If you could have just ONE camera bag, what would you choose and why?

[esearing]

I just put it to the test with a 5 mile hike in the GA mountains. My 2002-ish quantaray pro photo backpack holds my 4x5 camera in its soft-case, 4 LF lenses (90,135,180,240), 6 film holders, spot meter, dark cloth, filters, notepads, pens, tools, tape, iphone, wallet, AND my Leica M3, 3 lenses, 2nd light meter, 4 rolls of film, and a finder. The 35mm gear was in a lowepro event messenger 100 bag. I had to carry the tripod. I had enough room for a second 35mm body but decided not to carry it.

 

[noisycheese]

I am getting one of these tomorrow, either in the olive color or platinum. I have admired this bag for the last 3-4 years but have never gotten around to bringing one home to my cameras: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/742823-REG/Tenba_638_362_Photo_Laptop_Messenger_Bag_Mini.html

Has anyone used this bag, or one of its larger siblings? If so, how has it worked out for you?

 

[kuuan]

ok, for 'moving' gear I have bigger bags too, but when out shooting I always use the same, small waist bag that either holds one of my mirrorless cams + max. 2 extra lenses, or two cams with one lens attached each. If I need to carry more lenses I attach extra pouches. My hands are free, there is no strain on any shoulder ( any bag that has shoulder straps has caused me pain ), cushioning and belt are very comfortable, sometimes I forget that I carry a bag at all. I don't use any straps on the camera itself, it easily slides into the bag where it is well protected and as near is it gets to grab it anytime. The bag also can be used as a 'table', as a rest to change lenses on or for 'hip' shots. Mine is already heavily used, I just bought another, small and cheap 'Lowepro Orion Mini'

 

[giganova]

Thinktank Retrospective are the best camera bags IMHO. They have features I have never seen in any bag, e.g.: you can change how "loud" the velcro is when you open the bag -- ingenious! Super-stury material, great padding, non-slippery & padded wide strap, they don't look like camera bags … everything is just about perfect on that line of bags.

 

[blumoon]

If anyone is interested, I saw this deal for the Manfrotto Advanced Shoulder Bag VII at B&H today for $19.95 with free shipping.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1003560-REG/manfrotto_mb_ma_sb_7_advanced_shoulder_bag_vii.html

 

[Ronald M]

Women can not have one handbag or pair of shoes, same thing.

So I will pick my Tough traveler from decades back for big loads, Dome F5XB for Leica kit.

Certainly there are much nicer bags and ballistic nylon or canvas is not as pretty as leather, but leather haas disadvantages too.

 

[giganova]

As everyone else on this board, I have many bags, but I use this one 90% of my time. It is a Fossil canvas+leather bag that I got for $30.- in a Fossil outlet store. I've put a Domke insert in it that I had laying around to keep the gear comfy.

 

[fti]

Ona Bowery Field tan! It's small but yet it manages to hold an M9 and 3 m lenses. Funny thing. I sold my 90mm summicron to someone who came with the same Ona field-tan bag, same coloured M9 and similar focal length lenses.

 

[ChrisN]

I can't make promises about the future, but my Hadley Pro has has served well for small formats since 2007. It'll do.

 

[Kent]

It would either be a Kata 3n1 backpack, or a Dothebag Mono 04, or a Dothebag Mono 16.
Since I prefer a bag to a backpack and since the Mono 04 is (very elegant but) too small for my bigger gear, it would be the Mono 16.

 

[Al Patterson]

I am getting one of these tomorrow, either in the olive color or platinum. I have admired this bag for the last 3-4 years but have never gotten around to bringing one home to my cameras: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/742823-REG/Tenba_638_362_Photo_Laptop_Messenger_Bag_Mini.html

Has anyone used this bag, or one of its larger siblings? If so, how has it worked out for you?

I have the small in Orange. Loaded, it gets pretty heavy. I used it for travel when I needed to carry my camera and laptop in one bag when flying.

Now that I use tablets for travel, I'm looking at the DNA 8. I currenly have the large Thinktank Mirrorless Mover.

 

[RObert Budding]

This is easy! The perfect bag is the one in the mail. I haven't used it yet, so there are no disappointments (yet)!

 

[BlackXList]

For my street use: Lowepro passport sling

For when I'm taking more gear either the Incase Sling Pack or the Incase Ari Marcopolos sling bag (although I don't get on with the strap as well on the Ari)

 

[mwooten]

domke 803 -- I've used the same on for nearly 15 years.