ThinkTankPhoto Retro 5 Review!

Nice job, Ben. Thanks for the video.

Thanks Ben for the photos/video/review. Really helpful!

It's frustrating because the dimensions of this bag are PERFECT for a m43 system + iPad, but for whatever reason Think Tank didn't see fit to allow for that combination.

My question is how feasible do you think it would be to modify this bag to allow for this combination? I've seen a video where someone has slipped an iPad horizontally into the main compartment of the R5 and it fits nicely. The problem is, this would prevent attaching the inserts to the back of the main compartment. Would it be possible to buy extra/larger inserts (other than those that come with the bag) to form a separate compartment for the iPad along the back of the main compartment and then connect inserts to that? If so, what size do you think it would need to be?

Any thoughts on somehow making this bag work with the iPad would be greatly appreciated. I love the size, shape, and look of it - I just want my two favorite things to fit in it together!

well, if an ipad fits horizontally in the main compartment, it should fit in the front pocket as well (it's as wide as the bag). I'm pretty sure it didn't though, but I'll double check tonight when I get home. I will say the iPad fits PERFECTLY in the front pocket of my R10 though, so that fact combined with the fact this bag fits INSIDE the R10 makes me thing they put their iPad in diagonally into the R5....

But I'll check tonight.

I just received my Retro 5 and really like the size. As I had just returned from a trip and had my travel camera readily available, I tried that combo first. This was a T2i with the 15-85is mounted and the 70-200L is f/4.0 to the side and it all fits perfectly! I probably can't carry the T2i with the 70-200 mounted, but that isn't a problem for me. This is for a small, lightweight travel setup where I will be walking with the gear a lot each day. Perfect!

Next will be trying the 5D with various lens combinations to see what works best.

-howard

PS: Ben ... great review, as usual (although I miss the great backdrop of the shore, waves, and seagulls that fly over on cue).

hfgarris wrote in post #12396280
(although I miss the great backdrop of the shore, waves, and seagulls that fly over on cue).

me too, just didn't want to wait for the weekend for this review...

OK, checked the ipad, it WILL fit in the front slot if you stretch it to the max and go w/o any sort of case on the iPad. The top flap also sits a bit higher in the front when you do it so you can see into the bag a bit. Not ideal, but if you wanted to be really minimal with what you pack it could work.

I will say I own an R10 as well, and the iPad IN A CASE fits in it's front pocket much better. If you're planning on taking an iPad around a lot, I'd go with it, and just velcro the front flap down super tight as that slims the bag up quite a bit. It just works better with the iPad.

Well I could not resist, I sold off most of my smaller bags that I was not using and since I really love the Retro 10 I decided to order the 5. Ideally something in between would be perfect but I find the R-10 to be my most useful bag but a little to big to shoot out of since I generally go pretty light.

I mainly got this bag to use when I go light with just 2 primes, which is what I mostly do but I was surprised to find out it will work with my 24-70 attached. It does stick up just a bit but when you pull the top over it closes fine. I also really like I can use my TT pouches if needed.

looks like a 24-70 on camera fits about as well as an iPad?

nice though, works in a pinch, and as you said you can always add a side bag.

jacobsen1 wrote in post #12452955
looks like a 24-70 on camera fits about as well as an iPad?

nice though, works in a pinch, and as you said you can always add a side bag.

Its not terrible but honestly I don't plan to use it with this bag but it fit better then I thought it would.

yeah, it's just a perfect bag for your (and everyone else's) primes.

I took my Retro 5 out today for the first time and I am really happy with how it feels and works. I took my 60D with a 100L and 24L ( which is becoming a fun kit ) The 100 is really about the size of the 24-70 and the bag worked well with the 100L mounted.

This bag would have been perfect if it was just about 1/2 to an inch taller but I love a small setup and smaller bags so I can live with it.

yeah, for you it would have been better, but for MFR it's already almost too big.

jacobsen1 wrote in post #12462606
yeah, for you it would have been better, but for MFR it's already almost too big.

Well please tell TT I would like a retro 7.5 :-}.

thanks for the great review.

Tommydigi wrote in post #12462722
Well please tell TT I would like a retro 7.5 :-}.

that's been said more than once, I wouldn't be all that surprised to see it happen eventually.