Backlight 18L | My Favourite Small Camera Bag | MindShift Think Tank

I was given the Backlight 18L photography backpack from Mindshift about a year ago and it has been my go-to camera bag ever since. It's a small lightweight bag, but I can fit enough gear for most of my photography sessions and even when I'm vlogging.
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Backlight 18L video by Mindshift: • BackLight 18L Camera B...
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[@lasticonoclast]

On your advice, I bought this for a trip to the Galapagos and the Ecuadorian cloud forest with my M43 kit. I really put it through the ringer, stuffing it full of camera gear plus heavier ancillary stuff (total 25 lbs+), and used it in heavy rain on muddy and rocky terrain for 3 weeks. It performed brilliantly as it fit my EM1.2 and OM1 with the 12-100 and 100-400 lenses mounted, with the 8-25 stuffed to the side. The ability to access the bag whilst attached to my torso with the hip belt was a game changer. The materials used for the bag held up very well, including the very robust stitching, and repelled rain for short durations after which the bag dried out quickly. I just wished Mindshift made a streamlined daypack version for my urban global travels.

[@EspenHelland]

Glad to hear it worked out for you 🙂

[@AkaiMiso]

Looks quite similar to the Lowepro Flipside Trek series. Thanks for sharing!

[@StewartBairdPhoto]

I have the same bag. It’s amazing how much you can fit in. The depth suits mirror less too, where you need less. My sports config fits- EM1X, EM1.3, 300mm, 200mm, 12-60 and a prime (25 or 45mm 1.2).

[@RogerJones-mountfield]

Hadn’t thought of doing that with the waist strap, thank you 🙏

[@ansomeBob]

I've had the 26l on order for a while and should be here any day soon, can't wait. Yes, I got the idea from watching you!

[@EspenHelland]

Cool! Hope it works out well for you 👍

[@andrear9500]

I have used the 26L for some time now and I am really happy, it’s a great choice. To be picky I only have issues with pockets. I find the top pocket unusable as it is too tight and the internal ones are too large and too tight to put your hands in. Plus anything thicker than a battery will be pushed towards your gear making the closing a bit difficult. I’ve overcome this issues by buying separate mini bags that I attach to the shoulder strap and where I store cards, batteries, lens caps, cleaning kit,… all at hands reach. I use the top tripod strap to attach the bag to chairs or table legs or anything else I find when travelling through airports, sitting in waiting lounges and closing my eyes to take some rest. Great bags.

[@marklaurendet1861]

I use some their gear as well, including holsters from their sister company Thinktank. I recently purchased their smallest Rotation pack. I like the way they don't attach the straps to the back flap like some companies. To me this makes them far more reliable.

[@EspenHelland]

Think I may need to get a holster as well. Looks really handy 👍

[@dannydanquah3681]

I got my 18L after I saw it in one of your videos. A camera with 100-500mm lens and it's hood mouted fits into the bag with ease. Great camera bag.

[@EspenHelland]

Cool 👍

[@philipculbertson55]

I use a 50L Mammut as my big bag but bought this same one a year ago for day trips in weather that is not too cold so that I need extra clothes. I carry a full frame Nikon, a 16X35 and 80X400 lens, filter kit and pretty much the same other stuff you did. I do carry my compass in the little compartment on top as it is not big enough for much else but it is great for compass and I always know exactly where it is. I rarely use the hip belt either and like you, only use it when I need to swivel the bag around front. For me that is most often because I'm standing in a river and there is no where to set the bag down. It does work pretty well for that. I also carry a small umbrella in the main compartment and a small plastic bracket that attaches it to a tripod when shooting in the rain. Like you, mine gets pretty rough use and has held up beautifully. BTW, I rarely watch review videos because frankly, I don't think people are really objective when they get free stuff and owe a review but watching your channel I feel this was an honest review. I watched it mainly to see how you had yours set up to see what I might learn but my experience with the bag matches yours.

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks Philip! Good idea about the compass in the small pocket, I might do that 👍

[@alandearson1270]

I have the same bag,best bag ive had,I also have the 36l one for longer trips.These bags are great,

[@EspenHelland]

Absolutely 👍

[@birdsandscratch8331]

Very nice video. Though I have too little gear to need it.

[@joanantonim.p.2400]

Thanks... 👌👍🙏👋🙋

[@jhlee1566]

Good review.

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks!

[@jarnix2]

3:30 you actually don't change the focal length by using a m43. You change the crop factor and nothing else. The way things look will be exactly the same, it's just a crop.

[@EspenHelland]

Yup, that’s what I said

[@Rudy60426]

great video

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks!

[@robgerety]

This is an excellent bag. Love it for day hikes/trips. I wonder - how do you store your camera gear that you leave behind at home?

[@EspenHelland]

Sometimes in my other bag or sometimes just on a shelf

[@David_Bell_growing]

I use the 26L version and have laced some elasticated bungee cord criss-crossed through the loops on the tapes at the back so I can shove the likes of a micro fleece there.

[@EspenHelland]

That’s a great idea 👍

[@eyetronic1]

Hi Espen, thanks for the detailed review. I am also using a smaller backpack (Think Tank Streetwalker) but usually pack it to the max. I also have some products from Mindshiftgear and think this is a great company as well which made me curious about their backpacks. After doing some research I now got to the Backlight 18l and Trailscape 18l but cannot decide which one might be better suited. What I think might be the advantage of the Trailscape is the removable waist belt. The disadvantage might be the depth of the bag which is around 2cm less compared to the Backlight but it is also a few centimeters taller. Did you ever had the chance to try the Trailscape and compare it to the Backlight? I am usually not a big fan of those waist belts and think they only add unnecessary weight. I assume that when removing the belt on the Trailscape the weight difference between those two bags should be around 400g which is significant in my opinion.

[@EspenHelland]

No I’ve never tried that. yeah I don’t use the belt on a light bag like this a lot. But I use it quite a bit on my 45L Mindshift bag.

[@robgerety]

This bag is in my future. Exactly what I need. Thanks for the video. Tell me, will a lens that is 5" long fit vertically? Or does it have to be on its side?

[@EspenHelland]

5" should fit vertically 👍

[@robgerety]

@@EspenHelland I did end up buying this bag. The Canon RF 15-35 f/2.8 and the RF 24-70 f/2.8 have to go in on their sides. Too tall.

[@geoffreypain5960]

Would you get a EM1X plus a 140-500 lens in it?

[@al404]

I use a different backpack and just got into wildlife with E-M1 III + Olympus 100-400mm, when I get at destination I mount body with lens and for short walks I can't fins a comfortable ( and safe ) way to hold the camera. The only option I found is to attach monopod to lens collar and hold it like that, but I don't always use monopod. Do you use a shoulder plate or some strap? Thanks

[@EspenHelland]

Hi Alain, I use a peak design strap, but in this video I had may have had a Joby strap which is also good :)

[@rezberry.x]

i saw that u can fit in the gripped body into bottom. may i know the height of that camera as i have a z9 and i am not sure it can fit it in

[@tigermike111]

Hi Espen, can you fit your 150-400 attached to the OM-1 (reversed hood) in this bag? Thx and best regards, Mike

[@EspenHelland]

I can, but it's a tight fit and not much room for anything else. I'm upgrading mine to the Backlight 26L to have a bit more room.

[@casagracia]

Hi Espen! I'm about to purchase one of these lens (for wildlife, flowers and city pictures) : M.Zuiko ED 40-150mm f2.8 PRO or M.Zuiko ED 300mm f/4 IS PRO. Which one will you recommend me to buy?

[@EspenHelland]

Hi Casa, for the variability of photos you want to take you’re probably best with the 40-150mm. I would highly recommend the 300 if your interests are mostly in bird and other wildlife photography. The 40-150 will be much more adaptable and you can get one of the teleconverters for it when you need extra reach.

[@casagracia]

@@EspenHelland Does Both work with EM10 III camera?

[@chidrock]

This may sound like a dumb question, but would you pull the rain cover out every time you are caught in the rain or is the bag somewhat water repellent? (Of course if it’s raining hard I’d pull out the cover lol)

[@EspenHelland]

I’ve probably only used the rain cover a couple of times, the bag can take quite a bit without it

[@chidrock]

@@EspenHelland Nice! Thanks for the response; I wound up picking this bag up thanks in part to your video. I was originally looking for something else but your video opened my mind to it and when I saw it on sale at a local shop I knew I had to give it a chance.

[@ryantang8146]

What water bottle is that ? Seems interesting

[@EspenHelland]

Just a cheap lightweight one I got from Highlander, Scottish brand. First I bought one that was noisy when I opened and closed it, useless for working as a wildlife photographer 😅

[@SergeyKasimov]

I dont care about the bag I want that shirt you wearing