Smallish camera bag

I think I finally found an answer to this question - at least for me. And it's not a camera bag.
I recently bought a Jumbo Versipack by Maxpedition. Very rugged. Designed really more as a hiking/military pack. I added a domke insert and it is perfect for my M8 and a pair of extra lenses. Has several external pouches, including one specifically for a water bottle (though it could be used for other things as well)
I've owned a lot of camera bags, including domke and billingham. And none of them has been this sturdy, in my humble opinion.

http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=4&idproduct=6
 
I recently sprang for an Artisan & Artist "Penn's Satchel" as a daily walk around bag for my M6. I have about 5 different bags (crumpler/domke/lowepro/etc.) but this one is my favourite, one of the best purchases Ive made in terms of camera stuff in a long time.

Very small and unobtrusive, no garish logos, very comfortable and light weight and in my opinion is perfect for RF shooting. I usually take the m6 with Biogon 28 mounted in one section, Sekonic meter in the next, and the rest of the room holds film, keys, wallet etc. That space could easily fit another body with something like a 75mm lens mounted.

It is expensive but it really is a lovely bag. Just about perfect for my use.
 
I have been in the same boat, so I just ordered both the F5XA and F5XB in olive.

Right when I get them, I am removing the Domke logos and replacing the velcro with a magnetic closure like on Tumi bags.

I looked on ebay for a really ratty bag that I could put an insert in and found nada so I will customize these.

The crappier looking, the better.
 
it may be unoriginal, but the leica combination bag made by billingham is a nice design. the main compartment can hold two bodies and an extra lens, and the front zippered compartment can hold film and other stuff. the strap goes all the way around the bottom like a domke, too.
 
Morphomir,

As far as size is concerned, for 1 body and 2 lenses, the Fogg Lyre and Hadley Digital are perfect.

Dave,

If you are going to be in Singapore, let me know, and I'll help you with what to see and what to avoid.
 
I recently went through this decision myself and ended up with an Urban Disguise 10 (from Think Tank). It is black, very plain, roomy enough for my Zeiss Ikon ZM, two lenses, extra batteries, filters, notepad, several rolls of film, cable release, lens pen, etc. Comes with a sealed seam rainguard, nice heavy zippers and a superbly comfortable strap. Love TT's stuff, excellently made and designed.
 
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Papercut said:
I recently went through this decision myself and ended up with an Urban Disguise 10 (from Think Tank). It is black, very plain, roomy enough for my Zeiss Ikon ZM, two lenses, extra batteries, filters, notepad, several rolls of film, cable release, lens pen, etc. Comes with a sealed seam rainguard, nice heavy zippers and a superbly comfortable strap. Love TT's stuff, excellently made and designed.
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I went through some bags, as many of us here, and finally settled for the Think Tank Urban Disguise 20 - normally carried around with 1 or 2 M bodies and 3-4 lenses but if needed it can hold up to 2 M bodies & 5/6 lenses plus some film; for larger shooting, I use a Domke F803 (or J803?) bag instead; it holds all my Leica gear at once, plus films, cards, pens, telephones, you name it. Both don't look like camera bags, both are very rugged, both supposedly weather-proof, both inexpensive enough: both highly recommended!
 
I'm not sure why people think if something looks like a laptop bag it's less attractive to thieves than a camera bag since laptops are generally more expensive (with the exception of course of Leicas). The also seem too deep and narrow for fast access.

Most of these bags posted are damn ugly with the exception of the Domke's with the labels cut off. The idea about removing the velcro and putting on a magnetic catch sounds like a good one. I wish the you could do something similar for the zipper. That's whats held me back about the 5xb. I don't need or want a zipper but the other Domkes are too camera bag like.

Personally I use a small Jack Sp ade (it thinks using the whole word is an racial slur) bag with a Domke insert (which is falling apart). Looks clean and non-camera like, is not too deep (like most messenger style bags) and is well made. Allows easy access to the camera for shooting and you can meet folks for drinks or walk around the city without looking like a camera toting tourist.
 
kalokeri said:
Once you have been in very heavy rain with your camera bag you will see the difference.

I´m quite happy with the Billingham - even in strong northern rain the camera and lenses are save. The bag is wet outside and dry inside. Wonder if a Domke Canvas bag will do the same.

Thomas
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I treated mine with canvas waterproofing spray. Rain just beads up and rolls off.

nightfly said:
I wish the you could do something similar for the zipper. That's whats held me back about the 5xb. I don't need or want a zipper
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I also have a couple Billinghams (A2/Alice and Leica-M) and other Domke's and they're great, but none of them has a zipper, and on one occasion going through airport security, after she pawed through my bag, got frustrated trying to reconnect the leather stud things (says something for the IQ of those screeners, but I digress...) and with only one halfway-fastened she grabbed the bag cockeyed by the strap and hauled it back for another pass through the x-ray. It was a miracle all my equipment didn't fall out and smash on the floor. I will no longer travel with a non-zipper bag. Also, a zipper makes it harder for a pickpocket to reach into my bag without me noticing. Billingham made a bag called the S3, which does have a zipper, and I wish I'd found one of those used instead of the Alice.
 
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I got a cheapie ($15.00) medic bag from a military surplus store, added a Domke insert and that's my favorite now when I travel light. Not waterproof, though.
 
Re Smallish camera bag

Re Smallish camera bag

back alley said:
except that it says LEICA on the front!

as to a laptop bag...do we want the bad guys to think you we have a laptop in there?

you can cut the domke label off their bags.
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What name would you expect to find on a Leica bag?. Any how it looks very unassuming and the lettering is black on black
 
kennethcooke said:
What name would you expect to find on a Leica bag?. Any how it looks very unassuming and the lettering is black on black
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i prefer not to advertise for anyone. if a company wants me to carry a bag or wear a shirt with their name on it then i hope to get a fee for service out of the deal.

anyway, it wasn't a crack against you...
 
I don't find waterproofing such a big deal since I usually a) have an umbrella or b) don't stand out in the rain that much.

If I'm shooting like I was on the deck of a boat cruising around icebergs in Patagaonia and it's raining the camera is going to get wet no matter what if it's out. No big deal. Wipe it off. Worst case, put a zip lock or two in your camera bag in the event of downpour.

If you have a coat on, you can always stick a small camera bag under the coat. Problem solved. To pay big bucks for waterproofing seems silly unless you live in a rainy part of the world and stand around in it alot.
 
mabelsound said:
My wife got me one of these a few weeks ago, for my birthday:

Diamond Gadg-It Bag

These were made in the fifties and sixties, I believe, and are leather with rigid sides. Mine just has a corduroy lining and no dividers, but this one's actually nicer, with pockets for lenses. There's usually one or two on eBay. They're really rugged and attractive, and I think she paid $17 for mine.
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It looks really great. I love leather bag very much. But I wouldn't use leather camera bag, as most of the leather bag is quite heavy.

I always recommend Domke 803, particularly its canvas version. It is compact and fit for your purpose of carrying 1 M7 and 2 or 3 lenses, plus some more space for your tiny stuff like wallet, keys... It is only my 2%.

Cheerz
bm
 
We had this discussion before... what about the Mekko and Safrotto bags that are so similar to the Domke 803...?
 
The comment about the Velcro on the Domke F5 led me to an interesting thought. There are so many good high strength magnetic fasteners on the market these days, maybe replacing the Velcro with magnetic closures for noise reduction may be a possibility.

The one drawback is that it would be potentially or likely to be secure with the magnetics since to work, they must be aligned more precisely than Velcro. But, they are virtually silent.

I heard a couple years ago on NPR that the military was working on 'silent' Velcro for use on field jackets, and other closures. Never heard any more (or any less!) about it. The Velcro on my 1969 model vintage field jacket was grippy but noisy. No matter, it won't fit me any more anyway!
 
The best bag in the world is the Billingham Hadlee Digital, very small, just fits either a camera and two lenses or two cameras with lenses.
 
What's the common experience with the Domke F-5xa? I saw it online and find it has the right size for my M4 and maybe one or two other lenses and extra film rolls.

Any comments on that bag, please?
 
'The Domke FX5B is indeed an excellent small bag. The olive colour is, I think, nicer than black. The only downside is the noise the velcro makes when you open it -- I prefer the Billingham straps.'

I removed the velcro from my Domke. Replaced the velcro strip with a couple of snaps. It doesn't look pretty, but it works.
 
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