Bare Bones Bag

I received BBB on Friday last week, and I really like it. It's small and it doesn't look like a camera bag. 😀

Ryu, I don't have similar set up as yours but out of curiosity I tried to pack my dslr in to the BBB. I could fit in the bag a canon 30d with a 24-70 attachhed to the body (edit: facing up), a 85, a 430EX flash and its off shoe cord, but I think it becomes bulkky with all those stuffs inside. I could still fit either a 17-40 or a 50 in there but then it's too bulky.

The dimension is about the same as a crumpler 5 million dollars, same length and about the same height, but not as wide (from front to back). The other difference is the crumpler has a stiff bottom padding, while BBB doesn't have a stiff pading.
 
Ryu,

I bought my BBB2 primarily for my RF kit rather than my DSLR kit, however I will often use the BBB2 with my digi gear on jobs where I will not have time to take a back-pack on and off or a Billingham shoulder bag is just too big and swings too far out from the body.

Clearly the BBB2 isn't made to hold all the kit my Crumpler back packs and Billingham bags do but it is a brilliantly workable tool if used in the right way ( ie. a way that works for me.) I usually carry two D3 bodies over either shoulder with lenses and have room for a 70-200 f2.8, 24-70 f2.8, SB-800, SB-900 plus various bits and bobs. Unless you can cut down on the equipment you're carrying I doubt that you'll get a laptop/notebook in there as well though. It is very workable but depends very much on the type of work you're covering and being realistic about what kit you need with you, I've found it works brilliantly for me as I used to carry extraneous bits of kit which simply tired me out by the end of the day from lumping them around.
 
Bob,

Thanks for the update. Sounds like it won't fit all the stuff that I want it to fit, but now I'm quite sure it doesn't. This usually is the problem with buying bags based on heresay because everyone has different requirements and all you can do is "imagine" if all the gears you want it go in will fit...

If it's that bulky with the gear you put in, then it's definitely will be too small for my requirement... 🙁
 
Simon,

Thanks for the reply.
Your reply is making me think whether the netbook will fit.
But as far as I'm concerned, if the size of this bag is slightly bigger than that of Domke F803, it will fit my netbook and the othe stuff.

I have tried various lens changing bags, starting with Boda Dry Jr. (terrible construction and way too expensive), then the UD20 (too small for the netbook), and hopefully now the BBB2 or Courierware Incognito Extra Small. Or the Domke F3X, but I would really like a bag that is rain proof.

I shoot football and in most cases I switch between the 70-200, 16 fish eye, 17-35, and 400 2.8. My initial post is the worst case scenario of what it needs to hold if I have the 400 2.8 and 16 fish eye on the D3s.

From what I've read, it sounds as though the BBB2 will be enough....

Or am I being stupid?
 
Simon,

One other thing.
Where does the 70-200 fit? Does it fit into one of the inside pockets or does it fit in the empty space between all four inner pockets?

I thank you in advance.

Ryu
 
Ryu,

I've been stuck out in the pouring rain ALL day without respite with this bag and the only thing not to get soaked through was the kit in the bag. I can't make any claims for the longevity of the bag or its waterproof qualities as I haven't had it for long enough to say accuarately but it certainly seems to do the job....better than my Crumpler backpack did in similar circumstances!

I tend to lay the 70-200 in the main section between the pockets, although it can stand up (with out the hood attached ) alongside the 24-70, I sometimes stick a few lens cloths, blowers and such like in there as a little 'padding.'

If you're UK based you're welcome to check mine out before buying. I'd heartly recommend it with the only reservation being room for a Netbook...I don't use one myself and am unsure of the dimensions.

Hope that helps a bit

Cheers
Simon
 
Simon,

That was very helpful.
I was wondering where the lens might fit and it looks like that is the only place where it can fit.
As for the netbook, I'm now confident that it will fit in the outside back pocket of the bag. It's got enough room, so it should be alright.

The waterproof thing was something I was really worried about it with the Domke bags and I have seen enough posts to convince me that canvas isn't going to save me from terrential downpour.

As for the bag itself, I think I will order it from Courierware instead of BBB. There are several reasons for it, but most of all Eric at Courierware could possibly help me customize the bag so that it will make it more or less what I would like for it to be. I still want the 70-200 to stand up straight with the hood whilst I change lenses and there might be a way to do this whilst not adding any unecessary things inside the bag.

And I do get to choose the colour of the flap. 🙂

I'm hoping this will really be the end of bag hunting as I know it.

Ryu
 
I recently received the BBB2, and am delighted to have a bag that weighs next-to-nothing! I'm so beaten down with my big packs that carrying the Leica and a few lenses in this is like carrying a feather. Well made, and sturdy. Just what the doctor ordered!
 
I never understood why people need so much padding and worse, why it is absolutely necessary to bring all of your equpiment on a shoot...

I was just walking around in different forums regarding bags and people are obsessed with fitting all their gear into one heavily padded bag that weighs as much as the gears put together. If you tell me that I can only take one lens and a body, I will be more than happy to oblige.

The more good news I hear about the BBB series, the more excited I get about owning one. 🙂
 
My kit is two bodies and two lenses, film, a small meter, and a few other random bits. I'd be very interested in seeing two RF's with lenses attached in a BBB if anyone could oblige. My current bag is too small for this stuff and so most often I just go out with one camera around my neck and some film and a meter in my pockets.

Also, the Y strap looks interesting to me. I typically carry my camera across the body anyway and use it in a similar manner, but with a regular two-lug strap. Trouble is, it seems if one were carrying the BBB (or any bag) across the body, how would you then use the Y strap? Seems one strap would always be on top of the other and it wouldn't work out well. I wouldn't want to carry it across the body the other way either, or I'd look like an idiot. Thoughts Stephen?
 
Hey Stephen!

I got the bag (bbb2), it's small and discreet and I love it.
The weather proofing works well enough, I wouldnt go scuba diving with it, but it works.
I have noticed that if you attach a D-ring and a 'mighty mini' to the bag's strap you can use like a Y-strap.

All the best
 
Got my BBB today and thought I would report back on how it fits my 2 camera kit in case the question comes up for someone else. (Currently) I carry a Leica MP with 24/3.8 Elmar and CV hotshoe finder and a Nikon SP with 50/1.4. The combo of a camera with lens mounted and hood installed is just a bit too big for the BBB interior pockets, as I had kind of expected; these lenses with hoods are just a bit long. I don't carry other lenses so I really don't want to have to remove the lenses and carry them separate from the body. Of course one camera can be put in the center which works just fine, and then the SP + 50/1.4 with the hood removed fits snugly into a pocket. Still plenty of room for film, meter, etc, especially considering most of the time one of the cameras is around my neck.
 
I assume there is no practical difference in the interior carrying capacity between the stealth and the original bags?? I am really thinking of getting a BBB2S
 
My BBB-S arrived today. First impressions are very positive. Perfect size for an RF with loads of pockets to stash film, spare lenses, notebook, etc.

Appears to be robust and very well built.

I have collected a bunch of bags over the years trying to find the "ultimate" one. This may be it.

Hopefully I will get some time this weekend to take it out for a real good test drive.
 
I love my BBB2, perfect for a two RF camera kit and usuable for a pared back DSLR kit ( I've covered a number of events using this bag to carry extra lenses and kit whilst carrying two DLSR's over my shoulders...preferable to lumping around a big bag that slows you down.)

My only quibble, and it was just that and no more, was the need for the reflective strip - now that's gone I may have to get another, stealthier, bag.

Innovation and evolution keeps us all going, good work Stephen
 
BBB-S2 arrived Wednesday and I loaded it up yesterday. Like it a lot 😀

It currently holds m8 w lens, Nikon Sb-20 small flash, 75mm summarit, 35 cron v4 and 21mm (w finder of course), 8 SDHC (sandisk IIIs/4gb) in small case, cleaning kit, small flash light, and two note size writing pads, plus pen and with a little rearranging, it will easily hold another lens. I will be ordering a shoulder pad for it, as I can be out all day and at my age need all the padding for my shoulders I can get. Oh and there is room for plane tickets and passport if needed in the back slot. Very, very pleased with such an efficient, light yet discreet bag. And I like the handle design, small and completely out of the way until you need it.

O.C.
 
I was looking into getting either a Timbuckt2 Small or a Crumpler 4 million dollar bag. Today I walked into a outdoor kind of store hoping to find something different that all these Nylon bags. After a very brief condisseration I bought a “Overland Boulder Camping” bag. Also available from REI http://www.rei.com/product/749974

Its a heavy canvas with leather bottom and sides bag with a very comfortable no slip shoulder strap. I dumped the Yashica Electro GSM, Holga and Panasonic LX3 with GPS data logger in the bag (yes I was traveling with that much stuff…). Plenty of space for the usual stuff like key’s Moleskine and then some more. The inside has a soft neoprene holder for a cellphone (iPhone witch is camera #4 in the bag…).

Check it out. But get while you can. Since this bag is not on the mgf website any more..


Smiles across the wires,

Rogier
 
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