Just what do you use a camera bag for anyway?

S

semi-ambivalent

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Not wanting to step on the current bag poll I was thinking that bags might be broken out into three broad categories: Bag, satchel and luggage. I carried a Domke F2 for a couple decades. Even after I stopped shooting a lot with Nikon I still carried one when I traveled, not because I still carried a lot of gear but because it made a nice purse. A newspaper, rainshell, some papers, food, water bottle, film and some Nikkor lenses. It always fit everything.

Now it's an MP and I can't find a Domke product that really works for me. Maybe three (little) leica lenses, 10 rolls of film and some odds-'n-ends; small, like filters. The ol' F2 is too big for this amount, the F-3X might be perfect if it was thinner, the F-5Xb is a nice Leica size but doesn't hold much when traveling and the 80x satchels are too long, too wide, too deep and feel too briefcase-y (well, duh).

With a camera on my neck every bag says "cameras!" so I've stopped caring about that pseudo-benefit. Would someone tell me what I want? I'd sew Domke inserts into a gym bag if it worked and was durable.

and thanks,
s-a
 
Whatever carries the kit I need. There is no complete, universal camera bag.

In Arles, a few weeks ago, a school-type satchel I had made to my own design some 40-45 years ago.

Cheers,

R.
 
I don't often carry one around, but sometimes I need a second body+lens in a padded insert, a filter, my lightmeter, some film
 
Today I've been carrying just the Polaroid SLR670m with Time Machine and electronic flash in a very nice A&A SX-70 bag. Trim, tight, carries just enough.

But for my usual compact 1-2 lens + RF camera carry, a small satchel type bag (the Ona Bowery, Domke F803, A&A ACAM 1000, or Lowepro Teraclime 100) works fine. A Billingham L2 Alice is also a great bag for that, better than most of the others in fact.

No one bag fits all needs.

G
 
I've been carrying about the Courier Ware bag for weeks and I love it. Holds a body with lens attached and room for two or more lenses depending on their size. Plus it holds my sunglasses, spare batteries, wallet, keys, etc.. Great little bag that doesn't scream camera here in NYC.
 
Domke F6 the "little bit smaller" bag.
Fits two M bodies, 1 separate, 1 with lens attached and space for 4 lenses - if needed.
 
I find a simple man-bag/messenger bag works just fine for smaller cameras, for larger ones, maybe something more dedicated is required.

I find it hard to believe that there is not a bag being made that will suit 99.999% of people, I think some people are maybe looking for perfection which does not really exist, or just like spending money.
 
I have two hanging from the headrests on my Jeep to hold "stuff". One's an F803 and the other is a knock off brand somewhat larger. Makes perfect places for those things that wind up in the trunk (if I had one) and lost. Foremost among the "stuff" is TP. Icebear mentioned the F6, I have my Leica and a lens mounted, XP1 and a lens mounted, two more lenses for the Fuji and 4 lenses for the Leica. Batteries for both, lens cleaning gear, a notebook (the kind you actually write in with a pen!) and some other little things.
 
I use 14 different camera bags, half of them hand made (my design)... For 1 rf, for 2, for 3, for 1 slr, for 2, for dslr, for Hasselblad, for large format, etc...
I use them to make easier the use of my tools, so as there are lots of tools and situations, several bags make sense IMO.
Some of them look photographic and some don't, depending on the place and surrounding people.
Other times I carry a single rf hanging from my shoulder, and that's a pleasure when it can be done...
Cheers,
Juan
 
I designed and made a bag, and I find it does well what it is supposed to do, but it lacks flexibility.

It holds 2 M bodies with lenses, a third (tele) lens, 10 rolls of film and space for as many exposed rolls, a light meter, a notebook, a pen and a few bits and bobs, it is compact and easy to carry and use, but whenever I need to carry something that doesn't fit into the camera bag, I need a second bag. Developed film, for example, comes in envelopes, which cannot fit into the bag. Inconvenient.

For the next bag, I want a paperback-sized space as well, at least. Maybe a little more stretch in the material. A few folds in the leather, perhaps.
 
I have been using a Timbuk2 Snoop small bag for a few months and I love it. It fits one M body with a lens and two lenses in leather cases, or 1 M body and a small lunch for my kids. The pockets and inner part of the bag hold batteries, filters, Excedrin, etc.

About two weeks ago, a friend of mine just bought me a Filson Photographers Backpack. I liked it, but thought I would like the Filson McCurry bag more and exchanged it. After trying out the McCurry for a weekend I'm reordering the Backpack. The McCurry was just a little too big, and in retrospect the backpack was just right.

My .02.
 
Domke F5xb. Holds M9+lens and 2or3 more depending on size

If you want luggage, I have a few others. Lowe Pro Field and Stream 400 and Low Pro Magnum shoulder bag.

The problem with yesterdays bags is the big pro DSLR and AF lenses do not fit. Even the primes have grown considerably.
 
I don't know how carrying a bag around your neck makes every bag says "cameras!" A bag just carries things. Can be anything really. If you have a camera in your hand, you just so happen to have a camera in your hand. Only if I see someone switching in and out photography related things that I see it as a camera bag.

Sometimes I want to carry my laptop, clothes, filters, light meter, water, or maybe an extra lens. I have different bags to carry the minimum of my choosing from a small pouch on my waist up for street shooting to a technical backpack with a camera insert for backpacking.
 
Depends...going out with tripod etc for wildlife, then the LowePro backpack.

Just around town...one of my small shoulder bags.

Since Fuji X purchase...often just a Domke jacket with an extra lens or so in one of the pockets...

Tom
 
Ronald M said:
Domke F5xb. Holds M9+lens and 2or3 more depending on size

If you want luggage, I have a few others. Lowe Pro Field and Stream 400 and Low Pro Magnum shoulder bag.

The problem with yesterdays bags is the big pro DSLR and AF lenses do not fit. Even the primes have grown considerably.
Click to expand...

Yes, so true. But I'm pre-digital in history and the Domke F2, while always precisely fitting the Nikkors and Canons, just seemed to create more room for anything else you needed to stick into it. Like the camping tents in the Harry Potter movies. :D

I've got this spec. going that I must be able to carry a magazine or the Herald Tribune in the bag along with the gear. I have an old F2 I might razor apart and see if I can make it thinner. It will be an excuse to buy a old Pfaff sewing machine.

thanks,
Reed
 
TT Retrospective 5 might be a choice for you.

My FM2 + 50mm f/1.4 & M9 + 35mm 'cron fit wel into it. Front pocket fit an iPad Mini and the rear pocket fit my wallet and car key.
 
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