of Airlink’s Embraers, as long as you pull the compression straps nice and tight and you don’t stuff the front compartment of the backpack to the brim as that increases the depth of the bag by up to 5-8cm. Always make sure you tighten the compression straps to trim down your backpack’s profile, tuck in all loose straps and belts and try not to let the airport staff see your backpack.
ICU Compatibility
The Tilopa can handle a wide variety of ICU's depending on how much camera gear you want to carry and how much of the main compartment you want available for other items like clothing, food or whatever it is you like taking on a shoot. Keep in mind that all Mountain Series shells have a large top-, front- and two side pockets in addition to the main compartment.
- The XL Pro ICU is a comfortable fit, but it leaves just enough space in the main compartment for a rain jacket or some snacks.
- The Large Pro ICU is a very good fit, leaving about 30% of the main compartment available for some other gear.
- The Small Pro and Medium ICU's occupy about 30-40% of the main compartment, leaving plenty of space for other gear.
Padded Multipurpose internal sleeve fits up to a 15” laptop.
Specifications
- Height - 59.7cm
- Width - 35.6cm
- Depth - 30.5cm
- Volume - 50 Liters
- Weight - 1.9kg
Compatible ICUs
- XL Pro
- Large Pro
- Small Pro
- Medium Shallow
- Medium Slope
If you're new to the f-stop system it can be tricky figuring out what will be suited to your needs. Send us a mail via the contact page with your camera gear and we'll get back to you with a recommendation within 24 hours.
Do you have the item in stock?
Products are either in stock, out of stock (sold out) or special order.
- In stock: We have stock at our local warehouse. You can see how many we have in stock, add these products to your cart and check out.
- Sold out: We usually carry stock of this item but it has sold out. Please get in touch to get an ETA and reserve and incoming product. Or use the "Email me when available" button to get an email when new stock arrives.
- Special order: We don't carry local stock of this item. Get in touch to confirm stock availability and ETA to place an order.
Delivery options and what they cost
We pride ourselves on lightning fast shipping, FREE on all orders over R1000. For orders under R1000 a courier fee of R120 will apply. Apart from large f-stop gear orders and large tripods, most of our items ship overnight and the daily cutoff is 13:00. You can read more on the deliveries page.
Can I collect my parcel?
Yes, you can collect your order from our warehouse in Saxenburg Park, Blackheath (08:00 - 14:00). Just choose the collection option at checkout- we'll follow up with the specifics. Please note that we are very strict about payment if collecting. We will not release any goods if we are not 100% comfortable about payment. We accept the following as payment confirmation in order to release the goods.
- Payfast Card Payment (any customers, new or returning)
- EFT from FNB to FNB, pending fund clearance (any customers, new or returning)
- Normal EFT from other banks to FNB (return customers only)
- Instant EFT from other banks to FNB, pending fund clearance (Any customers, new or returning)
- Cash (any customers, new or returning)
What payment options are available?
What is your policy on returns and or exchanges?
We are more than happy to exchange any product for something else or a full refund* if you feel that the item you chose isn’t quite right for you. See our Return Policy page for more.
*If paying with any card, 4.5% of the transaction value goes to the credit card payment facilitation company. "Full Refund" means that we will return the full amount we received after the credit card service fees. If you are at all unsure that what you're buying is ideal for you, rather opt for EFT payment to be safe.
Where is my order? How can I track my order?
You will receive an email with your tracking number once your order has been collected by our couriers. You can also find tracking number for your orders under "My account"
Shop 5 Roeland Square, Cnr Roeland and, Upper Canterbury St, Cape Town
0214653573
Victorian Towers, 2 Palm St, Bellville, Cape Town
Fritz, 0219101380
Boskruin, Randburg
Deon Truter, 0823148308
Stonemill Office Park, Greenstone House
300 Acacia Rd, Johannesburg
Wilhelmus Möller, 0118802885
28 Pearce St, Berea, East London
043 726 2200
Kloof, Durban
Emil, 0844849959
Shop 5 Roeland Square, Cnr Roeland and, Upper Canterbury St, Cape Town
0214653573
Victorian Towers, 2 Palm St, Bellville, Cape Town
Fritz, 021 910 1380
Kloof, Durban
Emil, 0844849959
Durbanville
Bernard Kotze - 0727156743
Ivan Fourie - 0825290593
1032 Silvergrass St, Montana, Pretoria, 0182
Wayne Lesch – 0798834407
Damien Bradshaw
Eastern Cape (Hunting Products Only)
0835749134
Approved Arms
Pretoria
Dirk Pio – 0730556726
We have a no-nonsense approach. If a product breaks due to a manufacturer defect, we will replace it without asking any questions. If we have any reason to believe that the product was put through unreasonably heavy usage, we will have to follow the manufacturer's standard warranty procedure.
Leofoto
The manufacturer offers a 10-year limited warranty on all products and we extend that warranty to our customers. Please read the below very carefully, so you understand your position when something breaks or doesn’t work ideally anymore.
It is critical to understand that this warranty only applies to factory faults and not to standard wear and tear. Tripods are subject to a lot of gray areas in this regard as tripods used outdoors, particularly in sand and sea water, are subjected to extreme wear and tear. We will e.g. replace the affected part of your tripod if a carbon tube snaps or cracks without much pressure applied to it or if the apex breaks. We will not replace your tripod or the affected part if e.g. a joint locks up due to sand or salt build up or if a hinge becomes corroded or stiff/floppy and unserviceable due to corrosion or salt build up.
In sum, if we see that you took good care of your tripod and something went wrong, we will go out of our way to fix or replace it for you. If we see that you dragged it through the mud (literally or metaphorically), then we are unlikely to fix/replace it for you. How you handle your tripod and take care of it, is all the difference between 3- or 20 years of service.
The best of tripods will not last longer than 2/3 years if used regularly in the sea, INCORRECTLY, and never serviced. Always make sure to extend the lowest leg section first, so you keep the joints out of the water/sand. Always rinse with freshwater after use in the sea, wipe down with a wet cloth, leave extended to dry and ENSURE YOU KEEP THE HEAD AND APEX DRY. If your tripod’s joints start feeling sandy/gritty, open them up, give them a proper clean and lubrication and fine-tune the tension on the joints.
If travelling on dirt roads, ensure that your tripod is in its carry-bag when not in use.
Your tripod will not take care of itself – it is up to you to do so. All our tripods ship with an info-sheet on taking care of your tripod. We also offer a full tripod disassembly and service for R1000, including shipping both ways.
