Bare Bones vs Think Tank Retro 5

[marcr1230]

Its time for a new bag
The Bare bones bag is great - small but good, essentially I carry one RF
Film, misc little stuff and maybe a second lens ( almost never)

I need a little more space, camera and 2 lenses- right now using my M43 kit (E-M1)

Has anyone owned both? How much bigger is the TTR 5?

I don't want so much space that I'm tempted to carry dead weight and bulk

Thanks

 

[back alley]

I use the bare bones bag evolution..in it I carry my fuji xe1 with lens attached plus 2 more lenses...extra batteries, sd cards and business cards and my ipad mini.

I can fit the same in the think tank retro 5...but the retro 5 is bulkier and weighs more.

 

[goffer]

I don't own the retro 5 but I did go and check it out in person and found it to be too bulky for what it was.

 

[Jan Pedersen]

Not familiar with the bare bones bag but i have two Retro 5 and like them.
In one i have two IIIf's and 4 extra lenses and a few rolls of film.
The other, two Rolleiflex, fitlers and a few rolls of film. The 5 really is to small for the Rolleiflexes, they fit well but would like a little more extra space for film and filters so i will get a 7 soon.

 

[MCTuomey]

The strap of the TTR5 sucks for me ... too short to wear cross body. And it's too bulky and heavily built for my needs anyway, it's like a damn box on the hip. Prefer the BB series, both the older models and the evolution. The BB bags are flexible, especially the older series, with just a little padding in the bottom. I dumped my old diaper bags for the BB's several years ago, haven't had bag fever since 🙂

I carry my Autocord in a Domke F-something, the small one. Fits nicely with film and a small Sekonic.

 

[VertovSvilova]

Its time for a new bag
The Bare bones bag is great - small but good, essentially I carry one RF
Film, misc little stuff and maybe a second lens ( almost never)

I need a little more space, camera and 2 lenses- right now using my M43 kit (E-M1)

Has anyone owned both? How much bigger is the TTR 5?

I don't want so much space that I'm tempted to carry dead weight and bulk

Thanks

fwiw, here's my input on the 'Bare Bones' aka Courierware http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2263697&postcount=25

If you want something a bit bigger or with different pockets, materials, etc., talk to Eric. He's open to doing special requests. I have several Courierware (Bare Bones) bags that Eric built to my specs. Although the larger sizes and options that he already allows for when ordering a bag off his website are often enough not to need additional special requests.

 

[bonatto]

The think tank retro 5 was not for me, ended up using it very little. The Billingham Hadley Small is a much better bag of similar size.

Would love to try the bare bones bags

 

[judsonzhao]

Retro is nice, however, with some not-so-careful designing details. Would recmend billingham hadley small for doubled price haha

 

[back alley]

i don't care for the billingham's closure straps…it turned out to be a 2 handed operation to 'lock' it closed.

 

[TKH]

I use the bare bones bag evolution..in it I carry my fuji xe1 with lens attached plus 2 more lenses...extra batteries, sd cards and business cards and my ipad mini.

I can fit the same in the think tank retro 5...but the retro 5 is bulkier and weighs more.

Once owned a retro 5. Extrem nice bag, but over padded, bulky and weighs to much.
The BBBE is a stealth bag. Great!
Used now for a year the ona bowery. VERY NICE. But bulky too.

Today I packed back my stuff in the BBBE. 🙂
Rainer

 

[back alley]

i use both the bbb evolution and the ona bowery bag…which one depends on if i want to carry the ipad mini or not. if yes on the ipad then it's the bbbe bag.

 

[Duane Pandorf]

i use both the bbb evolution and the ona bowery bag…which one depends on if i want to carry the ipad mini or not. if yes on the ipad then it's the bbbe bag.

I just wished my BBB Evolution did not have the velcro. I've had mine for close to two years and am very happy with it otherwise.

I may look at buying the comparable Courierware version that can be completely customized and order it without the velcro.

 

[macfiend]

I have a bare bones bag and love it. Accomodates an M6 with motor winder and 50 lux attached, Ricoh GR, spare batteries, film, lens and an iPad MINI too.
Very stealth and comfortable. Not bulky at all, even loaded up.
I covered some of the velcro on the flap with gaffers tape so that I get a little bit of grip when closed but not too much so that it's easy to open without all the noise of the velcro pulling apart.

Best bag I have ever owned and I've had quite a few.

 

[back alley]

i use duct tape on the velcro…covered most of it.

 

[Zonan]

I like the BBB when going light- can't beat the weight.

Also have a Retrospective 7, but (as others noted above), find it bulky, heavy and cumbersome. I know ThinkTank is supposed to be great, but I have come (too late smart) to the conclusion we just don't get along.

 

[Duane Pandorf]

I travel for work almost 180 days out of the year. I pack my BBB in my 22" rollerboard suitcase and have room in my STM messenger for my camera while commuting on the airlines. Once at the hotel I have BBB to carry my camera.

At home when I want a few more things with me I carry a Hadley Pro.

 

[back alley]

that travelling must be a killer!
i like being somewhere else but not getting there...

 

[Duane Pandorf]

that travelling must be a killer!
i like being somewhere else but not getting there...

Getting there on the airlines is 2 out of the 7 days at work. The other 5 I'm flying the plane and it has a 6500 mile range. As an example, I've airlined from the US east coast to Beijing to start my work week.

So the BBB has worked out great for me. When it's packed in my suitcase it has two of my 3 lenses. Normally the 50 Lux and 90 Elmarit. The 35 Lux has been glued to my M-E the last few months. I also have a WhiBal card, 46mm ND filter, Thinktank SD card holder, 1 extra battery and battery charger, lens cloths and notepad.

 

[marcr1230]

Thanks for the help - I'm done thinking about the retro's , had a brief flirt with the ONA Brixton leather - but it all comes down to weight and bulk - looking ar the BBB Evo and Courierware now - the never ending quest

 

[Duane Pandorf]

Thanks for the help - I'm done thinking about the retro's , had a brief flirt with the ONA Brixton leather - but it all comes down to weight and bulk - looking ar the BBB Evo and Courierware now - the never ending quest

No it never ends as I still look at the different bags and think I want something else but the BBB (Courierware) maybe not perfect but it gets the job done with no frills nor screams expensive.