Review: Thinktank Focuspoint 30L camera backpack

Friday 3 July 2026, 14:41 by Nando Harmsen | 1,857 views | 2 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

I have a large and a small camera backpack. The large one is really big and holds a lot. The small one is good for a lightweight day out. I have nothing in between. Normally, that isn't a problem, until I wanted to travel light to Iceland.

My plan was to take one camera with three lenses. A telephoto zoom lens, a standard zoom lens and a wide-angle zoom lens. I would also take a small travel tripod.

Travelling light. Sometimes you don't need more, or don't want to take more with you.
All of this fits in the large backpack. But then I have more empty space than used space. That's a waste. What's more, its size is right on the limit of what I can take on the plane as carry-on baggage.

This also fits in the small backpack. But then I have to 'fill' the entire backpack. I have no room left for that essential raincoat and lunch. Besides, the small backpack isn't particularly suitable for this kind of travel.

Then I noticed the Thinktank Focuspoint 30L. This new addition to the Thinktank range has a roll-top. So its capacity can be increased, especially for that raincoat and lunch. What's more, the bag looks good too.

A 90-litre duffel bag and the Thinktank Focuspoint 30L. This is what I took to Iceland. A total of 26 kilograms of luggage.
The bag is quite slim. I briefly wondered whether the camera with the desired lenses would fit inside. But it did. It fits like a glove. The bag is also relatively light. Perfect, then.

What does the Focuspoint look like

The bag measures 30.5 x 45.7 x 17.8 cm, well within the permitted limits for carry-on baggage. It weighs just 1.76 kg. It fits a 16" laptop and has a pocket for a water bottle.

The camera compartment can be accessed from the back or the side. Unless you have attached a tripod there. If you place the tripod on the other side, there is no room for a water bottle.

A removable hip belt, sturdy loops on the shoulder straps, room for a raincoat and plenty of space in the front pocket.
The front has a spacious compartment with some dividers. It is big enough for a jacket, together with headphones, for example. There is also a separate padded pocket for a smartphone.

The buckle for the roll-top is a nice accent. It works well and smoothly. A padded smartphone pocket and side access.
This is how I set off. The Thinktank Focuspoint 30L with my camera and lenses, raincoat and everything I needed. I carried the laptop in a separate laptop bag, for reasons I explained here.

Using it in Iceland

Flying with this relatively small camera backpack is pleasant. The Focuspoint fits without any problems in both the overhead compartment and under the seat. On the bus, the bag can easily be kept between the passengers, or between your legs.

Taking photos in Iceland.
As the driver and tour guide, I could easily place the bag on the empty spot next to the passenger seat. At the locations, its small size and low weight gave me much more flexibility than my large 50-litre backpack.

Where the ground was wet or 'contaminated', such as in the geologically active areas, the rain cover provided more than enough protection. This meant I could put the bag down without too many problems when changing lenses.

The famous Hvitserkur rock. The grass was dry, otherwise I would have used the rain cover.
I didn't use the opening on the side. I don't like using it as a sling bag. That isn't a fault of this camera bag itself. I simply want full access through the back.

In wet conditions

Fortunately, we had little rain in Iceland. During one of these showers, I used the bag without the rain cover. A light shower isn't a problem. The material of the bag can cope with that perfectly well.

After a heavy shower. The material can cope with it, but the zips leak a little.
The zips are less well protected against the rain. In some places, moisture had got inside. Not much, but enough to conclude that the Focuspoint isn't intended to be used in the rain without the rain cover.

The rain cover naturally doesn't protect the back. The mesh can act like a sponge, which of course isn't unique to this camera backpack. Keep that in mind.
The roll-top is perfectly resistant to rain. It is the zips that you need to protect with the supplied rain cover. The back, however, acts like a sponge that gets wet and stays wet. Keep in mind that there is also a zip there.

My conclusion

In the end, instead of the previously mentioned camera with three lenses, I chose two cameras with three lenses. More than planned again, although not heavier. I knew I would hardly use the wide-angle zoom lens.

No bag is perfect. Everyone knows that. The Focuspoint isn't perfect either. I miss extra loops on the outside for some additional options. A carabiner, for example, or an extra lens pouch, or a filter pouch.

A pocket for a water bottle or tripod on one side. The tripod is held in place with a removable strap.
The dividers of the bag's insert, which can actually be removed completely, don't give me enough flexibility. The lack of a side divider for access through the side isn't ideal.

A difficult climb in the mountains of Kerlingarfjöll. The Focuspoint is comfortable to carry.
The Focuspoint is really intended to be used as a sling bag. It performs better that way. I also see this beautifully designed camera bag as being more suited to use in the city than for adventurous travel.

The Focuspoint is designed for an arrangement like this. Not the way I prefer to use a camera bag. Here it contains an Olympus with two lenses and a Fujifilm compact camera.
The space for the tripod legs in the compartment is a little tight. Unless you sacrifice the space for the water bottle. Although it is possible, this Thinktank Focuspoint performs better without a tripod.

Pros

• Good-looking bag with attention to detail, attractive colours
  
• Compact and lightweight
  
• Plenty of room for a jacket, raincoat, lunch or other items
  
• Insert can be removed for use as an all-day backpack
  
• 16" laptop compartment
  
• Enough small pockets, although some are tight
  
• Separate padded smartphone pocket
  
• Lots of loops on the shoulder strap
  
• Good and comfortable handle on top
  
• Room for a small travel tripod
  
• Bag remains perfectly upright when accessing it through the roll-top
  

Cons

• No loops on the outside for small bags or accessories
  
• Room for tripod legs or water bottle, not both
  
• Dividers cannot be secured sufficiently
  
• Water can leak through the zips during heavy showers if the rain cover isn't used
  
• The mesh on the back gets very wet during showers, even when using the rain cover
  
• Not particularly suitable for adventurous photography trips
  

The Thinktank Focuspoint is available in two sizes. This review is about the 30-litre version, but there is also a 22-litre version. This smaller version is 14 grams lighter and 2 to 3 cm smaller on every side.

Both sizes are available in four attractive colours: Asphalt Black (black), Greenway (dark green), Golden Hour (golden yellow) and Urban Rust (rust red). I chose the last one.

The view at Borgarvirki in Iceland around midnight in summer.
The price for the 30-litre version is 299.99 euros and the 22-litre version costs 249.99 euros. The price may seem quite high, but you get a bag that will last a lifetime and can also be used perfectly as a stylish everyday backpack.

Would anyone be interested in my example? Let me know. I won't be using my Focuspoint 30L anymore.

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