anyone using the tenba dna bag?

Peter_Tenba said:
It's nice to read the comments on the DNA bag in this thread. The DNA 8 really was born out of frustration because we started shooting Sony and Fuji mirrorless in the office, and not only was there no Tenba bag that was sized right for mirrorless, but we couldn't even find another brand that was making a professional-grade mirrorless bag, so we built the DNA 8. As some have pointed out, we went with a minimalist strap on the bag because even when it's fully loaded, the weight was reasonable, and we thought a larger strap pad would be too bulky. But Tenba does offer a new removable 1.5" strap pad in our Tenba Tools collection that will start shipping in two weeks that can be added if necessary.

I'm happy to answer any questions that anyone has, but the reviews above are wonderfully detailed and probably have all the necessary information.
Click to expand...

Hello Peter,

Just like my Tenba Messenger Mini, the DNA 8 is proving to be an excellent choice. I hope you don't mind the following: I have just a couple of simple suggestions that I think would improve it.

- The overflap retaining velcro is too aggressive for this size bag. It makes the overflap difficult to secure because it grabs as you're dropping the flap in place and then the latches don't reach properly: you have to pull the flap away from the bag and position it more carefully so that the latches can seat. The velcro is also terrifically noisy; for example, I was at a lecture last evening and had my camera in the bag, saw a shot that I wanted to take, but I couldn't open the overflap without making a loud noise and disturbing the audience and the speaker.

The direct-access zipper on the overflap was also a problem because it too is noisy when you try to open it. I had to inch it open very slowly so as not to disturb people, which meant the shot I wanted was long gone by the time I had the camera out.

Silencer flaps on the velcro, or maybe even a stealth model without any velcro at all, would solve the problem. The bag doesn't really need velcro anyway as the flap retaining latches are very secure and easy to use, as well as nearly silent in operation. (I'll likely just shave mine down to nothing or remove it.)

A quieter running zipper on the direct access slot would also be a good thing.

- With an iPad mini in the bag, the bag doesn't flex much on that side because the iPad mini pretty much fills the padded space. Unfortunately, that's the side of the bag that should ride on your hip, side, or back. If the tablet slot were moved to the other side of the interior, the back of the bag could conform to the body more easily and make the bag more comfortable to wear. A side-effect of this change is that the tablet could also be retrieved and inserted more easily through the direct access slot in the overflap. On this small a bag, the weight distribution of the bag would be changed by very much, and putting the inside zippered pocket on the back side of the interior seems a more natural location for it.

- If you put a 5mm bellows expansion seem on the sides of the backside exterior pocket, it would be much more useful. The size of this bag reduces the usefulness of the current flat, rectangular external pocket. Moving the tablet pocket to the other side of the interior and having the backside zippered pockets, interior and exterior, would make both of the backside pockets more useful.

- The biggest improvement to the bag, though, would be a better strap. Note that I do not mean a big, bulky strap with integrated shoulder pad .. This bag is too small to need a heavy duty pad or hold a heavy load. The provided strap isn't bad, it's just too short and not my choice of material. The Domke strap that I have fitted to mine at present is a 1.5 inch wide x (max) 56 inch, soft, coarse-weave fabric strap, similar also to the straps that Billingham uses on the L2 and Hadley bags. It has a very nice feel, just the right amount of give for a smallish bag, and allows me to easily wear the bag bandolier style and set it in the small of my back, at my side, or on my hip for speedy access. I find that strap pads on this size and weight bag are always restricting the movement of the bag or are always in the wrong place as I move the bag around; this works better.

Since the strap for this bag is easily changed, I'd love to see an optional strap like the Domke that I'm using made available.

Thank you for listening!

G
 
Two photos of the DNA8 contents:

DNA8_M4-2_CS50_CL_MR40.jpg

DNA 8 carrying M4-2 fitted with Color Skopar 50mm f/2.5 and CL fitted with M-Rokkor 40mm f/2

DNA8_M9_N50_U28_CS21_CS35_IPm.jpg

DNA 8 carrying M9 fitted with Nokton 50mm f/1.5 and Ultron 28mm f/2, Color Skopar 21mm f/4 and Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5,
also iPad mini 3 in SmartCase
​

The overflap and securing straps work fine, no stresses with these loads. It's a surprisingly capacious bag for its outward appearance.

I don't think an iPad Air will fit a DNA 8. The iPad mini in the SmartCase is a relatively snug fit, the Air might fit lengthwise but is a bit too wide, I think.

G
 
yes, thanks for the pics mr. g.

i finally saw the dna in person today…great looking bag.
the 8 is too small for my kit, the 11 too big…but i think i'm going to sell a few bags and buy the 8 anyway…it will fit a smaller kit for those times i travel light…possibly replace the ona bowery, but for sure replace the bbb-e and the shibata...
 
The DNA 8 is perfect for what I usually carry, best small bag I've tried in a while.

I had it with me all day today ... ripping out the velcro has improved it a lot! It's now silent in use and the overflap doesn't get caught on the velcro when you're trying to close it. Using the cloth Domke strap on it is another big improvement; it's so much more comfortable than the nylon strap it comes with.

Very pleased. 🙂

G
 
Using the direct-access zipper

Using the direct-access zipper

Godfrey said:
Hello Peter,

Just like my Tenba Messenger Mini, the DNA 8 is proving to be an excellent choice. I hope you don't mind the following: I have just a couple of simple suggestions that I think would improve it.
[...]
The direct-access zipper on the overflap was also a problem because it too is noisy when you try to open it. I had to inch it open very slowly so as not to disturb people, which meant the shot I wanted was long gone by the time I had the camera out.
[...]
Click to expand...
Good points and still, I like the Tenba bag lines: They are very well thought in general.
Let me add to your comment above my experience, having since several years the very similar Tenba Messenger bags in different sizes. In silent places (like churches, museums or libraries) I just prepare already open the direct-access zipper to have the camera or lenses reachable without noise.
 
dct said:
Good points and still, I like the Tenba bag lines: They are very well thought in general.
Let me add to your comment above my experience, having since several years the very similar Tenba Messenger bags in different sizes. In silent places (like churches, museums or libraries) I just prepare already open the direct-access zipper to have the camera or lenses reachable without noise.
Click to expand...

Indeed, it's best to be prepared like that whenever you can! I was caught out by a totally unexpected situation the other evening, however; normally, I'd have set up the bag beforehand. It was also my first day out with the DNA 8, which shows there's a learning curve to everything. 🙂

I'm very pleased with both the DNA 8 and the Messenger Mini. Both are excellent, well thought out designs.

G
 
back alley said:
yes, thanks for the pics mr. g.

i finally saw the dna in person today…great looking bag.
the 8 is too small for my kit, the 11 too big…but i think i'm going to sell a few bags and buy the 8 anyway…it will fit a smaller kit for those times i travel light…possibly replace the ona bowery, but for sure replace the bbb-e and the shibata...
Click to expand...

I'm interested in the BBB-e when it's up for sale.
 
I recently picked up a DNA 8 for my small kit. It works very well for what I am carrying. I can comfortably carry my M4-P with 50 cron with hood attached, Luna-Star meter, CF flash, 4 rolls of film, and some small miscellaneous stuff. There is room for my mini tripod when I need to bring it along. The bag can take more than this so a couple additional small lenses will fit comfortably. Perfect size for this type of use.

I can easily live with the strap (not perfect but certainly usable). The velcro is a bit overdone but as noted you can remove it if you want. I removed some of it. I was not 100% sold on the material at first but in reality it is quite nice and should be durable.
 
still mulling but have not bought the dna 8 yet...
i like the ona bowery so much but it doesn't have an inside pocket for my ipad mini and i don't like putting it in the outside pocket...the dna8 seems perfect for a one body, 2 lens kit...
 
A few weeks later ...

I'm very pleased with the DNA 8, particularly since I removed the velcro. It has a flap pocket, just a little something in there to weight it keeps the flap in place without having to do the latches, and it has a very useful amount of space inside. I've carried the Leica X and M4-2 with 50 Nokton fitted, along with iPad mini, a spare film and batteries, etc. It's surprisingly roomy for its outside dimensions.

A useful bag that isn't clunky looking or overly gaudy ... 🙂

G
 
i picked one up on the way home…smaller than i remembered…fits an xe1 with 23 attached plus the 56…barely fits.
squeezed in extra batteries, an nd filter, sd cards, business cards and lens cleaning cloth and my ipad mini. it's all about the ipad mini!!
and that's it!!
if i can work with it…will give it a first try tomorrow at the market and the avenue…then it will be a keeper and i think i'll sell the bowery (thought i never would).
 
back alley said:
i picked one up on the way home…smaller than i remembered…fits an xe1 with 23 attached plus the 56…barely fits.
squeezed in extra batteries, an nd filter, sd cards, business cards and lens cleaning cloth and my ipad mini. it's all about the ipad mini!!
and that's it!!
if i can work with it…will give it a first try tomorrow at the market and the avenue…then it will be a keeper and i think i'll sell the bowery (thought i never would).
Click to expand...

I'd be interested to see how you have that gear fitted in the bag. Snap a photo!
🙂

G
 
Joe, did you try it with the camera in the center with the lens down using the folding flaps. That should leave room for two lenses on either side protected. I am not sure how big your lenses are but it works very nicely for me.
 
pismo923 said:
Joe, did you try it with the camera in the center with the lens down using the folding flaps. That should leave room for two lenses on either side protected. I am not sure how big your lenses are but it works very nicely for me.
Click to expand...

i don't much care for that configuration…feel like i'm waiting for the camera to fall out.
this way works but the gear JUST fits.
 
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