Shimoda Redesigned Their Core Units for Super-Telephoto Lenses

Core Units allow Shimoda users of the Explore v2 or Action X v2 backpacks to customize the size of their camera load. Alongside the Action X v2 pack launch, Shimoda has tweaked the sizing of a few of their Core Units to fit certain super-telephoto lenses better and added a new XXL DV Core Unit size for use with the older Action X70 and new Action X70 HD. In this post, we’ll quickly examine the new Units. A broader post comparing all Shimoda’s Core Units can be found here.

2023 Core Unit Changes

Shimoda already had a comprehensive lineup of Core Unit sizes, but there was room for improvement regarding compatibility with popular super-telephoto lenses. As a result, Shimoda made small changes to the size of three existing Core Unit models and added one entirely new model specifically for users of the biggest lenses on the market.

• *UPDATED* Large DSLR v3 – Extended length to better accommodate a mounted Sony 200-600mm lens. Now also fits an unmounted 500mm f/4 lens.
• *UPDATED* Large DV v2 – Extended length to better accommodate a mounted Sony 200-600mm lens. Now also fits an unmounted 500mm f/4 lens and better fits 400mm f/2.8 lenses like the larger Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8. Expanded width to increase overall volume. Now fits unmounted Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3.
• *UPDATED* X-Large DV v2 – Extended length to better accommodate 600mm f/4 lenses, including the larger Nikon Z 600mm f/4. Now also fits an unmounted 600mm f/4 lens. Expanded width to increase overall volume. Fits mounted Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3.
• *NEW* XX-Large DV – Accommodates mounted Canon 600mm f/4 and adds top access feature.

The changes to the length of DSLR Large and DV large units were catalyzed by the popularity of the Sony 200-600mm lens. In the v1 versions of these Core Units, a Sony camera mounted to the 200-600mm lens was a tight squeeze. Tight enough it would sometimes pop the eyepiece from the camera when extracting it from the bag. The dimensional changes aren’t huge, but Sony shooters with that lens will be pleased.

Nikon users will also be pleased with the length updates to the Large and XL DV Core Units as the Nikon Z 800mm lens will now fit unmounted in the Large DV Unit and mounted in the XL DV Core Unit. The Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 and Z 600mm f/4 lenses, with their built-in teleconverters, are the longest lenses compared to Sony and Canon. The new lengths of the Large and XL DV Core Units accommodate these lenses. Of course, these lenses also fit into the new XXL DV Core Unit, which everyone should be pleased about.

New Top Access Core Unit

The new XX-Large DV Core Unit results from direct feedback within the wildlife photography community. Wildlife photographers with large 400mm, 500mm, 600mm, and 800mm super-telephoto lenses wanted a way to leave their lens attached to their camera body and even leave the lens hood in place. Having everything ready to go at a moment’s notice gives you more chances to catch unexpected and fleeting moments in nature.

Previously, if you shot with one of these large super-telephoto lenses, you had to reverse the lens hood and remove the camera body from the lens to fit it all into the XL DV Core Unit. With the addition of the new XX-Large DV Core Unit to the lineup, Action X70 or Action X70 HD users can opt for top access extraction of a mounted super-telephoto lens.

New Core Unit Compatibility

Complete compatibility listings for all Core Units are within my Shimoda Core Unit guide. The newly updated Core Units are compatible with the following bags.

• Large DSLR v3 – Compatible with the Action X40 V2, Action X50 (V1 and V2), Action X70 HD, Explore 35, Carry-On Roller, and DV Roller.
• Large DV v2 – Compatible with the Action X70, Action X70 HD, and DV Roller.
• X-Large DV v2 – Compatible with the Action X70, Action X70 HD, and DV Roller.
• XX-Large DV – Compatible with the Action X70, Action X70 HD, and DV Roller.