Customer Reviews

Think Tank Shape Shifter, Photographic Backpack

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

 

 

When Think Tank Photo announced Shape Shifter last year (2009), I am a bit skeptical. I appreciate the fact that Think Tank Photo is an innovative company, but I don't think the product worth the price ($249). Yes, it has collapsible feature so you can compress the bag down to 3 inches thick, but you need to separate the lens and camera body each time you want to put it into storage. I thought that will be a hassle.

So, why do I get this bag? It simply because I am searching for big camera backpack that enable me to store most of my camera gears plus a bag that allow me to fit my 17' laptop. My old backpack, Lowepro AW II Nature Trekker [Review] does not have laptop compartment. After doing some research, I found that Think Tank Shape Shifter will able to do that.

During my research, I like the bag more and more. I realize that this is not a conventional backpack. Here are what I like about it:

1. It is for photojournalists, street or event shooters
The company products are developed by "mostly" photojournalists and cater to photojournalists. Most photojournalists hang their camera out most of the time. So, on the location, the bag will be empty or half empty. When it is empty, collapsible feature can make the bag slimmer. This is great especially if you are working in urban setting, or shooting social events like wedding. With a thinner bag, you can maneuver around much easier.

2. It looks natural
Because there's no fixed padded foam that you find in most camera backpack, it does not appear like camera bags (huge, heavy and boxy). So, you can blend in crowded environment without attracting attention. Less people (especially thieves) will think that you're carrying camera or electronic equipment on your bag.

3. It can pack a lot of stuff
Do not let the appearance of the bag fool you. It might looks light and thin (especially when collapsed). But this bag can store a lot of stuff. 17' Laptop, 2 pro camera bodies (with grips), two telephoto zoom lenses, two wide zoom lenses, a couple flash/strobes, and a lot of accessories. You can mount a tripod or monopod too. Although you can fit in a lot of stuff, I recommend you not to do that because it is definitely not comfortable to carry around but ok for storage. Check out this bag pictures.

4. Quality and design
Like other Think Tank Photo bags, the Shape Shifter use top quality material, especially the zippers. The designers also put a lot attention to details. For example, there are so many compartments and divider for your accessories.

THE NOT SO GOOD THINGY:

There are many to like about this bag, but there are also a few stuff that I don't like. The first thing is the fact that I will have to separate camera and lens (or mount lens to camera) every time I need to store and take out my gear will be a hassle.

The second one is the waist belt. I don't think that the waist bag that come with the camera is very effective. Sime from digital photography school reported that the waist belt sits too high although he is "only" 180mm or 5 ft 9'. I am 173mm tall and still find this waist belt is too high. Luckily, this waist belt is removable, and this bag is compatible with pro speed belt. But off course you will end up paying $35 more

UPDATE: I also miss the side pockets to put flash or water bottle.

IN CONCLUSION

This bag is very unique and versatile. You can use it for storage or transporting most of your gears, or you can use it for professional assignments, or for casual uses such as traveling. Don't forget that it can also store a laptop up to 17 inches, which is why I was attracted to this bag in the first place.

Please visit my blog for images and other reviews. You can find the address on my profile page. Thanks for reading.

I am a professional sports photographer. For my basic needs, this bag is great. I used it just last night to shoot a hockey game. Here's what I carried in my Think Tank Shape Shifter:

2 Canon 1D Mark IV Pro Bodies
1 Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM
1 Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM
1 Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L II IS USM

All with lens hoods and various other small accessories.

For big sports jobs, I'll still use my rolling cases (56 lbs + 20 lbs) and bring LOTs of equipment. But for a basic 2 body 3 lens job this bag seems great. Some people have identified as a weakness the fact that this bag doesn't cary a camera with lens attached. I'm quite sure that wasn't the designer's intent. If you're a street photographer looking grab your camera in a moment's notice then this bag is not for you. But it you want to get your equipment to a job and set it up on-site, it's great. I also like the way the Shape Shifter opens up to get you easy access to the contents.

Construction quality of this bag is superb. Durable, strong, lots of padding against the back.

Nicely done...

I'll start with a warning here, please be aware of what this bag can and cannot do. If you choose it for the right reasons I don't think there is anything in the market comparable to it.

Advantage:
1. You can carry loads of gear. I mean lots and lots. For example, this is what I carried in my last trip (don't judge me please)
* Canon 7D body
* Canon T1i body
* Canon 17-55 f2.8 IS
* Canon 70-300 IS
* Canon 80 f1.2 L
* Sigma 30 f1.4
* Apple iPad
* ASUS netbook 10'
* Vangaurd Tripod
* Accessories - CF card box, Filter pouch, 2 Mobile phones, Air blaster, Cleaning pen etc

2. No/less strain: I carried this gear by hand on a 27hrs (3 flights) trip. I felt no fatigue or shoulder pain.
3. The bag looks sleek and it doesn't look like you are carrying loads of camera gear.
4. It's got loads of pouches for accessories and other small things

Disadvantage:
1. The main disadvantage is that you cannot store the camera with a lens mounted on.
2. And if I have to nit pick, I sometimes feel there could have been more padded protection.
3. Cost is little bit on the high side.

Ok, by now you should have got what this bag is for. Let me tell you how I use this

I take it when I have to carry loads of gear or most of the things I own for a trip. Once I get there I use the click capsule (with say Cam with a lens mounted + a lens)in my backpack for the daily use.

I don't take this for a eve @ downtown or a 1-day trek.

This was my first ThinkTank product, and I have to say I am very impressed. Below is a breakdown of the pros and cons (in my humble opinion) on this bag:

+ The bag has great quality zippers and nice quality fabric. The zippers are thicker and seem to close better than the zippers on my Lowepro backpacks. The fabric is tear resistant and decently thick.
+ Large laptop compartment. This is the reason I wanted this bag in the first place. It's got plenty of room for my 17" widescreen laptop in the back.
+ Smart pocket design. I really like the way the pockets on this bag are designed especially for traveling through airports and train stations. I can access my passport and other essentials without opening the main compartments of the bag and exposing my cameras or accessories.
+ Slim design. This bag is very slim and streamlined, which means it keeps the weight of the bag from hanging from your shoulders as you walk around. This is great for travel especially through airports. This bag can also be used as just a laptop bag by compressing the camera compartment.
+ Reasonably spacious. I can fit my 7D gripped, 5D gripped, 28mm f/1.8, 50mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.8, Canon 580 EX II flash, batteries, and chargers in the camera compartment with a little bit of room to spare for memory cards and such. It's quite roomy.

There are a handful of things I would like to change.

- I wish the interior pockets were movable. It can be difficult to remove the bottom camera if there's a camera in the top slot. It would be nice to customize where items are placed in the bag.
- It would be nice to be able to replace the large lens compartments with a few smaller ones to help protect the finish on smaller lenses when carrying multiple ones in the same compartment. An interchangeable pocket system would fix this.
- The tripod straps are a little confusing and leaves the tripod kind of hanging from the back of the bag.

Overall, it's a nice bag. The design makes it great for traveling especially for air travel. Since you can't leave the camera and lens assembled, it is not a "quick access" type of bag. The nice part of the slim design is that this bag fits nicely in overhead bins even with the tripod attached.

I've bought several camera bags in the past, but nothing compares to this Think Tank Shapeshifter bag. It is really great especially when you're travelling and you need to keep your camera bag near you whenever you take a plane, a bus, train, etc. PLUS it does not look like a camera bag.

I would definitely recommend this to a friend.

They messed this one up! The two cameras they show to be carried with the case just don't fit well. The Canon 5D2 with a winder/power-pack will not fit into this case and protect the camera well. Use caution. I have a 20D and the 5D. I have three 'L' lenses. It is very tight. So tight that I asked Adorama to take it back but they refused.

This is a very tight fit for a 17" laptop! Poor design and almost false advertising. But the say it fits most 17" laptops. That's marginal talk.

Pockets suck. When did they make those tiny little pockets? For what were they made...stupid design. Photographers need pockets that hold items, not look cute because they are small.

If you purchase a $35 belt, where does it go? Well stuff it into the pack where the cameras are...bad idea but it will work if you can't send the bag back!

The handle will tear off eventually. This is a known! The weight of two cameras and 'L' lenses will eventually wear this bag out.

Hello??? Anyone there at Think Tank? What is the purpose of the expandable case. If you carry two cameras and laptop you will never close the expansion. Not that you can't, but you probably won't.

If this case did half what they say it would, I would rate it 4* due to the construction of the thing. But it is not practical for a professional photographer/traveler at all.

Don't be fooled by the advertising. Take your equipment to a store that has one of these cases and try it first. Then order from Amazon.

I am rating this bag with 2 stars because it is below average for transporting 2 cameras safely. Don't let the upper cameras come in contact with the ground. Very little protection there due to the small design of the pockets.

This bad would have been worth 4 stars if it was 3 inches taller and 2 inches wider. Then you could get 2 cameras in safely and have room for a Asus G2 Laptop and not the Apple?

The $35 belt will be given to my nephew to play with! It is worthless with this bag. We as professional photographers do not like poor advertising when it comes to the safety of our equipment. It is our livelihood in many cases. We expect the truth in advertising. I purchased this bag based on it's advertising. I made a mistake, again!

So look before you leap. Bottom line, poor design of two tiny pockets (for what), poor design of camera pockets (too small with winders). Use caution when placing the camera bodies in the bag. I put the cameras in sideways to protect them but they still don not fit well. Two stars for using good construction materials.

Deming Designs
US, NA - EC, SA