Think Tank

Think Tank Urban Disguise 30, Plain Looking, Fully Functional Saddlebag Size Shoulder Bag for a Pro SLR & Two Lenses up to 70-200mm f/2.8
$130.00
I have been looking for a bag like this for a long time. I shoot events (weddings, sports, etc) and use this bag to carry a Canon 70-200 f2.8, Canon 580ex flash, and two other lenses. I think it is easier to get stuff in and out of this bag rather than the sling type bags.

The bag is very unobtrusive and I have no problem carrying it around at weddings or other formal events.

Construction is top quality.

This is a great bag if you need to carry around a few lenses and a flash while you are shooting an event.

Think Tank Pixel Pocket Rocket, for Storing 10 Compact Flash Memory Cards, with Security Leash.
$15.99
I bought this to manage 9 CF cards that I use when shooting weddings or other events. Previously I was keeping them in the plastic cases they come with and had a couple of small holders which only held 2 cards each. I was sticking the full cards in my pocket and was always paranoid I was going to lose them. My requirements were to have a small wallet which could hold 10 or more cards but not be so bulky that it couldn't fit in my pocket. This meets all those requirements and is very well built, but there are a couple of concerns/problems I have.

The potential loss of data is not something that can be tolerated when shooting a client's event, there's no re-shoot for a wedding. This wallet (and I think most others) require you to put the cards in bare without the plastic case. This makes me a little nervous that dust or debris might get inside the cards and make them unreadable. I have found that not dealing with the plastic cases has the advantage that there's less fumbling around with cards when switching. This means there's less of a chance of dropping a card which can also cause data loss. Having the wallet hold the cards with plastic cases would make it very bulky as well.

The main shortcoming with this product that I don't think I would have even noticed without researching some of the other offerings is that there's no way to mark full cards as used. The Tamrac bags have a red flagging system that can be used to mark used cards and batteries. Something like this would be very useful in the Think Tank product. Another problem for me is the velcro closure. It's just too loud to open during a quiet wedding ceremony in a church.

All that being said, I'm very happy with the product and would buy it again. I don't see any other products on the market that can meet my needs any better, and if Think Tank introduces a new product with the features I think are missing, I'd surely pick one up.

Think Tank Airport Security V2.0, Carry On Roller Bag for Photo Gear
$369.00
The good thing about being a photographer for many years is that you accumulate a lot of valuable gear... the bad part is that it is difficult to bring it along with ease. I don't care to leave my bodies, lenses and speedlights at my studio as a break-in could leave me in a bad way. I also do a fair amount of location work and I always seem to need something that I have left behind somewhere, be it at the studio or in another camera bag. My decision to buy this bag was based on a fair amount of research and some experience with trying to get-by with less for years. This bag allows me to carry almost everything that I need at a location shoot (I still carry a small bag with my Q-Flash and battery pack) and it travels SO WELL. I have envied people with rolling bags for some time and now I envy no more. Parked across the lot from the reception hall? No problem. Rapid packing at the church after formals? Bring it. I also know that I will have the right bag for airline travel. The TSA lock and cable lock to secure the bag to a chair or table is a nice touch. The bag is so well constructed and the endless possibilites for arranging dividers is just great. I may pick-up the "low divider set" so I can slip my 15" MacBook Pro in the bag as well. That is a well thought out idea! I did choke at the idea of speeding so much money on that bag but the sting was short-lived and I now feel that I have the right bag for many years to come!

What I carry: Canon 5D and Canon 30D both with grips attached, 3 Speedlights, Fong Lightsphere and an array of other speedlight modifiers including gels, off-camera flash cable, Justin Clamp, 70-200mm 2.8L, 24-70mm 2.8L, 17-40mm f4L, 50mm 1.4 and hoods for all lenses, Sekonic L-358, 3 Pocket Wizards, lens cleaning supplies, electrical and gaffers tape, multitool, flashlight, 2 memory card cases, blower bulb, collapseable reflector, white balance cards, and many other misc. items for that "you never know" situation.

Think Tanks, Public Policy, and the Politics of Expertise
$31.99
If you study any complex issue being debated in the U.S. Congress or state legislatures, you are likely to find a torrent of reports from independent think tanks. Who are these groups and where did they come from? Good question - and one that political scientist Andrew Rich answers quite thoroughly. This often fascinating study shines its bright light on think tanks, largely overlooked players in the political process. At times, though, Rich's study tantalizes with generalizations, and then it tends toward scholarly restraint at exactly the moment when the reader wants some juicy details. We suggest this book to anyone who wants to shape - or really understand - the public debate on complex policy issues.