I found the perfect M bag....

[JohnL]

It's true we are always getting more bags. I am now up to eight, but they are all in use, for different ends:

Small Domke for RF stuff.
Lowepro Nova 2 for one SLR body with lens plus flash or second lens.
These two are light enough to stay on the shoulder all day.

Lowepro Stealth Reporter 500 for a bit more SLR kit than the Nova 2.
Lowepro Computrekker backpack for taking it all, or most of it, anyway.
These generally stay in the trunk of the car. When away from the car, I carry the heavier lenses in Domke pouches on a thick nylon belt I got at Home Depot for $4.

2 old holdalls - one for flash and macro kit and one for other bits and pieces.
These mostly stay at home. I select stuff from them that I think I'll need to take with me.

Bogen bag for tripod / monopod + some other bits and pieces.

I'm sure this won't be the end of it either ...

 

[back alley]

mike, have you looked at the mclassic bag?
perfect fit for the zi, lunch and extras.

joe

 

[John Camp]

Don't quite understand what the quality of a camerabag has to do with photography...

That's because you're not a bag freak.

As a bag freak, however, I'm certain that there is no perfect bag, although I've had three perfect bags in the last year or so. I currently have a very small LowePro shoulder pack (I think it's the 104.) You could carry eight Leica lenses, a body with a lens attached, a body without a lens, and some miscellaneous gear, if you wished. There's also a separate full-height compartment that will take a 17-inch Mac laptop. Granted, if you put all that in, it'd be a load; but if you're moving that much stuff, it'd be a load no matter what you put it in. I usually carry three lenses, a body and miscellaneous junk --pens, notebook, etc. -- and it's just fine. It is standard LowePro quality -- good, but not Biillingham. On the other hand, after I took off the LowePro emblem, it is now an anonymous black book-bag type backpack that nobody would look at twice.

There's sort of a disagreement among street photographers, I think, about the visibility of bags. Some want bags that do not hide, that are not especially discreet, to subtly let people know that you're a photogapher and you'll be taking pictures. That, they believe, is better than sniping, especially in this day of acute paranoia. Other people want to be as invisible as possible. I fall into the second group. My bag is about as invisible as they get, I think -- and I like that, since I travel a lot, and it usually has ~ $10,000 in gear inside...

JC

 

[back alley]

the thing about the invisible bag/diaper bag that i don't get is...with a camera in my hand won't a thief (unless REALLY STUPID) figure out what's in the bag, no matter what it looks like?

 

[StuartR]

Yeah, I think if you are carrying around a diaper bag with no children in sight, with a camera in one hand while you are blindly rooting around in it for film, the criminal is going to figure YOU'RE full of sh*t, not the bag!

All jokes aside, I think camera bags have a LOT to do with photography. A well designed bag allows you to carry the equipment you need comfortably for long periods, and keeps it easily accessable and protected from the environment. Seeing as many of us carry these things everywhere, it is a natural assumption that some people will look at them from an aesthetic point of view as well. I remember awhile ago Rich Silfverberg was talking about how his wife was fed up with him carrying the same beat to hell bag with him everywhere, so she bought him a fancier one (billingham or m-classics I think...I don't remember, perhaps he will see this). I remember being amused, because the same thing happened to me. My domke 803 got really worn, so I switched to the J-803, where the black nylon looks a bit more presentable than the worn canvas. But anyway, I guess my point is that when they are with you everywhere they become almost a clothing accessory. If you are traveling and want to go to a nice restaurant, your significant other might be uncomfortable if you are wearing a jacket and tie, but a fraying olive drab military ammo pouch from the Vietnam era. Anyway, just a thought.

 

[yossarian]

While I appreciate the unobtrusiveness of my surplus bags, I think it's wonderful that
someone has enough respect for his camera investment to treat it to a Fogg. If I
could afford it I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

Fred

 

[RayPA]

I've found the perfect 'M' bag, or RF bag. It's readily available and inexpensive when compared to many of the high-end offerings. It's the Tamrac Velocity 2. It's small and deep, has padding, plenty of room, and it's compatible with Tamarac's accessory line of attachments (M.A.S[?]).

I bought both of mine for under $50. One has a top handle (in addition to the shoulder strap), and one doesn't. I prefer the additional handle. I'll probably buy a couple more to hold my other kits.

I'm sold on it.

🙂

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

Yeah, I think if you are carrying around a diaper bag with no children in sight, with a camera in one hand while you are blindly rooting around in it for film, the criminal is going to figure YOU'RE full of sh*t, not the bag!

All jokes aside

That is why I also wear a baby "sling" across my chest to simulate said fictional child 😀 Carries my water bottles and extra candy bars. 😉

 

[peter_n]

That Fogg is a nice bag but it looks expensive. I too am a Domke fan but I've been very impressed with the Domke clones made by Safrotto too. I had a bad accident a couple of months ago and I don't think my camera/lens would have survived had it not been in a Safrotto bag that has an unbelievably well made padded liner in it. Now I'm experimenting with a Safrotto liner in Domke bag...

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

Peter,

Could you direct me to where Safrotto bags are carried? Couldn't find it at B&H's website. Thanks.

 

[Rafael]

They are sold by several sellers on ebay. I bought mine from juniox2005. You can find the Safrottos by typing in "like Domke."

 

[peter_n]

Tom, what Rafael said. Type in "like Domke" in the search engine and you will get the list of current offerings.

 

[trph_2000]

Anyone have experience with the Artisrs and Artisans bags ? I really like their wrist strap.

 

[MelanieC]

Anyone have experience with the Artisrs and Artisans bags ? I really like their wrist strap.

Only with the Rina case. I only have one lens for my M3 so carrying extra anything is not an issue. I keep the M3 in the Rina case (a glorified cosmetics pouch, but it fits the camera perfectly) and put that into whatever bag I am using that day, either a small Timbuk2 Metro "purse" (it's the smallest messenger bag), a large Timbuk2 messenger bag, or a North Face daypack. I don't have an actual "camera bag."

I finally came up with a small padded option for my Rolleiflex:

Fits perfectly and lined with soft fleece. As a bonus, you can stick your hands in there if they get cold. I suppose it's also good camo for a nice camera, although frankly just being a Rollei is good camo for being a camera since practically no one I know actually identifies a TLR as a camera.

 

[vizioneer]

http://popflash.com/item.cfm?id=#%>VD

That's what I bought a little while back, and find it optimal for a 1 body, 2 lens kit. Easy to access, protective, durable, and looks nice too without looking too fancy (I like simplicity).

 

[Kensey]

FOGG Bag

FOGG Bag

I too found a Fogg bag to be ideal for carrying a small M outfit. In my case a b-sharp!
Best of all, the buying process from Fogg: dealing with Nigel and bee, was an absolute delight. 😀
Ken

 

[ywenz]

This Fogg bag looks waaaayy to flashy...

I'll stick with my Sanfrotto canvas.

 

[Kyle]

That Fogg bag looks beautiful. I'd love to own one, but I can't afford the price tag, and quite honestly, they just don't fit my style. Its the same reason I sold my M-Classics bag... nice leather, buckles, and 'up-scale' designs look out of place with my faded t-shirt and jeans style. Maybe when I'm older and I stop dressing like I only shop at Goodwill I could use a bag like this. For now, my all black Safrotto satchel (accessorized with a patch a couple of buttons) will do the trick.

 

[srtiwari]

I have used a small F64 bag for a biody and a couple of lenses quite happily; the equipment remains well protected, and the bag is small enough not to get in the way, though its not as ergonomically comfortable as a satchel-

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...919&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

Thanks for starting this thread re Fogg bags Jon. I've been thinking about one for a while
but i'd really have to see one to compare it to my Billinghams and Domkes. Mostly i use the Domke 803 and 802's but i recently added two side pouches to the Billingham Hadley Pro and it makes it much more practical. My only "gripe" with the Billinghams is they look too new and stay like it for ages unlike the Domkes. If the Fogg Forte was made in black i might well get one but i just got myself a Domke F6 Ballistic which i found here in Bangkok. It is a good mix of Canvas and Nytex (flap and rear panel are canvas so it's softer and moulds to your body). Discreet and practical. None of these are really dustproof though and in conditions where dust is going to be a problem (Cambodia roads in the dry season) i use an old CSS black backpack about the same size as a Mini Trekker. I perfer to work out of a shoulder bag though.
No one in the UK seems to stock the Fogg bags - i did exchange emails with Nigel Fogg in France but it seems they are mainly stocked in the USA, Japan and Korea and to spend may $ without trying my camera kit in seems a crazy when i have several really good bags already....