Considering the Think Tank Retrospective 5

bgetty

bgetty

Brandon Getty
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Dec 1, 2010
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Hey all,

I've been putting off buying a nice bag for quite awhile, but I think it's time to take the plunge. The Think Tank Retro 5 looks fantastic and is within my price range.

I intend to use it mostly for travel purposes/shoots when I need to bring all of my gear (which isn't much). Could I expect it to hold an M2 w/ lens and hood mounted + a Nikon F w/ 1-2 pre-AI Nikkors? And perhaps a small P&S and a few rolls of film?

If not, can you recommend any alternative bags at a similar price point that might do the job? I'm mostly a one camera and one lens at a time kinda guy, so the bag world is new to me.

Thanks a ton!
 
That should work, although it might be a tight fit, which might not be bad. The rolls and other accessories will easily fit in the front pockets.

The retrospective series is a fantastic line of bags. I've used mine for a while now, and I would buy it again!
 
Thanks for the reply Kevin. I don't mind a tight fit so long as the padded dividers are sufficient.

Any other input from those that have used (and admired) this bag?
 
I was looking at the 7, but went with the Sub Urban Disguise 30, with room for my tablet and DSLR. I use an old LowePro Nova for the RF kit.
 
bgetty said:
Hey all,

I've been putting off buying a nice bag for quite awhile, but I think it's time to take the plunge. The Think Tank Retro 5 looks fantastic and is within my price range.

I intend to use it mostly for travel purposes/shoots when I need to bring all of my gear (which isn't much). Could I expect it to hold an M2 w/ lens and hood mounted + a Nikon F w/ 1-2 pre-AI Nikkors? And perhaps a small P&S and a few rolls of film?

If not, can you recommend any alternative bags at a similar price point that might do the job? I'm mostly a one camera and one lens at a time kinda guy, so the bag world is new to me.

Thanks a ton!
Click to expand...

the 5 is too small for what you want...the 7 is a much better idea for your needs...
 
I love my Retro 5. For me it is perfect. I can take two Leica bodies and about 4 lenses, plus filters, caps, film, etc. It's big enough to fit everything I need, yet just small enough to keep me from carrying more gear than I would want to carry. It is well-bulit and nice looking.

If I am creative, or have only small lenses mounted on each, I can fit both bodies in the bag. But more often than not if I have both mounted, I am holding one. Fitting both in the bag mounted is a very tight squeeze.
 
Just judging by a minute or two of examination in a store: On the heavy side for a bag its size. Love the quality feel, tho.
 
noimmunity said:
Trying to find a ready-made camera bag that isn't heavy and is well-designed/well made can be quite a challenge.
Click to expand...

I have really tried to love the retrospective bags. Bought a 10 recently which had a perfect fit for the whole stuff including a flash and remote. The facts that always makes me sell them are:

-too squarish/thick, they dont hug the body well enough compared to a messenger styled bag (I own a billingham hadley large, BBB-E)

-too heavy for the size. I know I love the strap and the pad, the feel of the material, but at 1.5kg the 10 is simply too heavy (and so is the 7 which I test packed in a store, where I bought the 10)

-you cant divide the bag over the length of it, only over the depth. why didnt they include velcro on the sides of the dividers? as a Leica user I often want to divide a compartment into 2 squarish ones so they fit 2 lenses. you can't with this one and I see no clear reason why not to include the velcro...

I have now had 3 thinktank retrospective bags (5 pinestone, 7 black, 10 blue slate) in total and ended up selling all of them due to these facts which is a shame but I think there are other options to consider which are lighter and might provide a better fit (Domke F-803, Billingham Hadley series probably)

Not trying to bash on these bags. One should realize from my writing that I constantly tried to like these bags (which is easy because of the strap, material and feel of them) but the shortcomings compared to other bags annoyed me enough to sell them.
 
Don't worry, I am sure that only the trolls would think you are bashing! I completely understand your concern about bag weight. What's the point of all these "compact and light" kits if they end up in heavy bags?

The Hadleys seem quite practical, but as a matter of personal taste, they do not appeal to me.



Marc G. said:
I have really tried to love the retrospective bags. Bought a 10 recently which had a perfect fit for the whole stuff including a flash and remote. The facts that always makes me sell them are:

-too squarish/thick, they dont hug the body well enough compared to a messenger styled bag (I own a billingham hadley large, BBB-E)

-too heavy for the size. I know I love the strap and the pad, the feel of the material, but at 1.5kg the 10 is simply too heavy (and so is the 7 which I test packed in a store, where I bought the 10)

-you cant divide the bag over the length of it, only over the depth. why didnt they include velcro on the sides of the dividers? as a Leica user I often want to divide a compartment into 2 squarish ones so they fit 2 lenses. you can't with this one and I see no clear reason why not to include the velcro...

I have now had 3 thinktank retrospective bags (5 pinestone, 7 black, 10 blue slate) in total and ended up selling all of them due to these facts which is a shame but I think there are other options to consider which are lighter and might provide a better fit (Domke F-803, Billingham Hadley series probably)

Not trying to bash on these bags. One should realize from my writing that I constantly tried to like these bags (which is easy because of the strap, material and feel of them) but the shortcomings compared to other bags annoyed me enough to sell them.
Click to expand...
 
The TT retro 5 will be abit tight in space. I have a TT retro 5 & 10.

I fitted M9 + 35mm voigtlander, FM2n + 50mm & iPad mini into the TT retro 5 and i dont have much space to store any more stuffs.

No problem for these equipment into the TT retro 10. I fitted a MBA 11" into this (minus the iPad).


So if you just want to fit in 1 cam + 1 lens, TT retro 5 is suitable for your need.

:)



bgetty said:
Hey all,

I've been putting off buying a nice bag for quite awhile, but I think it's time to take the plunge. The Think Tank Retro 5 looks fantastic and is within my price range.

I intend to use it mostly for travel purposes/shoots when I need to bring all of my gear (which isn't much). Could I expect it to hold an M2 w/ lens and hood mounted + a Nikon F w/ 1-2 pre-AI Nikkors? And perhaps a small P&S and a few rolls of film?

If not, can you recommend any alternative bags at a similar price point that might do the job? I'm mostly a one camera and one lens at a time kinda guy, so the bag world is new to me.

Thanks a ton!
Click to expand...
 
I have a retro 7 (Had a 10 before) and I love it. It fits an m9 and three lenses, or an OM-D and 3 lenses, and my macbook air 11". BUt it also fits one Hasselblad. Well made bags. Recommended.
 
I tried out a Retro 5 and found it a little too tight for an M7 with lens, M8 with lens, plus one extra lens. The same outfit fits easily in my Domke F-5XB. Take a look at Mike Thomas' Retro 5 reviews on YouTube.

Update: Changed my mind. Now using the Retro 5 as my preferred small bag for a Leica M, extra lens, and an X100. It keeps film. filters, and batteries nicely organized.
 
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