akptc
Shoot first, think later
It's a lost cause..but I do applaud your effort Joe 
gilpen123
Gil
We'll probably end up with a victorinox everything you need in one package
daveleo
what?
It's a lost cause..but I do applaud your effort Joe
Sadly, reading all the above, I must agree.
The road to h3ll is paved with the best intentions.
OurManInTangier
An Undesirable
Thank you
GaryLH said:
and Thank You.
I've been making my own, not particularly good, inserts for my messenger bags simply because I'd rather have the more ambiguous messenger bag with protection than the more obvious Billingham style camera bag.
I had a Bare Bones bag which was great, small yet roomy enough for plenty of kit, curved to your body, no buckles or fiddly catches but ruined (for me) by the stupidly noisy velcro. This isn't a question of stealth, simply embarrassment and possible rudeness depending upon your location, job and/or timing.
I'll look at the Timbuktu range for my messenger bag and go back to that hopefully.
I never expect a bag to be an all-rounder to be fair. I have a huge Crumpler back pack that carries two DSLR's with lenses attached, a spare DSLR body, various lenses, flashes etc etc for work, a smaller Crumpler back pack that carries one DSLR body with lens attached, two more (larger zoom) lenses and has an upper zipper compartment for flash guns and other bits and bobs which I use as a downsized kit bag. Then I have cheap (Ebay) messenger back with lens inserts that I use as a downsized work bag or RF plus maybe an old film SLR and lens or two. Add to that my Bare Bones bag, an old Billingham 335 and a big Tamrac shoulder bag...all now unused. Yet not one of them is perfect for everything, a bit like cameras I suppose.
sepiareverb
genius and moron
A top/front flap that is not also a pocket.
The A&A bag and the Dutch Schoolbag do have these, and the ability to have something in the top flap eliminates the need for velcro or a closure of any kind. I keep batteries in there, and that's enough weight for the flap to drop shut and stay there. Simple, and useful. It does require a zipper closure, but the A&A bag zipper is perfection - quiet, smooth and sturdy.
The A&A bag and the Dutch Schoolbag do have these, and the ability to have something in the top flap eliminates the need for velcro or a closure of any kind. I keep batteries in there, and that's enough weight for the flap to drop shut and stay there. Simple, and useful. It does require a zipper closure, but the A&A bag zipper is perfection - quiet, smooth and sturdy.
konicaman
konicaman
Top flap with carrying handle - and buckles. When you forget about the buckles and grip the handle, the bag tips over and spills it's content - that's a real PITA.
kuvvy
Well-known
Looking forward to the final design with the RFF Backalley logo
Paul
Paul
back alley
IMAGES
ha! wont be my design...i plan on listing what are the most desired features and what are the least desired features and submitting them to all the bag companies that will listen.
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
Every day I alternate between carrying a bag on one shoulder and carrying it bandolier-style, across my chest on the opposite shoulder. I'd like a quick release, diale-in adjustment that can go between the two different strap lengths I prefer depending upon how I'm carrying the bag.
Most bags stick out too much from my side. The Domkes are some of the worst this way, even though I love their build. Something slimmer is better.
I think most bags try to be too much. They need to be simple and somewhat modular but eventually, they get too cramped with crap. When I get a dedicated camera bag it's always too big or too bulky and wind up using it as an overnight + gear bag instead of a dedicated camera bag.
The bag that I always revert back to is actually a small Eastsport satchel, given to me by my ex-gf. It's slim and can contour my left side. I can easily fit three lens "cups' for padding as well as a spare DSLR battery, a wallet of CF cards and business cards, pen, notebook, 550 cord, flashlight. All this and it's not bulky at all. I've used it so much that I'm wearing a hole in the back panel which is there to slip an 8x10 sized something into. It has a pocket at the front and back for something like a cell phone, gps, hand-held anemometer, etc.
It doesn't look like a camera bag at all which is great. I've walked around some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in this country with that bag and a Leica M9 and rarely got so much as a look.
So, to sum up:
Compact (doesn't stick out far)
Flexible
Useable equally on right or left
Small outside pockets
Quickly adjustable strap for shoulder/bandolier style carry
Phil Forrest
Most bags stick out too much from my side. The Domkes are some of the worst this way, even though I love their build. Something slimmer is better.
I think most bags try to be too much. They need to be simple and somewhat modular but eventually, they get too cramped with crap. When I get a dedicated camera bag it's always too big or too bulky and wind up using it as an overnight + gear bag instead of a dedicated camera bag.
The bag that I always revert back to is actually a small Eastsport satchel, given to me by my ex-gf. It's slim and can contour my left side. I can easily fit three lens "cups' for padding as well as a spare DSLR battery, a wallet of CF cards and business cards, pen, notebook, 550 cord, flashlight. All this and it's not bulky at all. I've used it so much that I'm wearing a hole in the back panel which is there to slip an 8x10 sized something into. It has a pocket at the front and back for something like a cell phone, gps, hand-held anemometer, etc.
It doesn't look like a camera bag at all which is great. I've walked around some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in this country with that bag and a Leica M9 and rarely got so much as a look.
So, to sum up:
Compact (doesn't stick out far)
Flexible
Useable equally on right or left
Small outside pockets
Quickly adjustable strap for shoulder/bandolier style carry
Phil Forrest
GaryLH
Veteran
willie_901
Veteran
I agree completely.
sepiareverb
genius and moron
This is why a carrying handle sucks. It requires that you be sure to close the dang buckles every time lest...
Al Patterson
Ferroequinologist
We had RFF hats way back, maybe a Think Tank RFF bag in the future?
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
What's wrong with Domke F2?
*duck behind the sofa*
*duck behind the sofa*
sanmich
Veteran
+1
The reason I'm gonna buy another F-802 soon is that once I've put my wallet and phone in the flap, it's heavy and falls on the bag. very practical...
The one thing I would really like to see on bags like this one is an insert that is not padded, or only padded on the bottom and really lightly padded around, but offers separation between piece of gear.
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
I'm gonna see if one of the hipster girls I know can knit me one to my specs.
Phil Forrest
Phil Forrest
rluka
Established
Can't find the picture, but the Palm Pre phone used to package the accessories with sheet of ribbed cardboard inbetween.
Add towel underneath and you get the bottom padding with separation.
Thinking of it again, this looks too cluttered, but I used to wish I can commision someone to make this design
The rear cap secured to bottom of the pocket serve to secure the lens and take away that trouble of removing the rear cap after taking out the lens (turn the lens and pull out. put in the lens and twist to lock.
The main flap design is to be opened all the time while shooting, only closed after finished shooting (also to secure the lens drawers)
bindie
Member
Multiple bags for multiple purposes.
I travel a lot and do not like to go through airports with wheeled carry on.
I take my camera gear (1 or 2 bodies, 4 lenses at most). Either 35mm film and/or TLR and/or rangefinder. I need my work laptop and an iPad. Emergency clothes (underwear, t shirt, polo shirt).
Therefore I want a backpack to take all of this (I am easily distracted so only one bag goes with me ... with 2 I will leave one somewhere and it will be the one with the cameras). Backpack must have waist belt to put the weight on my hips and a chest fastener to stop the straps falling off from a coat made of synthetics. Currently I use a Gura Gear Kiboko. This fails perfection as it is heavy when empty and very heavy when full. The side carrying non-photo stuff is too well padded. Padding inside between camera equipment could be thinner.
I need another bag for when I do go out shooting which sits on my hip for easy access. This has to fold up and take up a small amount of space in my lugage. It has to take an iPad or a magazine (to read during breaks). Quick change from bandolier style to hanging from the shoulder. Obviously a good padded shoulder pad.
I also do not like Velcro.
Artisan & Artist zips are very good.
I need thin padding between lenses/bodies etc.
Thick padding at bottom and edges.
Waterproof bottom at least.
Some external pockets to store films, cards, filters etc.
Some side pockets for water bottle and umbrella.
I travel a lot and do not like to go through airports with wheeled carry on.
I take my camera gear (1 or 2 bodies, 4 lenses at most). Either 35mm film and/or TLR and/or rangefinder. I need my work laptop and an iPad. Emergency clothes (underwear, t shirt, polo shirt).
Therefore I want a backpack to take all of this (I am easily distracted so only one bag goes with me ... with 2 I will leave one somewhere and it will be the one with the cameras). Backpack must have waist belt to put the weight on my hips and a chest fastener to stop the straps falling off from a coat made of synthetics. Currently I use a Gura Gear Kiboko. This fails perfection as it is heavy when empty and very heavy when full. The side carrying non-photo stuff is too well padded. Padding inside between camera equipment could be thinner.
I need another bag for when I do go out shooting which sits on my hip for easy access. This has to fold up and take up a small amount of space in my lugage. It has to take an iPad or a magazine (to read during breaks). Quick change from bandolier style to hanging from the shoulder. Obviously a good padded shoulder pad.
I also do not like Velcro.
Artisan & Artist zips are very good.
I need thin padding between lenses/bodies etc.
Thick padding at bottom and edges.
Waterproof bottom at least.
Some external pockets to store films, cards, filters etc.
Some side pockets for water bottle and umbrella.
akptc
Shoot first, think later
Must have a way to carry a bottle of water
Darthfeeble
But you can call me Steve
Outdoor Photographer had an ad from the folks who bought Tamrac in which they state they intend to design bags for the photographer rather than the equipment. They state that the feel a bag should be more than a padded box for a camera. I found that interesting. No details however.
I'll join the anti velcro faction. I took it off of one of my Domkes and put a snap on it, not much better. Hard to re-attach. I got a purse kind of a bag at REI that had a flap over the two pockets on the outside, much like the Domke but was held down with magnets. Maybe a stronger magnet would be the thing. All that said, all you have to do is change one lens in your kit and the "perfect" bag becomes the bag formerly known as "Perfect".
I'll join the anti velcro faction. I took it off of one of my Domkes and put a snap on it, not much better. Hard to re-attach. I got a purse kind of a bag at REI that had a flap over the two pockets on the outside, much like the Domke but was held down with magnets. Maybe a stronger magnet would be the thing. All that said, all you have to do is change one lens in your kit and the "perfect" bag becomes the bag formerly known as "Perfect".