Perfect Rangefinder Transportation Device (Bag)?

i bought a $24 lowepro at wal-mart the other day. i don't know the model. i do know it is well padded and sturdy with two velcro inserts. i managed to fit a spotmatic w/ 5omm, bess r with 50mm, an extra 50mm for the bess, vivitar 45 light meter, two brushes, four rolls of film, magnifying glass and a notebook in it for a trip to see our granddaughter. it is non-descript, black and olive, and looks as much like a lunch box as anything else. there was room for more film and odds and ends.
but this bag is for toting gear, not shooting. if i am out and about, i go strapped with one camera with a lens mounted, period ...
 
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I like soft canvas so I'm a Domke/Domke knock-off guy all the way. Not the new waxed ones but the originals that I spray with tent wax. They are waterproof and stay soft. For travel I use my 23yr old F-2, the perfect travel bag. I just had a new strap stitched onto it as the rubber strip had worn out of the old one. Good for another 23 years! 😀
 
I really like the Crumpler bags. The material is virtually indestructible; I use a $5m Home bag that has been with me on a handful of Europe and Asia trips that I still can pass off as new. I really need to jump up to the $6m bag though, since my G2 kit plus film and accessories is a very tight fit in the $5m. Great for carrying, not so great for quickly opening and shooting.

My only issue with these bags has been fixed. The older models had a huge piece of velcro on the main flap, making for a loud, horrible sound whenever you wanted to open the bag. The latest models feature a flap that goes over the velcro if you don't want to use that feature. For me, with one of the older bags, I just bought a sheet of velcro on eBay and cut a piece to cover the velcro on the bag.
 
I also use bike messenger bags w/inserts. I favor Chrome Mini-Metros (http://www.chromebagsstore.com/bags/messenger-bags/mini-metro-buckle-bag---small.html) w/Billingham & Domke inserts, though I also have a Courierware Camera Bag (http://www.courierbags.com/objects/20.itml/icOid/20) which is just 1 of their messenger bags that comes w/its own insert. I happen to like velcro, though. Yeah, it's noisy, but I welcome the extra security & don't open/close the bag very often while shooting, anyway.

Pablito said:
a variety of messenger bags with home-made or Domke inserts. That Jack Sp@de one seems very nice but I looked them up and, WOW, they are expensive.
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I like and use the Domke satchel. Don't remember what the model is, but it's not bulky and doesn't really call attention. Mine is in the desert sand color, not black.

I also use it to carry my 4x5 gear, which is a wooden wista, a couple lenses, 6 film holders, dark cloth, a spot meter, and sometimes and a sekonic incident meter, and some other accessories. It all fits, but I think I am going to get a back pack system for the 4x5 gear. I did a hike with this set up this past weekend and I realized what a chore it was.

I am usually anti backpack with camera gear, but I may have to change for the hikes with 4x5.

The Domke will still be my main for the leica, and whatever other camera I choose to use.
 
bmasonoh said:
I use a Timbuk2 bag with a Tenba insert. It all depends on how much you want to carry but this is the perfect walk-around bag for me and it doesn't even look like a camera bag.

Timbuktu Messenger Bag http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/products/messenger/messenger-classic/classic-messenger#product=2-93340

Tenba Insert http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/509016-REG/Tenba_638_251_Pro_Digital_2_0_Photo.html
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I have the same basic setup... I really like the Timbuk2 messenger bag line. I have been using their gear for the last 4 to 5 years now. I have a similar insert, but cannot remember if it is a Tenba one or not. What I like is that when I need to use it as a camera bag, the insert goes in and since it fully adjustable, it can set it up for whatever I am using that day.😀
Gary
 
I wonder if someone would remember the link to or the name of the ebay seller that was selling leather (partly) bags that are a bit like A&A bags but chreaper?

I've spent last hour trying to find this seller from eBay and old RFF posts. The bag is black and the outer shell is leather. The inner liner is of some man made material and the insert is red, like in A&A bags. The price was less than 100 USD incl worldwide shipping and I'm pretty sure the seller is asian.
 
Billingham

Billingham

For me the main point with RF is to go compact. So the bag has to be small enough so that I dont get tempted to carry to much stuff 😛. The smallest Billingham Digital is for me the perfect bag. It carries a RF with lens + a couple of lenses + some gadets. Its also small enough to fit inside a PC bag or Fjallraven small bakcpack. For my hikes I know it is waterproof. Best of all it has no velcro and is ideal in terms of usability.

(no I am not sponsored 🙂 )

http://www.adorama.com/BIDHBT.html
 
Grafea bag modified

Grafea bag modified

A number of people - starting with Disater area - have mentioned the bag from Grafea in England.
Mine came in just 3 days and took a couple of hours' thought and half a day to mod it to my own requirements with some foam and fabric which were in the house.
 

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Grafea bag modified

Grafea bag modified

It is holding my M8 in its half-case with a 50/1.5 attached with 2 pairs of linked lenses beside it with the 3 pockets holding spare cards/filters etc - in fact the front pocket would take a light lunch !!
 
Krug said:
A number of people - starting with Disater area - have mentioned the bag from Grafea in England.
Mine came in just 3 days and took a couple of hours' thought and half a day to mod it to my own requirements with some foam and fabric which were in the house.
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That is awesome. I wish I wasn't such a bag wh0re, cuz I really should be taking it easy on the bank account. Stop giving me GAS 😀
 
I've been using a Tenba 995 for my SLR's for twenty years, and about a year ago found another used one for $10.00 (my original bag cost about $350.00 new) in a camera store.
Did some repairs to it and got Tenba to send me new plastic clips and inserts for another $30.00 and now I carry three rangefinders as well as one SLR, and five lenses, plus flash, meter and film in it.
Of course I never carry the bag when I shoot. I put film, a phone and a meter in my vest and sling the cameras over my shoulders and around my neck.
 
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