ThinkTankPhoto Speed series review:

this is a repost of my blog review which you can see here: http://www.benjacobsen​photo.com …hoto-speed-series-review/
http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=uUJhFIydEEY

The thinktankphoto speed series is an interesting line of bags. They’re belt bags, they’re shoulder bags, and they’re a combination of both. ThinkTank uses a nice soft webbing loop to attach the shoulder strap to, so it’s easily removable. They also include belt straps that tuck neatly away into the side of the bag. So it’s really up to you as to how you can use it. But what I’ve found, is using both makes it for an excellent outdoor shoulder bag for landscape shooting. If you’ve followed my reviews in the past, you know how well I like the retro 5. I still use that bag, but it’s now my family/portrait/prime bag. The Speed Demon has completely replaced the retro 5 as my landscape bag. Why? Because with the belt strap in position, it sits where I put it as I’m moving around to get a composition I want, or when hiking in or out of a location. But because it’s a shoulder bag with belt straps, it’s also very easy to swing the bag around where I need it to grab something, then swing it back around to the back. The combination of straps also allows me to distribute the weight of my kit between my waist and my shoulders.

Here you can see my bag as I load it for landscaping (click the image to see it on my flickr account with roll over labels for everything):

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …s/benjacobsen/6​033373834/

Speed Demon

Speed Freak

Speed Racer

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …s/ken-gilbert/6011334075/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/danmccarty/5917​014559/

Thanks Ben. Pro photogs have recommended this bag to me. Looking forwardto seeing version 2. Locally theystill stock V1.

Nice review. I was debating on which to get. Speed Racer is way too big and the Demon looked too small for my gripped Nikon D7000. With your picture, it definitely confirmed that. So I got ThinkTank to send me Speed Freak v2. Even though TT's site says standard DSLR, I've heard people say it holds pro/gripped cameras (which you also mentioned in the video)

I should have it Tuesday and will have a review. I'll be putting it to use that weekend when I go apple picking. I'm also doing a review on the ThinkTank Retrospective 10. Another bag I couldn't decide. Retrospective 5 is too small and the 20/30 is just as big as my Crumpler 7MDH.

My question is, have you used the bag in waist mode without also using the shoulder? Since the waist padding is thinner, I wanted to know if the bag sags with all that weight.

I'm not a waist only kind of a guy (fanny pack BOOOoooooo! :lol. The strap should be fine, sagging would depend on what you put in it.

and with a D7000 it'll EASILY fit in the freak. My 5Dii fits in sideways which is no wider than a gripped camera is tall.

oh man, i've been waiting for this review for a while. thanks

great review, Ben

Your videos are always helpful. One suggestion. Your audio is always in left channel only. You might want to convert the audio to mono, it will get rid of that blank right channel, which tends to have ALOT of hiss. You might not notice it when playing it on a laptop speakers, but on headphones - the left only audio (with HISS in the right channel) is annoying. Try watching one of your videos with headphones and you will see.

The video quality is always top notch, so I thought I would try to help you on the audio part.

that b+w street shot of you is GREAT!

swapped out the audio for stereo over the weekend and updated the link in the OP.

KurtGoss wrote in post #13117384
The video quality is always top notch, so I thought I would try to help you on the audio part.

yeah, thanks! I'm no audiophile (IBitshows!) and I use an iMac at home, so I never really noticed it until recently. I JUST replaced the track with a stereo version (there's a way to dupe the single track to both channels -vs making it mono) so it should be fixed now. I don't think I'll go back and replace the older reviews because they have comments I don't want to lose, but thanks! The thinktank guys mentioned it when I emailed them a link with my last review. I'll also be getting the adapter at radio shack so they're just recorded in stereo from now on.

ride5000 wrote in post #13119461
that b+w street shot of you is GREAT!

Ben, is there a way to possibly hook up a tripod anywhere?

nothing designed for it, no.

I am digging my Demon 2.0. Ben, your use in the field makes it a necessity - hands free and accessibility is important for your own safety and that of your gear; hanging out amid the rocks and water.

^ exactly.

I'm still torn between the Speed Freak or the Clikelite Trekker waistbag

daveyboi wrote in post #13134763
I'm still torn between the Speed Freak or the Clikelite Trekker waistbag

they look damn near identical don't they?!

My Speed Freak v2 and Retrospective 10 got delivered. Can't wait to open the package when I get home. I'll be doing a full review as well.

Going apple picking Saturday and using the Speed Freak would be perfect.

Jacob, was it you that mentioned the issue with the shoulder strap and opening the bag? Don't know if it was you or someone else but they moved the strap to a loop and it made opening easier.