Update: I purchased this bag on April 19, 2024 and have been using it daily for 10 years. It’s still in excellent condition! If you can find some place that still sells it, it is a great bag!

I've used an Amazon Basics camera backpack for a few years now, but I decided I was in need of something with a bit more heft to it for traveling. After some research, I decided to try out the Thinktank Retrospective 40 Shoulder Bag.

The 40 is one of the larger bags in the retrospective lineup, but it wasn't "too" big.

Features

Forewarning here, this is not a cheap bag. That being said, it has a lot of features with its price point.

The first thing I noticed was the general stitching quality. You can tell this thing is really built to last. The straps are thick and heavy and I particularly love the fantastic strap guard that it comes with. Its very comfy and has grips on the bottom to keep the strap from slipping off your shoulder. I got the bag in black, but it also comes in blue and green.

The thick strap has little rubber feet to keep the strap from slipping off your shoulder.

Velcro "Silencers" allow for quiet bag opening.

When you flip the main flap over you will see flaps for the velcro which will allow you to "turn off" the loud ripping noise the bag makes when opening or closing. Useful if your in a quiet location like a wedding or theater.

Beside this is an insert for business cards or contact info in case your bag gets lost or misplaced.

Inside of the bag there are dedicated pockets for just about everything you can think of. Flashes, memory cards, lenses, laptops all have pockets specifically designed for them and they all got the job done. The laptop pocket is made with 13" laptops in mind. My Lenovo 13" ultrabook fit in fine, but I could see thicker laptops having a bit of trouble.

Dedicated pockets galore in the Retrospective 40.

Other little extras include a rain-cover and extra wall dividers for the main compartment, as well as a divider for the front pocket. This bag can be completely customized, you could easily set this up to fit a large DSLR with a 70-200 attached, or compartmentalize everything for lots of primes(which is what I did).

Impressions

The Think Tank Retrospective 40 fit everything you see here with plenty of room to spare.

This bag can hold a lot more than it looks like it can. I was able to fit everything you see above with room to spare. The laptop pocket is a lifesaver, my backpack didn't have a dedicated spot for a laptop so I had to carry an extra laptop bag around with me. Now, everything can fit in one.

Honestly I was a bit hesitant when I first ordered this bag, I was worried it was going to be too bulky or not fit everything. I was very impressed and relieved when I got it. This is a fantastic camera bag. Think Tank makes a number of different sizes of this bag, so check the site out if you don't think this bag is the right fit for you.

Bottom line, expensive, but you get what you pay for. This is a top of the line camera bag. Recommended.

Where to Buy

You can get this bag from Think Tank's website or B&H Photo Video. BUT! If you liked this post and wouldn't mind helping out the site, order through Amazon. Thanks!