I believe the most important thing for taking great photos is simply “being there.”

It may sound obvious—almost too obvious—but it matters more than equipment, skills, or even talent. Especially in the outdoors, “being there” is not easy. Unlike shooting table photos at a café in the afternoon, you have to get there on your own feet. To capture the best scenery, the best season, and the perfect moment, you have to make the effort to reach that place.

I love photography, and I’ve always brought a camera with me on outdoor trips. I follow my curiosity and press the shutter whenever something catches my eye. But when I look back at my photos later, I often feel that their true value lies not just in how they turned out, but in the fact that I was there, at that moment. To make that happen, I need to carry my camera more actively—and that’s why I designed the first FOCUS.

Now in its third generation, the new FOCUS was developed around the theme of being “lighter and stronger” to further improve mobility.

The main fabric uses a ripstop material made from durable 66 nylon arranged in a grid, with a carbonate coating applied to enhance water resistance. Compared to the previous PVC coating, it is lighter and has a lower environmental impact. We also reworked the pattern multiple times to minimize seams and zipper length, and even perforated the protective foam with countless small holes to reduce weight as much as possible. As a result, the new model is about two-thirds the weight of the previous version, while also increasing storage capacity.

We paid careful attention to the sizing of the storage space as well. I spent my pandemic stimulus money on camera gear, and my collection has only grown since—my desk is now full of equipment. I tested all of it repeatedly with prototypes to arrive at a highly practical size. While the look has changed significantly, I believe it remains a tool that existing FOCUS users will appreciate. And I’m sure it will make you want to bring your camera out into the field again.

“Always with your camera on your chest.”

Pack and go!