Okay, I don't know what's going on here because I have a Think Tank backpack and think the quality is top shelf. This $329 rolling camera bag body looks great and is very well built as I would expect from a Think Tank. However, when I extended the handle, I was, let's just say, shocked to see how poor the quality was. I've owned a number of rolling bags in my life and this was literally the flimsiest, most rickety handle I have yet to see on a rolling bag, of any brand or price!
I was really disappointed to see this because this bag is designed to house a 500mm lens, a 70-200mm and a couple of bodies. So, we're talking about gear valued in the neighborhood of $12,000 to $15,000 range? (depending on the bodies) and weighing in at least 17 lbs plus the 14 lbs of the bag. W-H-O in their right might would transport $15,000 worth of gear with a handle that feels like it's about to give out from the moment it's taken out of the box? Not me, that's for sure. I'm so surprised by the inferior quality that I'm going to call Think Tank directly and inquire. I just don't want to believe that this is what they call quality. How can you product a 5 star bag then put a .25 star quality handle on it?
I want to try another bag because it's construction and size is exactly what I need so if I just got a lemon, I will definitely post another review.
***UPDATED REVIEW JANUARY 11, 2010***
Okay, here's the deal. I went to a local camera shop that carried the bag and gave a try. The handle felt sturdier than the one I got from Norman Camera so I decided to call Think Tank Photo and ask them about my issue. The rep I spoke to told me that although I was not the first to complain about the handle, he also assured me that he had never seen one come back because the handle broke so I decided to give this bag another try, this time Adorama, I company I know and trust.
Guess what? The handle is still not rock solid but it's DEFINITELY better! AND this time it can lock at second tier so that shorter people can comfortably roll the bag too. I'm really glad I gave it another try so I've increased my rating from 3 stars to 4 stars. If Think Tank would make the handle that didn't shake I would give it 10 stars because like I said from the start, these guys know how to make camera bags.
Think Tank and Adorama also know how to talk to their customers, unlike Norman Camera because instead of using good customer service skills and trying to make an unhappy customer feel better about their shopping experience, I got an email from those guys calling my review "a rant." I was in the customer service business for years, that's NOT what you do when you've got an unhappy customer on your hands because in our case, repeat business was the name of the game.
Here's my closing advice:
The bag is good if you need to carry 500mm, a 70-200mm, a wide angle, and a couple of bodies internationally and BUY THE BAG DIRECTLY FROM AMAZON OR ADORAMA.
I hope I've helped somebody out there.
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Top reviews from other countries
Mr. R. Pengelly
Make no mistake. This is a top quality pro bag!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 2, 2014Michael
Exceptional.. except for when you travel abroad on a PLANE!!!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 3, 2013
Michael
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 3, 2013
I bought this case as i was looking for a sturdy travel worthy alternative to my camera rucksack! After hours of deliberating and reading many a review on this product i decided to go for this rather expensive but extremely functional AIRPORT SECURITY BAG... SO after excitedly receiving the product and eventually settling on the layout to hold all of my kit i was ready to go on a few shoots.. So took it to a few location shoots - perfect... Chucked it in the back of a car to do a travelogue - wonderful... Then booked a holiday and wanted to take all my gear with me on holiday - DISASTER.... The cabin allowance on VIRGIN AIRLINES is 5kg... The bag with all my gear in weighed 18kg, so after half an hour of frantic rejuggling and tucking expensive items of photography equipment into jacket pockets, wifes handbags and tucking into my hold luggage - i finally had an EMPTY CASE - which when put on the scales weighed OVER 6kg!!!
Maybe somewhere in the product description the actual weight of this bag is listed and maybe if i had read the booking information when i booked my flight i would have seen the 5kg MAX allowance for hand luggage... But please THINK TANK - how can you design a product capable of being carried onto a plane as hand luggage that weighs more than the hand luggage allowance - WHEN IT IS EMPTY!!!
So all in - if you intend to travel through an airport on an airplane with this bag airport security bag - FORGET it... Never had such an arduous experience at a check in desk in my life!!!
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