Retrospective 30 | Thinktank Photo | Bag Review

Front Exterior

Back Exterior

It comes with two straps, hand strap (which can be removed if required) and shoulder strap. The shoulder strap is very nicely padded and one of the most comfortable I’ve come across. The shoulder strap pad also firmly stays in place. Another manufacturers bag I use I constantly have to fix the padding to my shoulder, driving me nuts.

The back of the bag contains a large single compartment, for notepad etc. My iPad in its case just about fits with zip closed. I like the pinestrone color too, a bit of a Magnum vibe about it! It is also available in black.

Once you open the flap you have plenty of choice for what goes where. It is as divided as follows:

• DSLR in middle
• Large lens either side
  • all 3 of these compartments can be adjusted or removed as needed
• Either end of the bag has a flash pouch – this will give up real estate to a smaller lens
• Large back compartment
• Bits & pieces compartment

Inner Compartment

Inner Compartment with flaps open on front pockets

The front pockets are big, one side containing the weather flap, and still with room to fit at least another body. The empty pocket can easily take an 85, 50, lensbaby, and yet again still have plenty of room left for more bits.

Lens & Flash pouch

The inside back has a large pouch for notebook, iPad, or possibly a small laptop. In between the front pockets and main compartment is an other large area (again subdivided) for bits & pieces like extra memory cards, cleaning kit, cables, batteries, pens.

Inner bits & pieces compartment

On top of all the other compartments I nearly missed 2 more! On the outside of the bag either end again has a deep pocket, for the likes of phone and other similar smaller items.

I know I already said that its not a walk-about bag, but thats if you have it full of gear and gets weighty. As you can see from the photographs below from the exterior it doesn’t look big, so if you pack lightly then it would be perfect for you.

Other nice little features include:

• business card compartment
• choice to have the front flap use the velcro contacts or not – i.e. making it silent
• key lanyard

Pros:

• Doesn’t look like camera bag
• Plenty of pockets & compartments
• Nicely divided up
• Shoulder & hand straps
• Rain cover
• Fits a load of gear
• Strap padding stays in place!

Cons:

• Top flaps Velcro’s shut, no zip
• No laptop compartment

This would be perfect for the likes of wedding photographers, all your gear together and not cramped

If you are looking for a walkabout bag, this is probably not it, it just takes too much gear. There are a number of Retrospective®’s of varying sizes in the range, so if this sounds too big for you, I’d definitely recommend checking out the smaller versions such as the Retrospective® 10.

To end this, I was really surprised by how much gear this fits, and I’ll repeat myself again, this has loads of room!

Links:

• Retrospective® 30
• Think Tank

Many Thanks to my partner in crime.
Shay Murphy Photography for contributing to this post