GMCPhotographics
1st of November 2009 (Sun), 14:52
I've been a big Think Tank fan for a few years now. I currently use an Urban Disguise 40 as my main camera bag, and a UD 60 if i need to port a few more bits. These bags are cool, spacious and very discrete.
A lot of my photographic time is spent shooting weddings and as a result, I'm continually on the look out for ways to thin down my kit. I'm refining my kit every few months, in the quest for the lowest number of lenses for my kind of shooting. It's currently 2 DSLR's (no BG-ED grips) and about 4 lenses. Previously, I'd have both cameras in my UD60, with all 4 lenses. Once I got in site, i'd take out the cameras each with a lens and away I'd go. This means that my large UD 60 bag is around my shoulder just holding 2 further lenses, while being quite cumbersome. I still want to take a big bag with me to the wedding, but then when I get there, I want to load the cameras and take a small lens bag with me instead and leave my big bag hidden in my car. So i was thinking about a lens bag like the ShootSac. A great little lens bag...but really hard to source in the UK.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2534/4065010633_a98025a1b4.jpg
(zips at the bottom hide the rain cover and allow the base to expand...seriously!)
I was at a the London Canon Pro-Photo show and Thinktank's UK supplier were there showing their new wares....I love the new UD 70....One is on it's way to me in the post. But while I was looking through their stuff...I saw this little bag. It's called the Think Tank Skin Chimp cage. It's not a shoulder bag, but a belt bag and it's designed for just 2 lenses. It's absolutely perfect for my current shooting style. I can carry both cameras, one on each shoulder and two lenses in the bags....sorted.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3500/4065759368_a2eaf0719d.jpg
(16-35IIL next to the Skin Chimp Cage)
It's really thin and seriously not bulky at all. It adds hardly any weight to the two lenses and yet provides just enough protection with out adding masses of padding. It's perfect for light duties, such as church work or urban shooting.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2652/4065759762_b74a61c858.jpg
(Loading with a 35L to left and a 135L to right)
It has some really nice features, like a rain cover that acts as a cussion under the lenses. But the best feature is the flap. It's secured by velco which is really loud to let rip in the middle of a church service. But Think Tank have created a system that allows the velco to be disabled...which is just a stunningly cool and thoughtful idea.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3509/4065760512_d6fcf8babe.jpg
(velcro enabled left, disabled right....very sweet)
There's a pocket in the front for a notepad or a bunch of wires, batteries ect. It's like some one has made a custom bag....just for me!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2643/4065760202_b26e55d66b.jpg
There's another feature, unzip the bottom and the whole bag extends a further 4". Un-extended, it'll easily take a 24-70L with the hood fitted and another lens. With this extension, I recon it's good for a 70-200, although probably not with the hood attached. It's not a feature that I'll use, although it's certainly tempting to add another lens in there...
Kind regards,
Gareth Cooper
A lot of my photographic time is spent shooting weddings and as a result, I'm continually on the look out for ways to thin down my kit. I'm refining my kit every few months, in the quest for the lowest number of lenses for my kind of shooting. It's currently 2 DSLR's (no BG-ED grips) and about 4 lenses. Previously, I'd have both cameras in my UD60, with all 4 lenses. Once I got in site, i'd take out the cameras each with a lens and away I'd go. This means that my large UD 60 bag is around my shoulder just holding 2 further lenses, while being quite cumbersome. I still want to take a big bag with me to the wedding, but then when I get there, I want to load the cameras and take a small lens bag with me instead and leave my big bag hidden in my car. So i was thinking about a lens bag like the ShootSac. A great little lens bag...but really hard to source in the UK.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2534/4065010633_a98025a1b4.jpg
(zips at the bottom hide the rain cover and allow the base to expand...seriously!)
I was at a the London Canon Pro-Photo show and Thinktank's UK supplier were there showing their new wares....I love the new UD 70....One is on it's way to me in the post. But while I was looking through their stuff...I saw this little bag. It's called the Think Tank Skin Chimp cage. It's not a shoulder bag, but a belt bag and it's designed for just 2 lenses. It's absolutely perfect for my current shooting style. I can carry both cameras, one on each shoulder and two lenses in the bags....sorted.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3500/4065759368_a2eaf0719d.jpg
(16-35IIL next to the Skin Chimp Cage)
It's really thin and seriously not bulky at all. It adds hardly any weight to the two lenses and yet provides just enough protection with out adding masses of padding. It's perfect for light duties, such as church work or urban shooting.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2652/4065759762_b74a61c858.jpg
(Loading with a 35L to left and a 135L to right)
It has some really nice features, like a rain cover that acts as a cussion under the lenses. But the best feature is the flap. It's secured by velco which is really loud to let rip in the middle of a church service. But Think Tank have created a system that allows the velco to be disabled...which is just a stunningly cool and thoughtful idea.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3509/4065760512_d6fcf8babe.jpg
(velcro enabled left, disabled right....very sweet)
There's a pocket in the front for a notepad or a bunch of wires, batteries ect. It's like some one has made a custom bag....just for me!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2643/4065760202_b26e55d66b.jpg
There's another feature, unzip the bottom and the whole bag extends a further 4". Un-extended, it'll easily take a 24-70L with the hood fitted and another lens. With this extension, I recon it's good for a 70-200, although probably not with the hood attached. It's not a feature that I'll use, although it's certainly tempting to add another lens in there...
Kind regards,
Gareth Cooper