The All Around Best Camera Bag? ThinkTank Retrospective V2.0 Review

A quick look and a long look at the ThinkTank Retrospective v2.0 Shoulder Camera bag, both packed into the same video. Check it out!
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www.scottdumas.reviews

[@DaveQuickRocks]

This is EXACTLY the depth of review with real gear, decent lighting to see inside, and opinions on things they got "different from desired" after some real world use. Thank you. Looks like I'm getting yet another bag. ;-)

[@ScottDumas]

I appreciate that! :)

[@donaldpirie5485]

This is easily the most comprehensive, and useful review of this bag I have seen. Exceptional bag described in an exceptional way! Thank you.

[@giladvalkor]

This has got to be the BEST review/preview of any bag I have ever seen. Great Job bro ! Thanks for such a Great in depth look at this Bag.

[@veloz7860]

Awesome, you answered questions I haven't been able to get answered anywhere else!

[@mengshun]

One of the best bag reviews ever. Well done even in 2023.

[@karpenterken1]

The difficulty with zippering and unzippering the top inner panel is due to the bag not having any structure. That's also why it is difficult to remove and install camera gear quickly or easily, especially with bigger cameras and lenses, while strapped to you. The very large flap is cumbersome while trying to remove gear with the bag strapped against your body, since it requires getting all of that material folded up out of the way for access to the inside of the bag. So much easier to use this bag when not strapped against your body. Also agree that the zippered pouch blocked by the Velcro pocket flaps is a very poor design. I've had this bag almost two years.

[@stevedennstedt9021]

A great and informative review Scott.

[@ScottDumas]

Thanks so much Steve! It's good to hear from you :)

[@danielmcdermott5161]

Very thorough review. Very helpful. You have a new subscriber. 👍

[@msrock78g]

Superb review. Thanx Scott. Cheers!

[@ScottDumas]

Thanks so much! :)

[@john_murch]

Hey Scott, thanks for the thorough review. I've been using the Retro 7 for years, now I'm looking at the Retro 5 V2 for my smaller gear, couple of small film cameras and lenses and/or a mirrorless. Good thing about the Think Tank bags, they are so durable they seem to last forever. Cheers from another Canadian in Tokyo!...

[@ScottDumas]

Thanks for watching and glad to hear you've had such good experience with the bag! I think you'd love the V2 :)

[@TalesOfWar]

The original version doesn't have a zipper there so it was probably just kept as it was.

[@TalesOfWar]

I have the V1 version of this, it's hands down the best messenger bag (not just camera bag) I've EVER had. Built extremely well, light, strong, fits crap loads and because of the canvas it can fold down really nicely too when empty or with less stuff.

[@ScottDumas]

Hey, glad to hear you love it! It's definitely very flexible and holds a lot- I'm always surprised how much I can get in there and still keep it pretty organized! :)

[@Chris-NZ]

I have the V1 as well and have been using it for years , in many ways I prefer it to the v2 here the only thing I find problematic is the tiny outer side pockets that are only good for a phone / tissues or snack bar :) I don’t generally carry a tablet or laptop and as a result I really like the way it just hugs my body. Hope yours is still going strong. :)

[@mikearst2940]

Another great review. Well done.

[@ScottDumas]

Thanks so much for watching! :)

[@DiversSupplyYT]

Good job Scott, I use the TT Retro 6 for my daily carry camera out-fit. Canon 6Dmk2 + Battery grip with 24-70 2.8 Tamron. Not to carry tons of stuff but simple easy walk around bag. Few other small items thrown in and I'm good to go. These bags are Top Shelf quality materials and construction.

[@ScottDumas]

Thanks so much! The smaller sizes do seem pretty awesome as well. Glad you've liked your bag so far! :)

[@sundarAKintelart]

Very neat and clean review

[@ScottDumas]

Thanks so much! :)

[@Happy_Snapper]

Best review I’ve seen, thanks

[@ScottDumas]

Thanks so much! :)

[@MatchuCT]

I know this is a bit of an older review, but I don't think the flaps were an oversight. Like you mentioned, this is where you'd want to place your belongings like a passport, wallet, phone, etc. It isn't protected from prying hands from the zipper cover that blocks the lens compartment. Adds a few steps to accessing the outer zipper compartment which could be enough to deter thieves. Just my opinion. Plus its not the most used type pocket to access things nonstop.

[@doughuras5407]

Great review!!!

[@frankmarest814]

so complete, thanks !

[@ScottDumas]

Thanks for watching!

[@CichlidCharmer]

Well done! Thank you

[@Linteria]

Great review, Scott! One thing, though: you forgot to specify that this is the Retrospective 30. Might wanna edit the title and description to reflect this.

[@ScottDumas]

Good call! I guess the design is similar through the line but the specifics are different. Thanks for watching! :)

[@Linteria]

@@ScottDumas yea i have the Retrospective 5 and 7, so when i saw those dual front pockets with the dual flaps it threw me way off. Lol.

[@808islandlife_HI]

Fantastic review!

[@ScottDumas]

Thanks so much!

[@808islandlife_HI]

Scott Dumas I wound up buying one of these recently. It’s now my favorite camera bag.

[@ScottDumas]

@@808islandlife_HI So glad to hear it! :)

[@mymisty7]

Thanks for a review using a DSLR. So many people do reviews showing Mirrorless in the bags. Not everyone has a Mirrorless. Thanks.

[@ScottDumas]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching :)

[@ricardorgomez]

Great review! ThinkTank just nails shoulder bag designs. I hear your pain with the velcro flaps getting in the way.. Maybe ThinkTank should've attached those flaps to the main flap instead... But with all these pockets everywhere else, that blocked section can be used for items you won't need often. I have their Spectral 15 and absolutely love it. It's my daily driver and have had it for over a year. Perfect. The shoulder strap gets loose and I have to figure out how to lock it in place so the bag doesn't lower itself. But not a big deal. Totally looks in place on the streets of New York!

[@ScottDumas]

Thanks so much! I tried out the Spectral a while back and loved it as well. Glad to hear you're enjoying it but with all that it can hold I guess it's not surprised the strap slips a bit haha. If it gives you too much trouble though I'd let ThinkTank know about it and I'm sure they'd do something to help you out. Their customer service is incredible too :)

[@ricardorgomez]

@@ScottDumas Thanks Scott. It's not a big enough deal for me to contact them about it. I guess I should. But my point was that no bag is perfect. I look at other straps and always see something that can go wrong with them. The only one that never gave me an issue was a Billingham. But that strap was so tank-like, it would totally look out of place on smaller and sleeker bags.

[@MeTOre1]

Nice review and nice looking bag. Where do you get those red whip fasteners?

[@ScottDumas]

Thanks so much! The "red whips" are also from ThinkTank, amazingly useful :)

[@gordonblues843]

I have this bag. I love it but I agree the main drawback is the odd pocket flaps covering the zipper. I intend to have them professionally resewn beneath the zipper so I can have access at all times.

[@ScottDumas]

That's an interesting idea! Honestly never would have thought about just removing and re-attaching them haha. Glad you found a workaround :)

[@xaviervui]

for the inside compartment, will it fit an ipad pro 2021 12.9 inch along with its keyboard since it was slightly wider than a 13 inch macbook air?

[@danielduron6131]

How long is the camera shoulder strap? I am fairly tall and I have had some shoulder straps on bags be too short at full extension. Thanks

[@mymisty7]

I wish that shoulder strap was removable like the Tenba bags.

[@SergeyKasimov]

what lens and mic do you use

[@donridgway7269]

Most of us have used dozens of bags over the years, no one bag being perfect. I'm using the Retrospective 5, and it's as close to ideal as I've ever gotten: small enough not to be cumbersome, but still commodious enough to cover needs.

[@ScottDumas]

It's definitely a never-ending search haha... glad to hear you've loved the Retrospective though :) I totally agree

[@DimusTech]

I wonder, did you try the Peak Design everyday backpack or their sling? I got the everyday backpack and I really love it

[@ScottDumas]

I did! And I still do have it and it's one of my favorite's for sure (the backpack). It's easily my favorite backpack-style bag, and their messenger style looks great too but it still doesn't have quite the amount of storage and organization this does. Both very very good bags though :)

[@KennyGTherapy]

Bought the bag after watching your review. Well done review. The zipper “obstructed” by flaps is designed to prevent theft. My theory, anyway.

[@ScottDumas]

Awesome! Glad to hear you like it :) Preventing theft is definitely one lucky side effect haha, but I only brought it up because their other bags with a similar design (the Spectral and Signature, for example) didn't have that problem. I've learned to manage it though and in most cases just don't pull the zipper all the way around that last corner unless I really need to. Definitely a very solid bag all around though :) Thanks again for watching!

[@franciscokloganb]

That's how I see it too, it's not very usuable outside of that to be honest. But the questions is: Is it worth the extra 33% in cost?

[@sergeyvasilishin5761]

What do you think about actual shock protection of this bag? Let’s say it dropped from your shoulder on a ground, do you think there’s enough padding for that? Cause while this bag look spectacular it doesn’t seem to have enough padding for real protection as lower pro or manfrotto bags do.

[@ScottDumas]

To be honest it's hard to say any sort of blanket statement... there is a layer of padding on the bottom of this bag as well and it's really pretty much the same as I've felt on the bottom of most other bags, Lowepro or Manfrotto included, especially messenger style bags. Around the sides there's probably not quite as much so it depends how it's dropped. "Protection" isn't the main point of this bag and I wouldn't want to drop it hard, but if I did I'd say my feelings would strongly depend on how it was dropped.

[@romosa59]

Sergey Vasilishin i put an extra layer of foam at the bottom.

[@ThinkTankPhoto]

Hey Scott, thanks for this video and for your feedback, always appreciated. -- Simon

[@ScottDumas]

Simon, thanks so much to you as well! Hope you've been well :)

[@oooo606]

How’s the waterproof cover holding up?

[@Soul_Visuals_Photography]

Eos R6 with a BG and a RF 24-70 mounted. 70-200, a prime and a flash. Will. It. Fit. ?

[@ScottDumas]

Hard to say 100% certain, but it sounds like a kit that should fit for sure.

[@brianpalmer6385]

Looks like a nice bag but I'm not sure about all that velcro and I wanted a zipper top quick access. hmm

[@SergeyKasimov]

"Like you said" Famous last words that is what she said and she left you!

[@shootloadrepeat]

I really wish TTP would offer the Urban Disguise series again. I gave my Urban Disguise away to a friend and now regret it, thinking I could just buy another one. I don't like the Retrospective series. The materials on the Urban Disguise and others from the 2012-2014 era were much more supple and would drape/conform very well. This canvas doesn't feel great to be honest.

[@Farang_Lifestyles]

Honestly the two flaps you dramatized over with the sound... it's there for "security" to prevent items from leaving these pockets.... kinda the same as the top zipper closure under the flap.... do you zip or just leave it open.... i would zip up everything, if I live in SanFran or Philidephia

[@MaximC]

Doesn't it seem that padding is too thin to protect camera gear from falls?

[@ScottDumas]

It is a bit thin compared to some bags but there is additional padding on the bottom compared to the walls of the bag. I guess it all depends how you drop it. If I was going for max protection though this bag would not be it, it's more about convenience and capacity in this case.

[@MaximC]

@@ScottDumas Indeed. Thank you, Scott.

[@sundarAKintelart]

I bought one after watching such videos including this one. The metal fixtures on this bags are of poor quantity steel that rust very quickly. Black colour i bought is not colour fast. Otherwise the bag is so so.

[@urbanart7325]

Looks a military bag

[@romannovikovpro]

Все портит корявый клапан, молнию сверху не добавить ремень чтобы отстегивался не сделать .?

[@veloz7860]

So what *is* your favorite bag??

[@ScottDumas]

That’s a very hard question haha- I love the peak design everyday backpack still for casual outings... it’s more compact and casual feeling, yet still holds a decent amount. Wotancraft bags are also fantastic and rugged but pretty expensive.Every think tank bag I’ve used is a pretty decent balance between the two. I switch back and forth a lot... more gear, less gear, casual outing, paid shoot etc. Too many good choices haha

[@paulstevens2839]

the padding looks weak to me on this bag

[@ScottDumas]

It's not excessive at all, but it's comparable to what I've seen in a good number of camera bags. There are definitely more protective options though if that's one of the big concerns for you.

[@hometablet6961]

too much velcro

[@ScottDumas]

I agree- one of the main annoyances of an otherwise great bag :)

[@MeneHuneUSA]

Another "salesman" tabletop bag review that never shows the size of the bag on the body, the way it looks or feels while worn, and the experience using it from the user's POV. Corrected: size on body at 0:35. Don't blink.

[@ScottDumas]

Mene Hune 0:35 picture of it on my body. Talking about my personal thoughts from my own experience using it nearly the entire video as I go over the bag. Did you watch it? 🤔