A good bag for RF 645 kit?

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Rey

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I'm in the fits of a search for a good shoulder bag to fit my Bronica RF 645 (3 lense & flash) kit. I don't want anything too large, but everything should fit without being completely cramped. I've been thinking about getting a Domke F6. Anyone had experience with this bag? Any other recommendations?
 
I have not used the Domke, but have used 3 different Lowepros. To carry around my RF645 and M6 gear I use a Billingham 306 and find it is the most comfortable bag so far. Shoulder wise it is easy on it and stays put. It curves around my hip. The matierial it is covered with is soft and is not scratchy on the inside of my arm. It's just well balanced and easy to use for a carry around bag. The 206 and 106 are smaller.
 
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After I got my RF645 kit, I carried the camera into a branch of a larger Seattle camera shop and poked around until I found something that looked useful in about the right size. Turned out to be a Lowe-Pro Nova 4, about 12" wide, 7" thick, and about 7.5" tall. Front zipper pouch for film, movable interior dividers on velcro. Navy blue color, nicely padded, unobtrusive. I've used it for several years, and it's been just right. Removing the Gossen meter and rearranging a bit allows a second RF645 body with its lens...
 
I carry my RF645 plus 3 lenses and RF20 flash in a LowePro Nova 3AW bag. Configured so that the body sits on end at one side of the bag, this works out perfectly. It allows easy access to all of the lenses, since the rest of the bag can then be divided into four "squares," each one holding a lens or flash. (I may have added a divider from another bag to accomplish this -- I forget.) I even manage to cram in filters, film, and various other things in the front and side pockets. Works like a dream.
 
OK, this is mine . . .

Without a doubt, the most perfect fit I've ever experienced with any bag for any camera is :

Lowepro Nova 1 AW (Allweather) + RF645. See the pics.

I love this bag. Been with me half way around the world, in some VERY serious weather, etc. I mean SERIOUS.

THese shots are taken at ISO 1600 on the Canon SD700IS in dim tungsten light.
 

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Thanks for the feedback, I cannot really afford a Billingham right now, but the LowePro bags do look good, especially the 3 & 4aw models. Camera shops in my area do not carry Billinghams, nor Domkes, but they should have the Lowe models mentioned. I'll check them out. One thing that I do like about the Domke F6 however, is that it doesn't really look like a camera bag.
 
I have a Mamiya 7II with 3 lenses in a Domke F6. It fits fine with the 4 part insert pushed to one end of the bag so the amera is not in the insert, but alongside it, so the Bronica should be a great fit.
 
I use a medium Timbuk2 messanger bag with a Billingham Packington insert. It's waterproof and really easy to work from. I might try the next smaller bag with a Hadley insert (my wife already owns the bag).
 
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Here's another vote for the Domke.

I have three main bags: an F2, and F6, and an ancient Tenba "journalist" bag (they still make it, but not in orange). Gear flips around between them. I find the Tenba great for the RF645 with two lenses and a Vivitar 285. The lower pack is filled with film and a great thing about the bag is that its overall dimensions are big enough to carry useful papers in the back of the bag.

The F6 is cheaper and alternates (depending on my mood & how much I'm willing to carry) between the RF645, my Canon SLR kit, or occasionally a TLR with strobes and a lot of film.

The F2 only comes out these days when I'm really hunting bear.

I have one of the very small Domke "White House" bags (305? I forget the #) -- okay fro carrying a 35mm RF or a small digi, but I usually need a bag that can manage a few extras, particularlly a phone, a small notebook, and maybe an ipod. The small Domke is pocket-poor in this regard.

When it's cooler (or even sometimes not) a huge anorak with many pockets can make the whole notion of "camera bag" moot!
 
I have just got a Domke F-3X. It could be a bit smaller but I often carry around some other stuff besides the RF645, 65mm, 45mm and the flash (I might even get rich and buy a 100 mm lens if I'm lucky 😉 ). It's quite comfortable and discreet. 🙂
 
My kit is the RF645 w/65mm lens, dedicated flash and maybe the
45mm lens one day. I will never own the 100mm or 135mm lenses.

Any Domke big enough would be nearly $100, more than I want to spend.
So I ordered a $50 Kiesel CS300, mentioned in another current RFF bag thread.
It's their most compact canvas model. They offer several larger models, too.

I will let you know how it works out...

Chris
 
ChrisPlatt said:
My kit is the RF645 w/65mm lens, dedicated flash and maybe the
45mm lens one day. I will never own the 100mm or 135mm lenses.

Any Domke big enough would be nearly $100, more than I want to spend.
So I ordered a $50 Kiesel CS300, mentioned in another current RFF bag thread.
It's their most compact canvas model. They offer several larger models, too.

I will let you know how it works out...

Chris
Click to expand...
Looks good! Very similar to a Domke F6 by the look of it. If its alike in other ways too its a bargain.
 
I have the Lowepro Micro Trekker 200 and really like it. It was a toss up between the Nova AW series and my 200. The final deciding factor was that the Micro Trekker 200 has the tripod straps on the bottom that you can attach if you want to bring the tripod with you (which I do). I have 3 lenses and my flash, plus my film canisters (acratech) and the changing bags and one of the digital cameras. Plenty of space leftover too. Not too expensive I got mine for 70 bucks at Ritz.
 
Hi,
I use a Domke 803 satchel for a small kit like this. It will easily hold it and a bit more when needed. It doesn't scream: expenisve camera inside steal me!'
Great bag.

Cheers,
Michiel Fokkema
 
I haven't kept up with this thread lately, but I did end up purchasing a Domke F6. It's really a perfect fit for the 645, 3 lens/flash kit. It also works well with my OM 1 kit.
 
The Domke is bulletproof. Love those low tech metal clasps. I personally find the Lowe, Temba, etc overdesigned. Too many zippers, too many pockets, too much nylon. The Billinghams are out of my price range. And for me, it's important that the bag not be black. Ever seen how hot a camera or film gets inside a black back left in the sun in the tropics? I do a lot of work in very hot climates...sometimes you can't avoid the sun.
 
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