When I am out and about doing street and urban photography—and even a lot of travel photography—my preference is to have minimal gear with me. So the ideal bag to hold what little I carry is a small shoulder bag. But there are plenty of times when I need something a little larger to carry a second camera or action camera and audio equipment for vlogging.
I am a backpack fan for a hassle-free and hands-free experience, but they have always been too big and bulky for walking around busy city streets. Most backpacks stick out too much, and you end up hitting someone or something when you turn around.
So for years now, it has been a case of a bag that is too small or one that is too big. As luck would have it, Think Tank recently introduced a new product that solved this problem. They introduced a roll-top backpack called the Think Tank FocusPoint. It comes in 22 L and 30 L sizes.
One of the best features of the pack design is that it is very slim when you wear it. It does not stick out and potentially annoy people when maneuvering in crowds. There is also the benefit of being able to take out the camera insert and turn your pack into a regular travel or work bag. The FocusPoint has a built-in padded laptop sleeve, and the expandable roll-top section provides space to stash a light rain jacket or fleece.
“We wanted to create a bag that transitions effortlessly between everyday life and professional photography,” said Doug Murdoch, CEO and Lead Product Designer at Think Tank Photo. “The FocusPoint series delivers quick camera access, expandable storage, and premium organization, all in a sleek and sustainable design.” I cannot argue with that statement. I have the Think Tank FocusPoint 22L in Greenway. I have been using it for five to six weeks now and absolutely love it. It is an ideal transitional bag.
Perfect For Street and Urban Photography
I head to the city as often as I can to spend a day doing street photography. The 22 L FocusPoint allows me to carry my Nikon Z50 and two lenses, plus my GoPro and wireless mic kit for vlogging. I also store a spare battery, and there is room for a small flash or LED light too.
In the top section, I have reading glasses, snacks, and a notebook. I keep some filters in the front section and often stash my GoPro in there. There is a small zippered top pocket with a soft moleskin lining where I can keep a lens filter safely or keep my keys safe. I have a small carbon fiber tripod that fits perfectly in the side pocket.
Key Features
- Quick side and back access to camera gear
- Adjustable roll-top closure for expandable storage
- Removable padded camera insert for flexible use
- Ten organizational pockets inside and out
- Breathable air-mesh back panel for all-day comfort
- Hidden AirTag/Tile pocket for added security
- Tripod/water bottle carry options with included straps
- Luggage-handle pass-through for easy travel
- Magnetic sternum strap and removable waist stabilizer strap
Available Sizes and Colors
FocusPoint 22L
- Fits one APS-C or compact full frame body with multiple lenses
(maximum lens: 70–200 mm f/4) - Laptop sleeve fits 14 inches
FocusPoint 30L
- Fits a full frame body with up to three f/2.8 zooms or five primes
(maximum lens: 70–200 mm f/2.8) - Laptop sleeve fits 16 inches
ThinkTank FocusPoint™ RollTop Backpacks come in four colors: Asphalt, Urban Rust, Greenway, and Golden Hour.
8 Comments
Nice. Functionally similar to the Lowepro Fastpack Pro BP 250 AW III I use for street/short travel trips. Though with a roll-top (that I generally prefer and have 3 different ones) however I find that the LP, which has 3 zippered top pockets, works better for me - especially on trips - being able to separate different items (jacket in the larger pocket, batteries and power-bank in another, mints and pens in another) and access them far quicker than with a roll-top.
It helps that the LP is $100 cheaper too !
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1547750-REG/lowepro_lp37331_fast…
The BP 250 AW is a nice pack, but it's too big and boxy for street photography in my opinion. The ThinkTank RollTop has a very flat profile which is really nice.
For street photography (e.g. in crowds such as the massive 3 day Notting Hill Carnival or Pride march in London) I use the much smaller PGYTech Onego Solo sling (can take a camera and 4-5 lenses plus a Leofoto mini tripod or ipad in the rear pocket if required). I would never use a backpack for those events.
For general daily streets I use a tiny sling for two lenses (no camera - that's in my hand).
If I need a backpack then the slightly deeper LP is not making a difference in real world use TBH. I don't find it large at all compared to my other packs such as the Shimoda or BESNFoto rolltop.
Obviously YMMV as we not all the same !
I too prefer to take out a small sling, and have an article in the works about that. One of the slings I have tested recently is the PGYTech OneGo Solo 2 L. The only reason to take a backpack onto the streets is to carry a video camera/action cam and audio equipment to be honest.
Thanks Simon! --- Simon @ thinkTank
There are a lot of excellent camera backpacks around but they are targeted at cooler climates. That's not so good for me in a warm climate. A back hugging backpack is out of the question. Warm climates need a substantial back air gap. Mesh over foam doesn't do it and neither does a dangly 500ml water bottle. Not only does it get snagged on branches but carrying gear up a mountain in hot weather requires at least 1-2 litres of water. Internal water bladders are great.
Having travelled to very warm countries, I've found it doesn't matter what type of pack you have, anything against your body will get sweaty. I wouldn't recommend bladders because of the plastic particles and chemicals, I always carry a stainless steel bottle.
Try the Deuter AC (air-comfort) packs. They have an open mesh that sits against the back then a large open air gap to the bag, not unlike the frame packs of old. Of course, your shirt gets soaked with sweat anyway but that's part of the cooling process. With packs sitting against the back, there is no cooling whatever.
Regarding the plastic bladder, the Deuter bladders are PFAS free. Hospitals use plastic bladders for IV infusions. I've drunk from all manner of streams, puddles and rusted water tanks and only once gotten sick after discovering the pond was visited by wild goats. I've never been sick drinking from plastic containers.