Size matters... how big is yours? (bags)

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Asim

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When I first got my Leica, I went out and bought a small bag that was just big enough to carry the body with one attached 50mm lens, a few rolls of film, and my wallet. It was a Domke 5xB.

Soon after I realized that this was way too small for my 'day-out' of photography and especially too small for travelling purposes because I needed to add a lot of other travel essentials with the kit.

When asked about bag volume for travels by others, I advise to keep the photo equipment simple and minimal, and have enough space to carry other essentials to keep the

What essentials do you leave room for in your bag?

My essentials include:
-Leica MP + 50mm 1.4
-Contax T3
-small snack like a bag of nuts, sandwich
-guidebook
-extra film
-40 oz Klean Kanteen water bottle
-packable rain jacket (mine packs to the size of 2 decks of cards)
-plastic bag to cover for rain, throw garbage, or carry something out of the bag
-extra batteries
-phone
-foldable hat
-photocopies of travel documents

This keeps me going for a day no problem and fits nicely in my large Grafea bag. What do you carry with you in your camera bag and which bag do you use?
 
Just got myself a Tamrac Apache 6. It has what I consider to be most essential feature in a photo bag: 2 pockets on the outside for water bottles or 1 water bottle and 1 umbrella. It holds a camera with lens mounted (x-series with kit zoom), 1 extra lens, 1 flash, extra batteries and SD cards, a couple of notebooks and fountain pens, snacks (high nutrition biscuits), phone, lens cleaning cloth, small first aid kit, multitool and a disposable rain coat. There is room for a tablet or small PC if need be, but I don't normally carry such devices around.
 
My go to bag lately is a Kelty Redtail daypack. A Tenba BYOB insert that holds my 2 Sony NEX 6 bodies, three sony lenses. Film camera ( Contax G1 and 90/2.8 lens ) in the front pocket. There is plenty of room for more, but I prefer to take as much as I can without carrying a lot of weight. I don't carry multiple film bodies anymore. When I want to shoot film I pick one camera and lens.

I have a Filson Camera Field Bag I used to use more. I found a Billingham insert used that fits the bag perfectly. But the Filson feels heavy at times and carries less.
 
Lowepro Streamline 150. They were $12.95 at B and H over the holidays. Very light weight and holds a Fuji XT1 with the 18-135 lens plus the 14mm, 55-200mm a couple of batteries and a couple of cards.
No appreciable padding but perfect for transport.
 
A Tenba P859 Metro Pak II. It just about fits a 645 ProTL with drive and prism, 35/55/80/150 lens, lightmeter, 10 rolls of film, notebook and pencil, microfiber rag, map and couple of bochures.
 
I have two bags I use regularly depending on where I'm going and how much I want to carry.

First up is an Ona Bowery which I'll usually pack:
Fuji x100t
Leica MP
extra film
extra batteries
lens pen
screw in ND/color filters
passport
pen/paper

When traveling I can also fit my iPad air in the rear slot which is great.
If I don't bring the MP, I'll pack the Fuji SP1 printer and an extra pack of Instax film

DSCF0558-vi.jpg


For larger trips I use a Filson Camera Field Bag with a Billingham Hadley Pro insert and will carry one of the following combinations:
Leica MP
Fuji X100T
extra batteries/film
Lee Seven5 filter set
Fuji TCL
Another Leica lens
lens pen, pen, paper, passport

OR
same as above, but substitute a Hasselblad 500cm w/ 80mm and 150mm zeiss lenses in place of either the MP or x100

OR
same as above, but substitute a Fuji X-Pro 1, 35mm f2 Fuji lens, 12mm Rokinon Fuji lens, and 55-230 Fuji lens in place of either the MP or x100

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Really love the Filson bag once I added the Billingham insert. If I go the one camera route I can easily put a Nalgene water bottle, jacket, and snacks in it.
 
I've got a Fogg (B-Laika, I think), which is awesome. It holds an M-body with 35 summicron (hood mounted), 50 Summicron and 21 Super-Elmar. Plus I can toss in my Ricoh GR1v, with extra batteries in the front pouch. I've also attached one of their supplemental pouches to the side of the bag, so I can toss film/sekonic light meter/21mm viewfinder. That's way more than I need on a typical day and am usually totally good with my M-body with 35 and one other lens + a few rolls of film. It's a very smartly designed bag and has a rigid structure which allows the bag to sit upright on its own and not slump over. Not a cheap option, but I bought mine used awhile back for about $200.
 
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