Think Tank Digital Holster 150 Review – Quick Access Telephoto Lenses

Share with your friends!

A holster-style camera bag, sometimes called a toploader, is a useful style of camera bag for when you only need to carry a single camera with one lens attached. While there are a few good camera holster bags on the market for smaller lenses, the Digital Holster 150 from Think Tank Photo is unique in its ability to hold much larger telephoto zoom lenses. This makes it perfect amateur sports photographers who are attending an event and want to safely carry a long lens. Or wildlife photographers who want to travel light when they are out on a hike.

Why Use a Holster?

Holster-style camera bags are useful when you want to get fast access to a camera with a lens already mounted. For wildlife and nature photographers this easy access might help you capture something that you’d otherwise miss if you had to pull your camera out of a regular photo backpack.

Holsters can be worn on a belt, over the shoulder, on the waist strap of a backpack or strapped to your chest in a harness. With the camera access at the top of the holster, any of these carrying options will put the camera right at your fingertips for immediate access.

Although generally designed for a single camera and lens, you can sometimes stack a couple of smaller lenses on top of each other. Most camera holster bags will also include one or two accessory pockets for your spare batteries, lens cloth and SD card holder, keeping everything you need in one self-contained package.

A holster bag is also a good way to carry and protect your camera and lens when using a larger bag that is not specifically designed for camera gear. The most common example is people who use dedicated hiking packs but also want to carry a camera with them. Careful packing of the holster into your bag will leave the opening pointing upwards, thus giving your somewhat easy access to your camera during the day. I have often done this myself when using a sport-specific backpack such as one for mountain biking.

The Think Tank Photo Digital Holster Series

In this review, we are taking a close look at the Digital Holster 150, but there are actually an additional six sizes in the Digital Holster range. The features are very much the same on all the different models, so you could consider this review suitable to draw conclusions about all models. Of course, the sizes are different, so I’ll outline the recommended camera capacity below:

  • Digital Holster 5 V2.0 – Medium size mirrorless with up to a 3.3” (8.4cm) lens attached.
  • Digital Holster 10 V2.0 – DSLR / Larger mirrorless camera with 16-35 or 24-70.
  • Digital Holster 20 V2.0 – DSLR with 24-70 with hood in shooting position / DSLR with 70-200 + reversed hood.
  • Digital Holster 30 V2.0 – DSLR with 70-200, hood reversed or in shooting position.
  • Digital Holster 40 V2.0 – Gripped DSLR/mirrorless with 24-70
  • Digital Holster 50 V2.0 – Gripped DSLR/mirrorless with 70-200
  • Digital Holster 150 – Gripped DSLR/mirrorless with 150-600/200-500/200-600/300pf/500pf

You’ll notice the first six models carry a V2.0 designation. The 150 model was not included in the original V1.0 Digital Holster lineup but was added to the range when the first versions of the Holster were upgraded from V1.0 to V2.0.

Digital Holster 150 Capacity

The Sony 200-600mm lens alongside the Digital Holster 150.

This camera bag was initially designed to pair perfectly with the popular Tamron 150-600mm lens. After that lens’s popularity, we also saw the launch of the Sigma 150-600, Nikon 180-600mm, Canon 200-800mm, and the Sony 200-600mm. Happily, all of these lenses will also fit into this bag. Aside from these longer zooms, you can also fit any 100-400mm lens or the Canon RF 100-500mm. With these shorter zooms, you can leave the lens hood attached, and they will still fit into the bag.

This bag will hold all gripped DSLRs or mirrorless cameras.

Some notable prime lenses will also fit nicely into this bag. This includes the Nikon 500mm PF, Nikon Z 400mm f/4.5, Nikon Z 600mm f/6.3, Sony 300mm f/2.8 GM, and the Sigma 500mm f/5.6.

The Nikon Z 600mm f/6.3 is also a great fit with the Digital Holster 150.
The Nikon Z 400mm f/4.5 fits with the lens hood in the forward shooting position.

Features and Function

The Digital Holster 150 comes will a well padded shoulder strap. It is much thicker and more comfortable than the other Digital Holster models in the range. If you are on the fence about getting a Digital Holster 50 and using it with the pop-down extension, or just getting a Digital Holster 150, know that this strap is one of the biggest differences, and probably worth the additional cost.

Compatible with the Think Tank Speed Belt, or the Skin Belt (pictured).

Although the strap is comfortable enough to carry the weight of any lens that will fit in the bag, you might also consider using it in combination with a belt. This can take a little weight off your shoulder from time to time, as needed, but it also stops the bag swinging around too much while you walk. Any belt will do, but the Digital Holster is also compatible with the Think Tank Speed Belt and the Skin Belt from their modular pouch system.

Elasticated front pocket.

On the front of the bag is an elasticated pocket that’s actually fairly large on this Holster 150. It’s a good spot for your lens cap, but you can also fit some photography gloves in here and some granola bars. Beneath it, you will find a zippered pocket that folds open to one side. This pocket has limited use because it has very little thickness to it. It’s a good place for a filter in a plastic case, but not much else.

I’m just going to call this the filter pocket, because I couldn’t find anything else to put in there.

Spinning the bag around to the side, you’ll find a more substantial zippered pocket that is internally divided with an elasticated internal pocket. Upon receiving the bag, this is where you will find the included rain cover, but there’s space in this pocket for your teleconverter. or maybe even two if you stack them together.

The rain cover is attached to the bag by a hook and loop tab on the red nylon loop seen in the picture below. If you don’t want to carry the rain cover you can remove it, and then this pocket becomes a good place to store a memory card wallet. The best memory card wallets all have tethers on them, so you can hook the tether to the red loop for security.

The next pocket is located in the lid of the bag. I would call this semi-secure. It uses a hook and loop closure instead of a zip, and the closure flap doesn’t span the entire width of the pocket, making it a poor location for tiny loose items. This pocket would be another good place for a filter or maybe a lens cloth and a couple of spare batteries.

The main section of the bag features a padded flap that offers extra protection to the back of your camera. If you have a camera strap attached to your camera, you can fold the strap up on top of the flap so that it doesn’t rub on the camera LCD. Inside the main section, you’ll also find one padded divider. If your lens isn’t large enough to consume the entire height of the bag, you can use this padded divider to stash a second lens at the bottom of the bag. For example, you could carry both a 70-200 and a 24-70.

The side of the Digital Holster 150 features a pair of straps and an another elasticated pocket. The primary function of this is to hold a monopod, but it also allows you to attach modular pouches if you want to carry a couple more items. In my testing I found it useful to attach this Think Tank Skin Pouch to the side and use it to carry my binoculars. A rarely go out looking for wildlife without them, so this was a good setup for me.

The only downside was that it slightly offset the centre of gravity from the shoulder strap carrying points. Although you could technically attach even larger pouches to the side of the bag, I would caution against it for that reason. For best results and comfort, limit your pouch-carried gear to something no bigger than binoculars or a 24-70mm-sized lens.

Conclusion

The Digital Holster 150 is the largest holster-style camera bag on the market to date. It’s built to the usual high Think Tank standards, and comfortably holds all of the popular telephoto super zooms on the market, as well as a good number of the smaller aperture telephoto prime lenses such as the Nikon 500mm f/5.6 PF.

I expect the main audience for this bag will be wildlife photographers who want to take a simple single camera/lens kit with them on a day of hiking or driving around looking for wildlife in their cars. Using it while hiking will give you the fastest possible access to your camera when wildlife suddenly appears, and the same can be said for what I usually refer to as “wildlife drives”, too.

When driving around national parks or other remote areas looking for wildlife in your car, it’s important to always keep a camera next to you on the front seat, ready to go. I must admit that I have often done this by strapping my camera into the passenger seatbelt, but the Digital Holster 150 is a much better solution because it also holds the few accessories I might also need: Batteries, memory cards and teleconverter.

Living in the Yukon as I do, every time I take a drive, even just to the gym or the post office, there is the chance that I will stumble across lynx, moose, grizzly bears or even wolves. I usually try to make sure I have my camera in the car with me, just in case, and the Digital Holster 150 is the perfect solution for that grab-and-go kit. If you live in an equally wild place, or often travel to such places to look for wildlife, I think you’ll also love using this bag for the same purpose. Regular Yellowstone visitors, I’m looking at you!

Where to Buy + Get a Free Gift

US Customers spending over $50 in Think Tank Photo’s online store can get a free gift at checkout after following one of the links to the store from this review–like this one. If you have any issues, please follow the instructions on this page.

As always, using our links for your purchases is appreciated. Of course, US readers should shop directly with Think Tank to take advantage of the gift. Canadian readers should shop with B&H Photo as they offer free shipping and the option to pre-pay the tax and duties. This results in a better final price than buying from Think Tank distributors in Canada.

Photo of author
Professional photographer based in Yukon, Canada, and founder of Shutter Muse. His editorial work has been featured in publications all over the world, and his commercial clients include brands such as Nike, Apple, Adobe and Red Bull.

Featured Posts

You may like

8 thoughts on “Think Tank Digital Holster 150 Review – Quick Access Telephoto Lenses”

  1. Have you evaluated the LensCoat adjustable camera bag? It is bigger than the ThinkTank holster and will accomodate large prime telephotos. Your comments will be welcome by those looking for something bigger than the TT Holster.
    Best
    JDupps

    Reply
    • I haven’t. Looking at the photos it would seem to be a good solution for people who use larger 500mm and 600mm primes. I can’t see a reason to use it for smaller lenses like a 150-600mm, though, because it’s near twice the price.

      I’m sure Lenscoat would send me one to evaluate. I’ll put it on my to-do list, but at the moment I don’t have a large prime to test it with.

      Reply
  2. Hi Dan, will the THINK TANK DIGITAL HOLSTER 150 hold my Sony a9 & 200-600 lens with a 1.4 teleconverter? The Kinesis C850 will, but it’s pricier and not as well made. Thanks in advance for your reply.

    Best,

    Cortney

    Reply
    • It will, but you will find that the lid is very tight. You’d be best to remove the 1.4x and put it in the side pocket.

      Reply
  3. Hello Dan
    just purchased the Digital Holster 150 for my Sony A1 with Grip, 200-600G. My only gripe with this otherwise near perfect holster is that the 1.4tc attached is extremely tight (i don’t think its tight enough to cause any damage to camera or bag – do you think zipper would loosen eventually?) . That said, i also find the viewfinder protrudes slightly with the A1 attached to bare 200-600 with hood reversed, but not enough to be a problem – it zips up fine. Did you check the fitment with your A1? seems the A1 viewfinder protrudes a bit more rearward than my A9ii did. Thanks!

    Reply
  4. I have used this holster on hikes at Rocky Mountain National Park for my Nikon Z9 with a 100-400mm Z lens for birds & wildlife. I love the easy access of the holster but my shoulder started to hurt despite the thick padded strap by the end of the day. I’m thinking of attaching it to my padded Think Tank belt to offload the weight from my shoulder and minimize the swing. Any other suggestions? It was originally purchased for my D500+500mm prime lens.

    Reply
    • Yeah, the Z9 is just a heavy camera, isn’t it?! I’m sure my shoulder would also hurt after a day with that combination.

      The belt can help. The way I like to use it is sometimes I put the weight on my shoulder, then, from time to time, I’ll tighten the belt and let my hips take the weight for a bit. I’ll go back and forth like that, and sometimes switch shoulders.

      But, in all honesty, unless you are used to that kind of weight, there will always be some amount of discomfort after a full day. There certainly aren’t any holster bags that are any more comfortable, so, if you wanted an entirely new solution, you’d be looking at getting a backpack as this will spread the load out across more of your body.

      Something like the Gura Gear Kiboko would be best, as this bag is designed for you to keep a lens attached to the camera, just as it is in a holster. Review: https://shuttermuse.com/gura-gear-kiboko-review/

      Reply

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published or shared. Comments that use abusive langugage, fake email addresses and fake names will be marked as spam. Please note that if you include a link in your comment, it will need to be moderated before it appears on the site. Required fields are marked*

By submitting a comment this form also collects your name, email and IP address so that we can prevent spam. For more info check our privacy policy.