Bag for Two Ms

I agree with you on the side pockets, but my iPad air fits in the rear pocket and my Lee Seven5 filters fit in the front pockets.

However, the outside pockets are pathetic. You can barely squeeze a Moleskin notebook into the back pocket, one filter in each of the front pockets OR an iPhone without cover. Nothing will fit into the side pockets, maybe a pen or a thumb drive, if you are lucky. Way too tight. What were they thinking?


Have to strongly disagree with both of you. I regularly carry the Bowery with two bodies (lenses attached) as well as a dozen rolls of film in between both bodies or the Fuji SP-1 printer and extra film. The photo I posted clearly shows this. Of course, if you're talking DSLR or medium format, then it's just one body. But for Leica, Fuji, or m43, you can fit two bodies and plenty of other stuff.

That bag is made for one body + accessories or two bodies with lenses and nothing else. Should have gotten the Prince Street if you wanted more space.

The Bowery is fine if you *only* want to put in a two-body kit and nothing else. Maybe 1-2 rolls, but nothing more...and for that it works great.
 
Matt: you have the canvas Bowery, I have the leather version which is much stiffer. Seriously, I can barely fit an iPhone (without cover) or one filter into the front pocket! :mad:
 
Ona Bowery all day long. The problem with the Domke are those damn zippers! Not to mention the extremely loud velcro for the flap. The Ona on the other hand has great quality canvas (or leather), is more water resistant, the clip makes it easier to open/close, and the pockets are more versatile. Only suggestion would be to pick up one extra divider (they only include one with the bag which is pretty cheap of them).

Here's a shot of my Bowery with an MP and Fuji (roughly the same size as an M) along with a case for 4 rolls of film. Depending on the trip I'll bring a few of these cases along and also put batteries in this center divided section. Front pockets hold ND filters and lens pen. Large rear pocket can accommodate an iPad Air for flights
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Matty: Did yours come with both dividers? Photos of the Bowery generally show it with just one. Is the second one at extra cost?
 
Example of two Leicas in a Domke F-5XB. I chose two fairly bulky lenses to show the amount of room available: One is a 35mm Summilux ASPH, the other is a 28MM Summicron ASPH, both with hoods on. There is enough room left for brush, cloth, and film. Moleskin notebook and iPhone in the front pockets.

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The Bowery only comes with one divider which is why I wrote this in my original post:

"Only suggestion would be to pick up one extra divider (they only include one with the bag which is pretty cheap of them)."

Funny enough, that extra divider actually came out of my Domke F5XB

Matty: Did yours come with both dividers? Photos of the Bowery generally show it with just one. Is the second one at extra cost?
 
I haven't read the other replies so if a decision has already been made, just ignore this.

When I shot with Leicas, I used a Billingham Hadley Pro. I carried two M6's, with 35mm Summicron and 50mm Summicron attached. I also carried a 21mm CV with viewfinder in it's hard case and a 90mm Elmar-C in a soft case. Other stuff included a Gossen Luna Pro meter, a selection of filters, Lenspen and microfiber cloth, spare meter batteries, cell phone, reading glasses, sunglasses, sometimes a guide book or two and, oh yeah: about 20 rolls of film. It was a perfect setup for me at the time.

My Hadley Pro is now over 17 years old and I'm still using it, only today I'm using it with a pair of Fuji XP1 bodies, Fuji lenses and the usual assortment of stuff (no film, of course). The bag is a little stained and faded but in great shape otherwise. I did recently replace the insert. Truthfully, the old insert was still usable but the Velcro on the separator panels were worn out so I just replaced the whole thing. The canvas material Billingham uses doesn't seem to ever wear out and it's still water resistant. For the years of use I'm getting from this bag, it has proven to be the cheapest bag I've ever owned.
 
Do any of you know about inserts?

I already have a messenger bag I relaly like, not camera bag by any means.
But I'm looking for a nice insert with good separation, I usually carry a leica M and a nikon FE
 
My favorite bag for two bodies is the Harvey Messenger from Filson. It's on the larger side but it's sooo flexible and it's easily one of the more comfortable bags I've used as it conforms to my side really quite well.
 
I have an f5-xb and sure two bodies with lenses will fit, as seen in the photo above, but honestly, it's a tight fit. I just got back from a trip and had my M6 with 3 lenses (one on the body), and my X100T stuffed in the bag. It fit, but there really isn't room for much else (film etc.) and the X100 series has a small lens too. I didn't mind too much, but I probably wouldn't want to use it for more than one body on a regular basis.
 
Anyone remember the old Leica-brand bag? A dense-weave canvas with zero padding and "dividers" consisted of a sewn-in strip of the bag material that you looped around to fit your gear. I owned a couple of these back in the 1970s, early 80s. It was comparatively expensive at the time but nowhere near the level of prices seen today. And, jeez, but we've come a long way in construction and equipment protection.
 
I use a Domke F10 Rugged Wear; does the job nicely for a M6 with 50mm Summicron and M5 with a 35mm Summicron Asph (or vice versa). The zipped front pocket holds more than one would think (sunglasses, business cards, three/four rolls of film etc), and there's a handy zipped, flat pocket in the lid for batteries, travel cards, tickets etc, plus an unzipped pocket on the body side, which holds my notebook and pencil.

The shoulder strap is stitched around the sides and base, giving the bag extra strength and support. The F10 is pretty lightweight, too.
 
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