I found the perfect M bag....

[Jon Graham]

My endless quest for the perfect camera bag for carrying an M7, 3 lenses, film and minor junk had ended. I have a closet (as many of you do and do not admit) full of all varieties. The Billingham L2 has generally worked best for years. I had heard that the Fogg Bags were superb, but there are so few out there.

On a lark I bought a Fogg Laika (not cheap). All I can say it that there is tremendous difference in quality and functionality between this bag and the venerable Billingham L2 or Leica bag. The details are impeccable and functional.

Especially nice is the light colored linen liner. It feels right and is far better than synthetics or canvas. Another bonus is that you don't need a flashlight to find stuff at the bottom.

The normal kit I carry in it is an M7 w/handgrip and 50 chrome asph with hood attached; 35 chrome asph with hood attached, 90 macro elmar with hood inverted; various film and filters.

The M7 fits sideways perfectly with the mongo LHSA 50 and hood, the 2 other lenses have their own compartment.

Of course I expect to get flamed by those who swear by converted diaper bags or refuse to spend more than $50 for a bag to contain $5000 worth of gear. My expereince travelling with gear has been that nobody knows what the Leica is and the bags they steal are more likely to have Canon or Nikon emblazoned on them.

 

[srtiwari]

Have never seen a Fogg, but recently bought a Billingham S3 (no longer made, I believe) from a PN member, and absolutely love it ! The ability to zip it up is great, and I can carry 2 M bodies, 2-3 lenses, and film.

 

[JeffGreene]

Of course I expect to get flamed by those who swear by converted diaper bags or refuse to spend more than $50 for a bag to contain $5000 worth of gear. My expereince travelling with gear has been that nobody knows what the Leica is and the bags they steal are more likely to have Canon or Nikon emblazoned on them.

My experience has been different on this site. I have been using an old Leitz bag to carry my RD1, Mamiya 6 and four lenses. I wouldn't worry about getting flamed. One of the great things about RFF is the lack of negativism and one-upsmanship so characteristic of some "other" rangefinder sites we all know. Enjoy your bag! It looks very well contructed.

 

[Nikon Bob]

Nice choice for a camera bag. I am trying a Domke out and am starting to like shoulder bags after using fanny packs by Lowepro for years. Like others have said, you can never have too many camera bags or tripods. You are right that most people don't know what a Leica is.

Nikon Bob

 

[bmattock]

I keep my cameras in a brown paper sack, and to avoid them being damaged by the bag, I smash them up first myself with a ball peen hammer. I find the paper sack looks good with my stolen shopping cart when I am out and about.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Rafael]

Of course I expect to get flamed by those who swear by converted diaper bags or refuse to spend more than $50 for a bag to contain $5000 worth of gear. My expereince travelling with gear has been that nobody knows what the Leica is and the bags they steal are more likely to have Canon or Nikon emblazoned on them.

Glad to hear that you found a great bag. I certainly know how long and difficult the search for that perfect bag can be (does it ever really end?).

I certainly agree with you that camera bags are more likely to be stolen on account of their outward appearance than their contents. So I am a bit perplexed by the closing remarks of your post. Is cheapness really the only possible explanation for why someone might choose not to buy a bag with beautiful leather trim and buckles and fittings that, according to the Fogg website, are crafted in brass that "burnishes brilliant gleaming gold when used frequently, reflecting the scale and range of your activities"?

The choice of camera bags is incredibly personal. We are all looking for that perfect bag. So your contribution is valuable in that you have brought an option to the table that some may not have been aware of and that may turn out to be the pot at the end of the rainbow for some other lucky bag hunter. But your contribution would not be at all diminished if you refrained from rudely bashing those of us whose personal choices do not concur with your own. Just my 2 cents.

 

[mikebrice@mac.c]

Everyone thinks they have found the perfect bag - at least for the first few weeks after buying the last bag. And then....

That' why we have a closet full of "perfect bags"

You will be on the look out for a new bag by the end of the summer....

Cheers

Mike

 

[ZeissFan]

I like their two-tiered backpack. Looks to be excellent workmanship.

 

[VinceC]

>>Thinking about the 'perfect bag' brought a black/darkbrown nondescript canvas Domke to my mind.<<

Bags are as personal a choice as the cameras themselves, and often nearly as important.

I've been using Domkes since the early 1980s. A soldier was unloading a Canon F1 (old) with a couple of great lenses (including the truly great Vivitar 35-85 f/2.8) and it all came in this incredibly nifty blue denim bag when I bought the kit from him. I kept using that great canvas bag long after I'd traded the Canon gear for Nikon. Then one day another photographer came into my office. He looked at the canvas bag and said "I'm so jealous; you've got a Domke bag." I had no idea what he was talking about. I've since worn out two or three Domkes and am about to buy my fourth, though I do still keep the original one I first got back way back when. In the car, or when traveling, they look like an old gym bag.

 

[srtiwari]

My experience has been different on this site. I have been using an old Leitz bag to carry my RD1, Mamiya 6 and four lenses. I wouldn't worry about getting flamed. One of the great things about RFF is the lack of negativism and one-upsmanship so characteristic of some "other" rangefinder sites we all know. Enjoy your bag! It looks very well contructed.

How true. Thats why when I wanted advice on selling one of my summicron 50s, I posted it here, and got several helpful responses. Of course, there's always one...

 

[VinceC]

Below is a quick snap of my circa 1980 Domke bag. It's my perfect bag. But I can certainly understand why other people would want something with a bit more panache. The Fogg in the link looks gorgeous.

 

[Magnus]

Bmattock sums it up necely here.....

 

[Jon Graham]

Believe me, no intent here to bash anyones choice of bags - as said I have a closet full of bags in every price range. When traveling with one camera and lense, I use a $15 Lowepro.

The point was for carrying the kit I described, the Fogg was best for me by a longshot over others.

Also the quality of workmanship was impeccable. Unfortunately the descriptions on the Fogg site are absurdly flowery. The product itself looks no diffeerent that a Billingham at first glance.; it a discrete bag from the outside.

The choice of the perfect bag is immensely personal. It is an affliction that is better known as CBS (camera bag syndrome) to some and BS (bag syndrome) to others. Your mileage may vary.

 

[John Rountree]

I sometimes wonder which was invented frist, the camera bag or the camera? Bags are intensly personal but very important too. Like most of you, I have owned many many "perfect" camera bags. In fact, I used to buy the original Hadley bag at Abercrombie and Fitch, when it was a real store. I had read about Fogg bags and seen pictures but I could never jsutify the $350, or more it would take to buy one. About a year ago I saw the Fogg and the Billingham clsoe-up. Two very nice bags, but the Fogg had a certain understated elegance that the Billingham didn't. About 6 weeks ago a Fogg showed up on ebay... the bee model, just perfect for a proper Leica kit. I won and got the bag for $78.00! I concur with Jon, this is a superb camera bag made to the highest standards. Now my venerable Domke bags will languish in the closet as mute testimony to the never ending search.

 

[ZeissFan]

I have LowePros, Tamracs and Tenbas. I almost bought a Billingham a couple of years ago. I think we're always in search of the perfect bag. These days, I want something that I can carry to work on the bus -- hold my camera, lunch and compact umbrella.

Just saw the price of the Foggs. A bit high, but again the workmanship appears to be impeccable. Could be the last backpack I buy, especially if my wife were to see the cost!

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

Jon

Bags are so personal, and I'm glad you found your perfect one.

As another closet bag finder, I've gone through my range of bags and brands. I found the Lowepro Photo Runner to be a great smaller bag and the Domke canvas ones to be the most inconspicuous large bags.

FWIW, many war/conflict photographers use Domke black canvas, and have done so for many years. So it all depends on taste, style and purpose, and whether one wants to be noticed or not noticed. An Eddie Bauer diaper bag with actual diapers hanging out is probably the safest camera bag ;-) cheers

 

[Patman]

Don't quite understand what the quality of a camerabag has to do with photography. I've had the same bag for over 30 years still looks new and i don't even know who made it or even care. It holds my equipment, it's padded and it "works".

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

Below is a quick snap of my circa 1980 Domke bag. It's my perfect bag. But I can certainly understand why other people would want something with a bit more panache. The Fogg in the link looks gorgeous.

VinceC

Just saw your photo of your Domke, love it, lots of character and stories behind that bag, I'm sure 😉 Domke remains one of my favorites.

By the way, I can see the next fashion fad, "pre-washed" and "stone-washed" Domke bags 😀

cheers

 

[jano]

The interior looks really nice.. but the exterior, ESPECIALLY the tan one, looks exactly like a purse my mom carried around in the early 90's. 😱 I do like the small, detachable side satchel thing, though.

I've had some experience with over-the-shoulder bags through high school and college (used them for books). I don't like them for trekking around much, they bounce and swing and slip out to the side. Then again, backpacks make my back all sweaty and are hard to get to. Uh, well. I suppose the solution for me would be the m-classics, but, well, I dunno.

Jano

 

[Jon Graham]

I forgot to say that the Fogg bag I have is all black - so it does not have the 'man purse' look.