Need Shoulder Bag Recommendations

J

joecorvaia

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11:36 PM
Joined
Jul 18, 2007
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Hello All - I am looking for a should bag that I can use for my Bessa R2, 40mm 1.4, 15mm 4.5, and a digital point and shoot (Canon A570 or A610). Does anyone have a recommendation that would be a snug fit, but still have some room for some extra rolls of fim, batteries, and maybe a light meter. I have a few, but they are just too big and bulky.

I would go to a store and try myself, but I don't have any photo shops close by with a wide selection, so I am looking for some ideas. Oh yeah, I would like to keep the cost below $75 or so.

Thank you!

Joe
 
For a small kit like that I'd try and hit up a military surplus store. I have a number of smaller bags (I think they were for medial kits, or radio sets) that work great for a body, a book, and a lens or two. None of them cost more than $10-15, and you can sew dividers and/or padding in without too much trouble.

If you go the surplus route, two warnings. 1)Some of the very old canvas items may have picked up mildew, you can wash them, but I've never been able to get rid of the smell. 2) Some of the waterproofed bags (rubberized) can have a very strong smell for a week or two, and they will impart this to anything in them during this time (I still have a sketchbook that smells like rubber), just let them air out for awhile before use.
 
I have the Naneu Pro Lima bag, goes for about $40 from a seller on ebay called garland camera. You can order direct from the Nanue Pro website as well. Good little bag and it has room for what you described plus some. I have my Bessa R3A, Leitz 90/2.8, 50/2 Cron, 40/2 M-Rokkor, CV 21/4 and rectangular hood in the bag. Plus film and other odds and ends. There is room for one more lens and when my Canon 50/1.2 shows up it will go in there as well.
 
joecorvaia said:
thanks Keith - That is helpful. So you use it with two cameras, and two additional lenses?
Click to expand...

Yep ... and it's not exactly jammed tight ... just pleasantly full. :p

You do need to be a little careful getting cameras in and out of the bag ... the zip is industrial grade and could score a delicate finish if you werent careful! :)

The strap for such a simple design is extremely comfortable and has a lightly rubberised strip on the inside where it goes over the shoulder ... you can tell this thing was designed by a photog!
 
I use a Billingham Hadley Original bag and they make both smaller and larger versions of this model. I like it very much but then again I like the look of khaki canvas and leather. But they are above the price you have nominated unless you go second hand.

I think I have a bag fetish and recently looked on eBay for some military messanger type bags simply because I like them. These can be pretty cheap but reasonably serviceable although they often lack padding and separate compartments. But they can be picked up for a few bucks with the dearest (more fancy ones ) going for around $50.
 
Don't know if Lowepro bags are available where you are, or their pricing, but I have recently got their Stealth100, plenty of padding and lots of stash areas for exposure chart, film, filters etc. Problem is it's designed for digital, so comes with a memory card wallet when a filter wallet would be more useful, but it's well made and has a comfy strap.

It'll fit a couple of RFs or a RF and (small, manual) SLR with space for a couple of lenses and spare films, light meter etc.
 
This bag looks pretty nice and discreet too! How is the build quality? I have a similar type bag, however the stitching and zippers are pretty cheap. Thanks for the advice.

photobizzz said:
I have the Naneu Pro Lima bag, goes for about $40 from a seller on ebay called garland camera. You can order direct from the Nanue Pro website as well. Good little bag and it has room for what you described plus some. I have my Bessa R3A, Leitz 90/2.8, 50/2 Cron, 40/2 M-Rokkor, CV 21/4 and rectangular hood in the bag. Plus film and other odds and ends. There is room for one more lens and when my Canon 50/1.2 shows up it will go in there as well.
Click to expand...
 
Do you happen to remember which Crumpler bag you are using? These are pretty nice bags, but they can get a little pricey.

Damaso said:
I have been using a Cumpler bag for a while and they are pretty nice...
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That White House logo is funny. Might be fun to shove it in the face of a cop that's hassling you about taking pictures, and see if it at least confuses him/her. ;)
 
Thanks everyone

Thanks everyone

I never imagined so many responses. I am over at dpreview.com quite a bit, and while there are helpful people on the forum, most would rather bitch and complain about noisy images or pixel peeping or whatever else. It's a nice change to see so many helpful recommendations. I haven't made up my mind yet, but everyone has given me some useful info. Thanks.
 
I use a bag such as this one from a military surplus store. I think I've paid something like 5 EUR.

If my gear doesn't fit in there, I've got too much gear with me.
 
I second the caution on old military bags; they could be a breeding ground for the type of fungus that is inedible but eats lens coatings.

But new bags should be OK, and inserts from other bag manufacturers such as Domke can be used instead of sewing in dividers. That's more flexible anyway.

I have the F-5XB and the F6. The F-5XB might be a bit tight for your kit and, as Keith says the zipper is heavy duty. Its sturdiness is generally a good thing, but I prefer the flap with snap/clips on the F6.

The F6 might be a better choice for the kit you've listed. Yes, it's a bit larger (and a bit more $$, but still in your budget, I think), but it's easier to get stuff in and out, IMO. Not only that, but when you acquire another lens for the Bessa, you'll be glad for the space; I mean come on, there's a big gap between 15mm & 40mm. We are all about GAS here, you know! :angel:
 
Much of the stuff sold at military surplus stores isn't actually military surplus anyway, but specially produced by companies such as the ridiculously named MIL-TEC or Alpha Industries.
 
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