Customer Reviews

Think Tank Pixel Pocket Rocket

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this to manage 9 CF cards that I use when shooting weddings or other events. Previously I was keeping them in the plastic cases they come with and had a couple of small holders which only held 2 cards each. I was sticking the full cards in my pocket and was always paranoid I was going to lose them. My requirements were to have a small wallet which could hold 10 or more cards but not be so bulky that it couldn't fit in my pocket. This meets all those requirements and is very well built, but there are a couple of concerns/problems I have.

The potential loss of data is not something that can be tolerated when shooting a client's event, there's no re-shoot for a wedding. This wallet (and I think most others) require you to put the cards in bare without the plastic case. This makes me a little nervous that dust or debris might get inside the cards and make them unreadable. I have found that not dealing with the plastic cases has the advantage that there's less fumbling around with cards when switching. This means there's less of a chance of dropping a card which can also cause data loss. Having the wallet hold the cards with plastic cases would make it very bulky as well.

The main shortcoming with this product that I don't think I would have even noticed without researching some of the other offerings is that there's no way to mark full cards as used. The Tamrac bags have a red flagging system that can be used to mark used cards and batteries. Something like this would be very useful in the Think Tank product. Another problem for me is the velcro closure. It's just too loud to open during a quiet wedding ceremony in a church.

All that being said, I'm very happy with the product and would buy it again. I don't see any other products on the market that can meet my needs any better, and if Think Tank introduces a new product with the features I think are missing, I'd surely pick one up.

. I currently own 10 compact flash cards (I shoot very large files or Raw). The Pocket Rocket works great for trips and on the job. It is not bulky so it does not take up space. But it is not so small it gets lost - the security leash works on a belt loop or can be secured to your camera or camera bag. The business card holder is an added bonus. This unassuming product is brilliant.

This item is very compact, practical, and durable. The strap for attaching it makes is safe from loss. It is exactly what I was looking for.

I've used a handful of card holders, from simple zippered two card holders, to the Think Tank Pixel Pocket reviewed here. In the past I was shooting with two memory cards, which I would stuff inside the digital camera case with no problem. Also the issue of which card was full is pretty easy to solve, it's either this one or the other. But when I started to move towards higher megapixel cameras and then shooting digital SLR's I found that I ran into two problems.

The first problem was that many card holders did not have any indication of which cards were used or not. I did find a Tamrac card holder, which used small red tabs which were place holders for used cards. I liked this feature but the card holder was too small, only holding 4 cards at a time. During this time, I was shooting maybe 4 cards and moving towards more cards vs more larger data sizes because of the high prices in larger compact flash cards.

The second problem was space, most of the card holders would hold an amount of 4~6 cards, and at that, were very bulky, by having zippers or extra padding to protect the cards. I wanted something that I would store in my camera bag and didn't need the extra padding, also wanted something that was very simple to use.

I did some research and bought a Think Tank Speed Racer waist pack earlier this year which came with the Pixel Pocket. At first I was thinking it's just a "freebie" card holder that most companies throw in their bags. But after checking it further, I really started to like the design and how well built it was.

The Pixel Pocket has a very long tether. Now this may seem to be useless depending on how you are holding your cards but for me, any extra means of securing the cards to my bag are a welcome change. Also I really used this tether to hook on my bag incase I dropped the holder or just wanted to fish it out of a cramped tightly packed camera bag. It's important to note that the tether is not something you can yank on, it's more like a light ribbon that will hold your cards from dropping on the ground but will not save them if you let it hand out the pack while riding a motorcycle.

The Pixel Pocket also has clear windows, which was a nice welcome. I mentioned earlier that one of my complaints is how to tell if the cards are used or not. When you're off shooting sometimes it's hard to keep track and I like to keep things as simple as possible. So I just flip the cards when they are used, and if I see the back side of the card facing out, then I know it's used, and pass to the next free card.

The other problem was space, and the Pixel Pocket has enough room for 10 cards. For me that's about all of the cards I would take for a few days shooting, without bringing a laptop. The cards range from 16Gb to 4Gb in size, but they are used across two different DSLRs. The majority of card holders on the market hold less than 10 cards and often use padding or zippers to increase the size of the holder. This one is very small, and simple yet provides enough protection for the cards. Also remember that the cards are solid state media and are much tougher than you would assume.

One feature which is mentioned as a negative by another reviewer is the overall card space in each pocket. As noted, the space for each pocket allows only the card, without the plastic case they are normally sold with. Now, I used to store my cards in the plastic case then in the card holder but with the Pixel Pocket, I have to just store without the case. While I do agree with the other poster, I feel there is a few reasons why this is not a major issue.

The compact flash cards are very tough, and while yes that the plastic cases are the best method for keeping the cards in cleanest condition, they get in the way or get lost. The amount of sealing done with the Pixel Pocket, considering the plastic pocket, multiple layers of material, I feel is enough to keep the cards clean. Now if you're on assignment in Iraq during a sand storm, then yes, you might need another card reader but that's a small percentage of shooters.

Overall, I would recommend this for most casual DSLR shooters to professionals. I really like the build quality, and as a bonus there's a spot for holding your business cards to keep them from getting dog eared. There are some cons, the lack of space for the plastic holders but from the other products that Think Tank sells, they really focus on the professional shooter who needs the fastest and most simplest method of getting to the gear.

I'm a wedding photographer, so I need a card case that can hold plenty of cards, and is something I can strap to my body to minimize the possibility of loss. There is absolutely NO excuse for not having your cards on you at all times as a wedding shooter. I've heard horror stories of card cases falling out of luggage, being stolen with gear bags, etc. That's why you strap them on you. You can replace gear. You can't replace once in a lifetime images.

This case is easy to use and makes card management a breeze. I put fresh cards facing up, and used cards I flip around so I can tell at a glance how many cards I've burned through and which ones I have left. The little strap that comes with it can be hooked to a belt loop. (The plastic fastener on the strap isn't the best, I suggest upgrading it by switching to a carabiner.)

My partner swore by using the CF card holders in his lens bag until he tried my pixel pocket out, and then he wouldn't return it to me! So now we have two. The other thing I love is the business card holder. Shooting events, I don't really have time to return to my camera bag to give a card out if someone asks for one. It's nice to just have a few on me at all times.

I do have two issues with it that keep me from giving it 5 stars. The velcro is LOUD, especially if you are trying to discretely switch cards in a church during a ceremony. I have to remember to take an extra card out ahead of time and keep it loose in my pocket, which I don't like doing. I would LOVE an option with a silent fastener.

Secondly, when fully loaded to capacity with CF cards and a small pinch of, say, five business cards - it barely closes. I wish it was just a little bit roomier, because I almost always have it filled to capacity. It will close, but it's a tight fit.

Less important, but I wish there were more colors available. We'd probably buy an assortment of these in different colors to manage cards. We own a LOT of cards, so we can do 2 or 3 days of back-to-back weddings and not have to dump cards. It would be great to load up 3 pixel pockets in different colors and just be able to quickly grab and go and know which is which.

What can I say? This is the best card holder I've ever seen/used! It holds more cards than most, is compact, durable, easy to use, and holds more cards than others I've seen and used. The clear plastic covering over the cards also makes it easy to know which card is where. I place empty cards right side up and full cards backwards and upside down so I can just open the case and grab what I need with no confusion. It's perfect, easy to work with, holds plenty of cards, attaches easily to just about any camera case or a belt buckle etc. Love it! ThinkTank items are always top notch!

I love this product, you can fit up to 10 cf cards although i have been able to fit up to 12 plus business cards. Everything feels secure because you can attach it to your belt loop and it doesnt feel bulky at all given that your holding up to 10 cf cards. I recommend this for the photographer who is always on the go. Plus the easy access of where to place you business cards is awsome!

I made the mistake (?) of starting out with small memory cards and working my way up, keeping them all along the way. I have 17 Compact Flash cards ranging from 2GB to 8GB - that's a lot to carry around and keep track of. At first I loved the sandisk "cases" they supplied, but they were very limited in capacity and take up a lot of room. When shooting an event, you need to be able to pull out a memory card, pop a new one in and keep going - the Pixel Pocket Rocket does just that.

It has 10 plastic pockets to hold a CF card, folds up into a wallet, has room for a business card (great in case you happen to lose it - and someone is nice enough to return it).

I do have 2 small complaints: Blue? Black would have seemed so much more professional! & the cord. Really short and not the best.

To solve the 2nd problem I unclipped the cord and replaced it with a wallet chain - works great!

Overall this is a fantastic product. Keeps your memory cards on you at all times, in one place, without needing to pull out a pile of loose ones (with the possibility of losing them). When closed (velcro seal), you know that the cards won't fall out.

My tip: Keep fresh memory cards label-out. Put used memory cards in the opposite way to tell they're empty.

I needed an efficient way to store and carry ten CF Cards on Safari. This is the only viable solution that I found. It's roll-up design makes it very easy to use and makes for a very compact package. When full, it measures 4.75×2.5×1.13 inches.

The clear pocket fronts make it easy to see which cards have been used (load the used ones flipped-over). Excellent materials with ample use of double stitching. It comes with a short lanyard.

In a perfect world, I would rather have something other than the very noisy, Velcro closure. It can be a problem in the field. Snaps, magnets, or a book-type elastic closure would be better.

TIP: The Velcro is very aggressive. It can be tamed down considerably with the application of a 4-inch piece of less aggressive, double sided Velcro tape.

This is a great card wallet, holds a ton of cards, but doesn't take up much space in your bag. The attached strap keeps it secure, and there's a slot for your business cards. The velcro can make it a little noisy if you need to change cards in a quiet setting (ie in a church during a wedding ceremony). Otherwise, love it!