The Case That Carries an Entire Studio: A Year With the Production Manager 50

Possibly the ultimate equipment bag, it does not compromise on security, size, or much of anything. Take your entire studio with you if you wish. Have a flight to a remote location and can’t rent equipment? The Think Tank Production Manager 50 has you covered. It is the bag to end all bags.

Introduction

There are three things that I do quite a lot: travel, work, and buy equipment. Over the years, I have grown a serious collection. From generators to various modifiers, a whole Briese, and so on. It has slowed down in the last year or so, but I am still constantly buying something when it stops being sufficient for the job I need it to do. Because I shoot on location so frequently, I often encounter situations where I can’t rent a specific piece of equipment I need. Other times, I need to transport all my kit to a remote location near my studio. There are many times when I need to take more than just my camera. However, there are also instances where all I take is a small handbag to set.

Every time I had to take more than my go-to Pelican case on set, I relied on the ThinkTank Production Manager 50 to carry all the equipment I need. It is a real beast that can take a good 40 or 50 kilograms of gear, possibly more. Your upper-body strength is the limitation, not the bag.

First Impressions

Upon receiving the bag, I was surprised by how big it really was. I knew I was not getting a carry-on, but I was not expecting it to be quite that large. It is tall—about as tall as some shorter adults. Beyond the size, though, there are many design features that make it a safe way to transport equipment. Think Tank in general is known for its rugged cases, made with professional use in mind. You can go for aesthetics and put your flash into a Rimowa, but a Rimowa will not have the safety features a Think Tank will. And if you want to turn heads with your roller case, the Production Manager 50 will certainly do that.

Build Quality

The bag is built to last. Unlike some other camera bags, this one is designed specifically to take heavy loads and travel with you wherever you need to be. The bag is made from 1680D ballistic nylon, meaning it is highly abrasion-resistant and fortified for rugged travel. This material is less likely to tear or be damaged if force is applied to the bag.

It also features armor plating. While not bulletproof, it provides extra protection for your equipment. I would not compare it to the protection level of a Pelican case, but it is lighter. A similarly sized Pelican case will weigh more while carrying a bit less equipment.

The water resistance of the Think Tank Production Manager is strong, with all-over DWR treatment and PU coating on the underside. If you get caught in the rain, you should not need to worry about your equipment being damaged.

I appreciated the wheels, which are designed to be shock-absorbent and add an extra layer of protection. For example, I have no concerns transporting sensitive lighting equipment such as my Briese Focus.2 77 Reflector inside the Think Tank. The dividers are rigid enough that I can place a flash tube right next to a 12-kilogram studio pack without worrying about shifting.

On the outside, there are pockets and a light-stand mount, allowing you to strap additional items externally, making the load capacity second to none. As far as I know, this is the biggest camera/light case available on the market. You can take a full studio setup in one case.

In Use

I did not take this case out as much as I expected—there were not many assignments where such a large case was warranted. That said, I did travel with it for a year and used it whenever appropriate.

It is quite large, and flying with it is possible but difficult. After measuring it, I confirmed that it fits within oversized luggage requirements for most airlines. I would have no issue handing it to baggage handlers, as the case is robust enough to take a beating.

The time I used this case most extensively was on a production in Hungary. I had to take it on a train. Loading it onto a train is not easy, but it is manageable. The large wheels make rolling it up stairs much easier than your average suitcase. Despite the heavy load inside, I was able to maneuver it without too much difficulty.

There are two ways to roll it: behind you or in front of you. The latter is easier because more of the weight rests on the wheels, not on your hand. I do wish Think Tank would create optional handles to convert the case into a cart.

I also liked that the case is inherently difficult to steal simply due to its size. When locked and equipped with a few AirTags, it is trackable as well. If you are transporting this much kit across several borders, it is only prudent to place one or two trackers inside.

Full Capacity

It is impressive what this case can take. At full capacity, I loaded the following kit inside the Think Tank Production Manager 50:

Light Equipment

• Profoto Pro 7a 2400
• Profoto Pro B2 (can be replaced with a Pro-B4)
• Briese Focus.2 77 Reflector with flash tube, mount, and accessories
• 3x Profoto ProHeads (possibly more)
• 3x Profoto Zoom Reflectors (possibly more)
• Several softboxes with speed rings
• Gels, accessories, and other small items

This setup gives me four light sources, two generators, and multiple modifiers. You can strap light stands to the side, but the bag becomes extremely heavy quickly, so you need to be selective. Light stands are also easy to rent; what is harder to rent, depending on region, are packs, heads, and specialty gear like a Briese. My primary reason for owning the Think Tank Production Manager 50 is to avoid relying on local rentals where availability may be limited.

I appreciate this bag simply because of its capabilities: I do not need to worry about anything. I can bring everything I might need. If you need to rent large amounts of professional equipment, traveling with your own kit may even be more cost-effective.

The only real constraint is airline weight limits. While 32 kilograms may seem generous, a Pro-8a 2400 plus two ProHeads is already around 16 kilograms. Realistically, I would not pack more than two generators and four heads into a single case. Ideally, distribute weight so no single bag becomes excessively heavy.

If you are traveling by car or van, this is not a concern, and you can load the Production Manager as heavily as you need. I have no doubt it will handle it.

Closing Thoughts

The Think Tank Production Manager 50 is not for every photographer. It is intended for those with extensive kits who need to travel with them. It is built for photographers working on productions that require far more than a camera and a flash, but who may not own or need a dedicated production vehicle.

As niche as it may seem, I think many photographers will find it valuable, especially those who frequently shoot on location and want to bring everything in one go. And yes, it even fits C-stands.