Bill Pierce
Well-known
There are a large number of non-photographers who wonder why so many of us have more than one camera or more than one lens. What would really be incomprehensible to them is why some of us have so many gadget bags. But there is no perfect gadget bag just as there is no perfect camera. Although the search for such perfection goes on, we are currently a multi-bag community.
Commercial photographers when they go outside of their studios on location can carry equipment in cases. News photographers, always on location, have to have their gear with them and ready to work all the time. That usually means shoulder bags.
Probably some of the most used when I was starting out as a news photographer were the Brady fishing bags from England, the Gelderburn and the Ariel Trout (I was a Trout user). I once wrote of stopping in London for a day to minimize jet lag before heading further on and going to the Queen’s Fishery to pick up a Brady bag where the clerk said, “Yes, Mr. McCullin was in here a few days ago before he departed.” The price of the bag included a reminder that U.S. news photographers were behind English photojournalists. By the way, those bags were introduced in the 1950’s and are still in production.
Martin Billingham was the head cutter at Brady and in the early seventies began his own line of bags, concentrating on camera bags. My lovely Trout bag inspired a similar bag minus waterproof lining but plus a padded interior with adjustable compartments.
Just 2 years later, when Jim Domke was working for the Philadelphia Inquirer, he designed a different style of bag with the paper underwriting the cost of bags for the staff. Like the fishing bag he was then using, the bag he was designing was canvas, but unlike the relatively slim fishing bag, this bag was thicker with and 11 x 8 1/2 inch main interior and side and front bags that increased the exterior dimensions to 17 x 9 inches. You could still carry it fully loaded on you shoulder, but it held a lot more gear.
Over the years Billingham and Domke have expanded their lines to a range of bigger and smaller bags. Billingham has added overnight, briefcase and laptop bags to their line up. Domke has added slimmer satchel and messenger style bags, the indispensable Domke Wrap and, perhaps more important, some really good camera straps without a camera manufacturer’s name in large, bold and fire engine red letters.
In the nearly half century since Billingham and Domke started, the number of bag providers specifically selling “camera” bags has grown immensely.
If you are worried about theft, it is possible to get general purpose bags of which a thief would say, “No one would carry camera stuff in a bag like that.”
While I have known news photographers who early in the game used backpacks and a professionally oriented camera store that sold conventional, backpacks, you can now buy photo backpacks.
I understand that those outside of the photo world do not understand the imperative need for a large, broad bag selection. There is no real need to reveal the full number of bags you require. But I would like to know your favorites and the use you put them to. Brandwise, as you might imagine, I have a lot of Billinghams and Domkes. A slightly smaller bag than the original Billingham carries a mirrorless and 2 or 3 small lenses when I ‘m just shooting for myself. The original Domke loaded with much more gear goes over the shoulder when I’m shooting for somebody else. And, a confession, sometimes I go for a walk with a small camera secured on a wrist strap, no bag. You’ve got to take pictures when you can’t put the camera in a bag.
What do you do (bagwise)?
Commercial photographers when they go outside of their studios on location can carry equipment in cases. News photographers, always on location, have to have their gear with them and ready to work all the time. That usually means shoulder bags.
Probably some of the most used when I was starting out as a news photographer were the Brady fishing bags from England, the Gelderburn and the Ariel Trout (I was a Trout user). I once wrote of stopping in London for a day to minimize jet lag before heading further on and going to the Queen’s Fishery to pick up a Brady bag where the clerk said, “Yes, Mr. McCullin was in here a few days ago before he departed.” The price of the bag included a reminder that U.S. news photographers were behind English photojournalists. By the way, those bags were introduced in the 1950’s and are still in production.
Martin Billingham was the head cutter at Brady and in the early seventies began his own line of bags, concentrating on camera bags. My lovely Trout bag inspired a similar bag minus waterproof lining but plus a padded interior with adjustable compartments.
Just 2 years later, when Jim Domke was working for the Philadelphia Inquirer, he designed a different style of bag with the paper underwriting the cost of bags for the staff. Like the fishing bag he was then using, the bag he was designing was canvas, but unlike the relatively slim fishing bag, this bag was thicker with and 11 x 8 1/2 inch main interior and side and front bags that increased the exterior dimensions to 17 x 9 inches. You could still carry it fully loaded on you shoulder, but it held a lot more gear.
Over the years Billingham and Domke have expanded their lines to a range of bigger and smaller bags. Billingham has added overnight, briefcase and laptop bags to their line up. Domke has added slimmer satchel and messenger style bags, the indispensable Domke Wrap and, perhaps more important, some really good camera straps without a camera manufacturer’s name in large, bold and fire engine red letters.
In the nearly half century since Billingham and Domke started, the number of bag providers specifically selling “camera” bags has grown immensely.
If you are worried about theft, it is possible to get general purpose bags of which a thief would say, “No one would carry camera stuff in a bag like that.”
While I have known news photographers who early in the game used backpacks and a professionally oriented camera store that sold conventional, backpacks, you can now buy photo backpacks.
I understand that those outside of the photo world do not understand the imperative need for a large, broad bag selection. There is no real need to reveal the full number of bags you require. But I would like to know your favorites and the use you put them to. Brandwise, as you might imagine, I have a lot of Billinghams and Domkes. A slightly smaller bag than the original Billingham carries a mirrorless and 2 or 3 small lenses when I ‘m just shooting for myself. The original Domke loaded with much more gear goes over the shoulder when I’m shooting for somebody else. And, a confession, sometimes I go for a walk with a small camera secured on a wrist strap, no bag. You’ve got to take pictures when you can’t put the camera in a bag.
What do you do (bagwise)?
D
Deleted member 65559
Guest
I admit i have a few, but i gave away several Domke bags...an F2 & an F6 and sold several Billinghams. My Domkes are all early versions. I have two 803 messenger bags, a simple Domke briefcase, and my favourite, the perfect Leica-size...i don't remember the #, but it's 2/3rd the size of the 803 with the same narrow profile as the messenger bag, and will fit a couple of Ms and a few lenses (11"x8" as opposed to the 15"x11" of the #803). All are more than 20 yrs old & going strong. Several are no longer in production.
My favourite though, is a small unlined, unstructured canvas bag I got from Slow Tools in Osaka. It's been on a more than a few trips abroad. It will fit an M, a Rolleiflex or Plaubel Makina 670. I occasionally use a Domke wrap around my Pentax spotmeter to keep things from banging together.
Most often though, the camera (usually med format, but sometimes 35 or LF) is in a Domke wrap in whatever backpack i'm climbing, skiing or travelling with. Purpose-built camera backpacks have never worked for me.
Flickr
My favourite though, is a small unlined, unstructured canvas bag I got from Slow Tools in Osaka. It's been on a more than a few trips abroad. It will fit an M, a Rolleiflex or Plaubel Makina 670. I occasionally use a Domke wrap around my Pentax spotmeter to keep things from banging together.
Most often though, the camera (usually med format, but sometimes 35 or LF) is in a Domke wrap in whatever backpack i'm climbing, skiing or travelling with. Purpose-built camera backpacks have never worked for me.
Dogman
Veteran
Billinghams are my main bags although I still have my Domkes...it's just that the Domkes are in the closet, not seeing much use.
I forget the model, the one next to the largest Billingham I think. It's great for storing gear I don't use a lot but want handy to carry should I decide to use it. It's big enough to hold 5-6 lenses, a couple of DSLR bodies with room enough for anything else I want to drag along. I would never try working out of it--too heavy and bulky. It's the bag to load up in the car for a trip and not worry that I'm leaving something necessary behind.
The Billingham F1.4 model is perfect for small cameras. I keep three Fuji X-Pro2 bodies with 18, 23 and 35mm ƒ/2 lenses mounted inside. Enough room for a couple extra lenses if need be but it's more comfortable with less stuff. I also have an old Hadley Pro that dates back to the film days when it carried Leicas. It's still in great shape but I like the shape of the F1.4 better so the Hadley gets storage duty. Finally, my favorite Billingham is the L2. It's perfectly sized for 2-3 DSLR lenses or a coupe of the X-Pro bodies with lenses attached. I prefer using it because it keeps the load as light as possible.
In the past I used Domkes, Lowepros and a couple of models of Think Tank. They were fine but the Billinghams are better designed and better built--I'm sure that's debatable but that's my opinion based on my experience. I've got way too many bags packed away in closets that are perfectly serviceable but I like the Billinghams much better.
I forget the model, the one next to the largest Billingham I think. It's great for storing gear I don't use a lot but want handy to carry should I decide to use it. It's big enough to hold 5-6 lenses, a couple of DSLR bodies with room enough for anything else I want to drag along. I would never try working out of it--too heavy and bulky. It's the bag to load up in the car for a trip and not worry that I'm leaving something necessary behind.
The Billingham F1.4 model is perfect for small cameras. I keep three Fuji X-Pro2 bodies with 18, 23 and 35mm ƒ/2 lenses mounted inside. Enough room for a couple extra lenses if need be but it's more comfortable with less stuff. I also have an old Hadley Pro that dates back to the film days when it carried Leicas. It's still in great shape but I like the shape of the F1.4 better so the Hadley gets storage duty. Finally, my favorite Billingham is the L2. It's perfectly sized for 2-3 DSLR lenses or a coupe of the X-Pro bodies with lenses attached. I prefer using it because it keeps the load as light as possible.
In the past I used Domkes, Lowepros and a couple of models of Think Tank. They were fine but the Billinghams are better designed and better built--I'm sure that's debatable but that's my opinion based on my experience. I've got way too many bags packed away in closets that are perfectly serviceable but I like the Billinghams much better.
Pfreddee
Well-known
Large Ziploc.
Yokosuka Mike
Abstract Clarity
My days of lugging around a shoulder bag full of gear are long over. It’s not that I’m frail or feeble, but my back just can’t handle the lopsided weight distribution anymore. For the last several years I’ve been using a Montbell backpack. It’s not designed for cameras but it’s a simple top loading low-profile backpack that with a Domke insert works perfect for me. Internal pockets hold all the essentials (e.g. phone, lens cloth, blower, spare face mask, etc…) the one external pocket holds my folding umbrella ( a necessity in Japan). These days I usually only carry one camera and one lens but there’s room enough for an extra lens or my Fuji XF10 camera. It’s low-profile, lays very flat on my back, that’s very helpful for when I’m on crowded trains and buses and walking crowded streets. Once I’m on location with the camera in my hand I don’t even notice the pack is on my back.
https://en.montbell.jp/products/goods/disp.php?product_id=1123904
All the best,
Mike
https://en.montbell.jp/products/goods/disp.php?product_id=1123904
All the best,
Mike
PRJ
Another Day in Paradise
I solved the bag problem by just not using them much anymore. I am mainly a 50 guy these days, so just grab a camera with one lens and go.
For when I need a bag it depends. For large format I use a Lowepro hip pack that fits 5 lenses, filters and dark cloth. It is really convenient since it also acts like a desk of sorts so I never have to put anything on the ground. Film holders will fit in it on top, but I usually carry a small Victorinox sling bag that is perfect for those and keeps the holders out of the way. The combination makes shooting large format a breeze. Far better than a backpack.
For my medium format Bronica I use an old canvas bag with stiff dividers. Works great and is easy to carry. I don't know the name of it but I've never seen another one. Looks like it is at least a couple decades old.
35mm bags are more difficult. I have a Think Tank sling that is nice but I wish it were another inch thicker. I have another LowePro hip bag that works pretty well too. And an older ballistic nylon type Tamrac that is about the perfect size for my Contax stuff. I carry my Leica stuff in a small Naneu Pro which is a decent little bag with a few foibles, but it works. I rarely ever carry any of these bags though since I am pretty much a one lens guy these days.
I much prefer slings to the old bags of the past. They are more comfortable and more practical.
I think my ultimate camera bag is a coat though. I have an old Willis & Geiger safari type jacket that holds all kinds of stuff. They aren't made anymore, and I obviously can only use it when it is cold out, but man is that nice. I've never used photo vests. I have one that I literally have never worn, but that W&G gets used a lot certain times of the year.
For when I need a bag it depends. For large format I use a Lowepro hip pack that fits 5 lenses, filters and dark cloth. It is really convenient since it also acts like a desk of sorts so I never have to put anything on the ground. Film holders will fit in it on top, but I usually carry a small Victorinox sling bag that is perfect for those and keeps the holders out of the way. The combination makes shooting large format a breeze. Far better than a backpack.
For my medium format Bronica I use an old canvas bag with stiff dividers. Works great and is easy to carry. I don't know the name of it but I've never seen another one. Looks like it is at least a couple decades old.
35mm bags are more difficult. I have a Think Tank sling that is nice but I wish it were another inch thicker. I have another LowePro hip bag that works pretty well too. And an older ballistic nylon type Tamrac that is about the perfect size for my Contax stuff. I carry my Leica stuff in a small Naneu Pro which is a decent little bag with a few foibles, but it works. I rarely ever carry any of these bags though since I am pretty much a one lens guy these days.
I much prefer slings to the old bags of the past. They are more comfortable and more practical.
I think my ultimate camera bag is a coat though. I have an old Willis & Geiger safari type jacket that holds all kinds of stuff. They aren't made anymore, and I obviously can only use it when it is cold out, but man is that nice. I've never used photo vests. I have one that I literally have never worn, but that W&G gets used a lot certain times of the year.
Retro-Grouch
Veteran
I currently have an appalling number of bags, but my favorite was always a surplus British Air Force gas mask bag, stamped with a 1952 date of issue (same as me!). I purchased it in an Army-Navy store in Newport, circa 1972, and it just gave up the ghost about three years ago. I have never seen such thick, bombproof canvas or such rugged construction on any other bag, regardless of price. I think I paid about $3.00 for it! As a plus, it was completely nondescript and didn't scream "CAMERA". As the world gets crazier, and I become less willing to engage in hand-to-hand combat, that's an important feature.
AlwaysOnAuto
Well-known
I sent my lone bag (a Lowepro) to Australia when I gave my D7000 kit to my sister.
I now use an Amazon Basic's backpack to store a lot of my most used stuff in, but have never really had it on my back much. It goes in the car, filled with stuff I might need when going out. I keep my camera(s) handy on a strap when shooting. I've never been able to take a picture with a camera in a bag so they don't spend a lot of time in there.
I find this thread timely Bill, as I'm hoping to go to a car show tomorrow and shoot some cars. I'd like to take an old SR-T I've been working on, that now has film in it too, and one of my Sony's. I just can't come to grips with carrying two cameras, especially when the temp is 97* like it is now.
I now use an Amazon Basic's backpack to store a lot of my most used stuff in, but have never really had it on my back much. It goes in the car, filled with stuff I might need when going out. I keep my camera(s) handy on a strap when shooting. I've never been able to take a picture with a camera in a bag so they don't spend a lot of time in there.
I find this thread timely Bill, as I'm hoping to go to a car show tomorrow and shoot some cars. I'd like to take an old SR-T I've been working on, that now has film in it too, and one of my Sony's. I just can't come to grips with carrying two cameras, especially when the temp is 97* like it is now.
hap
Well-known
I’d like feedback on Peak Design slings. I have their original backpack but frankly I don’t mesh with it. Slings sound right....but can’t decide on size for very small kit
Retro-Grouch
Veteran
Though I completely appreciate the joy of slinging a camera over the shoulder and heading out to shoot, there are places where a bag is an absolute necessity. Here on the dry and dusty plains of eastern New Mexico, even a slight breeze will have your camera covered with grit in a few minutes. More than covered; it permeates everything, and is one of the many reasons I stopped shooting digital. Every trip to shoot landscape necessitated a sensor cleaning, even without lens changes.
Never mind dust storms (as in those FSA photos of the Dust Bowl). They come up in moments on the leading edge of squalls, and you pull your coat over your head and pray that it's over soon. No heading back to the car, since you can barely see your outstretched hand. Better have a good bag in those conditions!
Never mind dust storms (as in those FSA photos of the Dust Bowl). They come up in moments on the leading edge of squalls, and you pull your coat over your head and pray that it's over soon. No heading back to the car, since you can barely see your outstretched hand. Better have a good bag in those conditions!
hap
Well-known
Burning Man.....fine white grit everywhere. No place for optics. Maybe in a housing.
Retro-Grouch
Veteran
Maybe a good place for a Nikonos?
Retro-Grouch
Veteran
I'd be curious to hear from folks who've transitioned to sling bags. Out of necessity, I no longer carry more than a light body and two small lenses in a shoulder bag; about 10 years ago, I underwent a long spell of acupuncture and chiropractic treatment as a result of my insistence on lugging a Hasselblad system through the woods in a shoulder bag. My doctor was appalled when he heard this, and warned that I would be back to see him if I persisted in such nonsense. I now use a backpack for my medium format excursions, but find it very inconvenient. Do folks with back problems find a sling bag more comfortable and/or easier to use? Can you carry a bit more weight without discomfort or, worse, injury?
kshapero
South Florida Man
Black Label Bag. Sturdy, Weather Resistant and my best friend for my Leica M-A and two lenses.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
I would say the bags I own that hold the most stuff in the smallest space are my Tamrac bags. My Tamrac 706 convertible will hold a Nikon FE2 or FM3a with lens attached; or a D700 or N90s with fairly large AF-zoom lens, plus four lenses in individual cells. It has a kangaroo pouch in front that holds a lot of small items, and a waist belt to carry it as a fanny pack plus a shoulder strap. About as versatile as you can get. My Tamrac system 8 holds two Nikons of any description, plus six lenses. These bags are small for what they can hold!
Domke F2: excellent Hasselblad bag for one body with film back and a normal lens; and it has deep compartments for four more lenses. Side pockets for two more film backs and front pockets for film and a light meter. Well, you know what an F2 is. These days I use a Lowepro bag that is almost the same as an F2, but a little bit roomier and with better pockets for filters; the F2 has now become my best bag for a Larger Nikon with really big lenses, like the 180mm f/2.8, 17-35mm f/2, Carl Zeiss 25mm f/2 ZF.
Domke F6: A rather good Leica bag, although it is roomier than necessary for the size of most Leica lenses. It also can be a good compact Nikon bag for my FE2 or FM3a plus my not-overlarge lenses. It can actually hold my D700 and some larger AF lenses; although it can be a pretty tight fit.
Think Tank Retrospective Bags: My Retrospective five has become a favorite! It holds about the same amount of gear as my Domke F5XB, except that unlike the X5XB there are places for film, memory cards, notebooks, filters, rocket blower, in an open top front pouch that is easy to get into, yet secures adequately with a velcro flap. It has a divider that keeps small thin items like filters from colliding with each other. A very nice small Leica bag, and I can carry one Leica M, one extra lens, and my Fuji X100 in place of the third lens. They come with a rain cover as well.
The Retrospective six is similar, but is extra length to hold two Leica M bodies with lenses (if the lenses are not too large) plus four more lenses. It has all the same little compartments as the Retrospective five.
The Retrospective seven is another great Hasselblad bag! It's a little taller, wider and deeper than my other two, making it a perfect bag for a Hasselblad 500CM with waist level finder and lens, plus two more lenses and space in the front open-top compartment for an extra film back, film, blower, and light meter.
I bought a Think Tank medium size sling bag. I think it's a great concept for convenient access to gear, but I haven't tried it out yet.
Bill is right: There is no perfect bag; but there are some very useful ones out there. I think Domke should come up with a slightly smaller version of the F6 for Leica M outfit. And I think they should make a longer version of the X5XB, just long enough for one more compartment to hold one more lens. Get rid of the belt loop in back and put a slim compartment like on the back of the F6. Call it the "stretch model X5XB-400" (after the stretch Boeing 737-400 or similar).
Domke F2: excellent Hasselblad bag for one body with film back and a normal lens; and it has deep compartments for four more lenses. Side pockets for two more film backs and front pockets for film and a light meter. Well, you know what an F2 is. These days I use a Lowepro bag that is almost the same as an F2, but a little bit roomier and with better pockets for filters; the F2 has now become my best bag for a Larger Nikon with really big lenses, like the 180mm f/2.8, 17-35mm f/2, Carl Zeiss 25mm f/2 ZF.
Domke F6: A rather good Leica bag, although it is roomier than necessary for the size of most Leica lenses. It also can be a good compact Nikon bag for my FE2 or FM3a plus my not-overlarge lenses. It can actually hold my D700 and some larger AF lenses; although it can be a pretty tight fit.
Think Tank Retrospective Bags: My Retrospective five has become a favorite! It holds about the same amount of gear as my Domke F5XB, except that unlike the X5XB there are places for film, memory cards, notebooks, filters, rocket blower, in an open top front pouch that is easy to get into, yet secures adequately with a velcro flap. It has a divider that keeps small thin items like filters from colliding with each other. A very nice small Leica bag, and I can carry one Leica M, one extra lens, and my Fuji X100 in place of the third lens. They come with a rain cover as well.
The Retrospective six is similar, but is extra length to hold two Leica M bodies with lenses (if the lenses are not too large) plus four more lenses. It has all the same little compartments as the Retrospective five.
The Retrospective seven is another great Hasselblad bag! It's a little taller, wider and deeper than my other two, making it a perfect bag for a Hasselblad 500CM with waist level finder and lens, plus two more lenses and space in the front open-top compartment for an extra film back, film, blower, and light meter.
I bought a Think Tank medium size sling bag. I think it's a great concept for convenient access to gear, but I haven't tried it out yet.
Bill is right: There is no perfect bag; but there are some very useful ones out there. I think Domke should come up with a slightly smaller version of the F6 for Leica M outfit. And I think they should make a longer version of the X5XB, just long enough for one more compartment to hold one more lens. Get rid of the belt loop in back and put a slim compartment like on the back of the F6. Call it the "stretch model X5XB-400" (after the stretch Boeing 737-400 or similar).
Godfrey
somewhat colored
...
My favourite though, is a small unlined, unstructured canvas bag I got from Slow Tools in Osaka. It's been on a more than a few trips abroad. It will fit an M, a Rolleiflex or Plaubel Makina 670. I occasionally use a Domke wrap around my Pentax spotmeter to keep things from banging together.
Mostly though, the camera (usually med format, but sometimes 35 or LF) is in a Domke wrap in whatever backpack i'm climbing, skiing or travelling with. Purpose-built camera backpacks have never worked for me.
Flickr
Where can one buy a Slow Tools bag like that? I've been looking for one of them for a while and can't seem to find anyone who carries them.
G
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Black Label Bag. Sturdy, Weather Resistant and my best friend for my Leica M-A and two lenses.
Could you show us the inside of it and what holds? I might like one of those.
I use a few bags... I'm a one camera, one lens per day type, but I use them when I'm on the train. I feel the need to hide them in that situation in Santiago and also when I'm in NYC. The world is a bit different right now regarding craziness and crime.
I use one Domke, one Ona, and one sling type bag that my friend just gave me that I thought I'd never like, but ended up liking. I think it's a think tank.
I use one Domke, one Ona, and one sling type bag that my friend just gave me that I thought I'd never like, but ended up liking. I think it's a think tank.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
I found an excellent small sling bag last year, the Patagonia Atom 8L, which I find to be a stunning carry for any of my smaller cameras (and all the usual junk I have with me when cycling and walking). That includes the Leica CL and a couple of lenses, any of my Polaroid SX-70 derivatives and accessories, the Light L16, the M4-2, the Kodak Retina, etc.
While I can jam the Hasselblad 907x into it, particularly with the 45P lens, it's nowhere near big enough or comfortable to carry with that large and heavy a lump in it, and forget about a 500CM. Wrong shape...
The sling bags that I have used for the Hasselblads are the Wotancraft Easy Rider and Mini Rider, and the Peak Design Everyday Sling 10L. The Mini Rider is just big enough to fit a Hasselblad 500CM with 80mm lens and hood, or the 907x with 21, 65, or 90 lens, and not much more (spare battery, wallet, etc). The Easy Rider and Everyday Sling 10L can handle either of those cameras and a couple of additional lenses and other stuff.
But for that heavy/bulky an equipment kit, I don't think the sling bag is very good if you have back/spine problems; a backpack does a much better job of distributing the weight and not loading your body asymmetrically. They're a pain to get in and out of, but they do the right job. When I'm taking the Hasselblad out for a shoot, I usually drive close to where I'm going to use it, and use a hardcase with rollaway wheels to cart it to where I'm going to shoot. I'll then use a subset of the gear loaded into a modest canvas shoulder bag (like a Domke F6 size thing) to shunt around the shooting site with.
Obviously, I have a plethora of bags ... more than I can even remember easily ... all different types, shapes, sizes. This is because I have a lot of different kinds of gear and I use it in different ways. When I'm being mobile, I carry a small bag with the right shape (lately, the Patagonia Atom 8L) for whatever gear I'm carrying and limit what I'm carrying. When I'm traveling, I use a larger, messenger style bag (Black Label Bag Oskar's One Day Bag Mark II) to cart my travel necessities and the whole kit around, and have the sling bag for day walks with a subset of the gear. When I'm going places with the heavy gear like a Hasselblad kit, a wheeled Pelican hard case takes the place of the messenger bag and something between the sling and the Domke F6 takes up the on-site duty.
No one bag suits all purposes and all gear, just like no one set of gear fits all purposes either.
G
Bill Clark
Veteran
This isn’t a bag but it’s what I used when I was in business. It fits in the overhead compartment of most commercial airplanes. I still use it to store stuff. It was great at various gigs, especially weddings.
Didn’t have a problem with security at airport. I left it open for security but hardly ever was looked at.
Don’t take it anywhere anymore.
https://www.pelican.com/us/en/product/cases/carry-on-case/protector/1510
My iPhone fits in my pocket.
Didn’t have a problem with security at airport. I left it open for security but hardly ever was looked at.
Don’t take it anywhere anymore.
https://www.pelican.com/us/en/product/cases/carry-on-case/protector/1510
My iPhone fits in my pocket.