How Much Would YOU Spend On A Camera Bag?

dcsang

dcsang

Canadian & Not A Dentist
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I've spent upwards of a few hundred bucks give or take $20-$30 on camera bags.

My "most expensive" bag isn't even a "bag" per se - it's my ThinkTank Airport Security roller. Love that thing. But for shoulder bags I've got a nice Billingham Hadley Pro and may yet get a Hadley Digital or Small to go along with it. I've bought reasonably priced Domkes that offer great value for the money and even a nice Ona Bowery which I adore.

What's the most you've ever spent on a camera bag? Was it worth it? All things considered, would you buy the same bag again if the "first one" ever broke/wore out?

I'm only throwing this out there as a discussion based on the $3,500 Louis Vuitton Camera Bag that's been posted recently on PetaPixel and Mirrorless Rumors.. Even if I won a lottery I don't think I could see myself buying this thing..
http://www.louisvuitton.com/front/#...gs/products/Camera-Bag-DAMIER-GRAPHITE-N58027

Cheers,
Dave
 
We're in the same league...with the ThinkTank Airport Security roller, the Hadley Pro, the Hadley small and a Domke. Whenever I cross the oceans, I put the shoulder bag(s) in my suitcase and bring the ThinkTank on board as cabin/hand luggage. So far so good.
 
I bought a nice Billingham, used like new for $200 -- about 1/2 off -- and I don't think you can ever go wrong with a Billingham. Also have old style Porter Rolling case, Think Tank airport, Tenba Air Cases -- one of my most used, although it's fugly is an olive colored Krumpler, and my cheapest and most used is a LowePro -- about $39 -- very light and easy to carry all day with a Rolleiflex, meter, film, filters, etc.
 
Not trolling, I promise, but I'm perfectly happy with padded inserts which I switch across a range of carrier bags, rucksacks, and ...er.. man purses. It works very well for my modest needs of one camera, second lens, and light meter, or TLR + Lightmeter. The inserts cost me $40, but there are inserts across all price points.
 
froyd said:
Not trolling, I promise, but I'm perfectly happy with padded inserts which I switch across a range of carrier bags, rucksacks, and ...er.. man purses. It works very well for my modest needs of one camera, second lens, and light meter, or TLR + Lightmeter. The inserts cost me $40, but there are inserts across all price points.
Click to expand...

I've often considered this option because there is no "one perfect bag" :D

Which inserts are you using?

Cheers,
Dave
 
I own a Billingham 550 but then I bought it 11 years ago and it didn't cost $659 like they do now; I seem to remember paying $429 for it.

How much would I spend on a camera bag? Hard to say, as it depends on the bag. But for me, $400 give or take is my upper limit (I think).

There are most likely no Fogg camera bags in my future, which is fine - my Hadley Pro has never let me down.
 
I used inserts a lot in Taiwan when I was shooting bands and events. The Hong Kong label Tough Jeans used to make some very cool post-apocalypse coats and bags that were perfect for the Indie scene.

Now I like dedicated bags. Since landscape has become my biggest subject, I mostly use Ortlieb waterproof pouches. When I want a normal bag with waterproof capability, I go to Wotancraft.

In my estimation, function is beauty.
 
dcsang said:
My "most expensive" bag isn't even a "bag" per se - it's my ThinkTank Airport Security roller. Love that thing.
Click to expand...

I've got the next size smaller - the Airport International, so it was probably $360US or around there. After going "roller", I won't go back! And if I don't manage to fill it entirely with gear, I can pack it with clothes and stuff.
 
froyd said:
Not trolling, I promise, but I'm perfectly happy with padded inserts which I switch across a range of carrier bags, rucksacks, and ...er.. man purses. It works very well for my modest needs of one camera, second lens, and light meter, or TLR + Lightmeter. The inserts cost me $40, but there are inserts across all price points.
Click to expand...

I do the same. I have a few $20-$30 military bags and messenger bag that I got free for doing a half-marathon, and I switch them out depending on how many pockets I need and if I need to bring the MBP.

They also attract little attention. I was contemplating buying an Ona Brixton, a beautifully crafted bag, for my Leica/Zeiss gear but I got to thinking that the bag would likely be targeted by thieves regardless of wether they knew what was in the bag or not. A few years ago I was shooting an event and I had a not overly expensive bag sitting next to my computer as it was transmitting images to my agency and someone stole the BAG and left the MBP sitting there. Unfortunately my fisheye and a few other things were in the bag as well. So it's obvious that bags can be the targets of theft with or without the gear. I prefer my unassuming military surplus bags, the older the better. Not to mention the build quality is typically higher than Domke or Think Tank bags.
 
Never more than 100 bucks. However several hours of work on some of my bags (they are all modified).

Interestingly, I have several never-ready cases (Leica and Kameraleder) that have cost more than any of my bags. They feel crucial for me, for the bike and for traveling (when I use a single camera/lens).

Roland.
 
< $200, exception for a possible roller in the future. I use a couple Bare Bones Bags and a larger messenger bag. I like looking at the higher-end ones, like Wotancraft and Ona, but won't buy one. As some have said, they attract attention. Until I discovered the BBBs I used a diaper bag and an insert. No one ever confused my unsightly self with a fashion plate.
 
Another hadly pro here, my bham comes with me anytime I leave my place. Would I spend more? Perhaps, but it would really need to wow me. I try not to worry about the price if the product justifies it, might just mean a bit more time to save up for.
 
$50 has been my max on any camera bag.
I did have a used Billingham for a while ($50), but it was stained and impossible to really clean. Even dry cleaned it was never clean nor that nice as a whole. Teh strap wasn't really long enough for across the shoulders either. It worked fine otherwise but I ebayed it about a year later when I picked up a Domke f803 ($40).
 
It must be close to a decade ago when I bought a Crumpler Wonder Weenie because I wanted a messenger bag. At the time Crumpler allowed customising the colours which I did so I guess mine's a one-off. It cost something like 100EUR at the time. I've added a three-compartment Crumpler insert which holds an M with lens in the middle and two lenses and film rolls in the two side compartments. Works perfectly.
 
How much would I spend? $250-300 USD maybe IF I had a real need and it was a damn nice bag that fit 75% or more of my camera bag needs. And I had the money laying around. The ones I've looked at recently were in that price range.

How much have I spent? I own quite a few Timbuk2 backpacks and messenger bags, use their Sneak Camera insert for these regularly. I have one I use all the time that's a combo price of around $150 USD. I like it because I can pull the camera insert and have a nice messenger bag to use for other things. And that same insert can go into another bag to haul my gear as well.

I have so many smaller affordable bags that I can pretty much find a bag for any need. So I've not had a real need to get anything new or spend a larger amount of money on one. But I have been looking for a while to see if I can find that one perfect bag and the above is my budget approx.
 
Well, my wife and I still have a couple of Billinghams we bought 30 years ago without any professional or journalist discounts whatsoever. Can't remember what they cost now. But they do explain why we still use Billinghams: "the quality is still there long after the price has been forgotten"

Cheers,

R.
 
Last bag I got given for free by a mate on a bike forum. Before that was my most expensive - a set of three aluminium briefcases for £35. I don't think I've ever spent more than £25 (CCS) otherwise.
 
Well I must have about eight bags at the moment. Have simple bags like Lowepro Terraclime 100 and Exchange Messenger.
Two Thinktanks, the Retro 5 and Citywalker 10, both around the £100+ mark, twelve months old and never used. The Citywalker is a lovely bag and the lightest one I've used but too big for my tiny outfit. These will be getting sold.
Just bought another Bare Bones Bag, the BBB-e to join my BBB original.
I have a Hadley Original that I've had for over twenty years and is almost like new as it only gets used as a carry-on bag or when the weather is poor. Billinghams are made for rainy days.
If I need any extra room in the Hadley or Exchange Messenger I use a smaller Puleme insert.
Nearly forgot, also have the Ona Bowery. Gets more use as a 'one camera manbag'. Seems too small for a whole kit.

Paul
 
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