Introduction
I recently received the SpeedTop 10 Crossbody Camera Bag with Magnetic Lid from thinkTANK. While thinkTANK is not paying for this review or sponsoring it in any way, they did provide the bag to me free of charge to use for this review, but they will have no say or oversight in what I may or may not say about the quality of this product. Therefore, this review is my opinion and my opinion alone. If, after watching or reading my review, you’d like to purchase this bag, consider using my affiliate link which sends a portion of the proceeds back to Around the Lens.
About the Bag
With that out of the way, what do I think about this bag? Well, bottom line up front, this innovative camera bag features a unique magnetic closing lid and is perfect for carrying around a minimal amount of camera gear while also wanting to be quiet while doing it. It is perfect for vacations or small events if you’re willing to pay a premium.
The bag feature of this bag, and what sets it apart from its small-form-factor peers, are the magnets that latch the lid closed. Instead of buckles and zippers, this bag uses magnets as its primary means to seal shut. Now, it doesn’t just use magnets, it also uses latches, adjustable straps, and even velcro in parts to close and adjust various parts of the bag, but the main feature of this bag is its magnetic closing top.
The bag comes in two variations, the SpeedTop 10, the dimensions of which are 8.5″ W x 7.3″ H x 3.9″ D (21.5 x 18.5 x 10 cm) for the interior and 9.8″ W X 8.9″ H x 5.5″ mD (25 x 22.5 x 14 cm) and the SpeedTop 15, the dimensions for which are exterior dimensions: 12.6″ W x 9.3″ H x 5.5 “D (32 x 23.5 x 14 cm) and internal dimensions: 11.2″ W x 7.9” H x 3.9 “D (28.5 x 20 x 10 cm). What this difference amounts to in the real world is basically the ability to carry one extra lens with a camera kit. The price difference between these two models is $20, with the 10 going for $129.75 and the 15 going for $149.75, so you’ll have to determine what level of versatility you need. Regardless of the model, this is still a small camera bag and best suited for light excursions when the need for excess gear is minimal. I wouldn’t recommend either bag for serious shooters looking for something to use at weddings, events, or any instance where you’ll need to rotate between two or three lenses. The magnetic lid, though, does allow for quiet operation, so if you shoot at these events with this bag, you’ll be much quieter rummaging around your bag.
What’s in my Bag?
For my tests with the camera, I decided to go very small with my overall camera, lens, and flash choice. I went with my Panasonic GH5, 12-35mm F2.8 lens, and DMW-FL360L flash. Besides these three main items, I also included some additional accessories that someone using this camera for its intended purpose, vacation photography, might want to have on hand. These items included: a Lumix battery charger and power cable, two extra camera batteries, a lens cleaning cloth, and 4 additional double A batteries. Even with that tiny camera gear contingent, I put this bag’s capacity to the limit. The bag even includes a rain cover, which I could stuff into the bag with everything else, but if you need a little more internal space, you can take the cover out and attach it to the bag’s exterior.
Speaking of the rain cover, the way the carry strap is designed, with the distance between the two velcro pieces being extremely small, the only place I could adhere it to was the quick pick-up handle on the back of the bag. I’m not a big fan of this configuration because it’s now just dangling around; it can easily get caught on something and, worse case, accidentally be ripped off the bag. I would have liked to see more options for where I could put the rain cover. With space at such a premium for this bag, I would have loved it if this rain pouch had been stowed permanently on the bottom of the bag like on other camera bags. I honestly think most people will probably just not carry the rain jacket on them if they have to make Sophie’s choice on this or more accessories. While the bag’s material could survive a light sprinkle for a short period, if you think you’ll be inundated with water for more than a few minutes, then the rain jacket is a must to ensure maximum protection from moisture.
While my setup was created to be an all-encompassing one-and-done camera kit meant to go it alone and be generally productive, you can augment your equipment based on your needs. For instance, you could get away with packing up to two extra, albeit small, lenses in addition to the one attached to the body instead of bringing the charger and flash. Heck, this bag is a great additional bag to include if you have a larger bag with all your gear that allows you to swap out the equipment you need for any given situation on the day you’re using this bag. On the other hand, if you’re a micro-four/thirds user, this bag is perfect for holding a body with two to three small lenses.
While I don’t own all the camera gear thinkTANK has used to test this camera, they claim you can carry a Sony A7 series camera, Nikon Z6/Z7 series camera with 24-70mm f/4 lenses, and a flash. The SpeedTop 15 can carry full DSLRs from Nikon, such as the D780, D500, Z6, Z7, D7500, and the Canon 5Dmk4, and an 85mm f/1.4. The larger bag also can carry a Mavic 3 and controller.
I did some experimenting, and I could fit my Mavic Pro, controller, and charger into the SpeedTop 10. It was a little tight and took some creativity, but it fit and could be a viable way to transport the drone and just the drone. Again, with a bag this small, you have to be selective, but that’s the nature of any bag this small; you’re choosing to be a minimalist in any scenario you might encounter. Let me be clear: I’m not criticizing the bag for being small. You can see the dimensions in black and white and know what you’re getting into. If you complain about this bag because it’s too small to do what you need, you’re causing a self-inflicted wound and should know better. I want you to fully understand what you’re getting into and what you should expect this bag to be able to do for you, and understand how you want to use it.
Using the Bag
Let’s talk about using the bag. For about two weeks, I put it through its paces and found it functional and capable. I found the primary selling feature of the bag, the magnetic closing lid, to work flawlessly. It was easy to open, quiet and helped my gear stay securely in place. Most of the time when I’m using a bag with a top like this, whether it has latches or not, I’m usually not closing the bag completely. The difference between those bags and this one is that the magnetic closure offers a degree of security and confidence that my equipment won’t go flying out of it. Here, let me give you a demonstration of each.
With the SpeedTop 10, I could tip my bag upside down, with camera gear, and even shake it around, and still, the bag wouldn’t open. With any other bag of this nature, if I tried to do the same thing, the contents would fall out almost immediately. If I wanted to ensure nothing would fall out no matter what, I could use the included latch on the side to provide extra security. Even with this latch, the thinkTANK designers are incorporating silent operation into their thinking.
Sticking with the bag’s exterior, you have multiple easy-access handles for carrying or retrieving the bag quickly. I found the top handle good for when I didn’t want to carry it on my body and ended up not even latching it shut most times because the magnets would just secure the bag so well. There are also two large pockets on either side of the bag, which I mainly used to hold water bottles but could also carry additional lenses or other accessories. The strap latch on the sides of the pocket meant I could ensure whatever was placed into the side pouches was restrained securely. Finally, the bag has a good-length strap which is easily adjustable and well padded. I use the bag in crossbody configuration for the most part, but I could also use it on one shoulder if I wanted to simply by adjusting the length of the shoulder strap.
The final thing I want to mention about the bag’s outside is the modular belt system attachment. That’s right, you can actually use this on a belt system. I tried this out and don’t think I would use it personally for my type of shooting. But I like that the designers are thinking about these kinds of use-case scenarios and incorporating the functionality that makes this a valuable bag for other systems.
Moving inside the bag, we have a mesh holding area secured with two velcro patches. I could fit a few batteries and memory cards in here, but not much else. You have to be mindful, though, that whatever you place in this area might have contact with the contents of the bag, so if your bag is particularly packed, hard objects, like your batteries, might make contact with your camera body or lenses, depending on your configuration. Since my typical use of this bag was to close the lid in a somewhat slamming manner, it’s something I had to be mindful of.
Inside the bag are four dividers. One solid piece, another with folds, and two mid-dividers. I broke down the bag into three primary sections and ignored the mid-dividers, but the dividers provide plenty of flexibility no matter your configuration. The only other thing in the pack is the rain cover. The cover fits fine, holds well, and prevents water from getting in the bag.
Material and Build Quality
All material inside and outside the bag is high quality and feels good to the touch. The bag’s construction is solid, and all the parts and pieces feel well-stitched and firmly adhered to the bag. I’m confident this bag will hold up to many years of wear and tear. I also don’t fear the magnets losing their potency over time, as most magnets will retain their strength for hundreds of years if properly cared for. Strangely enough, the thinkTANK website does not mention the types of magnets used in this bag. I would assume that if these are rare Earth magnets, which I suspect based on the strength of their hold, that thinkTANK would want to trumpet that. But perhaps they’re not rare earth but just really good magnets.
Conclusion
ThinkTANK has made another innovative, high-quality camera bag that should suit most shooters looking to carry only the minimum of gear. The magnetic closing lid was fun to use, held on securely, and aided in my ability to silently access my camera and anything it could hold. My favorite aspect of the lid was being able to quickly slam it shut and know it would hold well enough to not worry about moving around with my bag. The only real question you have to ask yourself is if the price of this innovation is worth it for a bag of this type. There is plenty of competition in this space, and many similar-sized bags can be had from other reputable manufacturers for half the price or less. So your big determination is whether a magnetic closing lid is worth the increased cost of using this type of bag. Even thinkTANK has cheaper alternatives that provide many of the same essential functions, such as the Mirrorless Mover series. Regardless of the value, I’m happy to see the innovation in camera bags and am eager to see how thinkTANK incorporates this into other existing bags in their lineup and new bags.
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