does anybody make a case or bag for the GW690?

[t.wesley]

Title asks the question... does anybody know? I took my GW690 to the local camera shop to find a case or bag it will fit in and drew a complete blank.

I've been carrying my camera around in a messenger bag, which is getting to be a hassle, but I ride a motorcycle 10 months of the year, so I can't just toss it in my saddlebag.

Any suggestions or links? Thanks!!

--wes

 

[kuzano]

My biggest concern on motorcycle.

My biggest concern on motorcycle.

I worry about vibration from the MC shaking the camera apart. So, I use an expandable tank bag. When I take the fuji with me, I usually have a light jacket in the bottom of the tank bag. Then a one inch foam pad cut to the outline of the bag, with a four inch foam cut to the shape of the camera, atop the 1 inch pad.

When riding, I can stop, kick the stand down and have the camera out and ready to shoot in a very short time. I can shoot from the saddle, or off quickly and set up a mono or tripod.

I ride an old BMW "airhead" slash/5 (1970) which probably has less vibration than most other bikes I have ridden. The boxer twin engine is inherently smooth running. The tank bag trick further assures me the safety of, and access to, the camera. The bike and the camera are about the same vintage, and both are 25 years younger than I am.

The bag detaches from the tank mounting system and forms a pack when I am off the cycle.

 

[skibeerr]

The Big one fits in a hip belt bag with shoulder strap from Lowapro. should be ok on a bike exept in the rain.

Ortlieb has a suitable bag to, look on their site.

 

[t.wesley]

Thanks guys - both great ideas. I'll check the Lowepro & Ortlieb websites.

Kuzano - I worry a bit about vibration too, but part of me says these old Japanese cameras are probably more sturdily built than most modern stuff. My Kiev 4am certainly gives off a chunky, solid feel as well. At any rate, the tank bag idea is a good one, though I think with the small t.b. I use on my R1200GS, the GW690 won't fit. It's one of those latches-onto-a-ring-around-the-fuel-filler things, it came with the bike from the previous owner, but it shouldn't be hard to get a bigger bag. I don't like to use a tank bag on my sidecar rig, it tends to get in the way a lot more than on a 2-wheeler - but then again, I have a lot more space to pack things.

It's been a long time since I owned an Airhead... sometimes I even miss them 🙂

--wes

 

[kuzano]

I use the medium to large (expandable) t.b. system bag

I use the medium to large (expandable) t.b. system bag

Thanks guys - both great ideas. I'll check the Lowepro & Ortlieb websites.

Kuzano - I worry a bit about vibration too, but part of me says these old Japanese cameras are probably more sturdily built than most modern stuff. My Kiev 4am certainly gives off a chunky, solid feel as well. At any rate, the tank bag idea is a good one, though I think with the small t.b. I use on my R1200GS, the GW690 won't fit.

--wes

The bag I use is probably more designed for your R1200GS, than my old /5, but I made it fit. I forget the liter size on the bag, but there is an expansion panel that zips around the bag in the middle to expand it from medium size, which I can get my GL690 w/lens into, or unzip (expand) to large if I want to carry more in the base. The tank mount system is separate from the bag (pack). The mount system stays on the tank once fitted, and has a heavy duty zipper aroung the base circumference to mount the bag to the mounting system. Works very well for my needs and stands up to about low chest height when full to the larger capacity. Even in the low profile there is adequate isolation from the tank, to make me feel comfortable about carrying the Fuji. However, you are undoubtedly right about the durability of the camera, to say the least.

The bag is an early Multivario, which had various inserts and separate storage area, giving many configurations. See here for similar:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-...rcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35b2e7150a

 

[olleorama]

I have made custom camera inserts and bags in the past. Canvas and leather mostly. You can mail me if you're interested. I'm pretty cheap as I'm not doing it as a full time job, and I enjoy sewing a lot (on parity with photography), however, it may take a while, a week or two.