If your camera bag doesn't look like a camera bag, what does it look like?

[Frank Petronio]

I use neoprene wraps and Zip-locs for accessories and stash things in backpacks, jackets, carry-alls, and what-not. From point and shoots to 8x10. For an airline carry-on I use a black $39 EMS daypack-bookbag w laptop sleeve and standard doo-hickeys. It is small enough to store under the seat and gets out of the way. I can carry a dslr and 4x5 Crown Graphic, accessories, and a 15" laptop.

Out shooting I put gadgets in my pockets and perambulate normally. Large format camera on a tripod over my shoulder and filmholders tucked in pants like a Glock or in the daypack.

I've owned 4x Think Tank, Domkes (all of them?), Lowe-Pro, Tenba, Lightware, Crumpler, etc. but I doubt I ever will again. I do carry my lighting gear and tripod in a Tenba sling style bag and when flying I'll check the same gear in a padded Lightware cargo case.

The only way I'd go back to "camera cases" is if I had to do a lot of corporate travel with expensive gear, and then I'd just use Think Tank backpacks and Lightware checked cases.

 

[skibeerr]

My codpiece sits rather high me thinks.

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KICX1145 by wim_b, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

here is a touching story about anonymously donated randoseru to orphans in Japan.

http://afufu.net/freewill/tiger-mask-donation-phenomenon/

It is interesting that Japanese kids are started off with ~USD $300 backpacks that they use for 6 years, while in America, the kids use $30 Jansport lead-laden Chinese backpacks, and replace them every year ... The Hondas and Toyota cars I've had lasted many years, but the Fords and Chevy's friends of mine have owned sometimes last just a year or two...

If a Ford or Chevy (or any car from any manufacturer today) lasts a year or two, its because the owner is a drooling idiot who drove it 100,000 miles that first year and never changed the oil.

I have a 1995 Chevy Caprice that my grandfather bought new and gave to me after he paid it off and replaced it with a newer car. It was built in 1994 and now has 210,000 miles and runs beautifully to this day. Grandpa took good care of it, and I have too in all the years I have had it. It has taken me all over the country in desert heat and midwestern winters and has never once broken down on the road. Granted, it is a somewhat expensive car by Chevrolet standards; grandpa paid $29,000 for it 15 years ago, so maybe cheaper Chevy's are not as good. But still, anyone who has a new car of any make die after a year is someone who did not maintain it and abused it. I've known way to many people with those 'reliable' Japanese cars who had to replace transmissions right after the warranty expired at $3000 for the repair. Never seen that happen on an American car that wasn't old and well driven.

 

[skibeerr]

Yes for a lot of people their car is their camera bag.

W

 

[Spyro]

My bag is not meant for cameras or laptops but I've been shoving both in there for years, along with keys, smokes etc. Its a simple hand made soft leather bag with a long and wide strap and no compartments. My wife bought it for me at a flea market in Tasmania.

 

[ibraz]

Mine is just an old dirty beaten up Domke, it doesn't really have a shape anymore, add 2 weeks without shaving, a pair of "used to be blue" converses, jeans, a "used to be white" jacket", a ltiitle bit of gaffer on the gear and you"re ready to shoot unnoticed in most of the scary places in north africa 😉

 

[surfer dude]

My Domke looks like a camera bag to anyone who has owned a camera. To anyone else, it looks like something a hobo would wear. Goes well with my camera, which looks like a hobo threw up on it.

LOL! Now I wanna see a picture of your gear!

 

[gerikson]

My favourite bag is an old Sony projector case. It's small, discrete and doesn't have excessive padding.

 

[Dante_Stella]

It's actually part of an old comedy act:

Elaine: You know what? We sell this thing at Peterman that would be perfect for you.

Jerry: Not more of that crap from the Titanic?

Elaine: No. No. It's a small men's carryall.

Jerry: I'm not carrying a purse.

Elaine: It's not a purse. It's European.

What is a "European shoulder bag"? I think my bags must fall into that category. Typically I use a gas mask bag or some other military surplus.

 

[tbarker13]

None of the above.
I use a versipack by Maxpedition. It's more of a military-style tactical bag. I add a domke insert.

http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/JUMBO-VERSIPACK-4p6.htm

Very rugged. Very comfortable to carry. Lots of pockets.
Not the roomiest thing, but it easily holds an M8 and thee lenses in the main compartment. The side pouches and zippered compartments carry memory cards, batteries, a bottle of water, etc. etc.

 

[benlees]

I guess it doesn't matter even a little bit if you also have a tripod. Though I suppose the tripod could be concealed in some sort of Japanese accoutrement!

 

[divewizard]

ice chest

ice chest

I generally transport my cameras in old beat-up looking ice chests. I fave a very small Igloo I carry my GW690, and extra rolls of film in. I looks more like yesterday's lunch than a camera case, so if I have to leave it in my truck I'm not that worried someone will break-in to steal it. The fact that the ice chest is hard also offers some true protection to the camera. I typically wrap the camera in a micofiber towel for padding.

 

[bolohead]

I use whatever is convenient at the time. I've used all of the above except a man purse. A bag is only purse if you carry your wallet inside.

 

[MCTuomey]

I voted diaper bag because I do use one with an insert, among several other bags that do mostly resemble messenger bags, just downsized.

The diaper bag will have to be replaced shortly because it's worn and starting to make me nervous that it might tear or rip.

 

[ampguy]

wow

wow

That's awesome man. Do you have the economy 4.3l engine @ 9 MPG, or did you go for the 5.7l engine for a little more kick, at the expense of air quality, and wars for natural resources? 🙄

If a Ford or Chevy (or any car from any manufacturer today) lasts a year or two, its because the owner is a drooling idiot who drove it 100,000 miles that first year and never changed the oil.

I have a 1995 Chevy Caprice that my grandfather bought new and gave to me after he paid it off and replaced it with a newer car. It was built in 1994 and now has 210,000 miles and runs beautifully to this day. Grandpa took good care of it, and I have too in all the years I have had it. It has taken me all over the country in desert heat and midwestern winters and has never once broken down on the road. Granted, it is a somewhat expensive car by Chevrolet standards; grandpa paid $29,000 for it 15 years ago, so maybe cheaper Chevy's are not as good. But still, anyone who has a new car of any make die after a year is someone who did not maintain it and abused it. I've known way to many people with those 'reliable' Japanese cars who had to replace transmissions right after the warranty expired at $3000 for the repair. Never seen that happen on an American car that wasn't old and well driven.

 

[ampguy]

wondering about this too

wondering about this too

Any real Europeans want to elaborate?

I was watching "The American" a while back, and was surprised that Clooney selected a Samsonite briefcase for his project. Product placement??

What is a "European shoulder bag"? I think my bags must fall into that category. Typically I use a gas mask bag or some other military surplus.

 

[FPjohn]

My bags look like insulated lunch bags. Thermos is the brand leader for those who need the bespoke item.

yours
FPJ

 

[Leica All Day]

I currently use Domke bags..and I would say that my bags look like "well used camera bags"...then again, whenever I decide to pack up my gear and use a bag, my camera is usually already out in my hands or hanging off one of my shoulders, therefore I assume that people just look at the (well used bag) hanging off of my shoulder and think that it is a "camera bag"....

that said, I once used a yellow plastic shopping bag from a popular Italian supermarket chain (Essalunga) to carry around my Hasselblad in a sketchy area of Napoli (Forcella) while i was photographing the neighborhood..

cheers, michael

 

[Alowisney]

None of the above.
I use a versipack by Maxpedition. It's more of a military-style tactical bag. I add a domke insert.

http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/JUMBO-VERSIPACK-4p6.htm

Very rugged. Very comfortable to carry. Lots of pockets.
Not the roomiest thing, but it easily holds an M8 and thee lenses in the main compartment. The side pouches and zippered compartments carry memory cards, batteries, a bottle of water, etc. etc.

I've started using the Leaper's copy of that bag. It's big enough to hold my Fed 2 and GSN or one of those and my TLR in the main compartment and I just stash film rolls in all the other pockets. I just need to pick up an insert or two.

I had to cut off all the zipper pulls and replace them with para cord because I couldn't stand all the jingling when I walked. I think the Versapack comes that way.

 

[porktaco]

here are the two that i use

though without the stupid waistband

and