Today we are looking at a camera bag released by ThinkTank earlier in 2023 as part of a new series of shoulder bags called SpeedTop with 2 models at the moment, the small Crossbody 10 and the bag that we have been testing the slightly larger Crossbody 15.
Clarification: In the video, we discuss the Speedtop / Crossbody 15 interchangeably. The Speedtop is the name of a wider series of ThinkTank bags (including some other bags) and Crossbody is the new series with the two-shoulder bags.
Background
Over the years we have tested many camera bags, some large, some larger, but today we are taking a look at a relatively compact shoulder bag that is designed as a sleek daily urban or short hike companion.
We used the Crossbody 15 on several days of shooting outside the studio but also on some of our lighter travel days on our last vacation to Italy in early October and we were actually been able to fit inside quite a lot of gear as we will see in a moment.
Think Tank SpeedTop Crossbody 15
Crossbody 15 External look
We shall start with the external parts of the bag. On the sides, there are two pockets with magnets that can be expanded and hold a flash or a bottle of water for example (we used a tall bottle that looks a bit strange but it had no problem holding it).
On the top part, there is a carrying handle which is useful but it is not in the center of the bag for some reason. In the back, there is a way to hang the bag as well as a somewhat clunky lock to make sure the bag will not open. We would have preferred a buckle; it would have been faster and easier to use.
The bag uses a padded strap that works OK. It’s not very wide and the padding could have been thicker, especially for longer walks with a full bag but on the plus side the mechanism for making the strap longer or shorter is pure genius and something we wish every bag had.
The bag is not fully waterproof but it worked fine in light rain and ThinkTank provides a rain cover as they do with many of their bags. It has a way to connect to the company’s Photo Pro Speed Belt, we didn’t try it so we can’t comment on it. We do wish it had a way to mount on the handle of a rolling bag handle, we could have used it when waiting in the airport in Italy.
With a flash and a bottle of water in the external pockets – Crossbody 15
Compartments and internal design
ThinkTank gave a lot of emphasis to the internal design of the bag and it shows. The lid uses strong magnets to close and in our experience, these never opened by accident.
The main compartment is fairly large and quite deep. We were able to put in an A7R V with our new 70-200mm f/4 and a Sigma 14mm f/1.4 although this was a tight squeeze both in terms of depth and width.
A full-frame camera with a small-mid size lens plus 2 small extra lenses should work well. The official internal size is 11.2” W x 7.9” H x 3.9 “D (28.5 x 20 x 10 cm) and the bag weighs less than 1 kg with the dividers and rain cover.
The bag comes with two wider and two narrow dividers so you can decide on how you wish to arrange your gear inside.
On the inside of the lid, there are two mesh nets with Velcro, useful for smaller items and finally, there is a magnetic internal thin compartment with two smaller open pockets and a larger one that can (barely) fit a small tablet but is not big enough for one with a cover which is kind of a shame.
The inside of the bag with the 4 dividers
Use in the field
As we have mentioned, we worked with the bag for several months and we really like it. It replaced many of our smaller “nose” style bags that we often carried on short trips and urban-style shooting.
The magnets are really cool and easy to work with the lid opens and stays open at just the right angle and there is enough room for a full-frame Sony body with a few small or even mid-size lenses.
We do wish there was a secure external place in the bag for a phone and a few extra centimeters of depth would help us fit our 70-200mm f/4 that much better when attached to our camera.
In the field
Conclusion
We were never big fans of medium-sized shoulder bags as they tend to put a lot of weight on one shoulder and have no extra support on the hip or chest like a proper backpack. With that said the relatively compact size of the Crossbody 15 made us rethink things and is certainly convenient enough for a light day of urban shooting.
The bag has room to hold quite a bit of gear but is still compact enough to carry on the side of your body and not get in the way. You can even use it for some extra stabilization for your elbows while you are shooting if you make the straps short enough.
The magnets are a cool idea and work great and there are plenty of small pockets for accessories.
Nothing is perfect of course and there are some things that we think can be added or improved. On our wish list for a future, slightly larger Crossbody 20 (if it ever to exist) are things such as a wider thicker strap, room for slightly longer lenses a tablet with a cover, a buckle lock, and a dedicated place for a smartphone with cover on the outside of the bag.
Pricing
The Crossbody 15 sells for $150 while the smaller Crossbody 10 sells for around $130.
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Iddo Genuth 
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