Old Bag Out / Need a new bag

[roscoetuff]

Folks:

Gotta bag I wanna dump. If you're interested, I have a Peak Design Messenger Bag (Gray) I've used 1 whuppo time. Not me. Too big.

So I'm looking for a bag that will handily carry:

1) Leica M4-2 with 1 lens on
2) 1 to 2 other lenses
3) B&W or similar contrast filter carrier
4) Light meter (Pentax Spot meter)

My Domke F5XB can't handle it. Candidates that come to mind:

a) Domke F-803 (Recommended here)
b) Billingham L2 (Recommended here))
c) ThinkTank Retro 6 or 7 (6 Recommended with comment that Leicas get lost in the 7)

Thoughts? Suggestions? Wanna buy a Peak Design.... c--h-e-a-p? Make an offer... if it covers postage plus maybe something for the poor sap who bought it first... it could be yours.

 

[BLKRCAT]

*cough* domke F5XC *cough*

 

[marcr1230]

F-803 , might be deeper than necessary, but will hold your stuff and film , knick-knacks, great classic design and great execution

 

[back alley]

Folks:

Gotta bag I wanna dump. If you're interested, I have a Peak Design Messenger Bag (Gray) I've used 1 whuppo time. Not me. Too big.

So I'm looking for a bag that will handily carry:

1) Leica M4-2 with 1 lens on
2) 1 to 2 other lenses
3) B&W or similar contrast filter carrier
4) Light meter (Pentax Spot meter)

My Domke F5XB can't handle it. Candidates that come to mind:

a) Domke F-803 (Recommended here)
b) Billingham L2 (Recommended here))
c) ThinkTank Retro 6 or 7 (6 Recommended with comment that Leicas get lost in the 7)

Thoughts? Suggestions? Wanna buy a Peak Design.... c--h-e-a-p? Make an offer... if it covers postage plus maybe something for the poor sap who bought it first... it could be yours.

i never got comfortable with the 803...seemed too small/cramped to me, tho i love the 802 satchel but too big for your needs.
the l2 is a great bag, carries more than i looks like it should. the retro 5 holds a ton of stuff but the think tanks bags have to many small pockets that have limited use.
take a look at the tenba cooper slim bags...handsome but workman like.

 

[B-9]

I want the Peak Design Field Pouch...

 

[roscoetuff]

BLKRCAT: I think the F5XC is actually still on my shelf. Took it to England with a Fuji X-T10 and two lenses (plus one in the suitcase). Wasn't a real fan, but might as well give it a shot since it's on the shelf. Still not a fan. Is that why you cough?

Will say that I was enamored of the ONA bags ...for a bit. But then that died when someone said, "Looks like a purse" in a comment on B&H... and I thought, "Doggone, he's right." Yep. So nice as those are... not going there. I have a fair amount of ThinkTank gear (holsters, belts, etc.) and that's great for my Sony, but Leica has a special needs thing.

Tenba Cooper I don't know. Will have to look into that. Thanks for the suggestion.

And especially thanks to those who remind me: "Ya' gotta carry film, too." Yeah, coming back to this from digital.... a dude forgets. Thanks!

Please keep the suggestions coming.

 

[roscoetuff]

B-9: I have the Messenger Bag. Waaay too much for me. Not the Field Pouch. Many love it. If it'd ... say the word.

 

[Larry H-L]

Domke F-10?

 

[Rob-F]

Folks:

Gotta bag I wanna dump. If you're interested, I have a Peak Design Messenger Bag (Gray) I've used 1 whuppo time. Not me. Too big.

So I'm looking for a bag that will handily carry:

1) Leica M4-2 with 1 lens on
2) 1 to 2 other lenses
3) B&W or similar contrast filter carrier
4) Light meter (Pentax Spot meter)

My Domke F5XB can't handle it. Candidates that come to mind:

a) Domke F-803 (Recommended here)
b) Billingham L2 (Recommended here))
c) ThinkTank Retro 6 or 7 (6 Recommended with comment that Leicas get lost in the 7)

Thoughts? Suggestions? Wanna buy a Peak Design.... c--h-e-a-p? Make an offer... if it covers postage plus maybe something for the poor sap who bought it first... it could be yours.

I have the Think Tank Retro 5, 6, and 7. I concur that the Retro 7 is too big for a Leica bag--I keep a Hasselblad and two more lenses in it. The Retro 6 should be just right to maybe slightly large for your needs. It comes with 3 dividers to create 4 compartments. One those will be just right for a Leica with lens attached. A second one would be right for a spot meter. The remaining ones are a little big to hold just one Leica lens (unless it's a 90mm Summicron or a 75mm Summilux); however, the bag comes with small dividers that can divide a large compartment into two small ones, each large enough for a 35mm Summicron or Summaron, 50mm Summilux, etc. That leaves one compartment unoccupied, unless you add more lenses later (or maybe your filter case will fit there). And there is a large front compartment where I keep lens cloth, brush, film, etc.

I also have the 803. It has just three main compartments. Leica with lens fits in one of those. Two lenses wrapped in Domke wraps will fit in another. And the third compartment would hold your spot meter. There are two large front pockets--large enough to hold an M4-2 without lens, or lots of film. and two tiny fiddly zipper pockets. I have not used it again since getting the retro 6; but it is a good hip-hugging bag that does not look like a camera bag.

Finally, the Domke F-6 makes an excellent Leica M bag that will hold everything you mentioned plus room for an extra lens or two later on.

 

[back alley]

+1...domke f6 is a great bag...

 

[Brian Atherton]

Domke F-10?

My suggestion, too.

I have a rugged wear one…

Excellent: main compartment, which can be divided to take a Leica-M body with a 50mm, and two other lenses, say a 35mm and 90mm. A fair-sized front zippered pocket that will hold at least ten rolls of 35mm film and/or batteries, and zippered lid pocket to hold stuff such as memory cards, filters. Lastly, a simple rear pocket that I use to hold a small notebook and propelling pencil.

Not so excellent: loud Velcro on the lid flap (which I un-picked and removed). Ditto the Domke stitched logo.

 

[mani]

http://www.fjallraven.com/ovik-shoulder-bag

This isn't marketed as a "camera bag" but it's the best for that purpose I've ever used.

Buy a camera insert that suits your needs from a local camera store and put it into this. The front pockets are perfect for small notebooks, lightmeter, and other odds and ends. The inside has a document compartment and the main compartment can be zipped shut under the flap (for when you're in a gale-force storm or pickpocket hotspot).

I was a bit worried about the zip potentially scratching equipment, but because inserts have soft lids that cover one side, and your hand naturally protects on the other, it's never been a problem at all.

I carried an OM1 with a 24mm and a Fuji X100 together with 15 rolls of film, a Kindle Paperwhite, an iPad Air and also a Ricoh GR1 in the front pocket with no problems.

Strong fabric, built to last, and used as my everyday laptop bag for work when not photographing. And doesn't look like a handbag. 🙂

 

[Mute-on]

I have the L2. Excellent bag for two Ms with lenses mounted, plus another lens, light meter, 5 rolls of film, do dads. A great bag to work from, particularly if you don't carry your M on a strap, but work straight from the bag. I think it's actually bigger than required for one M and 3 lenses (one mounted).

The Billingham Hadley small is marginally smaller than the L2, but also more compact and body hugging. Will easily fit your gear, and gives a little room to move, meaning easy access, but still secure. No Velcro either, so silent in use. Padded insert is removeable, and can be replaced when it gets worn. Comes in about 8 colour combinations, now. Can't go wrong 🙂

 

[mani]

My personal opinion about all the Hadley bags is that they combine the look of a Victorian explorer with a label that says 'mug me'. 😀

 

[Dogman]

Just get a Billingham. Whatever size floats your boat. Although expensive, with sane treatment and regular but normal use, it will last for decades and still look nice enough to carry to a royal wedding (if you're so inclined).

I keep going back to my old Hadley Pro despite buying into the Bag Of The Month Club mentality and collecting numerous others over the years.

 

[Dan]

F-803 , might be deeper than necessary, but will hold your stuff and film , knick-knacks, great classic design and great execution

This is the one to get.

 

[PhotoGog]

Tea towel and elastic band in you backpack. What me, worry?

 

[roscoetuff]

Been carrying my M on a Gordy strap. Actually prefer to use a Gordy wrist strap for my Sony A7RII, but for the Leica, let it dangle 'round the neck. The L2 looks like a great bag, but my luck with those types of strap closures have been to run into them way past their uncared for prime and have them rip in my hands. So I bit leery of that.

The Domke F-803 appears as many said: Looks more like a work briefcase than a camera bag. Generally, that might work. The ThinkTank Retro-6 looks like a happy medium, but does scream more "camera bag!!!" My gear's not heavy, but thinking about it... I need room for a 2nd or 3rd roll, too. F-803 might have more room? while if the ThinkTank is like my ThinkTank holsters, there's really no extra room to squeeze mo'stuff into it. Hard call to make: Both of these are good looking, and the question is whether to try both and return one? Hmmmm.

 

[Godfrey]

For Leica RF gear, I've found the Artisan & Artist line of bags (and their lookalikes from Black Label Bag) sized just about perfectly.

These four all have a similarly sized main compartment which can handle M with lens and one or two additional lenses easily:

Artisan & Artist Oskar's One Day Bag (Black)
- overflap, two front pockets under flap

Artisan & Artist Image Smith Camera Bag (Black)
- separate zipped from pocket, with padding, for two-three small lenses

Artisan & Artist Evans Walker Camera Bag
- separate zipped front pocket for meter, film, etc

Artisan & Artist Penn's Pad & Pencil Camera Satchel
- flat zipped front pocket
​

(I have and use the Evans Walker and Oskar's One Day quite a lot. B&H Photo has all of them; figure about $230-250 for any of them.)

They're beautifully made, light, and have excellent (and easily replaceable) padding/compartmentalization. The only negative, if you consider it as such, is that the strap has a very broad and supportive pad, actually a little too much so. I've solved that problem by replacing the strap connecting ladder with a pair of West Marine Products stainless carabiners so that I can use either the original strap or a Domke F5XB strap (also available separate as a replacement part).

The Black Label Bag line (available through Photo Village in NYC) is very similar.

These last well and stay nice looking, provide good protection without being oversized or overstuffed.

G

Folks:

Gotta bag I wanna dump. If you're interested, I have a Peak Design Messenger Bag (Gray) I've used 1 whuppo time. Not me. Too big.

So I'm looking for a bag that will handily carry:

1) Leica M4-2 with 1 lens on
2) 1 to 2 other lenses
3) B&W or similar contrast filter carrier
4) Light meter (Pentax Spot meter)

My Domke F5XB can't handle it. Candidates that come to mind:

a) Domke F-803 (Recommended here)
b) Billingham L2 (Recommended here))
c) ThinkTank Retro 6 or 7 (6 Recommended with comment that Leicas get lost in the 7)

Thoughts? Suggestions? Wanna buy a Peak Design.... c--h-e-a-p? Make an offer... if it covers postage plus maybe something for the poor sap who bought it first... it could be yours.

 

[roscoetuff]

Let me ask a stupid question: Since I've only used the zip ups and clip ups, do the satchel closures on the F-6 and F-803 provide enough security that you're gear's not gonna spill out?