Think Tank Photo Retrospective 30 - Preview

For the past two years, I have been using Domke bags, the classic photojournalist bag designed by Jim Domke.  Domke bags have been relatively unchanged since their debut in 1975.  I started my Domke love two years ago with the F-3x.  It housed my handful of primes and f/4 zoom lenses without a hiccup.  When I purchased a 70-200 f/2.8 and other bulkier f/2.8 zoom lenses, I needed a slightly larger bag.  I needed the F-2.

I used the Domke F-2 daily over the past year and loved it.  The bag looked great in the Brown Ruggedwear colorway, held my entire kit, and was easy to work out of.  However, the bag was too simple for my taste.  I wanted something with a touch more thought put into it.  I wanted a few slots to hold my business cards, a few slots for pens, a pocket for a magazine or a place to comfortably store a LumiQuest SoftBox III.  Better yet, I wanted to be able to store my 70-200 f/2.8, with the lens hood on, vertically.

Enter the Think Tank Photo Restrospective line.  The Retrospective bags are nearly as simple as Domke bags, however they have just a touch of useful thought put into them.  Features like big-flat zippered pockets, a pen and accessory organizer, a rain-cover, and an included comfortable shoulder pad.

Over the weekend, Think Tank Photo sent me a Retrospective 30 in Pinestone, the biggest Retrospective of their line.  The build is amazing just like my other Think Tank Photo products, the Pinestone colorway looks great, and the shoulder pad is comfortable.  Oh, so comfortable.

I had two important questions when I received the Retrospective 30:

1.  Will it carry a 15" Apple MacBook Pro?

2.  Will it hold my 70-200 f/2.8, with lens hood on, vertically?

The answers are yes and yes!

I can tell that I am going to love the Retrospective 30.  Think Tank Photo blends the simplicity of the Domke bags with the minor finishing touches I desire.  Not to mention, I can take the inserts out and carry a laptop when needed.

Stay tuned for a full review of the Think Tank Photo Retrospective 30, coming soon.  If you have any questions about the Retrospective 30, leave a comment in the box below.  I will do my best to answer all the comments or discuss them in the full review.

There is also a huge surprise on the horizon.  This is something you do not want to miss!  It will be announced when the full Retrospective 30 review is published.  Stay up to date with SOSKIphoto by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.