ThinkTank Retrospective 20 Camera Bag
Where to begin with my description of a new camera bag ? Well I should start with the list of bags I have tried before this and some background info on the search. As a beginning photographer you look for a good bag to lug around lots of gear because that’s what the pros do right ? WRONG . Pros carry what they have to and nothing else, essentials to do the job at hand, interns lug the rest and since I am the intern and the photographer I tried a lot of bags. First was the Tamrac Adventure 7 that I used from on a trip from Washington DC to Anchorage Alaska ..5500 miles in 5.5 Days and it was a miserable trip in a F350 Diesel truck hauling a camper. Anyway the bag was great for small DSLR and 2 lenses if you didn’t want to be able to get to things quick. 2nd Tamrac Pro 12, my bread and butter old school suitcase style bag (still own it) I use it as a sort of “base station” . Lowe Pro Slingshot AW200. I hate this bad with a passion and cant get anyone to take it for free. It’s goofy and uncomfortable for my Nikon D200 with grip and a 80-200 2.8 lens.. JUNK , although it has an all weather cover. Another Tamrac , this time a Evolution 8 , a beast big heavy well built and can carry a tripod perfect for hiking and carrying gear to Africa ..I like it alot but its HUGE. I will most likely use it on actual hikes here in Alaska ….The beast Evo 8 has now filled my “safari backpack” need so I started my search for a journalist bag or a satchel style bag. After 2 months of reviews I had it down to 2 brands and models #1 the Domke F-4 Bag , in Olive Drab, it just looked cool as hell , like the bags legends of combat journalism would have used ,guys like Robert Capa , Eddie Adams, Larry Burrows..You get the idea no frills OD green , a mans bag …The 2nd choice was odd at first the ThinkTank Retrospective 20 bag. Not as many as the Domke but durable and well built and much much cheaper. I was on the fence about it until I handled one at Stewarts Photo on 5th Avenue in Anchorage. Then I was sold especially when the gear man behind the counter dropped a D300 and 70-200 2.8 into it to show me it fit …. BOOM choice made and I was set … Below are pictures of Both … Tomorrow We will continue with the Actual review and break down of my first 2 times using it … You didnt think you would get off that easy did you ? Check back tomorrow …
