Grail Quest for the Perfect Camera Bag

[FrozenInTime]

I wonder how the o/p Simon is doing in his epic Grail/Bag search given this recently resurrected thread started 2,514 days ago.
He should have some tall tales to tell; assuming the Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog did not get him!

 

[Sparrow]

I wonder how the o/p Simon is doing in his epic Grail/Bag search given this recently resurrected thread started 2,514 days ago.
He should have some tall tales to tell; assuming the Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog did not get him!

Quick! bring the holy hand-grenade of Antioch .... it's in the Hadley

 

[Marc G.]

I have never seen one of these bags in real life but the Wotancraft Ranger city explorer looks like an outstanding camera bag. Over at L Camera Forum, a couple of posters have purchased the Ranger and have given them rave reviews.

Take a look at the Ranger and Wotancraft's other camera bags here:
www.wotancraft.com/shop/bag/ranger

I was on that quest too and I received the said ranger 1 week ago.

I took it to good (ab)use in this week shooting like a madman and burned through quite a lot rolls during rain, snow, something between with temperatures ranging from -10 to 5°C.

it took everything without any problems. cameras were well protected against anything and so far the best feature is the small pockets at the side which fit 3 rolls of films in their containers perfectly so you dont have to mess around if you need film quickly.

the other features have been discussed thoroughly on blogs and in reviews.

the only downside so far is the weight, but I'm 24 and can bare it without a problem for hours of walking (although I suffer from scoliosis). but there are several smaller models than the big ranger, but it holds 2 M bodies with lenses and several other stuffs very easily and nothing has to be stacked on top of each other. everything has its place which I find particularly comfortable

besides several people who recognized me from a teaching trainee programme asked me whether I just came from a school, due to the bag looking very similar to the work-bags of teachers

I try to test everything in a very short amount of time and so far it has proven to be the best possible solution for me.

fast access if you want, protection if you need, stealth that you want.

tried many bags so far, only a hadley large and this one stayed

Cheers

 

[kshapero]

I use an A&A for everyday. Bomb-proof Canvas and luxury inserts. Will accommodate an M and 3 lenses, but usually I have only one or two lenses in it, so I have room for a bag of trail mix.
When I am traveling I use my Think Tank Urban Disguise 50 (ver. 1). Ballistic Nylon, holds a lot of stuff plus my iPad.

 

[porktaco]

A&A always seemed like the best designed to me

 

[E__WOK]

Pardon me for jumping in here. I just had to say that I think putting camera gear in checked baggage at the airport is a VERY bad idea. Most people are unaware that the $2500 liability insurance that the airline supplies does NOT cover camera equipment.

Furthermore, the TSA recommends that ALL checked bags be left unlocked. If they decide to search your bag and you locked it, they WILL cut the lock, and they are not responsible for any damage that arises as a result of such entry.

There are special locks that you can buy that the TSA also has a key for - but in my extensive experience traveling, they often ignore that and cut the lock anyway. There is NO ONE you can complain to - in fact, you can be arrested for complaining at the airport if they get tired of hearing you yap at them.

If your camera gear is stolen from checked luggage, you really have little recourse. The airline will point at the TSA, and the TSA will point at the airline, and in any case, you are now at your destination without your gear. Even if you get reimbursed eventually, you're pretty much sunk without your stuff.

Check clothes. Carry cameras.

Failing that, I recommend shipping them ahead.

Some photographers have no option but to check their bags with camera gear. The horror stories are rife - if you have an option, don't do it.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Checking in with a firearm will take care of that situation.