camera bag criteria

[back alley]

what criteria do you use in rating/buying a new bag?

i notice that many want to carry a notebook computer or books or bottled water along with their camera gear.
the most 'extra' i like to carry is my ipad but then i rarely do so...adds too much weight when i'm out walking about.

just curious...

 

[sepiareverb]

#1 a strap that can stay on my shoulder comfortably.

#2 big enough for my usual kit- 2 bodies and film or batteries/cards.

My A&A ACAM 7100 (or 7000 not sure) fits the bill perfectly. As superior as the Bare Bones bag is inside the strap just sucks and there's no way around it.

 

[swoop]

The only bag I've ever liked is the Domke F-6. I just wish it were a hair bigger enough to fit an iPad in the back pocket. Otherwise it's perfect.

The reason I like it so much is that it can carry a body with a lens attached and 3 additional lenses all separated from one another but still easy to reach because the bag is slightly shallow. It also has a front pocket that I keep spare batteries and memory cards in. I kind of wish that front pocket were dived in two but having the one large pocket does allow me to carry longer items sometimes. There's also a pocket under the flap for a few knick knacks.

http://ken-m.squarespace.com/b-sides/november-4th-2011-new-bag-an-old-favorite.html

 

[mdarnton]

Easy access, but a top that will keep things in under plane seats. Flap top, with lots of overlap at the ends, no zipper across the top. Lots of small pockets, the more the better. Thick bottom, for protection. Soft strap that will dig in on shoulder (I like messenger bags, but some have very stiff and slippery nylon straps. Also, they're usually short on pockets)

For years, my favorite bag was a leather bottomed LL Bean shoulder bag. I don't like big floppy bags that are trying to close themselves into a deep sack while I'm looking in them.

For about 30 years I kept my lenses in sock tops, cut off and seamed. They're protective and stretchy, and easy to throw in the wash. Now that I'm using Nikon lenses that all look and feel the same, socks aren't easy to find what I want, and I've been using small, heavy-weight, zip-lock bags. They turn out to be very protective, and I can find what I want in them. I have a bag with a divider, but find it doesn't work well for me.

 

[al1966]

I look for adjustability and space to fit in the kit I want to carry. Also I consider the comfort of it on my shoulder to be of upmost importance. I have found Crumpler camera bags to be highly uncomfortable, but like their plain messenger bags. The bags i have found the most comfortable are Billingham, Domke and Lowepro's, if a large kit is being carried I use a Lowepro Classified 200 as on my shoulders it feels lighter. I love My Domke f802 the most though, I like the how it looks and feels (its green) and it is a good size for a days wandering

 

[back alley]

i prefer no zipper on top.
extra long straps.
enough room for easy egress and entry of my gear.
more narrow than not.

 

[Rob-F]

The only bag I've ever liked is the Domke F-6. I just wish it were a hair bigger enough to fit an iPad in the back pocket. Otherwise it's perfect.

The reason I like it so much is that it can carry a body with a lens attached and 3 additional lenses all separated from one another but still easy to reach because the bag is slightly shallow. It also has a front pocket that I keep spare batteries and memory cards in. I kind of wish that front pocket were dived in two but having the one large pocket does allow me to carry longer items sometimes. There's also a pocket under the flap for a few knick knacks.

http://ken-m.squarespace.com/b-sides/november-4th-2011-new-bag-an-old-favorite.html

The F-6 is the "little bit smaller bag." So the bag that would be "a little bit bigger than the little bit smaller bag" is the F2. I know you know that. And the problem with the F2 is that (for you) it isn't shallow like the F6, right? So what is needed is a "Little bit bigger little bit smaller bag" with the divided front pocket and a big enough pocket in the back for your iPad. A sort of "stretch F6" or "F6-400" (to borrow Boeing's way of naming things).

Right?

 

[FrozenInTime]

It always amazes me how in other bag threads there is seldom any allowance for daily survival items.

Right now in Northern California, the days start cool so I jacket is needed in the morning.
By lunch time, it can be T-shirt weather with sun glasses or a cap.
By the evening or by the sea it's cooled down again so a sweater and jacket may be required.

So for an all day event, a small courier bag is full before any cameras are added.
Add two M bodies and one additional lens, a pile of film, a bottle of water and your up to a medium sized courier bag.

 

[Frank Petronio]

http://www.tenba.com/products/Messenger-Small-Photo-Laptop-Bag.aspx

I just got this bag before my trip last week and am very happy with it after not using any sort of bag for years. Prior I was a Domke devotee but they just get too dirty inside and out, and I have to admit to wanting some padding if I am going to get an official camera bag.

Anyway the small version of the messenger has room for an iPad or Netbook in a secure padded sleeve, and being ballistic Nylon it has a decent degree of toughness and weather proofing. Plenty of room for a Rolleiflex, a M with lens, a LTM with lens, a dozen plus rolls of film, small toiletry bag, book, magazines, business papers even. Lots of secure pockets and slots.

I tried Domke, ThinkTank, and looked hard at the Art and Artisan and Black Label bags and came back the Tenba, which was only $100. It's discrete, which is important for my first man-purse in recent memory....

What I do is put all my personal items - nail clippers, pimple cream, switchblade, cell phone charger, etc. into a small mesh zip bag and toss it into the backpack or man-purse rather than keep it all loose, makes it quicker and saves duplication.

 

[maddoc]

Thanks for the tip, Frank !

I am more and more thinking about carrying my Rolleiflex and M Leica (with one lens mounted), EeePC netbook, light-meter, films, the one or other travel-map so such a bag could fit my needs ...

http://www.tenba.com/products/Messenger-Small-Photo-Laptop-Bag.aspx

I just got this bag before my trip last week and am very happy with it after not using any sort of bag for years. Prior I was a Domke devotee but they just get too dirty inside and out, and I have to admit to wanting some padding if I am going to get an official camera bag.

Anyway the small version of the messenger has room for an iPad or Netbook in a secure padded sleeve, and being ballistic Nylon it has a decent degree of toughness and weather proofing. Plenty of room for a Rolleiflex, a M with lens, a LTM with lens, a dozen plus rolls of film, small toiletry bag, book, magazines, business papers even. Lots of secure pockets and slots.

I tried Domke, ThinkTank, and looked hard at the Art and Artisan and Black Label bags and came back the Tenba, which was only $100. It's discrete, which is important for my first man-purse in recent memory....

 

[kokoshawnuff]

Compactness for shooting out and about in a city so I have a Domke f-8 that holds at least a body and 3-4 lenses.

Comfort for long hikes or long walks I use a North Face backpack with lenses wrapped in Domke wraps just thrown in.

 

[oftheherd]

I have always looked for something that would hold a particular kit with a little film. I also want it small enough to carry. Nothing else matters as much as that.

 

[sepiareverb]

http://www.tenba.com/products/Messenger-Small-Photo-Laptop-Bag.aspx

I just got this bag before my trip last week and am very happy with it after not using any sort of bag for years.

I've got a good friend who absolutely loves this bag as well. I've been tempted, but the A&A covers me most all the time. There is a Domke F2 kicking around also when that's not enough.

The Tenba messenger seems VERY well made too- he's got the thing jammed a lot of the time and it is going strong. I'd never want to haul as much as it handles with ease- going on two years if not more now.

 

[sepiareverb]

i prefer no zipper on top.
extra long straps.
enough room for easy egress and entry of my gear.
more narrow than not.

This could describe my preferred sleepwear... :angel:

 

[anjoca76]

For a couple rangefinders, a few lenses, and some film, plus other misc items such as adapters, filters, etc., I love my Think Tank Retrospective 5--as much as someone can possibly love a camera bag, that is. I wanted one that was small, sturdy, well organized, and discrete--especially discreet. I tried many other bags, and even experimented with sticking inserts into my Timbuk2 messenger bag, but as soon as I got the Retrospective 5 I was sold.

 

[menthel]

I have the "so called" mini version of the tenba messenger. Its a nice size and cavernous. I frequently carry in it my Canon 7D with attached 18-50, a 70-200 f4L, 420EX flash, and one of either my 50mm f1.8, 30mm f1.4 or my 100mm f2.8 macro. There is still room for my iPad in a dedicated slot, memort cards, batteries, notebook, pens and all sorts of other gumph. However, I find it too big for day to day film carrying. I can fit all of my film cameras and lenses in there, as well as a lot of my film stock!

 

[dreilly]

I like it first and foremost NOT to look like a camera bag. Not because of security or discreteness, but because most camera bags have some kind of look that makes me think of middle aged white guys with newfound appreciation for hiking, sharpness fetishes and lots of macro shots of bugs on their flickr feeds. And so since I'm on the doorstep of the aforementioned phase I'd rather my bag look punk, metrosexual, anything but that look. I think it's that a lot of camera bags are meant to coordinate with photo vests, don't get me started...

I'm picky. I like my bag to be structured, but not so much that it looks full when empty. I don't like them when they're stiff. I have found that most photo gear does not needs its own portable womb. But I don't like bags to be too floppy either. When it collapses when I try to open the flap...bad.

I'm not a huge fan of cordura. I especially hate bags that have unlined cordora because the polyurethane (?) coating on the inner side gets dry over time and flakes, really horrible. So lined bags are a must.

Don't ever try to buy a bag for me. I won't like it! 🙂

I have three bags now. One is a rucksack by Fabric Horse made of waxed canvas/uncoated cordora (no flakes!)...I have a hakuba insert I bought in japan that fits perfect and my macbook fits on the back side. Then I have a timbuktu messenger made of wool felt that has a custom-made insert by Martilena, a one-woman bag/insert maker who I can't recommend enough. That's my large-size job bag that will fit pretty much my whole rig. Then I have a Rickshaw medium zero messenger in a nylon twill with another custom insert from Martilena, this fits almost everything I have and is a great travel bag. Fits well with an Ipad. This bag was with me during the very rainy and smoky fire festival in Kurama, north of Kyoto, this past Fall. Fast becoming my favorite and you can order the Zero Messenger in a ton of custom colors.

 

[Rob-F]

Right now I'm hunting for the perfect photo backpack. It needs to hold a Camelback hydration unit and have some compartments and cells for lenses and camera; a space for a jacket or raincoat; small compartments for filters and batteries; and a waist strap. So far the only one I know of is my old LowePro photo trekker. It's fine, but I'd like a smaller one for carrying a bit less gear. The mini-trekker looks too short to fit my back. I can't remember if it has a waist strap or not. I think not.

I've tried on a few at the camera store, like Tamrac, Kata, etc. Nothing has what I need. There's a very nice bright orange Lowe-Pro in the store, made of lightweight ripstop nylon. It's an AW 200 something. Nice size. The only problem with it is there's very little room in it for camera gear!

And why are they all black or dark gray now? Black absorbs heat; not good for summertime. When we use a backpack, we are probably out hiking and having a fun time, so why funereal black? How about some khaki colors, like khaki green, or how about a nice light blue? /rant.

 

[Archiver]

- zippered main compartment, coated and non-scratchy
- top flap for fast closure, preferably no velcro
- zippered pockets to hold items like pens, sweets, wallet, etc
- long strap so it can hang below hip level if necessary
- padded but also flexible to mold to the body
- back pocket for papers
- lightweight

For a few years I carried an excellent bag, a nylon cosmetics bag from Mandarina Duck. Styled like a messenger bag, it was charcoal and grey and looked like a neat unisex bag. It fit all of these criteria and was my absolute favourite camera bag. It was lightly padded to stop breakage of glass cosmetics bottles, water resistant, and could fit a 5D Mark II with 24-105L, a 35L, and a compact camera with ease. But it grew old over the years and I could not find another.

For the last couple of years I have been using the Thinktank Urban Disguise 30 as my everyday bag. It is better than the Mandarina Duck in some ways and worse in others. While it has an absolute plethora of zippered pockets, which makes it great to securely hold things, it is too boxy and stiff. Over the two years I have had it, it has barely worn in enough to shape itself to my body. It's also a bit small to hold a 5D Mark II and spare lens.

I also have an Urban Disguise 40, which is about the same length as a Hadley Pro, maybe longer, but with oodles of zippered pockets. I used this for three weeks in Japan as a general travel bag, holding passport, money, travel documents etc deep inside. Again, super bag, but too stiff and boxy for my liking.

I've spoken with the Thinktank people at two PMA's in Australia. At the first I was recommended the UD30, which was about the same size as my Mandarina Duck. At the second I already had the UD30, and was shown the Retrospective. All that noisy velcro and not a zip in sight? I don't think so!

I've held off from buying a bag with no zipper for a long time, but now I have a Billingham Hadley Pro, and I will see how that goes. I like how light and soft it is, but I am wary of not being able to instantly get at my gear or secure it with a quick zipper pull.

My ideal bag would be something as soft as the Hadley Pro, which I imagine with soften even more with time, but with the zips and pockets of the Urban Disguise.

As for the so-called "Urban Disguise": in the first week I got it, at least two sets of non-camera-junkie friends commented on this supposedly inconspicuous bag! So much for being discreet!

 

[Mr_Toad]

...most camera bags have some kind of look that makes me think of middle aged white guys with newfound appreciation for hiking, sharpness fetishes and lots of macro shots of bugs on their flickr feeds.

🙄

This is a great line!! (...my being a middle aged white guy and all.)

I'd like this carved on my tombstone, please...if I didn't plan on getting toasted.