Photocross 15 Camera Backpack Review

After far too long David J. Murphy has finally finished his review of the Photocross 15 camera backpack from Think Tank. Use our affiliate link if you’re thinking of buying the bag it will help support our channel!

You can also read the text of the review below:

 The MindShift PhotoCross 15 camera backpack from Think Tank Photo is a unique take on the camera backpack model which creates some inventive ways to retrieve and interact with gear. While this bag won’t be a perfect fit for all visual journalists, it will definitely meet the needs of those who want the capability of a backpack and the accessibility of the shoulder bag as long as they keep their expectations in check.

Build Quality:

The PhotoCross 15, like almost every other Think Tank product I’ve used or owned, is built solid with high quality material designed to last. This is not a bag you have to baby or coddle, you can throw it around, drag it, shove it, whatever you need to do and it will hold together well. I recently traveled with the bag on a flight and after removing the inserts it folded flat and easily fit in my checked luggage. One part of the bag that I thought was completely unique were the zipper handles. Two specially designed T-shaped zipper handles open the main and external compartments of the bag. They allowed me to easily open the sections in almost any orientation I had the bag configured. I hope to   see this innovation on future camera bags from Think Tank and MindShift…wink, wink.

Design:

This is a camera backpack first and foremost. It has two main shoulder straps, a waist strap and chest strap. All these straps help keep the bag glued to your body under any condition, whether it be running, climbing or hiking, and all the straps adjustable. On the back of the bag are four loops which you can attach the additional included straps to for carrying a tripod or jacket. Alternately, you can also carry a tripod in the side pouch. This area also has loops for the straps which provide    additional security. You can also, wait for it, put a water bottle in the side pouch. I used it in multiple configurations, including, at times, to carry a small lens for quick swap situations. 

There is an exterior compartment with an internal pocket that uses velcro to close. You can use this area to hold camera batteries, memory cards, memory card readers, pens etc. If you have a power brick small enough, you can also fit that in here but know that the overall space you are given is thin and flat compared to other external pockets I’ve used. This becomes even more of an issue if you’re using all the space provided in the main compartment which can make putting anything big in the exterior compartment almost impossible. If I were to make a recommendation to MindShift here for a future iteration of the bag I’d recommend this external compartment be extended slightly to make it a bit more usable. 

The last thing worth mentioning on the outside of the bag is that there are two carry handles, one on to top and one on the side. These come in handy when you don’t want to, or can’t, carry the bag on your back. The backpack also comes with an external rain cover in the event of heavy rain. The bag itself is made from waterproof enough material that I would feel comfortable wearing it in light rain.

Within the main compartment your given a 10.6” W x 17.3” H x 5.5” D (27 x 44 x 14 cm) space and a number of dividers to make the space work for you. In my setup I placed the three section dividers in such a way to allow me for four main sections. Within those sections I used the subdividers to essentially give me 7 compartments. While I was able to comfortably fit my GH5 with battery grip along with a 5-lens kit in addition to a DJI Mavic Pro and a remote control, I highly recommend removing the battery grip for easier space management. If I didn’t need the Mavic I’d add another lens, a flash and some additional accessories. Additionally, I was able to comfortably fit my 15” laptop in the special compartment. Remember, and this is important, if you’re going to stick a laptop in your camera bag, especially if it’s a Macbook, make sure to put a separator cloth between the monitor and the keyboard. The amount of stress placed on the laptop while it sits on your back will cause the keyboard to press against the screen, permanently damaging it. Hey Think Tank, maybe consider including one of these cloths in future iterations of the camera bag. You can brand it and everything and I’d be happy to use it with my computer. 

While the main compartment of the camera backpack is big, it can get very full very fast. If you have a full frame camera kit, you’ll need to be a bit more selective in what you bring. I would not consider this a pack mule camera bag. 

Before leaving the interior of the camera bag I need to mention the pockets on the flap. These are typical, small, mesh-based pockets perfect for small accessories, pens and batteries. What I thought was neat, and what I haven’t seen before, is the dual zipper design. There are two zippers which can easily go from one side complete across to the other, allowing you to open one or both compartments.

If you need help closing the bag there is a little piece of material at the base of the bag’s main compartment door you can grip onto while closing the zipper, definitely a nice touch. Overall, I’d say the bag is great at holding a good amount of gear for maybe like a single day hike, but if you need something to carry everything you own and you plan to be out and about for multiple days, you’d be better served with something like the Backlight Elite 45. 

Usability:

I found the bag to fit comfortably on my back and did not feel worn down by it after a day of use. There were no sore spots on my back or shoulders. While I found the waist strap helpful, I opted to take it out. Unless you’re planning to haul the bag a very long distance or over shifting and variable terrain, you can get away with using it without a waist strap. 

I did not use the side opening capability of the bag nearly as much as I thought I would. I’m glad the functionality was there, and used it from time to time, but didn’t see much need for it while hiking through the woods. Most of the time when I wanted to change lenses I took of the entire bag off and just made any exchanges while on the ground. This wasn’t because I didn’t want to use the functionality, it’s just the side effect of having a cross body camera strap. With a normal neck style camera strap this wouldn’t have been nearly as much of an issue. With a cross body camera strap, though, I constantly had to remember to take the camera strap off first, then the bag shoulder strap. It was a bit of a logistical hassle and not worth the effort. 

Because of the bags side opening design, I found it a bit of a juggling act to get my gear at times. I’d have lenses in the bottom sections, and I’d have to swap them with lenses on top. It was a deal breaker, just something to consider when carrying large amounts of gear. If you’re a gear hoarder/pack mule, you might better served with more traditional back opening style backpack that gives you immediate access to your whole kit. 

The bag kept all my gear safe and secure. If you’re using a full frame set up the bag will fit a good 3-4 four lens setup without issue. If your using a micro 4/3rd set up, like me, you might want to consider bringing a little bit of extra padding with you. The compartments you create with the dividers can sometimes leave a bit of room around lenses. This can be an issue if your climbing or hiking as the lens can have a tendency to jostle back and forth a bit. 

Conclusion: 

I tend to classify my camera bags into two categories, all purpose, and speciality use. The Photocross 15 seems to fall somewhere between these two categories. As an adventure bag designed for outdoor use, camping and hiking, and whatnot, I really can only recommend it those going on small excursions and day trips. You can probably pack a modest kit along with a lunch, water bottle, laptop and accessories. If you looking to do a more extensive long term hike or out door excursion you really need something larger and more specifically designed. 

If you’re looking for a bag that will give you quick access to your lenses while out and about you might be better served by a shoulder bag like the Signature 13. If you are going to try to leverage the quick access capability of the bag, just make sure you’ve thought ahead about your setup and are using a neck-based camera strap. 

If you need a good adventure camera backpack for day trips into the woods and other such excursions, this camera bag should fit your needs.