October 26, 2009
http://www.thinktankphoto.com - $169.99
Review by Steve Douglas
Most freelance shooters wear many hats. Unlike those who work within the grand confines of production studios loaded with equipment and support personnel, the freelancer often finds herself having to cover the shooting, video or photography (and sometimes, both) as well as the lighting, audio, monitoring and normal grip duties. Especially when using one's own equipment, jumping back and forth between these roles can be both exhausting and distracting. When I think of the largest gaffes I have made over the years, wearing just too many hats at one time, resulting in distraction, caused them all.
Never the less, that is the situation we are often faced with and the best thing one can do is to keep oneself organized as best as possible. With that in mind, Think Tank has introduced a modular set of bags that fit and work together. Especially so for field shooting, the Multimedia Wired Up 20 system provides all the component bags for a one man band. The introduction of hi end DSLR cameras that also shoot HD video makes such a component set up all the more necessary. The Canon 5D certainly comes to mind as I write this.
Typical of any of the Think Tank bags I have had the pleasure to use, the quality of the Multimedia system simply cannot be beat. The zippers are made to last without degrading or oxidizing over time and the material used is high grade and made to last.
The main bag for you camcorder or DSLR weighs a light 3.6 lbs with interior dimensions of 11.5"W x 9.5"H x 5" D which proves to be roomy enough for most camera/camcorder and lens needs. Augmented by a hi quality belt, the other components of the Wired Up system attach to either the main compartment or to other parts of the belt providing a balance as you move about. The component bags supply several cable ports, which can be threaded through the pockets and used to wire your field system either internally within the bag or to connect to other pockets on the side rails.
Steve Douglas is a certified Apple Pro for Final Cut Pro 6 and underwater videographer. A winner of the 1999 Pacific Coast Underwater Film Competition, 2003 IVIE competition, 2004 Los Angeles Underwater Photographic competition, and the prestigious 2005 International Beneath the Sea Film Competition, where he also won the Stan Waterman Award for Excellence in Underwater Videography and 'Diver of the Year', Steve was a safety diver on the feature film "The Deep Blue Sea", contributed footage to the Seaworld Park's Atlantis production, and productions for National Geographic and the History channels. Steve is also feature writer for Asian Diver Magazine and is one of the founding organizers of the San Diego UnderSea Film Exhibition. He is available for both private and group seminars for Final Cut Pro and leads underwater filming expeditions and African safaris with upcoming excursions to the Red Sea and Egypt for Nov.2009, Feel free to contact him if you are interested in joining Steve on any of these exciting trips. 
