Filson?

[eliev]

Does anybody use the Filson briefcase as a camera bag? I have this model: http://www.filson.com/products/briefcase-computer-bag.70257.html . I use it for work. I was thinking about using it as a camera bag when I travel. It can probably hold my M7, a couple lenses, an iPad and an extra sweater with room to spare. Usually I use a Brady Ariel with a Billingham liner.

 

[bigeye]

I use the medium field bag for my LTM kit, with some kind of Billingham partitions from B&H inside. It's like your Ariel. That bag is over 20 years old and just getting seasoned. The brief would be good with an iPad, but adding a laptop gets edgy - not enough strap or structure to the bag. Fitting the right partitions is the only question, to me.

Along the same line, I've been using the Urban Disguise 60 from Think Tank this year for the heavier blad or DSLR kits. It would be too big for your Leica kit, but smaller models might work. There aren't too many bags that can carry a laptop, work notebook and camera rig that function well. TT stuff is very well built and no one knows I'm carrying a full kit to business meetings.

- Charlie

 

[furcafe]

I don't own Filson bags & have never heard of Brady, but I have used similar bags from Gurkha, etc. as camera bags, usually w/inserts (Tenba, Domke, Billingham, etc.). In fact, I hardly ever carry cameras in any bag that was purposely made as a camera bag. FWIW, I have a friend who swears by Filson's other, utility bags, for camera gear (not surprising, since Billinghams & Fogg, etc., were originally just re-purposed fishing bags).

As long as the bag is thick enough to hold your gear, & that particular model does, you'll be fine.

 

[zerobuttons]

Does anybody use the Filson briefcase as a camera bag? I have this model: http://www.filson.com/products/briefcase-computer-bag.70257.html .
.....

I have two thoughts when I see that bag:
1) Scraping your equipment against zipper teeth each time you put it in the bag or take it out, can never be good.
2) The bag doesn´t seem to be made with the weight of contents in mind, that a camera bag is supposed to be holding.

 

[eliev]

I have two thoughts when I see that bag:
1) Scraping your equipment against zipper teeth each time you put it in the bag or take it out, can never be good.
2) The bag doesn´t seem to be made with the weight of contents in mind, that a camera bag is supposed to be holding.

I certainly agree with #1.

Regarding #2, do you mean that the bag doesn't look solid enough or that it is too heavy?

 

[kshapero]

I have a filson bag. I put a camera insert in it and it works like a charm. love it.

 

[venchka]

On my January 1 Photo Road Trip I used my Filson Briefcase (Laptop model) to carry: Zone VI 4x5 field camera, 125, 180 & 250 lenes, Gossen Luna Pro sbc, filters, misc. Small items. It worked fine. Not sure why I haven't done this sooner as I have owned the bag forever. The camera insert from my Tenba Messenger bag fits the Filson. I could use the insert for smaller systems like my Pentax 6x7.
The Filson is a good piece of gear.

Wayne

 

[kknox]

Filson makes great gear, most is all hand made here in Seattle. They will fix or replace any of their products if they fail. My great grandfather had Filson gear in the 20's.

 

[argyrotype]

Might as well have the best. However, since the revamp a few years back, now a lot of their items are made elsewhere---I have a super nice "moleskin" shirt that was made in Morocco. I have a field bag, there is an old Filson ad showing that bag suspended from a crane, holding a VW engine!! The gold standard for sturdy, overbuilt, last forever gear.
I have a double Mackinaw cruiser jacket that my granddad wore, and gave to me when I went away to college. I wore it 12 years gave it to my sis, she's still wearing it 22 years later!!

 

[Tony Whitney]

I have a Filson bag which would be great for photo gear. I gifted it to an ex of mine some years ago and she never took to it, so it's sat in a cupboard for years. Maybe I should put an insert in it and put it to some photographic use. Filson bag are superb, though they are a little on the heavy side. They'd last a lifetime though...TW

 

[grantb]

I'm still using this setup:


Filson + Tamrac by grantb photos, on Flickr


Filson + Tamrac 2 by grantb photos, on Flickr

I chose the "Oil Finish Medium Field Bag" because 1) no zippers 2) much lighter 3) easy use clasps with one hand without looking 4) doesn't look expensive 5) isn't expensive. It's holding up great and looks even better now that it's weathered a bit.

 

[soultheworld]

they just came out with some dedicated camera bags.

i really like filson, this does look very interesting.


http://www.filson.com/magnum